|
|
Post by Martin on Sept 17, 2019 15:48:37 GMT
Nothing like the scale of PGs incident, but paintwork required which has been the one thing I've felt a bit stressed about this car since buying it. It was on for a service last week and as we walked back out to the car, Lindsay spotted a bit of damage from 10m or so away. She hadn't noticed it when we'd got into the car at home, so I was fairly sure it had happened that day, but as it's on the passenger side, couldn't be 100% sure. I was honest and said that to the service manager, but she didn't hesitate before telling me they were very sorry if it had happened whilst in their care and they would fix it. I was prepared for a bit of a battle, but no need. There is a small crease in the edge of the wing which has broken the paint and a scuff on the bumper. Took it in this morning as it's the first opportunity I've had. I've got everything crossed they can match the paint!!  |
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Sept 17, 2019 15:56:50 GMT
Do they have a clue how much work they are going to have to do to match the paint? Fingers crossed they have a good bodyshop.
|
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Sept 17, 2019 16:11:58 GMT
Do they have a clue how much work they are going to have to do to match the paint? Fingers crossed they have a good bodyshop. I did mention it, but I couldn't say for sure! They have their own bodyshop and as you'd guess, I'm not going to accept anything other than a great job! |
|
|
|
Post by michael on Sept 17, 2019 16:22:06 GMT
That’s very annoying. The dealer sounds reasonable which is a good thing. Don’t BMW have master mechanics to parachute in for tricky jobs? Perhaps they have similar for these trick paints?
|
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Sept 17, 2019 16:32:45 GMT
Do they have a clue how much work they are going to have to do to match the paint? Fingers crossed they have a good bodyshop. I did mention it, but I couldn't say for sure! They have their own bodyshop and as you'd guess, I'm not going to accept anything other than a great job! Someone reversed into my 320D which was Titanium silver and I remember saying to the bodyshop manager that I hoped they could get silver to match because it can sometimes be difficult. He told me that was his job and it would be perfect. I took that with more than a pinch of salt but I couldn't tell it had been sprayed even in different lights - it was a great job. RIP Henry Bros who were taken over by Douglas Park and have headed steadily south ever since. |
|
|
|
Post by PG on Sept 17, 2019 17:47:50 GMT
Ouch! But top marks to the dealer for agreeing to fix it.
That's creased right on the edge of the panel, so they'll need to get that sorted first before even worrying about the paint. Let's hope they don't just sent the apprentice down to Halfords for a touch up can......
|
|
|
|
Post by Boxer6 on Sept 17, 2019 19:24:35 GMT
Fair play to the dealer for being so quick to offer to pay. I simply cannot imagine any dealer I've ever used doing that unbidden! (Douglas PArk have not covered themselves in glory regarding gearbox issues suffered by a colleague in her MINI One; needed a new box in the end, they wanted some ridiculous figure simply to look at it!
|
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 17, 2019 21:45:48 GMT
The dealer had no reason to do that as you had no real proof so that really is very good service. It's frustrating when things like this happen to areas of the car you often don't look at when getting back to it such as passenger doors or near side bumper corners as you only ever notice something's wrong days later by which time you've parked it all sorts of places.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Sept 18, 2019 7:45:17 GMT
Mrs. Sacamano ran a VW/Audi bodyshop in Newcastle and always said silver was the hardest to get right (with the exception of those Nissan "flip" colours they did on the Primera in the 90s). They'll need to do a complete re-spray of the panel. The worst option is if they get one of those smart repairs where they mix up on site and spray in the car park.
|
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Sept 18, 2019 9:09:01 GMT
They confirmed it wouldn’t be a smart repair and they would spray the whole panel.
I’m really nervous, but it’s down to them to get right...
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim on Sept 18, 2019 9:45:20 GMT
Good luck with that.
I think part of the front of the 370 (also silver) had been sprayed, I presumed due to stonechips. The bonnet was a tiny bit darker than the front bumper.
Could've been because one was onto plastic and the other metal though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Sept 18, 2019 10:34:27 GMT
Good luck with that. I think part of the front of the 370 (also silver) had been sprayed, I presumed due to stonechips. The bonnet was a tiny bit darker than the front bumper. Could've been because one was onto plastic and the other metal though. This was a problem that they encountered (primarily with Audi customers) in that after a repair, and even on some new cars, owners were complaining that the bumpers were a different shade to the metal panel work. They had mock ups to show, in different lighting conditions, the affects of looking from different angles at plastic and metal bodywork side by side. |
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Sept 18, 2019 11:31:25 GMT
They confirmed it wouldn’t be a smart repair and they would spray the whole panel. I’m really nervous, but it’s down to them to get right... If they have a good paint sprayer, he will consider it a professional challenge to get it right. Good luck. |
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Sept 18, 2019 12:59:10 GMT
They confirmed it wouldn’t be a smart repair and they would spray the whole panel. I’m really nervous, but it’s down to them to get right... If they have a good paint sprayer, he will consider it a professional challenge to get it right. Good luck. Thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Sept 18, 2019 14:13:32 GMT
They confirmed it wouldn’t be a smart repair and they would spray the whole panel. I’m really nervous, but it’s down to them to get right... If they have a good paint sprayer, he will consider it a professional challenge to get it right. Good luck. I think they do - I was looking at some of their other work on their website and it looks fine.  |
|
|
|
Post by Tim on Sept 18, 2019 14:16:29 GMT
Looks like the same people that did this   |
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Sept 18, 2019 14:18:40 GMT
Thankfully it’s not a Mazda or Datsun! Thanks for making me feel better....  |
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Sept 23, 2019 22:08:34 GMT
Had a call this afternoon to tell me it’s all done and ready for collection. Rather longer than “a couple of days”, I asked if there had been any issues and are they confident the colour match is perfect.....it’s been QC passed so will be right. We’ll see! Can’t get it until Thursday morning, but no issue with holding onto the loan car for longer.
On a positive note, it will have saved me over 1,000 miles of running costs, it’s been a busy week.
|
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Sept 25, 2019 15:55:12 GMT
It was finished on Tuesday, called in on the way past this afternoon to collect it.
First impressions were great, matched the bumper perfectly and couldn't tell any work had been done. Had a really close look and once you get to a couple of inches away, there are dark flecks in the paint and you can tell the difference between the finish on the bonnet edge vs the wing. It was moved around the back so they could have a look at it, then I went round to talk to the manager and the guy who sprayed it. The sun came out and it got a bit worse, still OK from a couple of metres away, but definitely not 100% right. Spoke to the guy who sprayed it who was scratching his head because he'd been talking to the BMW paint specialist at BMW UK and had been given step by step instructions on the prep, spraying and finish.
The manager was apologetic and said they would get it right, even if it means getting the pain specialist to come up to Bedford. I had the option of taking my car or leaving it with them, best option was to leave it until they've got it right. I did offer to leave the 7 with them and take something else if it was an issue, but they didn't even check with the sales team, just told me to keep it and they would square it with them.
Not great and what I was concerned about, but feel confident that they'll do what they need to in order to get it perfect.
I'd done 1050 miles in the loan car in the last 8 days, taking it just over 6,000 miles, so 5,000 in just under 7 months and 1,000 in just over 7 days! I'll keep adding to that.....
|
|
|
|
Post by michael on Sept 25, 2019 16:00:49 GMT
Would the experience stop you getting such a finish on a car again?
|
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Sept 25, 2019 16:17:02 GMT
Would the experience stop you getting such a finish on a car again? Short answer is yes. It was the only concern I had when I bought the car, but I've not let it bother me. I haven't changed my parking habits etc and it only comes into mind if there's a near miss or I see another car with damage. I'd be happy with an 'Exclusive' or 'Individual' colour if that meant a non standard colour option or even a slightly different finish, but this is just so different. It did look fantastic all cleaned up after not seeing it for a week, so the pleasure has outweighed the pain (so far!). Another positive is that when they get it right, there's a local BMW bodyshop that understands it. |
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Oct 1, 2019 18:45:11 GMT
I picked it up late afternoon on the way down to Heathrow.
I’m delighted to say that it’s perfect! Really happy and it’s comforting to know the paintwork can be matched if they do it right.
Nice to get back into it after 1,600 miles in the 740d, but didn’t miss the 4WD on streaming wet roads.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy C on Oct 1, 2019 20:15:07 GMT
Hope nobody bangs the door in the Heathrow car park
|
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Oct 1, 2019 20:21:05 GMT
Hope nobody bangs the door in the Heathrow car park The thought had crossed my mind. |
|
|
|
Post by LandieMark on Oct 1, 2019 21:59:16 GMT
I'm glad they've sorted it to your satisfaction. I never had the Legacy's wheels refurbished when Lindsey kerbed one as the smoked silver "flitter" finish was impossible to replicate apparently.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Oct 2, 2019 5:09:06 GMT
Glad they got it right. I wasnt overly happy with the paintwork on the Golf after it had its bumper repaired and that was just plain old Tornado Red, getting the finish right on your 7 must have been a hell of a challenge.
|
|
|
|
Post by PG on Oct 2, 2019 8:58:01 GMT
Good they got it right second time around.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Oct 2, 2019 9:42:27 GMT
Great news and shows you did the right thing by pointing out the first attempt imperfections. They can get it right when they try.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Oct 2, 2019 10:17:39 GMT
Good result. I half expected the area to be re-sprayed getting larger and larger until it was a complete re-spray.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisM on Oct 2, 2019 16:10:38 GMT
Hope nobody bangs the door in the Heathrow car park The thought had crossed my mind. It's too big a car for Heathrow car parks! What you really want for that is something like a Fiesta... Short and narrow to easily fit in marked bays but with a boot large enough for your luggage |
|
