Autowerkstatt: Was Profi-Schrauber alles übersehen | Dürfen Die Das? | NDR

Summary

This investigation dives into the world of car repair workshops, testing their competence and honesty through a series of undercover visits. The journey begins with a 1998 BMW 5 Series, outwardly modest but mechanically sound, to various workshops including ATU and Pitstop, assessing the quality and necessity of their services. Additionally, the story of a van owner plagued by unsuccessful and costly repairs highlights the challenges faced by consumers in navigating the complexity of car maintenance. Expert opinions and advice from ADAC and Autobild provide insights into the rights of car owners and the reliability of workshop diagnoses, underscoring the importance of vigilance and second opinions in automotive care.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Cars are filled with complex technology that can be challenging for the average person to understand.
• 🔧 Expectations for car workshops to have a thorough understanding and ability to diagnose and fix issues accurately.
• 🚫 Concerns about repairs for issues that may not actually exist, raising ethical and legal questions.
• 🚕 A case study of a BMW from 1998 used to test various workshops, highlighting issues with service and diagnostics.
• 🛠 An individual's experience with spending thousands on unsuccessful repairs, showcasing the difficulty of diagnosing some car problems.
• 📲 Consultation with experts and insiders reveals challenges in the car repair industry, including unnecessary repairs and trust issues.
• 🚩 Workshops offering comprehensive checks at seemingly low prices, which might not always be financially viable for the workshops.
• 💸 The financial and emotional toll on car owners who face continuous repair issues without resolution.
• 📝 The importance of second opinions and the option to resort to arbitration boards for disputes between customers and workshops.
• 🛡️ Varied results from different workshops for the same vehicle, illustrating the inconsistency in service and diagnostics across the industry.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the video script?

The main purpose of the script was to investigate the quality and reliability of car repair services by testing different workshops, highlighting the challenges car owners face with car repairs, and exploring how different workshops diagnose and quote repairs.

What specific service did the narrator test at the ATU branch in Hamburg?

The narrator tested the 'Mobilitäts-Check Plus' at the ATU branch in Hamburg, which is supposed to include a comprehensive check of various car components for a price of 29.99 Euros.

What issues did Holger Seifferth face with his Opel Vivaro?

Holger Seifferth's Opel Vivaro had a persistent 'exhaust gas purification error', leading to multiple unsuccessful and costly repairs including the replacement of the control unit, water pump, thermostat, and two NOx sensors, with a proposal to replace the catalytic converter and diesel sensor next, all without guarantee of fixing the problem.

What advice did the ADAC representative offer to car owners facing repair issues?

The ADAC representative advised car owners to consider approaching a conciliation board (Kfz-Schiedsstellen) to resolve disputes between customers and workshops, especially when there's dissatisfaction or mistrust regarding the workshop's services.

What discrepancies did the narrator find during the workshop test with the BMW?

The narrator found discrepancies in the diagnosis and services provided by different workshops (ATU, pitstop, BMW dealership, and ADAC testing center), with each providing varying levels of detail and identifying different issues with the car.

How did the pitstop workshop's findings differ from ATU's?

The pitstop workshop found more issues than ATU, including problems with the windshield washer system, battery, and other components, whereas ATU mainly noted that the battery needed replacement and that the differential was rusty.

What was the narrator's observation about the services advertised by workshops compared to what was actually provided?

The narrator observed that workshops often advertise comprehensive checks but may not fully deliver on these promises, leading to potential safety risks if customers rely solely on these checks to ensure their vehicle's roadworthiness.

How did the ADAC testing center's assessment of the BMW differ from other workshops?

The ADAC testing center provided a detailed assessment with a 'colorful test protocol' indicating several yellow warnings and red serious defects, highlighting more issues and safety concerns compared to the more limited findings of other workshops.

What is the role of Kfz-Schiedsstellen mentioned in the script?

Kfz-Schiedsstellen are conciliation boards that help resolve disputes between customers and car repair workshops. Decisions are binding for the workshops, the service is free for customers, and it still allows the option for legal recourse.

What conclusion does the narrator reach at the end of the workshop tests?

The narrator concludes that different workshops can have significantly varying opinions on a car's condition, and while no workshop attempted to upsell unnecessary repairs, many failed to identify all existing issues, highlighting the importance of thoroughness and transparency in car servicing.