Holograms by body shop?

tC_Crazy · 08-09-07, 06:15

Hey all. After getting into a front-end collision, my 06 black sand pearl Scion tC had to go to the body shop to get the bumper and drivers side quarter panel replaced (plus radiator damage, etc.)

Well, after washing my car today I found holograms EVERYWHERE. I don't own/have never used a rotary or DA polisher of any sort. And nobody else has touched my paint. I have done hand polishing with Meguiars Dual Crystal and I hand wax with 26. But this never made holograms or swirls. I am positive that they are holograms as I walk across I see them seemingly popping in/out of the paint. Swirls are also there. As you can imagine, I'm very upset. I'm thinking the body shop must have used a rotary and messed it up.

I'll have pics up soon, my camera batteries are charging. Are there any other causes of holograms? what do you all suggest I do?

Thanks

themightytimmah · 08-09-07, 06:31

Yep, most body shop buff guys don't take the time to do things right... they often finish with a rotary and an oily glaze/compound mix in poor lighting.

I would highly recommend speaking to your insurance agent about the unacceptable nature of this work. He will likely recommend taking it back to the same shop, and they might do it right if given some prodding (having a more experienced employee polish it out, using a filler-free polish, using a dual action to finish. If they don't do it right on the 2nd try, demand that the body shop pay a local Autopian pro to do it right.

You might be able to borrow a PC or Cyclo or UDM from a local Autopian and knock it out that way. You don't run the risk of the body shop removing more clear, but it will take a while, esp for an inexperienced user.

D&D Auto Detail · 08-09-07, 06:41

Yep, very typical.

tC_Crazy · 08-09-07, 09:14

Yeah I was afraid of that. I'm going to contact the body shop tomorrow as a "prospective customer" and just do some prodding to see what their usual process is. If they indicate polishing by rotary then I'll definitely contact state farm and tell them what's up. I'm just hoping it isn't too late because the car was completed july 12th. I (very unfortunately) have been extremely busy this summer and this was actually just the second time I washed my car. The first time I did I got rained out and had no garage. The dirt/water spots made it impossible to see the holograms. Well, hopefully this will get worked out. I was heartbroken when I saw the finish in direct sun.

Oh, and just for the record the shop was Collision Revision, a fairly large chain in Illinois. They do warrant their work for lifetime, so we'll see how this goes tomorrow.

Thanks for the suggestions guys

David Fermani · 08-09-07, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by tC_Crazy

If they indicate polishing by rotary then I'll definitely contact state farm and tell them what's up. I'm just hoping it isn't too late because the car was completed july 12th.
Oh, and just for the record the shop was Collision Revision, a fairly large chain in Illinois. They do warrant their work for lifetime, so we'll see how this goes tomorrow.

Did State Farm recommend this shop to you as one of their "Direct Repair Shops"? If they didn't, you're wasting your time contacting them. If it's your choice of shop, it's your problem. You'll have to work it out directly with the shop. If it was one of SF's shops, they should stand behind a quality repair and go to bat for you.

JayC · 08-09-07, 09:48

My dad just had his car repainted by a shop here local.. theyve had it back 3 times to get the holograms out and they keep using a glaze on it that covers them up until it rains, then theyre right back. I keep trying to get him to bring it over but he keeps carrying it back to them.

GregCavi · 08-09-07, 09:53

It's very typical of body shop work. I wouldn't hold your breath at all on getting the body shop to fix it correctly. Save yourself tons of heartache and find a local autopia detailer right now. It will be fixed correctly and for good that way. You mentioned finding out if they use a rotary on the car. I would say about 99.9% of body shops use rotaries. That's how it is. Sorry you had to go through this. I have been through it myself.

Greg

Scottwax · 08-09-07, 09:54

Stay away from body shop chains, they are as bad as dealership body shops.

If your insurance company paid the body shop directly, they should go to bat for you. If you got a check from them and paid the body shop yourself, then they won't.

David Fermani · 08-09-07, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

If your insurance company paid the body shop directly, they should go to bat for you. If you got a check from them and paid the body shop yourself, then they won't.

I write checks to body shops all day long and I have zero recourse after doing it. The only time an insurance company will issue a check directly to you is when you don't have a leinholder and you request it. Otherwise, if you have a leinholder, they have to make a 2-party check to either you & the shop or you & the leinholder.

Again, if it's not a Direct Shop of State Farm, they won't/don't need to get involved.

tC_Crazy · 08-09-07, 11:28

Yeah, State Farm did recommend it as a direct shop. And they paid the shop directly. I will tell State Farm about their use of glaze as a cover-up for irresponsible rotary use. The damn place gave an initial guesstimate of $3,500, which was then changed to a real estimate of $4,500 and by the time all work was done, they juiced state farm for over $7,500.

And just my luck my digicam lens won't open or move in any way. I can borrow my sister's tomorrow, however. I got one picture in... i'll post in a minute.

tC_Crazy · 08-09-07, 11:35

Look where the sun hits the paint... it's a little washed out but the holograms are there.

David Fermani · 08-10-07, 07:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by tC_Crazy

Yeah, State Farm did recommend it as a direct shop. I will tell State Farm about their use of glaze as a cover-up for irresponsible rotary use. The damn place gave an initial guesstimate of $3,500, which was then changed to a real estimate of $4,500and by the time all work was done, they juiced state farm for over $7,500.

Sounds like it was hit pretty hard!! State Farm is totally on the hook for the poor finishing work of their shop. Try to work with the shop 1st, but if the lines of communication fail, definately get State Farm involved. I have a strong feeling that if this shop is this incompetent in the 1st place, they won't be able to correct their own work. If you agree to take it to an outside source, they will off the hook. Especially if it can't be corrected, which could be the case. Good luck.

I know of a redo claim right now on a early 2000's Porsche Turbo where State Farm put over $40,000 into fixing it at one of their shops. The car came out terrible(unsafe) and they are now on the hook for corrective repairs for $50,000 more!!! The bad repair has to be completely cut-out and redone with new parts.