Jay, of Jay's Automotive, had my car from August, 2008, until October 2010, on and off, because he said he could repair the heads (which turned into a whole engine), pressured me to have him tow it to his shop, and install a faulty engine, which is why it was there "on and off." After numerous time of trying to get it back or for him to admit he couldn't repair it, I had to take it to Danny's Norwood, where they repaired it in less than a week. Detail...

In August, 2008, As I expected, our repair of the radiator fan, hoses, and water pump didn't repair the problem, so I called my mechanic, Troy, who diagnosed the problem as needing the heads replaced. Although he had worked for BMW, in service, he couldn't do this repair because it required a special tool.

I looked for a mechanic close to home because of my fear of driving. I was about to sell my 1998 328i BMW for parts because I couldn't find anyone who could do the repair here. When I talked to Jay Mendleton, he offered to come take care of it and said he could repair it and would tow it to his shop, at his expense. I planned to tow it, with my husband, but he said "don't worry about it" he would get it. He sent a truck over to tow to his shop and after some time, diagnosed it as needing an engine, instead of heads, and that it would be "at least $6,000 to repair." My husband and I came to pick it up because we didn't want to pay that much.

When we arrived there, planning to buy an engine from another company in Arlington for $1,250 and tow it there, he said he could install this engine for $1,200, so I decided to leave it with him rather than towing it to Arlington now, after he already had it at his shop. After about a month of trying to get the engine from Arlington and Jay saying he could get one with "80,000 miles on it for $1250," as opposed to the one in Arlington with "about 130,000 miles for $1250," I told him to get the one with less miles and install it. I paid for the engine he ordered in December, 2008, and picked up the car and paid him $1310 for labor, including resurfacing a flywheel and installing a clutch I purchased from Autoparts Warehouse on March 5, 2009.

After returning from vacation in June, the "Check Coolant" light remained on, and we found oil in the radiator, but the water was not hot OR lowered. A mechanic at a gas station happened to be there when I stopped to check it, so I called Jay and asked him if I needed to bring it back because the engine was faulty. He said "yes," so I took it back to him in August, 2009.

He had it until I finally picked it up (in pieces) on October 18, 2010. Summarizing - I asked him three times if he was capable of fixing this problem, during the time period he had it and he kept saying he could. I started video taping the condition of the car in which he kept it, after he finally put it in one of his bays. I brought him my repair manuals and a new battery, since the other one died after not being used for over a year + one more. By the time he started taking things apart (e.g., headlights???), it was too late to start over again with another shop, and besides, I paid him for the job ALREADY, so I didn't expect to pay for it again. But, that's what I ended up doing.

On October 18, I paid (ck 2352 for $317.86) for piston rings and valves, so I could pick it up, he said he had to buy them to fix the car because I ran it hot (he had told me to ignore the warning lights, that he couldn't get them to go out) and asked for his receipt for the purchase of these parts, and towed it to Danny @ Norwood Auto, in Arlington, where he replaced the engine and other parts, told me it needed an A/C Condenser and dryer, and I picked it up in less than one week for a bit over $3,600.

Not only did I pay Jay for a faulty engine, but having my car for almost two years is unacceptable. I had to buy another car in February of 2009 because my other car (undependable 1991 Jaguar used as backup) was not good enough to be a primary vehicle. It was my mom's and my dad gave it to me when she died, so it was a very sentimental possession that I didn't want to let go. I had to use it, during the Aircheck Texas offers, so I could afford the Honda Fit I was forced to buy for transportation.

I plan to file a civil suite, but need to gather all the receipts, dates, and other documents together to file the suit.

The attached video is of my last mechanic, Danny, recording what he did, what was wrong with what Jay did, and what else needed done. I also have tapes of Jay's shop before and the condition of my car.

Thank you so much. I may even more than a civil suite filed?