Body Shop Question

direfan · Apr 22, 2005

Problem with Body Shop

Hi All,

I am looking for some advice. I had a paint chip on my car just below the left headlight. I got a quote to get it fixed and basically paid $112 for it. So I took the car to the body shop and was told that the car would be ready on the same day. Since I did not receive the call to pick it up, I called them and was told that it would now be ready the next day as they had painted the right side by "mistake". Can you believe that?

So, I went and collected it the next day and something I feared happened. In removing the right side headlight assembly, they scratched my car on the front bumper. There are atleast 3 deep scratches. I brought it to their attention, they apologized and said that they would take care of it for free. NO S***!!! So now I have to take it back again to have the scratches fixed. My question is, should I fight to get something out of this, mas this whole process has been inconvenient and instead of being without a car for 1 day I now have to be without it for 3 days total. I have already paid the $113 so I don't know what leverage I have. Please advise. Thanks!

Direfan

Hwkdrvr · Apr 22, 2005

This is assuming that they fix what was previously damaged. Your leverage is: your continued use of their services and recommending others that they use their services. I am not suggesting that you demand compensation. I would explain to the manager or owner that I was displeased with their treatment of the situation. If they are a reputable business who seeks to make amends, they will offer you some sort of compensation. If they do not, I would never use or recommend their services again.

M.

Tom · Apr 22, 2005

Hwkdrvr said:

I agree.

Also make sure that they completely remove your bumper while repainting it. Even though some places can mask your car pretty well, its not worth risking overspray just for them to save labor cost.

William330 · Apr 22, 2005

direfan said:

That's unbelievable. They replaced your BMW factory-baked paint? For a
chip?

I would be mad about this alone, not to mention the new scratches they
put on the bumper, which they will now also re-paint and replace the BMW
factory-baked paint there as well.

I would be so mad at those clowns, that I wouldn't be able to speak...

direfan · Apr 25, 2005

Thanks for the replies. I am bumping this thread for more advice.

So does the fact that they painted both the right side and left side mean that the new paint job is now inferior to the original factory job. I never thought of that. Does this mean it may chip quicker now? That would really suck amd make me mad.

William330 · Apr 25, 2005

direfan said:

In general, factory paintjobs are better than after market. (Unless you move into the category where people spend $3,000+ for an ultimate paint job).

BMW paint is applied to the body, and the car is baked in a giant oven, so their paint is higher quality than that of most car makers.

The new paint probably won't chip 'quicker' but it probably won't look as good, or last as long (fading, etc).

Was this a place that specializes in high-end cars (Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, etc)? If so, perhaps they applied high quality paint.

Don't sweat it too much either way, though, if it looks good, and you can sell the car later with out issues later on, that's all that counts.

Body Shop Question

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