4x4 Specialist in Al Ain

[Richard Moss]

Could anyone recommend a good 4x4 specialist in Al Ain? Not so much for me, because I do almost all my own maintenance, but for a friend of my wife.
The lady in question has a Nissan XTerra and would like to avoid the (expensive) dealer if possible, but really wants it to be worked on by someone who knows what they are doing.

Thanks

Also, if anyone has any recommendation for really good value Jeep parts in Al Ain, I'd love to hear it - I need to get a viscous coupling for my 1996 Grand Cherokee's transfer box.

[Denasora]

I highly recommend Mehran (050.4711221), located in Sanaiya not far from the petrol station.
Give me a call if you'd like more info about him and/or directions/coords.

He also has a spare parts shop right next to his garage, and carries lots of jeep stuff (he drives a cherokee in the sand, himself).

[Richard Moss]

Thank you

[Richard Moss]

I went to see Mehran this afternoon and he certainly made a decent impression - you can tell when someone "knows their stuff". I'll be recommending him to my wife's friend.

I have arranged for my car to go in on sunday to have a towbar fitted and to have the transfer box / transfer case replaced with a good secondhand unit. The current Quadratac transfer box (a full time 4WD NP249) has a knackered viscous coupling and will be replaced by a Selectrac unit (part time 4WD NP 242). The NP242 is generally regarded as being more robust than the NP249 so it should be a good move overall. Then with a new set of tyres I'll be good to go (I don't like the cracking on the sidewalls of the current tyres).

If it's sorted in time, I'll be joining the 25th November "Rookie Trip".

[Wallie]

Hi Richard I can also recomend Mehran. I let him do all the work on my Jeep.

[MB Hammer]

I have Mehran do all the work on my Patrol, and once the service contract is finished with Dynatrade (it pains me to mention that name) then he will be looking after our FJ too. He certainly knows his stuff and he's a handy man to have with you on a trip if somebody's wheel falls off!

[Richard Moss]

Well, I certainly got a favourable impression when down there.

[Osprey]

Yes, I've tried 2 others in Sanaya and been well ripped off - one charged me 1500aed for a "new" MAF sensor, turned out to be a scrap part worth 200aed and the other put the wrong plugs in costing me weeks of further messing about and grief. Mehran is the man BUT be sure to talk to him and that his chief honcho (big guy) Abu Taleb knows what needs to be done, often the younger guys will nod and say "yes boss" and then promptly forget what you have told them. Also try to avoid Saturdays if possible as it is headless chicken time in there, mid week is calmer and your car will get more time and attention.

[Richard Moss]

Looks like he did a nice job on the transfer box and towbar at a very reasonable price and (unasked) re-resprayed the grotty vents by the rear windows, free of charge. Transmission fluid and filter were done a couple of days later, too.

I do generally prefer to work on vehicles myself, if possible, but it's nice to have somewhere that's trustworthy.

[XJ 4.6 Stroker]

Yes, I've tried 2 others in Sanaya and been well ripped off

Hi Jeff. It's Dino aka Tarzan here. The two garages that I regularly use for my vehicles are Al Jamaeya and Abu Jamal. Both specialise in American cars. Al Jamaeya has a large stock of spare parts but Al Ahlia is usually slightly cheaper, and I often go to Al Rabeea scrapyard to hunt for cheap parts.