Bad Car Repair Experience at Aamco Clark Rd Sarasota & Owner Chad Russell We Spent Over $4500 on BMW Z3 Repairs and Ended up with Broken Drive Shaft!

This article will go into detail about the very bad car repair experience my wife and myself endured with Chad Russell the owner operator at Aamco auto car repair 2856 Clark Rd Sarasota Fl 34231 with phone number 941-877-5252. If you've experienced faulty or poor work from any auto repair shop in Sarasota or elsewhere in Florida, you can file a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), potentially sue for breach of contract or negligence, and seek guidance from resources like the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

I have filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), about the faulty car repair work provided at Aamco RCSJ Holdings 2856 Clark Rd Sarasota Fl, Complaint Submission Confirmation my case number is: 2504-00606. Through the FDACS, I have requested a full refund of what I paid Aamco on Clark Rd Sarasota Fl for the faulty work on my BMW Z3, a total of $4,516.07 by March 21st, 2025. To file a complaint about a motor vehicle repair shop in Florida, use the FDACS online complaint form or call 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352). For out-of-state residents, please call (850) 410-3800. On Tuesday morn Jan 14th, 2025 I contacted Chad Russell at Aamco 2856 Clark Rd Sarasota Fl to get an estimate to find out why check engine light is on, to stop some oil leaks and to look at the power steering which is not working correctly on my BMW Z3, my wife followed me down to Aamco to leave the car. Upon arrival at Aamco on Clark Rd Sarasota I spoke with Chad Russell the owner and asked him if he can do work on my BMW Z3, he assured me he could, I left the car and my wife drove me home. IT WENT DOWNHILL FAST FROM HERE!

After Paying $4,516 to Chad Russell at Aamco 2856 Clark Rd Sarasota Fl on March 21st 2025 for car repairs, my BMW Z3 broke down April 8th 2025 on Proctor Rd heading to a verifiable BMW repair shop in the 4300 block of Clark Rd, WTF? After 66 days at Chad Russell's Aamco on Clark Rd Sarasota the repairs to my BMW Z3 roadster were finally completed on March 21st, 2025, or so claimed owner Chad Russell? We spent $4,516 on our BMW Z3 repairs at Aamco and are left with a mess and a car that had to be towed to another car repair shop on April 8th, 20025 with a broken drive shaft to fix all the problems created by Chad Russell's Aamco mechanics on Clark Rd Sarasota. More to come! After Paying $4,516 to Chad Russell Aamco Clark Rd Sarasota on 3/21/2025 for repairs to my BMW Z3 the drive shaft fell out of car on 4/8/2025 Proctor Rd WTF? see video 

 I dropped off my BMW Z3 on Jan 14 2025 to Chad Russell at Aamco on Clark Rd Sarasota Fl to find out why check engine light stays on, fix some engine or transmission oil leaks and to look at power steering unit that might need be replaced. Chad at Aamco got back to my same day, Jan 14th, with an estimate of $3,703.93 to fix all the problems, I said go ahead, worst decision I ever made in my life. After 66 days and 2 returns for further service and additional billing, Chad at Aamco sent me a text to tell me the car would be ready on March 20th, 2025, it wasn't. I arrived at 9:00 am at Aamco on March 20th, 2025 my car was up on the left with part of the transmission out, WTH? After a confrontation with Chad at Aamco in the parking lot I left with the assurance that car would be ready next March 21, 2025, which it was, and I drove it home. Two days later on March 23rd, 2025 on the way back from my neighborhood Publix, I heard a loud thumping sound coming from under the car, I put the car in my garage and started calling BMW car repair shops to get an appointment for an estimate on what this new problem was. 

On April 1st, 2025 I got an appointment with Jessie's European car repair on Clark Rd Sarasota Fl to bring the car in on April 8th, 2025. I never made it to the garage on April 8th under power, on the way to Jessies garage, only 6 miles from my house, the drive shaft tore out of my car and almost caused an accident on Proctor Rd in Sarasota. I called AAA and had them towed my car the last 4 miles to Jessie's Garage. After an extensive bumper to bumper diagonals at Jessie's Car Repair it was determined that the drive shaft had come loose and twisted itself out of its moorings, how was that possible? Aamco on Clark Rd Sarasota Fl had my car for 66 days just prior to the drive shaft falling out of my car, just a coincidence? We'll see .

The rear main seal on a BMW Z3 is located at the rear of the engine block, where the crankshaft connects to the transmission. It seals the gap between the crankshaft and the engine block to prevent oil leaks. To access and replace the rear main seal, you typically need to remove the transmission. The seal is often held in place by a plate bolted to the engine block. Once the transmission is removed, you can access and replace the seal and its housing. In BMW Z3 models, the driveshaft connects the transmission output shaft at the rear of the transmission to the rear differential. The transmission is mounted to the chassis and the rear differential is mounted to the rear sub frame. To replace the broken drive shaft in my BMW Z3 it will cost at least $3,191.00, thanks Aamco on Clark Rd!

When replacing the rear main seal on a 1999 BMW Z3, you will need to disconnect the driveshaft. The driveshaft needs to be removed to access the transmission, which must be removed to access the rear main seal. Specifically, the driveshaft is removed from the transmission flange by unscrewing three bolts.
 

If the drive shaft in a BMW Z3 were to break on a highway at high speed, the car would lose power to the wheels on that side. The driver would likely hear loud clunking or grinding noises and feel a loss of control. The car would slow down and potentially stop due to the lack of power and the broken shaft dragging on the road. If the drive shaft on my BMW Z3 had snapped off on I-75 at high speed there would have been a multi car chain reaction accident with multiple injuries, even death, due to ineptness of the mechanic at Aamco on Clark Rd Sarasota Fl. A problem with a drive shaft can be a serious issue, potentially impacting vehicle control, safety, and overall drivability.

 

Here's a more detailed breakdown: Loss of Power: The primary consequence is a loss of power to the wheels driven by the broken shaft.

Loud Noises: You'll likely hear loud clunking or grinding sounds as the shaft breaks and potentially drags on the road.

Loss of Control: A broken drive shaft can make steering and controlling the vehicle difficult, especially if the break is sudden and violent.

Vehicle Slows Down: The car will slow down as the engine is no longer able to deliver power to the wheels.

Potential Dragging: The broken shaft might drag on the road, creating sparks and potential damage to other parts of the vehicle.

Safety: The driver should take their foot off the gas, put the car in neutral, and then carefully reduce speed and steer to a safe location.

Call for Tow: It is unsafe to drive a vehicle with a broken drive shaft, so a tow truck should be called to transport the car to a repair shop.

In summary, a broken drive shaft will cause a sudden loss of power, potentially dangerous noises, and a significant decrease in the car's ability to move and control. The driver should focus on safely slowing down and stopping the vehicle before calling for assistance.