I’ve been asked more than once, why I take my Fortwo all the way to SmartCars in Ringsted, 30 km away, instead of using one of the local garages, of which there are plenty of in this area.
The question is often accompanied with a “…it’s a 15 year old vehicle, surely <Insert name here>, can do it just as well?”
Well the truth is, and unfortunately I have been confirmed in my own prejudice today, that a quirky car like the Smart Fortwo, needs a quirky car mechanic.
A mechanic who knows their innards, and respects that the engineers who created them, used some alternative solutions to reach their goals.
In the case with the Smart Fortwo, there have been a long list of magic tricks involved, in order to create as small a vehicle as possible.
If you don’t have insight in how they work, then you either end up using far too long time, finding a solution, or taking a shortcut that shouldn’t be taken.
A clear example of a shortcut that never should have been taken can be seen below.
I happened to have a errand that took me past a garage, and since there was a queue of customers, waiting to be served, I somehow ended up behind the Smart Fortwo that was standing in their workshop, with it’s engine bay open.
I’ve heard of other examples where Smarts have had molested their engine bay/firewall, but had so far not seen it myself.
In order to change the three diesel injectors, the mechanic had cut out a big chunk of the firewall, with an angle grinder!!! 😱😳😭
The “normal” way to do this is to mount 4 longer bolts, (Smart part number 450589006200), and lower the engine subframe. The same is done to get to other Engine components, eg the turbo.
I sincerely hope that the owner had approved this “operation” before they cut it.
Have you experienced anything similar, or maybe worse?
If so please share your experience in a comment below.
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