OT: Shop Repair Question, What would you do? Options

[pbanders]

I took my BMW E36 M3 to my local shop for a "Check Engine" light. They read the code out, charcoal cannister diverter valve. They pull the valve, replace it, and about 10 miles later, "check engine" is back on. They take the car in, and now they find a reference that tells them that an internal valve in the charcoal cannister can cause this problem. They replace the cannister - I just got it back, time will tell if it's really fixed.

Question - since the diverter valve ($160 for replacement) wasn't the problem, and I doubt it was bad (mechanic told me it can't be tested out of the car - while the shop foreman said "oh, we tested it and it was bad"), should I be billed for it? Seems like to me that if it didn't fix the problem, and it wasn't bad, I shouldn't pay for it, right? The cannister cost me another $200 on top of the $160, proving again to me that no BMW repair, no matter what it is, costs at least a few hundred dollars.

It's a moot point, I know - the diverter valve is long gone. But I was wondering what the list wisdom is about these kind of repairs where you get charged for part after part until it finally is fixed.

[TimT]

Valve stems are a safety issue, and should be replaced when new tires are installed, Period!

YES!!!! I dont know where this practice started.. reusing valve stems.... they are rubber and the same age as the tire usually... they are subject to centripidal force (Porsche made little stand up thingies for 911 wheel valve stems)

Used to be you would go for new tires... the first thing the guy would do is pull out the valve stem!!! just grab it with one of those "special tire mounting pliers things" and rip it right out!!

Then take the old tire off... install new valve stem etc...

cheap mother fuckers... and this IS a safety issue...

hehe chris didnt get started I did LOL