Good/Bad replacement top/water bag installers - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

intensifi · 07-09-2013, 04:22 PM

I thought it might be useful to catalog a list of the dealerships and trim shops that are good (or bad) with the replacement top/water bag installs.

I'll update the original post with your replies. Maybe it will be worthy of a sticky at some point.

Please provide the installer name, their city and state along with your car year and model.

Good:

California

Boardwalk Chevrolet (Redwood City)
Outsourced to Dan Rogers - (reported by intensifi - '12 2LT)

New Jersey
Wigder Chevy (East Hanover)
(reported by SSaint - '11 2SS)

Bad:

Louisiana

Southern Chevrolet (Alexandria)
(reported by Jfoster - '11 1LT)

Minnesota

Friendly Chevrolet (Fridley)
(reported by 95Birdible - '12 1SS)

New Jersey

Kevil Chevrolet (Budd Lake)
(reported by SSaint - '11 2SS)
Other: To be fair they are now Rt 46 Chevy, new owner but don't know if they know what they are doing.

AM Auto Trimmers (Dover)
(reported by SSaint - '11 2SS)

95birdible · 07-09-2013, 06:18 PM

Bad: Friendly Chevrolet in Fridley, MN

Was farmed out to a guy that lives not to far from me. Does great work on interiors and older convertibles but was so out of his league on my first car. It looked great for a day until I put the top down and the trim popped out by the rear windows. Then it sat outside for 3 weeks waiting on repairs and flooded. By that point, the buyback/Lemon was already in motion. So far on car #2 no problems.

SSAINT · 07-09-2013, 09:14 PM

Bad: Kevil Chevrolet, Budd Lake NJ. To be fair they are now Rt 46 Chevy, new owner but don't know if they know what they are doing.

Bad: AM Auto Trimmers, Dover NJ. Car farmed out to them by Kevil when their repair/replacement didn't work.

Good: Wigder Chevy, East Hanover NJ. They put the third replacement top on and replaced the carpeting and no problems so far

2011 SS/RS

Jfoster · 07-10-2013, 05:04 PM

Bad.....Southern Chevrolet in Alexandria, La. Took it in to have the cable tensioner tighted or replaced and no corrective action taken. Tech signed off saying it was ok.

NJIOMSS · 07-28-2013, 02:16 PM

Any other locations in NJ to be added? Thanks guys

CamaroRunsDeep · 07-31-2013, 10:20 AM

New top, mechanicals, waterbag, etc. They did a great job on my car!

RolltideSS · 07-31-2013, 11:22 AM

I have had a good experience with mac haik Chevy in Houston texas, they source it out and I haven't had any issues since they did it back in May, not even any wear marks

NJIOMSS · 07-31-2013, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroRunsDeep

New top, mechanicals, waterbag, etc. They did a great job on my car!

Thanks for the tip. I've read somewhere about them as well.

Jfoster · 08-07-2013, 08:00 PM

Tommy Stewart Chevrolet, Natchitoches La. Bad... If you didn't buy it from them they won't perform warranty work it.

Red River Chevrolet, Bossier City, La. VERY GOOD... Took it to have the 5th bow replaced and the right side cable tensioner replaced. Tech...Thomas was very familiar with it and got no bs from the service writer or the tech. Car came back in less than a week with no scratches etc. All components work perfectly..Highly recommend.

kevinw · 08-08-2013, 07:05 AM

is there a way, in the dealer lot, cars, new, to see these water bags without taking car apart? i am curious to see those.

pnyklr · 08-08-2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jfoster

Tommy Stewart Chevrolet, Natchitoches La. Bad... If you didn't buy it from them they won't perform warranty work it.

This is down right stupid.

-Funk

Jfoster · 08-08-2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnyklr

This is down right stupid.

-Funk

I went by this dealer (Tommy Stewarts) four weeks ago and asked if they had a mechanic that was familiar with the convertibles and they stated they had just sent one to the school. I showed them the gap in the back from the bent 5th bow and the loose tensioner. The owner's son who orders parts etc. said he would order the parts and set up an appointment time. That was four weeks ago and called him twice, both times said he was waiting on the parts. I took it to Red River Chev, in Bossier City, dropped it off on Fri and picked it up yesterday (Wed) completely repaired. Red River was awesome...very professional and no BS. The tech immediately said that I needed the 5th bow replaced, etc.

I personally take that as a clue the one dealer didn't want to work on it and the other was unbiased and took it with open arms.

CooG · 08-08-2013, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jfoster

Tommy Stewart Chevrolet, Natchitoches La. Bad... If you didn't buy it from them they won't perform warranty work it.

Red River Chevrolet, Bossier City, La. VERY GOOD... Took it to have the 5th bow replaced and the right side cable tensioner replaced. Tech...Thomas was very familiar with it and got no bs from the service writer or the tech. Car came back in less than a week with no scratches etc. All components work perfectly..Highly recommend.

This is great to know - thanks! I'd drive from Houston to Bossier City to get good convertible top service!

Don't need it yet (knock on wood), but........

Jfoster · 08-10-2013, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinw

is there a way, in the dealer lot, cars, new, to see these water bags without taking car apart? i am curious to see those.

If you raise or open the top about halfway, you'll see the water management bag along the back side. You can also open the trunk and see it from inside the trunk.

07-09-2013, 04:22 PM	#1
intensifi Drives: '12 2LT Convertible Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belmont, California Posts: 1,701	Good/Bad replacement top/water bag installers I thought it might be useful to catalog a list of the dealerships and trim shops that are good (or bad) with the replacement top/water bag installs. I'll update the original post with your replies. Maybe it will be worthy of a sticky at some point. Please provide the installer name, their city and state along with your car year and model. Good: California Boardwalk Chevrolet (Redwood City) Outsourced to Dan Rogers - (reported by intensifi - '12 2LT) New Jersey Wigder Chevy (East Hanover) (reported by SSaint - '11 2SS) Bad: Louisiana Southern Chevrolet (Alexandria) (reported by Jfoster - '11 1LT) Minnesota Friendly Chevrolet (Fridley) (reported by 95Birdible - '12 1SS) New Jersey Kevil Chevrolet (Budd Lake) (reported by SSaint - '11 2SS) Other: To be fair they are now Rt 46 Chevy, new owner but don't know if they know what they are doing. AM Auto Trimmers (Dover) (reported by SSaint - '11 2SS) __________________ Mods: GM Locking Gas Cap, RS License Plate Frame, SS Brembos, ZL1 FrontEnd, 14/15 Convertible Top Last edited by intensifi; 07-10-2013 at 06:35 PM.

07-31-2013, 10:20 AM	#6
CamaroRunsDeep My 4th Camaro since 1981 Drives: 2011 IOM 2SS/RS Vert 6M Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Voorhees, NJ Posts: 88	GOOD: Mall Chevrolet in Cherry Hill NJ New top, mechanicals, waterbag, etc. They did a great job on my car! __________________ 79, 81, 70 1/2 Z28 Clone, 11 SS/RS IOM Vert!

07-09-2013, 06:18 PM	#2
95birdible Drives: 2012 1SS Camaro Convertible Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Blaine, MN Posts: 1,674	Bad: Friendly Chevrolet in Fridley, MN Was farmed out to a guy that lives not to far from me. Does great work on interiors and older convertibles but was so out of his league on my first car. It looked great for a day until I put the top down and the trim popped out by the rear windows. Then it sat outside for 3 weeks waiting on repairs and flooded. By that point, the buyback/Lemon was already in motion. So far on car #2 no problems. __________________ 2012 1SS Crystal Red Convertible "Cherry Bomb" Winner of the #NameThatCamaro Spring Special Edition "Green Flash"

07-09-2013, 09:14 PM	#3
SSAINT Drives: "11 2SS/RS VR vert BG/BG SW stripes Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 385	Bad: Kevil Chevrolet, Budd Lake NJ. To be fair they are now Rt 46 Chevy, new owner but don't know if they know what they are doing. Bad: AM Auto Trimmers, Dover NJ. Car farmed out to them by Kevil when their repair/replacement didn't work. Good: Wigder Chevy, East Hanover NJ. They put the third replacement top on and replaced the carpeting and no problems so far 2011 SS/RS

07-10-2013, 05:04 PM	#4
Jfoster Drives: 2016 GT vert. Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: La Posts: 198	Bad.....Southern Chevrolet in Alexandria, La. Took it in to have the cable tensioner tighted or replaced and no corrective action taken. Tech signed off saying it was ok.

07-28-2013, 02:16 PM	#5
NJIOMSS Drives: 2010 IOM SS/RS Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Central NJ Posts: 456	Any other locations in NJ to be added? Thanks guys

07-31-2013, 11:22 AM	#7
RolltideSS Drives: 2018 SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Houston Posts: 1,069 View My Garage	I have had a good experience with mac haik Chevy in Houston texas, they source it out and I haven't had any issues since they did it back in May, not even any wear marks

08-07-2013, 08:00 PM	#9
Jfoster Drives: 2016 GT vert. Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: La Posts: 198	Tommy Stewart Chevrolet, Natchitoches La. Bad... If you didn't buy it from them they won't perform warranty work it. Red River Chevrolet, Bossier City, La. VERY GOOD... Took it to have the 5th bow replaced and the right side cable tensioner replaced. Tech...Thomas was very familiar with it and got no bs from the service writer or the tech. Car came back in less than a week with no scratches etc. All components work perfectly..Highly recommend.

08-08-2013, 07:05 AM	#10
kevinw Drives: 2013 Black 2 LT vert Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: kansas city Posts: 1,764	is there a way, in the dealer lot, cars, new, to see these water bags without taking car apart? i am curious to see those.