Am I being picky? Urbsy?

[Little John]

Hiya
On the 31st October someone decided my car looked better with a mod to the bumper.
Photo in this post

The car has been returned to me 3 times as I wasn't happy due to scratches on the new bumper the first time the number plate was in the wrong place ffs and full of scuff marks on the raised corners as if they had placed it face down on the floor. so I rejected it and they took it away again.

The 2nd time they had sorted the number plate and some of the scuff marks but introduced very light scratches to the surface that catch the light and I don't like them and have spent the last year almost removing them from the car.

The 3rd attempt again still some some scuff marks and some of the paint was matte and rough (unfinished) so I refused it again. As a result the garage wanted me to go and discuss my problems with the work they had done. So I went and picked the car up, an independent inspector is going to come and take a look at it. as I am still not happy.

Check the photos out and let me know if you would be happy. remember this accident was not my fault. and this is supposed to be a new freshly painted bumper. Do they come primed and painted or come painted and the garage has destroyed it? sorry about the size of the photos.

Spoiler:

Face on you can see the corner with the scuff mark and all the light scratches some not so light.


This is shot from below and up to show one of the scuff marks this is the one you can see on the edge of the face near the piece of leaf in the above photo. you can see the grey section just below the flash glare. I will take some shots during the day light tomorrow and check the rest of the bumper out.

I really apreciate your thoughts on this, I know its only a Vectra but its my car and I like it looking as good as it can. The poor work that has been done on it just iritates me that they were happy to send it out in worse condition on their first delivery attempt.

LJ

[ethanhawk]

Nearly all Vauxhall bumpers come in Primer and then garage paints them m8.

If its down for a new bumper then bumper should look like brand new , no marks no swirl marks etc.

The repaired and replaced panels should look like they did before accident and if they dont then garage should sort out any problems you have.
Speak to ur insurance company if garage dont help you.

Hope this helps

[prezzy]

I defo wouldn't accept it, if being repaired with a new bumper it should be as new. Like said get in touch with your insurance company and tell them you aren't happy with the work carried out.

[Epiphany]

I'd reject that too. It should be like new. If they argue, threaten them with trading standards and a strongly worded letter to HQ.

[urbsy]

As said they come in primer so have to be painted, the problem with these as I said in the other thread the front grills are an absolute bastard to change.
Id be very close to 100% sure that the scratches will have resulted from the bumper been on a tressel while the bits and bobs were changed over and it wasn't protected properly.

They have more then likely wet flatted the marks and polished them up to hide them but not very successfully by the sound of it.
The rough paint edges and the dryness is unacceptable, admittedly some bumpers are a swine to get right into the corners etc but these ones you can paint from 50 yards away without a problem.

The assessor that comes out should see that its shite, in the meantime I'd be trying a couple of reputable bodyshops for opinion and for quotes to put the work right m8.

urbsy

[Gherkin]

I wouldn't be happy with that job either mate. As you say, you want your car to look the best as I do mine.

I would be straight onto the insurance company!

[DB]

Would i fuck be happy!!!

Surely they have a soft surface they could rest on if they need this to perform the task.

Anything less than perfect is not good enough mate.

[Little John]

I have emailed the images to the company dealing with the claim. Its nightmare I phoned the company I paid my money to who then put me through to another company who took all the same details who said I wouldn't need to pay any excess with some credit agreement that they take out.

The 2nd company specified the garage and arranged for a hire car. The garage picked the car up and the hire company delivered a hire car. So many companies involved and I have a feeling that they are related in some way especially the hire company and the guys my insurance company put me through to.

So does anyone know of reputable body shops in the Bolton and North Manchester area? The one I used to use round the corner has been knocked down in the week. move "luxury apartments" I believe.

I feel like emailing the pictures to the body shop manager and asking him if he thinks the work done is acceptable. I'm actually dreading seeing the whole of the car for the first time in full day light so I can see how bad the rest of the car has become after their washing technique, all the arm work over the last year destroyed by someone washing it carelessly.

[apllrd]

Hi LJ, you could try the bmw place near bolton college, on the slip road/railway bridge (as your going past glynwebb) coming off manchester road heading towards bolton, they did a cracking job on my car.

[cosmicma]

Hi LJ, you could try the bmw place near bolton college, on the slip road/railway bridge (as your going past glynwebb) coming off manchester road heading towards bolton, they did a cracking job on my car.

i'l second that
the BMW dealers on orlando bridge did an astra of mine a while ago somebody had drove into the side of it so a new door and repaired wheel arch was done the job was perfect

[Little John]

Finally the independent inspector has been and just left.

Unfortunately the guy from the garage was here also and kept going on about it is impossible to get a black car free of swirl marks and if I have a product or method of removing them I should sell it. I know this isn't the case I know people that work in paint correction and they can clear swirl marks on black cars.

Hi did point out another mark above the mark on one of the photos that is blocked by glare on my shot I should have wiped it before taking photos. I can't say that was there or not before. on the 2nd photo it does look like it was there but its out of focus.

He is still claiming it is due to being driven back wards and forwards between their garage and my cobbled street.

Ohh and the insurance company have said ok to my wheel being refurbished. shame no one has informed me.

The garage guy also said that they used diamond brite on it wtf is that I think it is some sort of paint protectant process. I am sure that they can apply it in the few hours between each time it was returned to them and back to me.

Ohh another thing the guy said is that vauhxhall don't actually paint the underside of the bumper it is left white? you know the bit shown on the 2nd photo I am sure I would have noticed this during cleaning and polishing it in the past so he is claiming that the work done is better than it was when it left the manufacturer.

[apllrd]

Hi LJ, i have the diamondbrite on my car, i beleive it's a type of teflon coating to protect the paint and reduce the need for waxing. done a pretty good job, there where still no stone chips on the bonnet after 5 years. (bonnet has been replaced since due to a 'bump')

[Tommy J]

Hi Little John,

I use to deal with complaints about approved garages for an insurance company.

Get onto the people dealing with your claim and demand that you get this sorted. Write a nice litter of complaint about how many times this has gone back and with a little luck you might get your excess back (edited: just realised, you didn't pay it - sorry). Don't give up. It's not acceptable and in this day and age, companies don't give a shit and "that just isn't right".

If you can, PM me the company Name and the company dealing with your complaint, I might know someone who can help (I might not though).

[urbsy]

He's right, black cars are difficult to get rid of swirl marks, but christ it's not impossible lol.
Paint polishing compounds come in different grades, (bit like sandpaper as an rough example) finishing with hand glaze.
It's a matter of using lets say Farecla G3, then G10 and then finishing with a hand glaze, it's not rocket science tbh.
Why the fuck they need to polish a bumper to the knackers is beyond me tbh, their painters must be shite.
We use diamond bright and it's very good, but there's no point putting it on top of paint that hasn't actually been prepared properly.

He is somewhat right with the words that foxhall bumpers are 'loosely' painted at the factory and the bottoms aren't always fully covered, but there never pure white.
Painting them fully isn't a bragging point after turning out shite work, the bloke sounds a right arsehole.

urbsy

[Little John]

I received a letter from the assesor today and aparently I showed him a scuff mark and he beleives that has been done after the paint gob and that he is satisfied with the work the garrage has done.

I am so fucked off at the moment. I have photos of the car 20 minutes after I received it back from them with marks on it that can't happen with the drive I took on the M60, FFS