Foreign Car Repair
: The True Costs
The thought of footing the bill for foreign car repair can be intimidating. Many foreign cars have gained a reputation for being electrical nightmares requiring complicated specialty tools and a fleet of highly trained maintenance personnel. If you are wondering whether owning a foreign car is worth the hassle and cost of repair, look no further:
As with any profession, mechanics tend to have a comfort zone. The average BMW technician might not feel entirely comfortable working on a Ford diesel engine; just as someone acquainted with late model Ferrari's won't be used to the technical workings of a 2009 minivan. Some of the costs associated with foreign cars come in the form of preventative maintenance. These are jobs like timing belts, fluid changes and general vehicle checkups. On some cars these services are very important, and consistently neglecting them is what can lead to the ever-popular foreign car horror story.
One reason general shops may not be able to work on certain foreign cars is because of the need for special customized tools. For example, Metal Nerd (www.metalnerd.com) sells tools made only for use on Volkswagen diesel engines. While these tools sometimes look like randomly constructed pieces of metal, they are designed to make a very specific task easier.
Just as some mechanical components require a unique tool, the diagnosis of computer systems will also call for scan tool software with the ability to speak to foreign vehicles. Some of the extra costs absorbed by foreign car owners may be because of the special tools and training needed for a technician to properly repair their vehicle.
If scheduled services are followed, any car (regardless of country of origin) is likely to become much more reliable. Of course some of this does come down to the technician. If you own a foreign car and wish to have it serviced outside of the dealership, it is wise to find a trustworthy specialty shop that regularly works on your type of vehicle. When it comes to what they require to run well, some foreign cars can be quite picky. Many do require a higher level of commitment when compared with other makes, but owners will gladly admit the driving experience makes the occasional expensive part worth the sacrifice from their bank account.
