auto care
Mechanics
Baja Mexico has many many great car mechanics. In my area alone i can name off at least 5 right off the top of my head. This week I just found a new one. Prices for a good mechanic vary, but generally dont expect to pay more than $10.00 for a diagnosis and quick repair of something simple. Parts will of course be extra, and we have Auto Zones, Baja Auto Parts and others. I have never had to wait long for a repair, i have heard of others not so lucky. But it has been my experience that my car was dealt with in a swift and efficient manner, each time. I have had some not so satisfactory service at a few, in that case I just never go back and find another. As Mexico is still largely a CASH society, you will not be able to use a credit card to pay for the services of a mechanic. Most work directly at their homes, especialy in the more rural locales.
AS i was mentioning on the HOME page, recently i had a fender bender. I rear ended a pick-up truck while I was slowing to stop for a red light. The entire front end was bashed in, the hood was crumpled. the headlights on one side were destroyed. i was not going fast, i was alsmost stopped completely. At any rate, the mechanic I took the car to was excellent. You could hardly tell the car had been in a wreck. The repair cost me roughly $80 - had this happened in the States, I would have just junked the car. The repair would have cost more than the car was worth, without a doubt!
One strange thing about mechanics though, is that they generally expect YOU to go get your own parts. Same thing with the hopsitals, YOU have to go get your own medications and supplies, that the doctors use on you while youre in the hospital. When my friend had brain surgery in Enseanda, we had to go get all her Depends, prescription drugs, toiletries, and such. They dont supply any of that to my knowledge.
Walmart also has a Auto Service Center and store. I have had nothing but great experiences at this store too. I guess I am easy to please. The prices are very high here. If you need parts, get them in the States or at Auto Zone. ENGINE OIL IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE IN MEXICO. I buy that in the States as well. You are going to pay almost double the price for engine oil here. And the selection is not that great.
LLANTERA (tire repair)
Because the roads in Mexico are very rough, many pot holes and such, you will see alot of Llantera signs. (yan-tera) This translates to ”tire”. I have used the services of llantera on many occasion. A llantera service station charges only $3.00 to repair your tire. I have had this done many times and they have all lasted quite a while. I can’t figure out how they can charge so little and stay in business. But who am I to complain. Pay in cash as always.
Word of advise: the llantera shops, they are always extremely filthy. Wear old clothes. Not that you will be doing any work, its just that you might have to help remove a tire or at least help move the tire somewhere. I like to pitch in and help!
Car Import/Export
I want to talk here a little bit about import/export of automobiles. I have never once, had any problem just driving any car purchased in the United States of America and driving it down to Mexico. I have not had to import any cars. I just drove the cars down, crossed the border and that was that. Even if i were to get randomly stopped at the border going into Baja, which i have, there was no problem AS LONG AS I HAD TITLE and they never asked for that either. All they did was ask what i had to claim, where i was going and inspected for guns and drugs. I just dont really get what all the fuss is about “importing” my cars. I dont understand it. Maybe because i have been lucky- thats all. Maybe its just peoples way of being overly cautious. But, I tend to be a risk taker and would rather just take my chances. Why fix something when its not broke.
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BAJA TOW
cars, trucks, boats, etc.
Rescue and retrieval – 18′ Car Hauling Trailer
Moving from or to the US !
044-646-108-1472
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