Advice on body shop repair

[BillyBoy14]

Someone went into the back of my car recently at low speed. It seemed to be just cosmetic damage, bumper needed a respray, so I took it to a local ChipsAway who I'd used before.

They repaired the bumper but along the lip of the bumper there were several blemishes, which is what the guy called them. They were like tiny chips that you could feel with your finger, and they glistened in the light. I saw them straight away when I walked up to the rear of the car. Because the car is only 5 months old he was happy to spray it again, but he told me you'll not get it perfect, they aren't robots like in the factory and because the car is metallic silver it makes it even harder.

They carried out the respray yesterday. He phoned me to say it was 99% perfect and there was only one blemish. When I looked at it I still found a number of blemishes but one was really noticeable. A picture is here:

I'm still not happy with it but is what he's saying correct, could I expect this from any body shop? Or am I being too pedantic?

The other things I found are minor, pictures below. If it was just these I would live with them:

Cheers!

 

[Vick N]

A good bodyshop can make that perfecf. Robot painters in factory's are rubbish compared to a skilled human painter.

Smart repairs tend to have these sort of issues.

 

[markjay]

I think that a perfect finish can only be achieved by removing the bumper, stripping and respraying it, in a proper dust-free paintshop and allowing the paint to harden in a humidity-controlled and temperature-controlled environment.

Smart repair is far quicker and cheaper, but there's a limit to what you can get from a roadside repair using quick-drying paint that is exposed to the elements.

On a related point... presumably you were claiming of the other party's policy? If so, why not take the car to a Mercedes-Benz approved body-shop, get the car sorted properly and retain the car's paint warranty, while you drive a rental at the insurer's expense?

I.e., smart repair is usually the sort of compromise you make when you are paying for it out of your own pocket.....

 

[Justintyme]

Someone went into the back of my car recently at low speed. It seemed to be just cosmetic damage, bumper needed a respray, so I took it to a local ChipsAway who I'd used before.

They repaired the bumper but along the lip of the bumper there were several blemishes, which is what the guy called them. They were like tiny chips that you could feel with your finger, and they glistened in the light. I saw them straight away when I walked up to the rear of the car. Because the car is only 5 months old he was happy to spray it again, but he told me you'll not get it perfect, they aren't robots like in the factory and because the car is metallic silver it makes it even harder.

They carried out the respray yesterday. He phoned me to say it was 99% perfect and there was only one blemish. When I looked at it I still found a number of blemishes but one was really noticeable. A picture is here:

Not true. Its the job of a painter to restore the finish to match the original, and it can and is being done all the time. The only difference between Factory robotic painting and Panel shop painting are the conditions under which the work is done. Generally, factory conditions are as perfect as they can be.

I'm still not happy with it but is what he's saying correct, could I expect this from any body shop? Or am I being too pedantic?

The other things I found are minor, pictures below. If it was just these I would live with them:

Cheers!

 

[stagwcb]

Take it to a proper body shop, it will effect the value otherwise.

 

[BillyBoy14]

Thanks for the advice.

I agreed with the guy that went into me to not go through insurance, obviously a massive (and potentially costly) mistake now, but you live and learn.

I've got 4 quotes, all from body shops that will remove the bumper, they vary a bit! (The original ChipsAway quote was £350).

£150 - local independent body shop, they charge £150 a panel.
£320 - another local independent body shop.
£1300 - MB approved body shop, they are attached to the dealership I bought the car from.
£2700 - Another MB approved body shop that is local.

Really not sure what to do. £150 seems too cheap, £2700 is out of the question, £1300 was out of the question until I got the £2700 one!

Both the MB approved body shops made a big deal of saying they'll reset the system after removing and putting back the parking sensors, not sure if it's something to worry about if I take it elsewhere?

Any further advice is much appreciated.

 

[PGW124]

You can undo your agreement not to go through the insurance in light of new information. Chips away spend too much on 0800 numbers and branding and not enough on the job in my opinion. Don’t worry about parking sensors, more worry about the parts you can’t see like crash bar and mounts. Has the other guy actually got insurance? If so call them, the at fault insurance company is usually more helpful than yours.

 

[ShaunB]

I think I'd just live with that to be honest, it doesn't look like something to be getting worried and stressed over

 

[BillyBoy14]

I think I'd just live with that to be honest, it doesn't look like something to be getting worried and stressed over

Yeah, I'm leaning to this at the minute. Is it worth £1300 of my money to get it done, probably not.

 

[ShaunB]

Its not worth £1300 quid of anyone's money, as for the gangsters looking £2700, what planet are they on.

 

[clk320x]

Yeah, I'm leaning to this at the minute. Is it worth £1300 of my money to get it done, probably not.

Won’t the other person be paying?

 

[Justintyme]

The first thing to say is that its 100% restorable to pre-accident condition. And that's what you should aim for. Forget 1'300 quote, and as for the scalpers who wanted 2'700....words fail me. A perfect job should come in well under the 1'000 mark... between 5-800, is my guess. Whichever panel shop you select, ask to see some of their work. The good ones will only be too happy to show you their finished product. There is plenty here on the forum, who would know about good body shops in your area. maybe they can recommend one?

 

[BillyBoy14]

Won’t the other person be paying?

He paid me for the ChipsAway work, but was keen to pay before the work was done, another mistake!

The first thing to say is that its 100% restorable to pre-accident condition. And that's what you should aim for. Forget 1'300 quote, and as for the scalpers who wanted 2'700....words fail me. A perfect job should come in well under the 1'000 mark... between 5-800, is my guess. Whichever panel shop you select, ask to see some of their work. The good ones will only be too happy to show you their finished product. There is plenty here on the forum, who would know about good body shops in your area. maybe they can recommend one?

I'm in the Woking and Guildford area, so any recommendations would be great. I'm only going off online reviews but given my local ChipsAway had all 5 stars on Google and Facebook I can't fully trust them!

The body shop I got the £150 quote from was the only one to show me around the body shop, he showed me what they were currently working on etc and the finish they were getting. I just have a nagging doubt it could come back worse from there.

 

[ShaunB]

Won’t the other person be paying?

Would you want to fork out £1300 quid for the small blemish we see on the photo?
I certainly wouldn't, never mind the fact that the person probably might not be able to afford to throw £1300 at something which seems so small, so it'll be an insurance job then

 

[BillyBoy14]

Would you want to fork out £1300 quid for the small blemish we see on the photo?
I certainly wouldn't, never mind the fact that the person probably might not be able to afford to throw £1300 at something which seems so small, so it'll be an insurance job then

There's lots of small blemishes (like in my last photo), that go all the way along the bumper.

 

[John]

It sounds like you have been pressurised into the situation you now find yourself in - you will certainly learn from this should you ever be in the same boat again...

Putting myself in your shoes, I would ask if I can live with the outcome.

If you can, forget about it.

If not, start the ball rolling with the insurance and get it repaired properly. I would advise the third party of this unless they wish to stump up for a better repair. My local (ish - everything is relative) repairers would charge around £250 to sort that kind of problem out. This is assuming you have their details and of course as said, if they actually have insurance (check their vehicle reg on the Motor Insurance Database online).

Don't forget if you claim, even though it is not your fault, unfortunately statistically you are more likely to be involved in an accident (because obviously you have been) so your insurance premium come renewal will almost certainly rise.

How much depends on your circumstances by how much.

So it may be it suits your wallet more to just live with the damage in long run if your premium is not exactly cheap to start with.

And above all else... just remember the law of sod. If you leave the car as is, nothing else will happen. If you get it repaired properly, something else is bound to happen to it!