Rapid Tune Airport West

***2023 UPDATE***

We are utterly astounded and gobsmacked with the service recently received at Rapid Tune Airport West and still in disbelief how we are getting scammed by the very same people of whom we thought so highly back in 2021.
In October 2022 we booked another service for our VW Golf 2018 (30,000kms or 24 months). Being all confident with the quality of the service received in 2021 we did not have to think twice when booking our vehicle in at this facility.
On the day of the service my partner was advised that the front brakes need to be changed. A green light was given from our end, fully trusting their expertise.
A few days after collecting the vehicle we noticed a rather loud and unpleasant squeaking coming from the front brakes.
We knew that it often takes time before it all settles down and expected the noise to go away once more milage was clocked on the vehicle.
As of January 2023, the noise was still there so I called Ash and explained the problem, however I was advised to 'give this a little bit more time'.
Fast forward to May 2023 and the brakes still generate squeaking noise despite at least 10,000 km driven since the last service in October of 2022.
We called Ash at Rapid Tune Airport West end of April 2023 and explained that the noise is still a problem. He booked the car in for the 2nd of May 2023.
On the day of the check up, we received a call from Ash and were advised that according to the mechanic it's not the front brakes that make the noise, this time around apparently those were the rear brakes that generated the noise, and they need to be changed.
It already red flagged the whole interaction, however I agreed with my partner that we will give them the benefit of the doubt and yet again we both agreed with their expertise, allowing for the brake pads to be changed.
A couple of days later the noise came back. Both the front and the rear brakes now generate the noise.
My partner and I agreed that we will give this 3-4 weeks hoping for the noise to go away.
It never changed, in fact within a month it only got worse.
We called Rapid Tune Airport West again, explaining the problem and were booked for yet another service on 13th of June 2023.
It is worth noting that every time I was present at the facility, Ash who is the manager of this branch was never there.
On the same day, around 1 pm I received a call from the mechanic (Sammy) advising that the car is ready to be collected, however I was also told that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle.
When I turned up at the facility to collect my vehicle, Sammy told me the following:
"It is expected of the "Europeans" to be generating the squeaking noise that you are experiencing. It's due to the heat and the materials used in the brake pads that are sold in Australia'. I machined the disks and applied a special anti squeaking gel, and I'm 95% certain the noise will not be returning. If it does however, then you will have to get your disks replaced together with a better quality brake pads but this costs more than $230 per set'.
I could not believe what I was hearing. I thanked Sammy for his 'help' and advised that should the noise return, we will be taking this case further.
The noise free driving lasted for less than 3 days.
On Friday the 16th of June 2023, my partner called Rapid Tune Airport West and spoke to Ash, yet again explaining that the problem with the squeaking brakes had not been resolved at all.
To what Ash responded with the following:
'The brakes have only 3 months warranty or 5000 kms whatever comes first.
If the rear brakes are still generating noise, we can change them if you wish at a discount. '
Utter scam and disowning any responsibility for the botched service.
We had no option other than raising this case with the Rapid Tune HQ, hoping that a satisfactory resolution will be provided.

**** Eventually, RT HQ along Rapid Tune Epping stepped in and oferred assistance and a remedee, thank you.

Unfortunately all our concerns with RT Airport West were confirmed. A botched job, overpiced service. Overall, scam of the year.

Absolute legends, I just busted a tire around the corner and came to the closest auto-motive without any questions asked they saw me straight away, with the most genuine staff and the store manager was a legend and was comforting as I was so stressed as I’m a bit away from home, definitely gonna become a regular after that interaction, 100% recommend

Check out the mechanic "Sammy" in the below footage. Bashes into a customer vehicle with a hammer because he can't undo a brake drum! Then throws the hammer across the workshop like an absolute crazy person! Is this who you want working on your vehicles? !

Ash has always tried to rip off everytime i went there for just a basic service, but seems a right workshop for me after a recent mangement change. Will be back for sure

STAY AWAY!
Never go to these guys again!
Dodgy as hell, will try and pressure you to get your job fixed by them straight away and charge you ridiculously!
They told me I needed a new battery quoted me $500 and new alternator $1000 and that’s not including labour…
I was lucky to get my car out of there!
I took my car to a dealership an they said there’s nothing wrong with your alternator and all I needed was a new battery cost me $300 that was it.

Always great service and repairs.

Have been going here for a few years now.

Honest and always thorough.

Highly recommend the team.

First time going to this rapid tune, not a very great experience. Got there, thinking it was just a simple minor service, an hour after dropping off my car got a phone call about my brakes needing done, felt pressured into getting them done, Ash just would not let me get off the phone to think about getting my brakes done (get a second opinion).

Got told my car will be ready by 12pm and they'd give me a call.it got to 12.10pm and I haven't heard anything, so I walked there only to find my car done and ready for pick up. Poor form, since I told them I had work and needed the car back by a certain time a day prior and also the morning of.

Bumped up the invoice by $100. I know this because I took my car to another rapid tune and the brakes only cost me $550.with service would have been $850, but I got charged $989 here at Airport west. Been told that they went above and beyond and used the best of the best oil and service for me car.how would I know this? They could have used anything.

The day I left my original review I received a threatening phone call from Ash demanding that I remove my "defamatory review" where I was simply sharing my experience with the business.

Won't be coming back and don't recommend this business to anyone, there's plenty of mechanics around.

This is the only mechanic I trust with my car. They provide great service for me and my family, who have been going for years, and will definitely continue to keep going back to this establishment

My girlfriend took her car to this business. They started doing unapproved work on her car, and when they called her to confirm and she said no, they told her it was too late.

She left a bad review on this page and was called within hours by the owner and was threatened with legal action if she didn't remove the review.

This is not an honest way to conduct business - be careful if you are taking your car here

Biggest rip off ever, charged $1,059 to do a service. Changed brakes $259 for rear + $390 for front, when did not need the brakes to be changed, told me they machined the rotors which did not need doing at all. Changed wipers which I changed only 2 years ago and worked perfectly. This place loves ripping off Females as its my girlfriends car.
Wont see her again which I told them, would have cost half the price if she took her car to Hyundai Service Department. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE RIPPED OFF MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PRICE.

TLDR:
Who's keen to pay about $3000 for their car service? (see attachment)
Who's keen to get a service for their car from a company that:
- lies about the cost of their products
- grossly over charges their customers by charging for labour by itself and by jacking up the cost of every 'additional service item'
- tries to buy 5 star reviews (see attachment)

This is what Rapid Autotune Airport West charges and how they behave.

See detail below:
We booked a service for our car, wanting to ensure it was in good nick for interstate travel.

Whilst Rapid Tune Airport West charged for a "Mazda Log Book Service" ($289) and "Labour" costs ($700), they also jacked up all the prices on their "Additional Service Items" ($1930) and claimed that these needed to be higher because of 'doing' the additional service item, and disposal of the previous item.

If you've jacked up the prices of all your "Additional Service Items" to reflect all the labour required for actually 'doing' them, then why are you charging $700 labour on top of this?
Doing a task = labour.

Ash from Rapid Autotune Airport West claimed that he was replacing our tyres with $200 Kumho tyres, and was giving us a deal and only charging us $150 for each tyre.
Guess what we found out when looking into the tyres? They cost $100.

So not only did we get lower quality tyres put on our car about to do interstate travel, we had to pay $50 extra for each tyre.

The air filter which you charged us $65 for is available for $28.

When we put in a complaint about the ludicrous bill, Rapid Autotune first tried to argue that their products/services should be this cost, then tried to buy a 5 star review from us in exchange for doing the next vehicle service for free.

We honestly wonder how many 5 star reviews on their website are 'bought'?

If you're a company that:
- lies about the cost of your products
- grossly over charges your customers by charging for labour by itself and by jacking up the cost of every 'additional service item'
- tries to buy 5 star reviews
Good luck holding onto customers.

For additional info:
We had the list of work price checked by another mechanic, and they quoted as a worse case scenario $1300 for parts and $500 labour (total $1800). Rapid Tune charged us $2919. That's a $1100 (40%) difference.

Had a minor service done on my Ford Fiesta. Easy drop off location, no fuss, great communication and care. Will be recommending to everyone in this area. Thank you

Cannot recommend Rapid Tune team more highly. Quality work with great workmanship. Sammy very efficiently dealt with all repairs with super quick turn around. Very happy to recommend them!
Cheers!

Very professional & reliable service from Sammy highly recommended will definitely be taking my car back to them.best mechanics in the west

Best Auto Mechanic in the West! Customer service is friendly & efficient specially from the Sammy, my vehicle is promptly fixed for whatever it needs, they take special care to keep my car working at it's best.

Bought a RapidTune VIP voucher, for $179.00. Use it for once and they charge me $79 for just oil change. I have done it in Cranbourne branch then I found they replace both rear tires and wheels with rusty ones and worn out tyres. They steel my original wheels and tyres.they are thieves. I do not know how to deal with that issue. Please keep away from them.

Very professional and highly recommend Rapid Tune APW
Excellent quality repairs and maintenance and good value services and tyres.
Thanks Ash and team

Booked my car in for a service on Monday and my car had to stay overnight for more in-depth repairs. Ash was really lovely and honest with me about my car and it feels so much better to drive since getting it back. Thank you!

Ash at rapid tune airport west is fantastic! The service is always friendly and honest I have been taking my car here for a while now and I always leave happy and with my car in excellent condition. Would highly recommend Ash and his team.

I have used Rapid Tune Airport West on a number of occasions in relation to maintaining my Ford Fairlane, and I am extremely satisfied with the service I have received. Ash and the team are very professional and really go above and beyond to exceed the customers expectations when it comes to maintaining all aspects of there vehicles. I highly recommend Rapid Tune Airport West and would wish to thank Ash and his team for making my experience always so comfortable. Keep up the great work team. A +.