Has any body ever delt with Graeme cooper Automotive

[HAK]

Hi All

Has any body ever delt with Graeme cooper Automotive he has given me the best price so far for 3 inch lift and bilsteins :)

[Rayngie]

yep, Graeme's a really nice guy, happy to talk landy's and even happier to make sure your's is fine, he does what you ask, and checks if it needs anything else along the way.

No prob using him at all, not cheap though, but you get what you pay for,

Ray

[sam_d]

Most people on this forum will only say good things about Graeme Coopers but to add a slight balance I will say that first dealings with them weren't as positive as I had expected.

However, I am giving them the benefit of the doubt and will use them again. They must have just had a bad day when I when I took my car in and were more than happy to rectify/complete the jobs I wasn't happy with.

[mudmouse]

Yep, take you're wallet with you but as was said, you get what you pay for. As an example, i wondered in one day thinking i had broken or bent the clutch fork on my '91 V8 Disco - pedal gradually went to the floor under pressure and it had that 'bending metal' feeling - anyway, rather than taking my hard earned and giving me what i asked for with a smile, they diagnosed the problem and pointed me in the right and much much cheaper direction - and said, 'any dramas, just give us a call and we'll talk you through it'. How goods that! Same when i replaced my steering box, fast turn around on the rebuild and a phone call as soon as it was ready. So, for me, it's been great service and although some parts may be cheaper elsewhere, it's the relationship you build that can't be bought.

[isuzurover]

Firstly, I have never dealt directly with GC.

However my county was taken by the PO to GC for a (LT85) gearbox rebuild. 20k km before I bought it.

The box was rebuilt beautifully by Mal Story (Maxi Drive). Then refitted by GC. From my investigations after I bought it, I am quite sure the reinstall process was: they GREASED the splines of the brand new mainshaft, slapped back on the old, worn, (non cross-drilled) LT230 input gear, and filled everything up with EP90!!!

Someone on here recently told me that his LT85 was also was rebuilt by Mal under contract to GC, and needed another rebuild 100k(ish) km later. I find it hard to believe that Mal's workmanship would be at fault as he does a lot of upgrades during the rebuild - and I have seen plenty LT85s last 200k+ km until needing a FIRST rebuild.

I have only ever heard good reports of GC's work on rangies and discos though... Would be interested to know what oil they fill them with?

[ak]

I've been going to Graeme Cooper's for close to two years now and would honestly not go anywhere else.

I have heard people on here say they are a little more expensive than others however I believe in life you get what you pay for and Cooper's really know their Landies.

Remember they only work on Landies and not other brands like some of the so called Landie speacilists.

They are always busy and the reason is they are dam good at what they do.

I am in there on Monday for my D2's 140K service and I have to go all the way from Gosford.

[akelly]

Yep - can only add positive stuff about GC. My disco gets an extra 100km to the tank since they started working on it - thats just service, tune and replace the turbo control valve. Before GC I got 630km to the tank (tank after tank, for 3 years), after GC I get 740km.

As others have said, you get what you pay for - but they certainly aren't overpriced. In fact when I get my bills from them I'm always surprised that they aren't more - their parts are very well priced, which helps. And given the extra mileage I now get, I've actually saved money!

Cheers,

Adam

[Redback]

I go to Peter Davis at T.R.Spares Padstow, haven't had any dramas with his work and he is half the price of G Cooper.

If your in western Sydney try KLR Automotive at Kingswood or Bruce Davis at Anangrove, Bruce is a tad expensive like G.Cooper.

Baz.

[dmdigital]

Very helpful and very good to deal with and usually dispatched quickly. The only issue I have is they insist on posting things registered which adds to the cost.

[akelly]

[... he is half the price of G Cooper.
[/QUOTE]

Yep, thats true. He reco'd my county gearbox a few years ago...

I only use and recommend GC now ;)

[MacMan]

They were more than sufficiently helpful to me here in Melbourne over the phone when I was trying to sort out a small broken plastic part in my dizzy. They sent me a number of parts until we got the right one, when everyone else I'd spoken to here in Vic told me they were not available and I was in a barbed wire canoe. (I didn't try everybody here, but there are a couple I won't call again!)

I made a point of going to spend a decent amount with them when I was in Sydney for work with the Disco. Bought some consumables, diff guard and steering guard. Very friendly and extremely good to me.

[dullbird]

we spoke to greame over the phone about maxi's and he seemed a nice guy but as for the rest mmmmmmmmmmm

we made our mind up about the place the first time we went in there just before we moved out we went in to see about availability of parts for a 200tdi before we brought it out when talking to the guy over the counter and told him we are bring our 90 with us

he replied with why bother:eek: ......errrrrr i dont think it takes a genus to work that out, he was totally uninterested....so we decided not to take the car to a landrover shop that told us not to bother bringing our landy here and to a shop that seemed totaly unexcited about landrovers......

we have also spoken to a couple of his blokes on the phone once or twice and a couple of times now we have enquired about something and they have point blank told us you cant do that, or thats not right bla bla bla and they have been incorrect after investigating further.....

with the dealings although minor we have had with them have to say not been very impressed and i also think they are very expensive from what i have seen others post so i certainly wouldn't use them

[Hunchy]

I used GC once, just before we left Sydney for good. It was a service on our D1 V8i with some extra work (nothing serious). IIRC GC was expensive but cheaper than Alto LR. Workmanship was fine & the ole' Disco ran great for months afterwards.

[justinc]

I've bought a few parts/ accesories in the past. Spare wheel carriers etc. Good product, you only get what you pay for.

JC

[Bigbjorn]

Very helpful and very good to deal with and usually dispatched quickly. The only issue I have is they insist on posting things registered which adds to the cost.

I now send all orders over $100 by either registered mail or COD. After having two high value parcels disappear into Australia Post never to be seen again, I feel the extra is worth it. Investigations Branch of AP would only say the parcels were "lost". I consider they were stolen by AP employees. AP does take better care of registered & COD mail.

[HAK]

He has qouted me $1230 for 3 inch springs and long travel bilsteins his qouted me $400 for install which I think should be the $300 mark

So a total of $1630 in comparesent to Oppiste lock $2016 with a steering Dampner tough dog shocks and install

he is the better deal

[p38arover]

we made our mind up about the place the first time we went in there just before we moved out we went in to see about availability of parts for a 200tdi before we brought it out when talking to the guy over the counter and told him we are bring our 90 with us


Yes, I've heard that about the counter bloke.

Ron

[abaddonxi]

Very thorough from my experience, had the head replaced, cost a bomb. There were a few things that had to be redone/tidied up afterwards, they were happy to do it, no worries. Did get a feeling like there were a few too many apprentices doing the work.

Cheers
Simon

[DEFENDERZOOK]

apprentices do a better job than some mechanics........they want to learn how to do things........
the mechanics on the other hand........get lazy and cant be stuffed.........


an apprentice thats taught correctly will do just as good a job.....and will take the time to ask if something is not right........
as he knows he is expected to ask questions so he learn.........

and they are cheaper to have in a workshop as they get paid bugger all......
but if you have the right apprentices you can get more work out of them than some mechanics.......

dont get me wrong......there are some dip**** apprentices out there......and these need to be sorted to avoid headaches......



sooooo........it may be a good thing having these apprentices working on your car........
future land rover mechanics.....they are needed.........

[abaddonxi]

apprentices do a better job than some mechanics........they want to learn how to do things........
the mechanics on the other hand........get lazy and cant be stuffed.........


an apprentice thats taught correctly will do just as good a job.....and will take the time to ask if something is not right........
as he knows he is expected to ask questions so he learn.........

and they are cheaper to have in a workshop as they get paid bugger all......
but if you have the right apprentices you can get more work out of them than some mechanics.......

dont get me wrong......there are some dip**** apprentices out there......and these need to be sorted to avoid headaches......



sooooo........it may be a good thing having these apprentices working on your car........
future land rover mechanics.....they are needed.........

Yeah, you're right. Not trying to slag apprentices as such.

Maybe the better way to put it is that there were some things overlooked at the end of the job, a wire loose, hood mount lost and not replaced, etc. All came good after a couple of visits.

Cheers
Simon

[DEFENDERZOOK]

i did say some of them are dipsh!ts........


others are fantastic........


only problem is......when they apply for the job......they all look the same......all their paperwork is in order etc........

you have to give them a spanner......and a bit of time to settle in before you know if they will be any good.......


in a private workshop they will learn more than in a dealership.......
in a dealership they do a lot of warranty work......which is mainly just part swapping.......

in a workshop that caters for different makes......they cant swap parts to diagnose a fault.......
they need to think and work out the problem......then either fix the part....if it can be fixed......
or order a new part........so they basically learn to diagbose things for themselves.......and how to go about rectifying the fault.......

these are the apprentices you want working on your cars........
then they get a job at a place like GC and specialise on the one make......
and they know the common faults and fixes.....so can pretty much diagnose a vehicle before its even in the workshop
just by going on what the customer tells them......


this then saves you dollars in labor time........

[HAK]

I did my apprenticeship at Daihatsu over at Riverwood in an accelerated apprenticeship where I went to Tafe twice a week by my second year almost equivalent to a 4th year I still handed opened an engine I left the trade as all I was taught was to fit AC stereo and move cars from yard to yard :(

[up2nogood]

He has qouted me $1230 for 3 inch springs and long travel bilsteins his qouted me $400 for install which I think should be the $300 mark

So a total of $1630 in comparesent to Oppiste lock $2016 with a steering Dampner tough dog shocks and install

he is the better deal

Who's springs are they using?

[4bee]

I gave GC a try after a recom. on here. They sent me a part which arrived in the afternoon. Didn't look right so I rang them immediately to query it. P/N etc

The parts guy hadn't sorted out the problem when it must have come up their knock off time (knock off as in finishing work that is;)) He got quite brusque & wanted me to ring back next day.
Didn't offer to ring me next day though. Wonderful!

Eventually sorted, but not by him or GCs.

As I often mention. Do they send these bods to "Charm School for Parts Twots", as that is how a lot of them come across & sound like they are doing you a favour by just being there?

[Quiggers]

Hey Rovernit, when were you at Daihatsu?

GQ

[PhilipA]

Just an additional word.
If your parts guy experiences were last year, that guy has now left.( to start his own business!)

By the way to the 90 guy. I spoke to the mob near Buderim who used to bring out wrecked 90s and rebuild them. They said "Now why bother", so its a pretty universal opinion, more about the fact you can buy them here.

I know Graeme well, and he and his son Philip are members of the 4WD club I am in.
Like any workshop, they can stuff up jobs, and I have had a couple of comebacks. But Graeme is always approachable and will fix a stuff up.

Sometimes their costs for say a lift kit reflect their experience. I know they quoted me what I thought was outrageous, but then they explained that on most of the older Rangies they do , they have to cut out many of the body bolts because they are rusted solid.

His foreman Ward has a great love in life, and that is his dyno, and tuning v8s with unichips or Motecs etc. I have a unichip and dyno tune from them.
I have had a long range tank, maxi drive,and tyre carrier fitted and all were done well, although the maxi needed a few visits to get oiltight.

Regards Philip A

[4bee]

If your parts guy experiences were last year, that guy has now left.( to start his own business!)

Phillip, yes it was 06. I bet his attitude changed when he did that as it would effect his hip pocket. Well, give him a year or so & he no doubt will be his old arrogant self again.

What is the parts dept like now?

[HAK]

Who's springs are they using?

Les Richmonds Automotive

[HAK]

Hey Rovernit, when were you at Daihatsu?

GQ


Around 1995

[HAK]

I gave GC a try after a recom. on here. They sent me a part which arrived in the afternoon. Didn't look right so I rang them immediately to query it. P/N etc

The parts guy hadn't sorted out the problem when it must have come up their knock off time (knock off as in finishing work that is;)) He got quite brusque & wanted me to ring back next day.
Didn't offer to ring me next day though. Wonderful!

Eventually sorted, but not by him or GCs.

As I often mention. Do they send these bods to "Charm School for Parts Twots", as that is how a lot of them come across & sound like they are doing you a favour by just being there?


Dad being a former tranny speacialest thats every where, when ordring part its like ohhhh man ok ill get of my butt and look on the top shelf of ile 7 JUST FOR YOU but you owe me one. :D:D:D:D:D:D

[Redback]

He has qouted me $1230 for 3 inch springs and long travel bilsteins his qouted me $400 for install which I think should be the $300 mark

So a total of $1630 in comparesent to Oppiste lock $2016 with a steering Dampner tough dog shocks and install

he is the better deal

That's not bad for springs and shocks, considering Billies are around $240 to $270ea from Heasmans the importer.

Put them in yourself, it's easy on the D2, 2hrs max.

Baz.

[up2nogood]

Anyone know the part numbers for the long travel shocks?

Or what their open and closed measurements are?

[PhilipA]

Anyone know the part numbers for the long travel shocks?

Or what their open and closed measurements are?

Its on the LRA site last time I looked and a comparison of all the Toyota and nissan shocks.



Phillip, yes it was 06. I bet his attitude changed when he did that as it would effect his hip pocket. Well, give him a year or so & he no doubt will be his old arrogant self again.

What is the parts dept like now?

I bought some stuff from them a couple of months ago and the guy was OK.
I knew Anthony ( the previous guy) so he generally was OK with me. Had a dry way about him.
Regards Philip A

[ak]

I run a small business so I can speak from some experience, you have to remember staff ( not all ) sometimes act differently when the boss is not in ear shot.

[dullbird]

By the way to the 90 guy. I spoke to the mob near Buderim who used to bring out wrecked 90s and rebuild them. They said "Now why bother", so its a pretty universal opinion, more about the fact you can buy them here.


hey phillip

firstly it's 90 girl;)
if they are of the opinion "why bother" why did they import them in the first place must of been a market and i bet the cost of bringing our 90 here was a hell of alot cheaper than buying one they rebuilt........
my point is there aren't that many 90's in this country i think it was something like 200 90's were sold here and obvioulsy the rest were imported personally,

would be interesting to know how many are 200tdi, how many are 300tdi and whether anyone imported a v8

if they were that easy to get a hold of i'm sure a few more people on here would buy one.......and usually the ones that you do find are in th 30,000 region i used to work with someone that had a 90 brought in australia her landrover dealership heard that she might want to sell it and was constantly baderging her because they had so many people after one they could of sold it 10 times over fortunalty for her she decided to keep it as she was a closet landrover fan i think:eek:

apart from that we are enthusiasts and the car all though nothing to look at is our pride and joy, and has taken us many places and given us many fond memorys so why shouldn't we bother

dullbird

[isuzurover]

hey phillip
i bet the cost of bringing our 90 here was a hell of alot cheaper than buying one they rebuilt........

my point is there aren't that many 90's in this country i think it was something like 200 90's were sold here and obvioulsy the rest were imported personally,

would be interesting to know how many are 200tdi, how many are 300tdi and whether anyone imported a v8

Firstly, good on you for bringing your 90 out - there are too few over here so prices are inflated over 110s.

The place I spoke to that AFAIK imported the most 90's into OZ (before LR started bringing in new ones) used to mainly import them and sell them as-is, for about $15-20k. They only imported V8's, as diesels (of any sort) were aparently deemed to breach parallel import laws - i.e. too close to a defender 110 :confused:

I know of 1 2.5TD 90 that was a personal import.

So apart from the personal imports and the home builds, only V8 and late model (TD5?) defender 90s were brought to OZ in any quantity.

Historically, SWB vehicles have never sold very well in OZ compared to LWB. Jaguar Rover Australia stopped bringing in 88" SWB's, as LR in their infinite wisdom only brought out the 110 first, and that, combined with the low sales volumes for SWBs, spelt the death of the SWB LR here unfortunately. Nissan stopped importing SWB vehicles when they brought out the GQ - even though the SWB GQ sells well all over Europe and Asia.

[PhilipA]

I realized after I posted that I was not very clear.
The point I was trying to make is that Anthony was probably not denigrating 90's but looking at the financial issues. Similarly with the Buderim guy.
For the same reason, Ie the sale price in Australia is less than the price of import the Buderim guy gave up on selling them, not because he didn't like them. He LOVES them.
For the same reason its generally not financial sense to bring in Range Rovers, Discos etc. They were cheaper in OZ than in UK to when new, and their resale is far worse in Australia even though the cars are generally much better in condition. I am appalled at the condition of 96-2000 cars in UK. The rust/corrosion in incredible.
Regards Philip A

[Nigger]

Has anyone got any feedback on ATV in Strathfield? Closer to home than GC and thinking about taking my disco there now it is out of warranty.

[geoz]

Just an additional word.

His foreman Ward has a great love in life, and that is his dyno, and tuning v8s with unichips or Motecs etc. I have a unichip and dyno tune from them.
I have had a long range tank, maxi drive,and tyre carrier fitted and all were done well, although the maxi needed a few visits to get oiltight.

Regards Philip A

i recognize the bit with ward & the dyno love.
GC did a very good job on my car, I would say you can entrust your landy to them, but i hope i'll not be getting a dyno bill every time i take my car there. ;)

[p38arover]

I'd be interested in the cost of the UniChip and dyno tune - I'd like one fore the P38A - with dual mapping for LPG/Petrol.

Ron

[dullbird]

Has anyone got any feedback on ATV in Strathfield? Closer to home than GC and thinking about taking my disco there now it is out of warranty.


we take all three of ours cars there

they are really really good blokes and they know there stuff.........i think they are fairly priced and because they know and respect that we actually work on our own cars and only take the tricky stuff to them, they are allways showing us what hey done and what you need to do if you want to do it your self etc etc.........


would not dream of taking the cars anywhere else.

just had my heater core done in my disco with them, the 90 had its gear box refurbed with them and the v8 has had heaps of stuff with them

i would recommend them to anyone

[dullbird]

I am appalled at the condition of 96-2000 cars in UK. The rust/corrosion in incredible


thats becuase we have much much lower temps than you in the winter the temps are pretty much always in the -.......the corrosion and rust is caused by the salt and grit layed on the roads and obvioulsy we have constant damp conditions

the price for a say 96 good condition deisel here i dont know between 8 and 10 maybe for a same age disco in uk your probably lucky if you get 500 quid more relistic would be 350 as they are usually rotten so you are looking at less than a 1000 dollars

[sam_d]

Has anyone got any feedback on ATV in Strathfield? Closer to home than GC and thinking about taking my disco there now it is out of warranty.

I took my Disco there to get my rock sliders put on (so they didn't do anything mechanical as such) and they were very helpful and friendly.

I would certainly consider them again for any future work/servicing etc.

[willvine]

Big let down today :(:( I orderd a part this morning and was told it would be there after lunch I phoned at 4:00 pm as i was on my way to pick it up only to be told it must have missed the days order and it will be there on monday. I was there before the place opend to make sure i could get it!!! How could i miss the morning orders. :(:( This is the second time this has hapend to me when it comes to parts. Rant Rant Rant. Yea i know I am probably being a bit tough only allowing 1 day for a delivery but I was hoping to fit the part tonight for a pre trip run on sat before i go away in 3 weeks on a big trip. now i will have to do it next week which only allows 2 weeks to departure to get i right.

Not happy jan. I am not taking anything away from GC for there expertise and quality of workman ship, they are the best but It did pi@# me off.

[4bee]

Sounds like my "friend" the parts bod has returned.;)

[Quiggers]

Never had a prob with GC, just wish I was a bit closer, then my Disco would be mighty fine... given the ongoing issues I'm having with it, I'm seriously considering a trip to Syd so it can get the once over.

When I was a Sydneysider, I worked with several RR owners (as in newish RRs)....wouldn't go anywhere else....

GC has helped me via the phone (for no charge) several times

GQ

[rick130]

Big let down today :(:( I orderd a part this morning and was told it would be there after lunch I phoned at 4:00 pm as i was on my way to pick it up only to be told it must have missed the days order and it will be there on monday. <snip>

Not happy jan. I am not taking anything away from GC for there expertise and quality of workman ship, they are the best but It did pi@# me off.

Not GC's fault.
Imagine what it's like when you are in business and relying on orders to get work finished. This happens week in, week out for everyone I know. It's really starting to pi$$ me off too. One freight company sent some parts for us this week to the wrong depot three times !. What should have got here Tuesday finally turned up today. And this was but one instance.

[moorey]

My 130 came with some Graeme Cooper candy on it. The gear is good, but I have no insights into him or the business;)

[muddydigger]

youd be hard pressed to find any one in Aus as knolledgeble and as a straight shooter than GC.

[PAT303]

I take my defender to Rumbles at Dungog and Triggs at Toronto look after the Disco.Both only charge for work done,answer any questions and I haven't had a reason to take either any were else. Pat

[Jeff]

I now send all orders over $100 by either registered mail or COD. After having two high value parcels disappear into Australia Post never to be seen again, I feel the extra is worth it. Investigations Branch of AP would only say the parcels were "lost". I consider they were stolen by AP employees. AP does take better care of registered & COD mail.

That's a very serious accusation, Brian. Many items go missing for various reasons, like being incorrectly addressed and the recipient not returning them or being stolen from people's front steps yet people are quick to point the finger.

[MacMan]

Having worked with firearms, I concur with Brian - there are people within Aus Post who do steal. They tend to be rat cunning bastards who know what they are looking for, and which Post customers are in which lines of business. There are some ratbags.