Unhappy after Bodyshop

Chocaine · 05-10-04, 06:24

Had an accident, car went to the shop, got repainted. I figured that I didn't need to worry about a bodyshop messing up my low swirl finish. I was wrong. It was rainy and overcast for the first few days after I got the car back, I took it out to give it a wash on the first dry day and this is what I saw.
Swirls along with a random 's' in a circle:

Even More:

Scratch:

This is a freshly painted panel:

Had my mother contact the shop while I was at school, she told them they did a horrible detailing job and that we were not satisfied. They replied that after 90 days they'd be happy to polish it. I understand that they need to wait for some time on the new panels, but the whole car is covered in swirls like this, many areas you don't even need sunlight to see them. I will be contacting them tomorrow to see what they want to do about it.

Also, is it safe to use the meguiars bodyshop safe line on new paint?

SP 325i · 05-11-04, 01:14

Quote:

Also, is it safe to use the meguiars bodyshop safe line on new paint?

I wouldn't touch the paint until something has been resolved with the body shop, even if this does mean living with the car like that for a few weeks.
Some of the marks look like a rotary has been used without much knowledge - difficult to be sure off photos though.
Did this go through insurance ? If so I would also complain to them and let the bodyshop know that.

best of luck

Steve

Postwood · 05-11-04, 06:13

I'm not understanding the first picture. What is that shape in the middle lower right? A reflection or...???

I wouldn't want those people touching the car again. I'd call State Farm (my insurance) if it were me and tell them and they would advise me. But I've got a good agent, so that may not mean much out in the real world.

I would fix it my self with a PC. Great excuse to get one.

If that bizarre thing I'm not understanding could be fixed with a pc.

tomciob · 05-11-04, 06:52

i had a similiar experience exceppt that the repainted part was perfect,
the unpained, just washed part i could swear was done with a broom (long horizontal marring), i''d let them know the this is unacceptable
however if you want it done right you got to do it yourself

Chocaine · 05-11-04, 01:44

Went there today and figured out what that marking is, they write notes on the cars about the damage. Of course the probably just wiped extra hard when washing to get it off, leaving even more marring. The owner of the shop said that most people just don't notice things like this when picking up a car. This shop does all the work for the local BMW/Porsche/Audi dealership, and if I spent 120k on a Pcar I would raise all hell if it came back like this. They are buffing it tomorrow and I will be sure to get a good look at it under some lights before I leave.
Thanks for the advice

IndigoGTI · 05-11-04, 02:33

After hearing the bodyshop owner say what he did, I'd tell him that he will be paying a professional detailer to fix the swirls in my paint. Any person that has that much blatant disregard for the quality of a customer's paint shouldn't be in the paint business. Those are horrible business practices IMO. The fact that they do that to every car and "most people just don't notice" is ridiculous. If I were you, I would never let them touch my car again, even to "fix" the damage they caused. As Sp 325i said, tell your insurance about their unsavory business practices, at least call your local Better Business Bureau.

Side note: With all of the marring and swirls on your paint, you'd think they decided to write their own verson of the Oddysey on your car.

ben54 · 05-11-04, 02:56

I had a similar experience when my car went in for ding repairs, and when my wife's car went in for a hood repair. Seems like speed is the name of the game at bodyshops because I got my car back with abbrasive grit everywhere, and they didn't even bother to mask off my chrome trim. The buffer also cut into my weather stripping. I thought they weren't supposed to buff on fresh paint, but they sure did. Been trying to work the swirls out ever since. At the time, I didn't know about this site and thought I was being overly sensitive, but I should have complained about that.

So should you take the car back from the body shop unbuffed? Seems like the prudent thing to do.

NY detailer · 05-11-04, 04:20

Most body shops and insurance adjusters use a water marker to write on the car. They do this to show the damages that will not been seen in the pix, or to highlight damages. THe water marker comes right off with a hose, no washing needed. THose marks in one of the pix look like halogram marks left over from excess product and a rotary. THey can come out using a pc and a mild to strong polish.