The White Dog

[paulC180]

Keep cool, even though if that were my car, I would feel the same, I hate mine going for service or repair, I notice any mark on it at all, and mine is lame compared to yours.

My car had its A service done recently, and the mechanics scuffed the trim inside with a dirty boot/shoe, that stood out to me by a mile, great big dirty foot print on my trim!. straight home and cleaned it, washed it, and garaged it.

I am on edge the whole time its not sitting in my garage, so I sympathise with you, and like I say, would feel the same. But as you stated no one returns calls today, we are in a world of chasing people.

Hope it all goes well tomorrow and its returned to you in brilliant condition, it has been a real saga for you. But that is one nice car, just been looking at the photo's. Hey if you need a test pilot after the work, then give me shout.

 

[Rashman]

Keep cool, even though if that were my car, I would feel the same, I hate mine going for service or repair, I notice any mark on it at all, and mine is lame compared to yours.

My car had its A service done recently, and the mechanics scuffed the trim inside with a dirty boot/shoe, that stood out to me by a mile, great big dirty foot print on my trim!. straight home and cleaned it, washed it, and garaged it.

I am on edge the whole time its not sitting in my garage, so I sympathise with you, and like I say, would feel the same. But as you stated no one returns calls today, we are in a world of chasing people.

Hope it all goes well tomorrow and its returned to you in brilliant condition, it has been a real saga for you. But that is one nice car, just been looking at the photo's. Hey if you need a test pilot after the work, then give me shout.

Hey Paul

Mate, that's exactly how I feel.

It's a terribly stressful time, having work done on the car

The guys at the dealers know what I'm like now, which is why they have put the car right up in the air on one of their lifts until the bumper is ready to go on. Partly to look after the car but partly because they daren't risk anything happening to it while they've got it

Glad to hear you have the same love for your car
I'm sure it is a love alot of us on here share - it matters not what Mercedes model we drive.

Thanks for taking time to look at my pictures.. much appreciated

I hope to be able to report good things tomorrow

As for "test pilot".... lol... I could probably manage test passenger... test pilot would probably turn the rest of my hair grey!

 

[Rashman]

Ok, so I had an email from Darren at Mercedes this morning to say that he has inspected the bumper and found another imperfection on it

John at the Bodyshop said he will be addressing this today and the bumper should be ready to fit tomorrow.

To be honest, I am not at all hopeful that things will be concluded tomorrow.

John clearly didn't inspect the bumper well enough otherwise he would have spotted the flaw that Darren found.

This is exactly the reason why I involved Darren and David at the dealers!!

Leave things in the hands of the Bodyshop and you will find sub-standard work being handed to you as "completed"

I accept that imperfections can occur during the painting and baking process, as John told me, but for the love of god, check the finished product properly before telling the customer "it's all done"!!!!!!

So yet more time wasted.

John could have spotted the imperfection yesterday and dealt with it, making it possible for me to collect the car today.

But now another day is wasted.

That's even before I've gotten around to inspecting it!

Not happy, but trying to keep calm.

How many attempts does a Bodyshop need to paint a bumper???

 

[AMGBlack]

How many attempts does a Bodyshop need to paint a bumper??? [/QUOTE]


Oh come on my dear Rashman. . Bodyshops always get it right first time. .
You know I speak the truth..



Seriously though mate, at least they are checking it and spotting flaws. It is better they do that and you go down to pick it up and see the mess and go nuts and start foaming at the mouth.
This is the lesser of two evils and at least they are checking it. .

Its the waiting. . I know.

Try being married. You cant repair her body and get rid of imperfections over time, so get used to wear and tear on your loved one.
Hells teeth hope she does not read this!!!

 

[Rashman]

How many attempts does a Bodyshop need to paint a bumper???

Oh come on my dear Rashman. . Bodyshops always get it right first time. .
You know I speak the truth..



Seriously though mate, at least they are checking it and spotting flaws. It is better they do that and you go down to pick it up and see the mess and go nuts and start foaming at the mouth.
This is the lesser of two evils and at least they are checking it. .

Its the waiting. . I know.

Try being married. You cant repair her body and get rid of imperfections over time, so get used to wear and tear on your loved one.
Hells teeth hope she does not read this!!!
[/QUOTE]

lol!

Hey Rob

I hear you. I do.

And you are right, as mentioned by others, it is better they spot anything that needs correcting before asking me to collect the car.

But it fairness, it is Darren & David at Mercedes they are keeping an eye on things mostly.

I am so glad that I have them over-looking the work.

Without them, it would be like my previous experience with the bodyshop, where I was informing them that I am not happy with their work and needed them to do it again.

I have just received an email from David saying that he is on the case and will make sure the paint/ work is carried out to Mercedes standards and will be absolutely spot on for me.

Properly glad he and Darren are helping me with this!

Yes, you are right, it is just the waiting.

It'll be back home soon enough.

As I've said before, I don't set out to make life hard for people, I just want the best for the car and for the car to get the attention to detail it deserves, that's all.

I understand what you say about accepting wear and tear.

But wear and tear is one thing, it is quite another to accept work that you know is not 100% before it has even started wearing and tearing.

Thanks for your support bud. I'll be ok.

I just don't like set-backs - but that's life, eh

I'm alittle annoyed that the bodyshop didn't spot the flaws in the paintwork and took the dealership guys to point it out though.

Never mind.. they are apparently addressing it today and it should be ready for tomorrow..

 

[AMGBlack]

Rash, there is no wear and tear on your car lol.
Its cleaner than when they built it!!
Even rain clouds faint if they see your car outside. .
It is one of the best presented cars I have ever seen, credit too you.

But we should create our own "bodywork" moan in show..

I hear what you say and I agree 100%, but is it me or have standards just fallen out of the bottom of most things today in dealerships etc.
Build Quality, pride, passion... all the things most people were once proud off. . appears to be vanishing in the current climate. . Just look at the constant problems people have on here for a start. .

Bugga, got me depressed now!

lol

 

[Rashman]

Rash, there is no wear and tear on your car lol.
Its cleaner than when they built it!!
Even rain clouds faint if they see your car outside. .
It is one of the best presented cars I have ever seen, credit too you.

But we should create our own "bodywork" moan in show..

I hear what you say and I agree 100%, but is it me or have standards just fallen out of the bottom of most things today in dealerships etc.
Build Quality, pride, passion... all the things most people were once proud off. . appears to be vanishing in the current climate. . Just look at the constant problems people have on here for a start. .

Bugga, got me depressed now!

lol

lol!

Thanks for your kind words - they are very much appreciated.

I understand wear and tear being a part of a car and I always try to do what I can to at least slow the rate of wear and tear down. Even to the point of replacing items before they have perished! (which is why I have asked the guys at Mercedes to look at anything that might need addressing while they've got the car).

As for rain clouds fainting.. lol... they may get their chance to rain on the car that always evades them tomorrow I'll check the weather and see what it's doing.. I'm hoping to avoid rain when I pick it up. If it rains, it'll be one of the very rare occassions that I'll accept it, as getting the car back before they grit the roads is becoming my main priority now.

A "Bodyshop moan" section on the forum would be good!


I agree with what you say about standards dropping
It's a great shame - especially when it comes to high-end cars.

Business is far out-weighing things, evermore so, and it is killing things for the car enthusiasts

It is very wide-spread now with many disappointing stories turning up on the forum. Not just with customer service, but build quality as well

Having said this, I have to say again that I am thankful to have the help from David Skinner & Darren Bond at Maidstone Mercedes. They really have come to accept what I am like and do seem to have a genuine interest in AMG's and the people that buy them.

It's just a shame that when you come to need assistance from bodyshops, they really just don't seem to take onboard how valuable these cars are to their owners.

Granted not eveyone who has an AMG is like us guys on here, but you would think that they would appreciate that these aren't just random cars that need work doing to them and treat them with alittle more special attention.

I said to Darren at Mercedes when the bodyshop entered the equation, that I was very nervous about them working on the car because I know what it's like.. they have so much work going through them that they seem to just want to churn it out. This is where attention to detail falls down and standards drop.

Again, the wheels of business taking priority.

It's such a shame. People go out of their way to look after these cars. Take their cars to dealerships who have the best workshop environments to have work done on them.. and then have to sh#t themselves when an "approved" bodyshop enters the equation

Anyway, enough moaning for now.

As things stand, the car is safe, I have various managers overlooking the work, they are currently correcting the bumper today for the second time (I hope!) and I should have my car back tomorrow (again! lol)

You guys are right, in that I am glad that they are rectifying anything before asking me to collect the car... just alittle frustrating that's all.

Maybe my standards are alittle high

But I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

I'm not asking too much, surely?

If I had a run of the mill car, then you could question my expectations. But this an AMG/ Mercedes and I don't think I am asking too much at all.

 

[sjmaxwell]

Rash, there is no wear and tear on your car lol.
Its cleaner than when they built it!!
Even rain clouds faint if they see your car outside. .
It is one of the best presented cars I have ever seen, credit too you.

But we should create our own "bodywork" moan in show..

I hear what you say and I agree 100%, but is it me or have standards just fallen out of the bottom of most things today in dealerships etc.
Build Quality, pride, passion... all the things most people were once proud off. . appears to be vanishing in the current climate. . Just look at the constant problems people have on here for a start. .

Bugga, got me depressed now!

lol

When my E Coupe was brand new there was a "crease" in the petrol flap - and thats made of plastic and Maidstone couldn't paint the brand new replacement properly as it went "flat" in tone in 6 months and had to be re-done!

Rubbish buid quailty on the car but that's for another day/thread!!

 

[Will]

Without wanting to upset anyone, this all seems awfully long winded - 20 pages and nearly 300 posts for a replacement front bumper on a CLK?

I'm pretty fussy with my cars and like things to be done right, but I can't quite get my head around this. Nothing would ever get done in the world if we all took things this far

 

[brucemillar]

Without wanting to upset anyone, this all seems awfully long winded - 20 pages and nearly 300 posts for a replacement front bumper on a CLK?

I'm pretty fussy with my cars and like things to be done right, but I can't quite get my head around this. Nothing would ever get done in the world if we all took things this far

You absolute b'stard. You really upset me now. Night ruined. I'm off to start a fight with the wife.

 

[Rashman]

Without wanting to upset anyone, this all seems awfully long winded - 20 pages and nearly 300 posts for a replacement front bumper on a CLK?

I'm pretty fussy with my cars and like things to be done right, but I can't quite get my head around this. Nothing would ever get done in the world if we all took things this far

No one's asking you to follow the thread, Will.

Alot of people are interested, hence the number of pages and posts (to which you have just contributed, by the way).

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Without wanting to upset anyone, this all seems awfully long winded - 20 pages and nearly 300 posts for a replacement front bumper on a CLK?

I'm pretty fussy with my cars and like things to be done right, but I can't quite get my head around this. Nothing would ever get done in the world if we all took things this far

It makes a change that someone actually has a thread based on their car. somthing these forums are lacking these days, instead of Jimmy Saville, child benefit, moaning at the forum staff or tax dodgers.

The fact its 30pages means people have an interest in it.

 

[Rashman]

Without wanting to upset anyone, this all seems awfully long winded - 20 pages and nearly 300 posts for a replacement front bumper on a CLK?

I'm pretty fussy with my cars and like things to be done right, but I can't quite get my head around this. Nothing would ever get done in the world if we all took things this far

Another point I would like to make, Will, is that it was also my intention to document the progress of this repair, from the moment of impact with the white dog to the moment I parked my car back in the garage fixed.

I felt it was important to share this entire experience with the other fellow enthusiasts on here to give them an insight into having bodywork repairs done through approved MB workshops.

It gives a blow by blow account of the good, the bad, the service provided by both the dealership and the bodyshop.

For this reason alone, I think it has a very welcome spot on this forum.

Sorry you don't agree.

There'll come a time when you yourself will need bodywork done (if you haven't already) and I'm sure you will make use of this forum in one way or another when that time comes.

Any information put up on this forum is potentially priceless to other users, even if people like you think it's "long winded".

Pretty surprised at your post to be honest, Will - especially considering how eager you were to jump in the passenger seat at Brooklands when I first met you!

 

[C240Sport97]

folks, Will expressed an opinion, which is what forums are about.

And he said, right at the beginning:

"Without wanting to upset anyone .."

chill, everyone

 

[Rashman]

folks, Will expressed an opinion, which is what forums are about.

And he said, right at the beginning:

"Without wanting to upset anyone .."

chill, everyone

Hey Fooman

I hear you bud.

But you can't prefix a post with "Without wanting to upset anyone.." and then pile in with digs at people. That's almost cowardly.

Everyone is chilled.

By the way, I took a peek at your pictures of your new (again! lol) Porche! Very very nice!

 

[fatdazza]

There will always be the odd person who is not interested or cannot see the point in a thread, not sure why they then waste their energy posting rather than moving on to a thread that does interest them.

Your thread is real life, and I for one have found it very interesting.

Keep up the updates and don't let the buggers grind you down

 

[Starky]

Yeah rash! Sort your OCD out! Lol.

On a more serious note, I do admire the attention to detail (no pun intended) you put in to your car, and I mean all aspects.

I'm not able to give my car as much TLC as you, but I do try. I sometime's think you take things to the extreme, not that there is anything wrong with that. It is each to there own.

One thing is for I am enjoying this thread so keep posting

 

[Rashman]

There will always be the odd person who is not interested or cannot see the point in a thread, not sure why they then waste their energy posting rather than moving on to a thread that does interest them.

Your thread is real life, and I for one have found it very interesting.

Keep up the updates and don't let the buggers grind you down

Thanks bud

I completely agree.

I don't wish to make enemies on here. It's not why I use the forum, so I forgive our Will for his comments

I will update with today's events later on when I get home.

 

[Rashman]

Yeah rash! Sort your OCD out! Lol.

On a more serious note, I do admire the attention to detail (no pun intended) you put in to your car, and I mean all aspects.

I'm not able to give my car as much TLC as you, but I do try. I sometime's think you take things to the extreme, not that there is anything wrong with that. It is each to there own.

One thing is for I am enjoying this thread so keep posting

Starky, my good man!

...ocd...ocd....ocd.... help me.....



I greatly appreciate your interest in the thread.

As I said, I thought it would be a good idea to give a detailed account of the repair work. Even the smallest of details in a thread can be really helpful to some people.. like the fact there are various shades to a vehicles paint colour. It's all potentially useful stuff.

There have been countless times I have read through random threads and learned something.

Thanks for your kind words about my car care and er... OCD! lol!

I have grown alittle more obssessive about things as time has gone on, but I wouldn't have it any other way to be honest.

Having said that, I am concious of owning the car for a few years now and spending more time preserving it than driving it. I will work to find more balance in this respect next year
.... hmmm... I'm sure I said that last year...

 

[Starky]

Starky, my good man!

...ocd...ocd....ocd.... help me.....



I greatly appreciate your interest in the thread.

As I said, I thought it would be a good idea to give a detailed account of the repair work. Even the smallest of details in a thread can be really helpful to some people.. like the fact there are various shades to a vehicles paint colour. It's all potentially useful stuff.

There have been countless times I have read through random threads and learned something.

Thanks for your kind words about my car care and er... OCD! lol!

I have grown alittle more obssessive about things as time has gone on, but I wouldn't have it any other way to be honest.

Having said that, I am concious of owning the car for a few years now and spending more time preserving it than driving it. I will work to find more balance in this respect next year
.... hmmm... I'm sure I said that last year...

Ha! Ha! Nice one rash, you have a better way with words than me. As I said keep posting, even the smallest of details as you rightly say they tend to be of most help.

I'm thinking of treating my car to a trip to the spray salon soon, so no doubt I'll be reverting back to this thread. :bannana: