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[Lazydocker]

I too have spent many hours repairing a bodged DIY job but paperwork doesn't mean everything... I spent hours repairing "professionals" work also. It's down to experience

Many of the cockups I've rectified have come out of VX dealerships. Work done by enthusiasts (including myself) is usually meticulously done. Hey ho.

James, don't give it up.... From what I've heard (and it has to be that as you've never done work for me!) you do an enthusiasts job, so take far more care than some "professionals"!

I wouldn't hesitate in letting you work on my car if I were unable to do it myself

[JamesV6CDX]

I too have spent many hours repairing a bodged DIY job but paperwork doesn't mean everything... I spent hours repairing "professionals" work also. It's down to experience

Many of the cockups I've rectified have come out of VX dealerships. Work done by enthusiasts (including myself) is usually meticulously done. Hey ho.

James, don't give it up.... From what I've heard (and it has to be that as you've never done work for me!) you do an enthusiasts job, so take far more care than some "professionals"!

I wouldn't hesitate in letting you work on my car if I were unable to do it myself

It's not a case of giving up as such....

I genuinely recognise there are people on here more qualified to do it than I - probably with more time and better facilities.

Time to stand aside......  

[markey mark]

I too have spent many hours repairing a bodged DIY job but paperwork doesn't mean everything... I spent hours repairing "professionals" work also. It's down to experience

Many of the cockups I've rectified have come out of VX dealerships. Work done by enthusiasts (including myself) is usually meticulously done. Hey ho.

agreed paperwork does not always mean a good mechanic !
james dont stop doing what you do bud was an opinon didnt mean for you to stop ! i know you do a good job mate and a lot of it is down to confidence !  

[Lizzie_Zoom]

This thread seems to have degenerated.

James, you are undoubtedly a very good mechanic given the praise I have seen of the Forum, and to boot you are fully insured.  You will do a job that is far better than some of the work I have witnessed over the years by so called "professionals", and you are specialising on a car you love and know so well!  So, what is the problem?

I recommend James you reinstate your web site, and don't forget your kind offer of supervising my cam belt etc work which I for one is only too happy for you to do!

[JamesV6CDX]

james dont stop doing what you do bud was an opinon didnt mean for you to stop !

to be honest if you have not got any mechanical quals you should not be repairing other peoples cars !

You saying I should stop, then?

in my opinon yes james if you have no quals !
 

Your opinion is clear mate - and is probably a fair one

[JamesV6CDX]

This thread seems to have degenerated.

James, you are undoubtedly a very good mechanic given the praise I have seen of the Forum, and to boot you are fully insured.  You will do a job that is far better than some of the work I have witnessed over the years by so called "professionals", and you are specialising on a car you love and know so well!  So, what is the problem?

I recommend James you reinstate your web site, and don't forget your kind offer of supervising my cam belt etc work which I for one is only too happy for you to do!

Lizzie - again - please read up.

At one point - there was a time when I was quite in demand. Now the forum has been running some time - There are now people more qualified, with more skills and experience, better facilities and more time.

I've not forgotton your timing belt kit and the offer to do it at no cost still stands. Equally I can just talk you through it while you do it yourself - your preference

[Lizzie_Zoom]

This thread seems to have degenerated.

James, you are undoubtedly a very good mechanic given the praise I have seen of the Forum, and to boot you are fully insured.  You will do a job that is far better than some of the work I have witnessed over the years by so called "professionals", and you are specialising on a car you love and know so well!  So, what is the problem?

I recommend James you reinstate your web site, and don't forget your kind offer of supervising my cam belt etc work which I for one is only too happy for you to do!

Lizzie - again - please read up.

At one point - there was a time when I was quite in demand. Now the forum has been running some time - There are now people more qualified, with more skills and experience, better facilities and more time.

I've not forgotton your timing belt kit and the offer to do it at no cost still stands. Equally I can just talk you through it while you do it yourself - your preference

I have fully read up James!!

I mean what I say, just because some have a piece of paper, or amateurs claim they have full experience, makes no difference to your abilities, so why "stand aside"  

I just think you have lost your confidence during the course of this thread!!

[JamesV6CDX]

I just think you have lost your confidence during the course of this thread!!

Not at all Lizzie - I will continue to repair my own Omega's and help friends - I am just stating that there are many others who now offer the service - who are better placed to do it than I

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I just think you have lost your confidence during the course of this thread!!

Not at all Lizzie - I will continue to repair my own Omega's and help friends - I am just stating that there are many others who now offer the service - who are better placed to do it than I

Who James, who??

I am quite capable of stripping and rebuilding a car if I wanted to, but I am a long way off of being able to work on other people's cars with confidence!  I think this applies to many on this Forum.  But you have been there, done it, worn the t-shirt!! 8-) 8-)

Who else on the Forum is willing to travel nationwide to give a service to fellow members?  Who are these "many others who now offer the service - who are better placed to do it than I" ??

[Lazydocker]

I just think you have lost your confidence during the course of this thread!!

Not at all Lizzie - I will continue to repair my own Omega's and help friends - I am just stating that there are many others who now offer the service - who are better placed to do it than I

I think it would be a shame for you to stop James... Not long ago you were talking about making a go of a Mobile Mechanic Business...

Keep doing it... You have the insurance should it go wrong and you, rightly, refuse to do Brake work because of the possible outcome should you get it wrong.

You are probably more qualified (by experience) to work on the Omega than the majority of Paperwork Qualified Mechanics!

[Omegatoy]

to be honest if you have not got any mechanical quals you should not be repairing other peoples cars ! it took me 5 years at college to get my quals  
i do a lot of repairs and servicing on other peoples cars and do not have any insurance because i am confident that i wont make any schoolboy errors !!

wasnt going to comment but people who repair cars that have no formal training shoudnt be doing so gives proper mechanics a bad deal  

sorry mate thats just plain daft!!!! if you had your ownone man band/ business and wanted to employ a guy and the choice came down to 2 people like this

person 1 got all the paper qualifications you can throw a stick at but not a jot of practical experience,

person 2 is a guy who has been repairing cars for years since leaving school and has been recommended as know his or her stuff, but holds absolutley no paper qualifications

which oe would you choose??

I got my experience years and years ago as an army resettlement course but there were no paper qualifications that i can remember?
have worked on just about most cars and consider myself to fairly experienced, was once senior motor engineer for Berkshire area health AUTHORITY where i looked after an maintained a fleet of ambulances and minibuses, and medical staff cars, with no paper qualifications!!! was a mobile mechanic in the slough area for a few years never had any complaints and people loved me for coming to thier place of work and serviving thier cars while they were at work, and i didnt have insurance!! mind you h and s wasnt even thought of then,
James is an experienced Omega guy now by virtuew of having repaired successfully many omegas but he got his experience by working and making mistakes on his own cars,
for what its worth in my view Carry on james!!!

[markey mark]

ok mabye i have been a bit harsh on james and i apologise for that !
agreed james does know his omegas  

[JamesV6CDX]

ok mabye i have been a bit harsh on james and i apologise for that !
agreed james does know his omegas  

I don't think there is any need to apologise at all mate - you have every right to your opinion - and in all honesty - I agree with what you said

[Mr Skrunts]

I look at it this way.

For any person wanting work done, as we all do at times.

Look at Vx and other garages quotes.  Look at the offers of members offering to help  Then look at your own abilities.

Could you do the job on your own.  Could you do it with the help of annother forum member.

Would you feel more comfortable going to a meet, lots of jobs get sorted there by willing and able members.  If you are not mechanically able to do your own, at least you can watch and learn, or help on annother car where you are knowledgeable while they work on yours.

If none of the above, then take on the likes of James or Pete and Daz who maybe willing to travel, or make the job cheaper by travelling to them.

At the end of the day you have planty of info to make an informed choice.  There are many testimonials, anyone offering to do the work generally does so knowing what they are doing,  Mark is qualified and has plenty of experience, where as James has pointed out he is not qualified but most members know he has plenty of Omega experience, but decided to go part time and mobile and took on insurance.

Based on all this, then each member has to make up his own mind .  There are plenty of options, but it isyour choice, and your choice only whether you ask for help and then proceed with the job.

[Gareth Lewis]

I am getting REALLY annoyed with this thread.

I own an Omega. I know where the petrol, oil & water goes - that is it - period!

I was in 2 minds about getting rid of my Omega as I could no longer afford to pay the prices charged by dealerships & local garages for servicing & repairs. Times are tight!

I found this site. I watched and read for a week or two then joined. Advice given by forum members and work done and about to be done by people like James, Mark and all of the other experienced Omega lovers on this site has been an absolute godsend to me.

I don't care a damn if anyone has got a piece of paper or not. What I NEED is someone who knows and understands the OMEGA (not an Escort or Audi or BMW) who are willing to help me keep my car on the road.

What is wonderful about this forum is that we all have a love for OMEGAS. Why else are there so many people willing to help with a quick email or even drive from one end of the country to the other to help a fellow driver?

If I want to pay someone for helping me - on top of the part costs of course - THAT IS UP TO ME. I asked for help and it was offered for which I accepted.

If the person doing the work does a good job then I will ask them again (provided they want to). If they didn't I will ask someone else but the responsibility RESTS WITH ME and no one else.

Without people like James, Mark and all of the others - who I am yet to meet and looking forward to immensly - I am in deep sh*t.

I NEED my car to keep my business going - you techies (professionals, enthusiasts, dablers, hobbiests, etc) are helping me pay the mortgage for which I am truely grateful.

Please do not underestimate the importance of your knowledge and willingness to help and for gods sake don't ANY OF YOU stop!

People like me NEED you.