Munk's Motors is a Four Star Bosch Service Center
MUNK'S ALIGNMENTS:
The accuracy of your alignment can
depend on your needs or your budget
so we offer you the choice of several alignment options.
The simplest alignment is a Specified
Range
alignment where your car is adjusted
or measured within the manufacturers tolerances, for acceptable
performance. The
compromises inherent in this type of alignment make it fast and
inexpensive. That
is why most high volume shops, such as Belle Tire and Sears,
only offer it that way.
With a Normal or Factory Specification
alignment, accuracy is our primary goal.
When your car was built, it left the factory with these
settings. If you wish, we
will adjust it to that standard but it usually takes longer.
Custom or Performance
alignments are also offered at Munk's Motors. With a
custom alignment, you describe your needs, we advise you of our
recommendations.
We can also work to your specifications.
The process of alignment should begin with a test drive. Our
qualified managers can
often determine which driving characteristics are related to the
alignment or other
defects. We then recommend an inspection to determine if parts
related to the
alignment are in good condition and can be adjusted.
MUNK'S QUALITY STANDARDS FOR BRAKE
SYSTEM SERVICE:
Our clients expect their brakes to stop them sure and
straight, to last a good lifespan,
and be utterly silent. To accomplish this, we apply strict
standards to our repairs.
The greatest problem facing vehicles in Michigan is corrosion
and its affect on brake
function and wear. Removing corrosion is critical to lifespan
and performance so here
at Munk's Motors we sandblast corrosion off the moving parts,
caliper slider surfaces,
rotor mating surfaces and linkage parts. For prevention we use
zinc cold-galvanizing
primer prior to assembly. On moving parts, we apply the
appropriate lubricant that is
specified by the vehicle manufacturer. We apply anti-seize
compound to the hardware.
We suggest a brake flush whenever brake repairs are performed.
Old fluid absorbs
moisture and it can be removed from the brake calipers better,
when they are
compressed during pad replacement. The alternative, pushing old,
nasty brake fluid
back up into the master cylinder or anti-lock brake components,
can lead to premature
failure of those parts later on.
Servicing brakes well takes time. The standards that Munk's
Motors apply depend on
your budget, your intended usage of the car, and your desire for
perfection.
QUALITY STANDARDS FOR REAR BRAKE SYSTEM SERVICE:
Rear brakes are considerably more complex than front brakes and
require special service
to last a long life and perform their job well in our harsh
climate.
The emergency brake mechanism is usually part of the rear
brakes, and often requires at
least minimal service along with the rest of the rear brake
assembly. We will inspect it
carefully, and if there are problems that cannot be addressed as
part of normal service
we will inform you.
The rear brakes of a front-wheel drive car usually have
serviceable wheel bearings. This
means they should be inspected and lubricated while the brakes
are apart. We will check
for "loose" or "rough" bearings prior to disassembly. If
replacement is suggested, it will
cost a little more but there is no better time to find out then
when the brake drums are
off the car and bearings are accessible.
As
with all brakes, we perform a thorough cleaning of all the
moving parts that are
exposed to corrosion and lubricate them as appropriate to ensure
long life.
We
guarantee our brake service labor for as long as you own your
car against defects.
Normal wear is not considered a defect and scheduled brake
system flushes are
mandatory to keep the warranty in effect.
QUALITY STANDARDS FOR GEAR LUBRICANT:
We stock numerous grades and viscosity of gear lubricants. We
always recommend
synthetic lube when the correct type is available. This will be
determined by the
technician when he researches the type. Because, we strive to
provide the very best
products, we recommend Redline
or Mobil One.
For most VW and Audi manual transmissions, GL-4 is the
recommended type. Redline
MTL is used for transverse applications and MT-90 is for inline
transaxles. For some
differentials, a special additive is required for correct
limited slip applications.
TIRE & WHEEL SERVICE QUALITY:
To keep your wheels and tires in the best possible condition, we
take our time. These
days some wheels cost over $1,000.00, just for one. We take the
extra care that other
shops don't, making sure that the wheel is not scratched or
damaged in the process.
Our goal is to produce the best quality job with a final balance
that feels great at high
speeds.
We
generally service the steel hubs where the alloy wheel mates up
and coat it to
prevent "sticking" due to galvanic corrosion.
LABOR RATE APPLICATIONS:
The hourly rate you are charged will depend on the car, the
technician who performs
the repairs, and the complexity of the work. Our rate structure
is:
|
Advanced diagnosis on Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes.
Our "labor only rate" for client supplied parts. |
$135
.00 |
|
Advanced diagnosis on Audi, BMW, Saab & Volvo.
Custom/race preparation and Chris' or Expert Technician
Porsche labor |
$125.00 |
|
Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, & Chris' labor
|
$110.00
|
| Audi, BMW, Saab, Volvo & VW.
Base mechanical
rate for Mike Reddish, (our ASE Master & VW) |
$104.50 |
|
Our Basic mechanical rate for Bosch Level Five or
Six and State Certified Master Technicians
|
$93.50 |
|
Tire, wheel, brake, & exhaust work performed by
journeyman technicians
|
$85.00 |
|
Semi skilled labor such as component prep, media
blasting, painting, research, etc.
|
$75.00 |
|
Exquisite detailing by our fanatics |
$50.00 |
HOW YOUR LABOR CHARGES ARE DETERMINED:
We base our hourly rates on the technical proficiency required,
vehicle specific
procedures and the skill level of the technician who performs
the work.
Many shops and dealerships estimate their work based on a book
or labor time
guide and charge a "flat rate" of time. The flat rate time is
multiplied by the posted
hourly rate and you are charged that amount if they can get the
job done within
that limit. You are charged the same even if it takes the
technician less time than
the estimate. You get charged more, if it takes longer. Usually,
an experienced tech,
or one playing "beat the clock", can get the job done faster
than the rated time.
Regardless, you still pay at least that amount and sometimes
more. Their effective
hourly rate can be as much as double the posted rate!
At
Munk's, we charge for the actual time that we are working on
your car. If the
job can be done in less time than was estimated, we charge less.
When we run into
problems, we let you know without exceeding your estimate and
explain why. In
most cases, you win.
We
model our billing practices after professionals in other fields.
Our time records
for your job are available for your review. If you provide your
own parts, the labor
rate will be increased.
YOUR INVOICE MAY BE REDUCED BY OVERLAP:
Depending on the nature of the work, such as combined labor
operations, or inspection
then subsequent repair, a labor discount may be given. Discounts
are not estimated
but will be calculated on the final invoice subject to managers
discretion.
CUSTOMER SUPPLIED PARTS POLICY:
Our business is similar to a restaurant in that the food you
purchase...is prepared
and served. Since both components of the process generate
profit, restaurants do
not allow you to bring your own food. Some restaurants do allow
you to bring in
your own wine. However, for this, they assess a "corkage fee".
When we do labor
only on a car, without any parts, we need to add a surcharge
like a "corkage fee"
for bringing in your own parts. The additional charge is $25 per
hour.
A
potential problem with bringing in your own parts is the fit and
function of
components we have not recommended. When we sell a part, we know
that it will
fit, can be installed within a reasonable amount of time, and
will last a reasonable life.
Mail order companies are mainly interested in selling parts.
They virtually never tell
you the disadvantages of installing a part. We simply cannot be
so delinquent, as
we believe in servicing you WHOLE car not simply pieces and
parts.
