Botched Paintwork from the dealer

[GizmoB73]

I bought a Silver 2004 E class nearly three weeks ago. I just picked it up on Friday from the dealer, it was raining so I couldn't see the bodywork and told them I would take it unchecked. I didn't want to wait any longer as it took nearly three weeks to get the plates transferred.

As part of the sale agreement, they had to repair a scratch on the top of the rear bumper (where someone had caught it while loading the boot) and a deep scratch on the drivers door which had been badly touched up.

Anyway, when I got it home in the dry, they have resprayed the scratch on the drivers door below the door handle and made a real mess. The scratch was quite deep, but can still be seen from an angle where they have filled it but not sanded it down properly. I can also see colour variations in the paint and blooming. They have tried to blend the paint along the top edge of the door and around the door handle, but it is quite visible . Does anybody know if this paint is laquered on the Benz as standard?

It looks to me like they have used a cheapo dent van or something who has made a mess of it. I will be taking it back to the dealer on Monday to give them an earful, but I am shocked that a Mercedes dealer would do something like this. I was also wondering about the anti-perforation warranty. Do they have to use MB approved bodyshops?

Thanks

Gizmo.

 

[IanA2]

I bought a Silver 2004 E class nearly three weeks ago. I just picked it up on Friday from the dealer, it was raining so I couldn't see the bodywork and told them I would take it unchecked. I didn't want to wait any longer as it took nearly three weeks to get the plates transferred.

As part of the sale agreement, they had to repair a scratch on the top of the rear bumper (where someone had caught it while loading the boot) and a deep scratch on the drivers door which had been badly touched up.

Anyway, when I got it home in the dry, they have resprayed the scratch on the drivers door below the door handle and made a real mess. The scratch was quite deep, but can still be seen from an angle where they have filled it but not sanded it down properly. I can also see colour variations in the paint and blooming. They have tried to blend the paint along the top edge of the door and around the door handle, but it is quite visible . Does anybody know if this paint is laquered on the Benz as standard?

It looks to me like they have used a cheapo dent van or something who has made a mess of it. I will be taking it back to the dealer on Monday to give them an earful, but I am shocked that a Mercedes dealer would do something like this. I was also wondering about the anti-perforation warranty. Do they have to use MB approved bodyshops?

Thanks

Gizmo.

I see you live in Cambridge....would your Dealer's name begin with "R" perchance..?

 

[GizmoB73]

I see you live in Cambridge....would your Dealer's name begin with "R" perchance..?

Yes, but got it from Kings Lynn. In fairness to them, they haven't had a chance to comment on this yet, but I am disappointed that they handed it to me like this in the first place.

 

[Dieselman]

Does anybody know if this paint is laquered on the Benz as standard?

It looks to me like they have used a cheapo dent van or something who has made a mess of it.

All metallics are lacquered.

They will have used a SMART repairer, and as we all know you can ALWAYS see the results.

 

[GizmoB73]

So if they have just sprayed a bit of metallic paint on the door with no lacquer, does that affect the paintwork warranty?

 

[Dieselman]

So if they have just sprayed a bit of metallic paint on the door with no lacquer, does that affect the paintwork warranty?

Probaly not as the dealer will have it documented, but it obviously isn't to MB standard and you wouldn't be able to claim from MB for any rectification.

Just get them to redo it but through the bodyshop this time.

 

[rlowy]

If the job had been done properly it would have involved filling the scratch, spraying layers of colour in two pack paint and then spraying the lacquer losing it across the passenger door and the front wing to get the best possible result. This would be a full body shop job, as would the bumper and would cost the dealer much more than a mobile scratch repair company. Most of these don't use two pack paint and after a while the repaired area will fade to expose the repair.

 

[television]

The door must be stripped of the handle rubbers and any thing else to do it to MB standards, if you spray around the handle for instance, it will start to flake away if it ever freezes, the same goes for blending and modern paints, even using the highest powered thinners, it always comes away.

You will always know it is there, every time you clean it, or see it in the sunshine

 

[rlowy]

Agreed Television. I hope I had implied that in my post.

 

[GizmoB73]

Well the manager was very apologetic and has offered to collect the car today and have it sent off to a bodyshop in Herts somewhere to have it all done properly. He claims the weather may have caused the paint to react, which I doubt, but he is loaning us his ML320cdi for a week until the problem is sorted.

All in all, the best response I could have expected, well done to them. I am just keeping my fingers crossed for now.

 

[Dieselman]

He claims the weather may have caused the paint to react,

I take it he was both awake and his lips were moving...


Why bother saying anything...??

 

[glojo]

In answer to your question about Mobilo?? warranty. All body repairs MUST be carried out by a Mercedes-Benz authorised agent which are not necessarily Mercedes main dealers.

I would guess the first attempt was made by a mobile repair merchant and would not have been covered. This would become a real issue if the area ever corroded, but I'm sure this second attempt will be done properly.

Good luck,
John

 

[GizmoB73]

Update:

Well, we got the car back at last (it took a week and a half) and they have done a great job. Well worth the wait.

I must say there was no argument, they took the car back immediately (even collected it) and had it shipped off to a bodywork specialist where they have done an impeccable job.

All the time while it was away, the manager gave us his own brand new ML320cdi which was very nice. He has been very apologetic about the problem.

Barring the mistake in the first place, the service has been spot on and they have done everything possible to make up for it. They even filled the tank before they gave it back. Well done to Robinson's at Kings Lynn! If they maintain this level of service I hope to stay with them for a very long time.

 

[Dieselman]

Nice to hear the report that all is well, shame they tried to do a cheap job to start with but at least they know your expectations now.

 

[IanA2]

Well, we got the car back at last (it took a week and a half) and they have done a great job. Well worth the wait.

I must say there was no argument, they took the car back immediately (even collected it) and had it shipped off to a bodywork specialist where they have done an impeccable job.

All the time while it was away, the manager gave us his own brand new ML320cdi which was very nice. He has been very apologetic about the problem.

Barring the mistake in the first place, the service has been spot on and they have done everything possible to make up for it. They even filled the tank before they gave it back. Well done to Robinson's at Kings Lynn! If they maintain this level of service I hope to stay with them for a very long time.

Well it's good that they finally did the job right....I may be wrong but I don't think you'll find many complementary posts about that lot on this forum, personally I prefer to drive an extra 20 miles to have the M class serviced by one of the Inchcape group.

 

[GizmoB73]

personally I prefer to drive an extra 20 miles to have the M class serviced by one of the Inchcape group.

That's interesting, I didn't realise there were any other MS dealers so close. Which one are you referring to? I Looked on the inchcape website but couldn't see anything near.

 

[IanA2]

That's interesting, I didn't realise there were any other MS dealers so close. Which one are you referring to? I Looked on the inchcape website but couldn't see anything near.

Sorry slip of the brain!....I should have written Sytner....

 

[GizmoB73]

Sorry slip of the brain!....I should have written Sytner....

Kettering is probably my closest Sytner MB dealer, probably not a lot of difference in time/distance. I'll keep them in mind.

 

[IanA2]

Kettering is probably my closest Sytner MB dealer, probably not a lot of difference in time/distance. I'll keep them in mind.

I think both Northampton & MK are also Sytner if that's any nearer....

 

[GizmoB73]

I think both Northampton & MK are also Sytner if that's any nearer....

They are both further. Think I will stick with Kings Lynn for now. Apart from their initial mistake they have been very good. It is good to know I have options if I have any more problems though.

Thanks.