The White Dog

[Rashman]

Considering how you look after your car mate, I wouldnt settle for anything less than taking your car down there so he can match it up with his swatches! - I know I wouldnt.


IIRC, there are 7 flavours of 744, so there most likely are the same for yours too.

Hey Karl,

Yes, I hear you bud.

After Simon's comments about the headlight washer covers etc, it has got me thinking

I am currently waiting for a call from the bodyshop guy to discuss all this with him.

I agree with what you say and I think I might have to suffer the possibility of my car being with them for the duration of the works, as apposed to me taking the car to them when they have finished painting the new bumper

I want this done properly, so I guess that means doing it in the way that is best for the car

 

[Rashman]

if the bodyshop uses Mercedes' paint system (Glasurit, I think), all you need is the paint code, and the match will be perfect .. especially as your car's paint has not suffered any wear or fading.

if bodyshop does not use Glasurit, find 1 that does.

Hey Sean,

Thanks for your input... I will certainly be discuss your comments with John from the bodyshop when he calls me in a short while!

 

[Rashman]

this makes me very uncomfortable ...

MB has the build information for your car, including paint code ... if bodyshop uses Mercedes paint system, that's all it needs.

they don't sound like they know what they are doing

Funnily enough, I said to John "surely you know what paint is on my car from the chasis number"?!

But he went on to say that yes, the chasis number tells them what colour the car is, but that there are different variants of colours

I will have all this out with him when he calls....

 

[Rashman]

Hi Rash,

Well, I have been away in Canada and spent my first waking hours here reading your thread (2 cups of tea later).

OMG. . what a nightmare mate. I know how you feel (and then multiply it by 10 for you as I know how you take care of your baby).

As you know mine was "bashed" a short time ago, but I am thankfully pleased with the outcome etc. For you, the added emotional element due to the animal and the poor dog owner (good call by the way) and the furustration of the insurance company etc has made the whole event a consuming mental occupation I am sure.

Just wanted to wish you all the best with it and hope the repairs go to the standard you need.

(arm around shoulder)

Cheers Rash. Good man and very hard luck in the circumstances.

Hey Rob, great to hear from you!

Firstly, thanks so much for taking the time to read through this thread! Much appreciated bud.

I'm glad all went well with yours, too.

You're right, this whole incident has been very draining, with lots of various factors involved

Now that I have concluded the issues with the dog and owner, it's just a case of concentrating on the repair work.

But this is the most stressful aspect

Thanks very much for your well wishes and I hope to have good news for you soon.

 

[Rashman]

Ok,

So I just got off the phone from the bodyshop..

Firstly to Sean, they do use the Glasurit system.

He explained that the reason there are sometimes variants of colours is because at the factory, paint is in a big vat. When the factory introduces a new colour, they sluice out the vat ready to fill it with the new colour.

After sluicing, there is often the case that there are traces of the old colour still present in the vat, which then mixes with the new paint when it is put into the vat.

Because of this, swatches are provided and circulated to take this brief "contamination" into account, hence there sometimes being variants to colours.

I discussed the headlight washer covers, blending of front wings and colour matching etc..

He said using the bumper piece to match the paint is possible, but he would really be looking to match the paint with the paint that is on the front wings, so it seems that I will need to take the car to them to do this.

Regarding headlight washer covers and bumper trim..

He said, lets get the car up there and match up the paint and go from there. There may be a chance he will not need to paint the washer covers and trim.. but there is every possibility that they may need to.

If this is the case, he said that he will contact David Skinner (Service Manager at Maidstone Mercedes) to arrange for my car to be stored with them, away from the bodyshop's busy, dusty environment.

He said that there is a good chance that they will not need to blend the front wings.
I hope this is the case because I don't want any overspray issues!!
Plus the fact there is copious amounts of wax on the wings which will take them a while to remove to ensure the paint adheres.
Also undoing all my years of waxing! lol

So I will be picking a dry day next week (if that is possible ) and taking my car up there to match the paint.



Just have to go from there.

 

[trapperjohn]

You might want to ask them NOT to valet your car when it is done Rash. Perhaps you would feel a little better doing all that yourself. Just let them clean off whatever residues are about the car when they have finished (even that might be a bit risky!!) I don't think you would fancy man and lance + TFR going at your car at the back of the paint shop or dealership. Just a thought.

 

[Rashman]

You might want to ask them NOT to valet your car when it is done Rash. Perhaps you would feel a little better doing all that yourself. Just let them clean off whatever residues are about the car when they have finished (even that might be a bit risky!!) I don't think you would fancy man and lance + TFR going at your car at the back of the paint shop or dealership. Just a thought.

Hey John,

Oh, I'm way ahead of you there!

There will be no monkey with a dirty sponge going anywhere near my car!!

I will happily do the clean-up myself.

I have detailed the car fully since the incident, so I will present the car to them in more than showroom condition. This is so they can see first hand how the car is cared for!

The only time they will need to go near my car is when they install the new bumper, which should only be a half hour/ an hours job.

So if they even think that my car needs a valet, I will take that as an insult.

 

[trapperjohn]

I was just a bit concerned it might be "policy" to give everything a "washover" before it left the paintshop. I have a feeling The Rashman will be in full attendance whilst the bumper is being fitted.

 

[acej]

Rash

Just got back from travelling do only just picked up on the thread.

Glad your ok and I think you've handled the whole situation like a real gent.

Well done my man.

J

 

[Rashman]

I was just a bit concerned it might be "policy" to give everything a "washover" before it left the paintshop. I have a feeling The Rashman will be in full attendance whilst the bumper is being fitted.

lol.... absolutely!

I will be taking the time off work to literally stand outside their workshop and watch them as they work.

If it's raining.. I'll simply take an umbrella. My Mercedes umbrealla, of course

And yes, you're right. I believe complimentary car washes are common place.

Maidstone Mercedes know not to clean my car when they ever have it.. I just need to make this clear to the bodyshop too.

 

[Rashman]

Rash

Just got back from travelling do only just picked up on the thread.

Glad your ok and I think you've handled the whole situation like a real gent.

Well done my man.

J

Hey Justin, good to hear from you bud

Thanks for your knd words and I hope your travels went well

To be honest, there was no other way I could handle the whole thing really.

As I mentioned, I had a decent chat with Alex (the dog owner) and he is a nice guy. I just couldn't ask him for anything. Just didn't sit well with me at all, after talking to him.

As for the repairs.. I have done everything I possibly can. It'll now be in the hands of the bodyshop to do a good job.

I've got everyone relevent at Maidstone Mercedes involved, as well as the bodyshop, so there really is nothing more I can do but wait until they get the new bumper from Germany and let them get to work.

I'm very nervous about it but it's in their hands now. They know they need to get this spot on otherwise there'll be alot of butts getting kicked.

They can't say they weren't warned or briefed about the car, it's condition, the past experience I had with this bodyshop or the standard of work that is expected.

I'll keep updating this thread until I've got it all sorted, so stayed tuned!


Hope to see you soon bud.

 

[BEJ]

Dry days -- Huh.
Wife and I were meeting friends for lunch which involved a 40 mile drive. Weather forecast was dry with sunny periods, so decided to take the SLK.
While enjoying our lunch I glanced out of the window only to see it p--ssing it down.
Not happy, the car got WET!!!

I hope everthing goes well for you Rash.

 

[Rashman]

Dry days -- Huh.
Wife and I were meeting friends for lunch which involved a 40 mile drive. Weather forecast was dry with sunny periods, so decided to take the SLK.
While enjoying our lunch I glanced out of the window only to see it p--ssing it down.
Not happy, the car got WET!!!

I hope everthing goes well for you Rash.

Oh maaaan!

Sorry to hear that bud.

I hope you had a good lunch though.

I hear what you say though.. the chances of the weather giving me a break while I'm running the car to and from Mercedes are pretty slim.

Monday is looking ok at the moment though, so I may well run the car up to the bodyshop and get them to match the paint.
Then I can get the car home until they call me to install the new bumper.

I'll have to swap my wheels over - put my old ones on, so they don't damage my good ones - but apart from that, my car will just be in the garage until they call me.

 

[C240Sport97]

He explained that the reason there are sometimes variants of colours is because at the factory, paint is in a big vat. When the factory introduces a new colour, they sluice out the vat ready to fill it with the new colour.

After sluicing, there is often the case that there are traces of the old colour still present in the vat, which then mixes with the new paint when it is put into the vat.

Because of this, swatches are provided and circulated to take this brief "contamination" into account, hence there sometimes being variants to colours.

this sounds completely like an old wife's tale to me.

I don't believe that in the 21st century, they haven't figured out a way to clean the paint vat thoroughly.

 

[Rashman]

this sounds completely like an old wife's tale to me.

I don't believe that in the 21st century, they haven't figured out a way to clean the paint vat thoroughly.

Hey Sean

Yeah, I hear you.
I took my car down to Mercedes this morning.
I will reply fully later today.

Hope you are well bud.

 

[Rashman]

this sounds completely like an old wife's tale to me.

I don't believe that in the 21st century, they haven't figured out a way to clean the paint vat thoroughly.

Hey,

Ok, so from what he was saying, it's when they add a new batch of the same colour. So, from what I gathered from him, when a vat becomes empty, they sluice it out before filling it again. He was saying that, although filling the vat with another load of paint the same colour, the new batch may be a very slightly different mix to that of the paint that was in the vat before - hence the need for their swatches.

I'm no expert on the factory facilities or the way they do things and I don't know enough about the paint processes to know whether he was having me on or not.

I went along this morning to have my paint matched to their swatches.

Sure enough, John met me with two swatches in his hand.

One was too dark a shade but the other one he had seemed to be bang on.

I talked to him about the necessity to paint the towing eye cover and the headlight washer covers. He said that it really would be best to pain all of these things at the same time to ensure that they all match.

He diden't feel they would need to blend in the front wings.

I spoke with him about getting the fog light housings and centre mesh perfectly lined up on the new bumper and he assured me that these components simply bolt into place and that there is only one position they can go in - so there shouldn't be an issue with these at all.

I asked him about the chrome strips that go on the bumper corners.

He said that he has ordered new ones, so they don't need to worry about getting them off my old bumper and transfering them.

So it seems that I will need to take my car to them when they receive the new bumper and leave it with them until they have finished.

I stressed again, the importance of getting this right - and even mentioned the issues Rob is having with his Black Series!.

He said that David Skinner, Darren Bond, himeslf AND his manager will be overseeing this job.. so between the lot of them, they should get it right!


An arrangment has also been made for Maidstone Mercedes to store my car in their workshop, up on one of their lifts, out of the way, until the new bumper is ready to go on.

Can't fault David Skinner there.. he's being really good at trying to accommodate me so far

I think the bodyshop also want my car out of the way to, so it's one less thing for them to worry about.

So tonight, or sometime this week, I will put my old wheels on the car (so they haven't got to worry about damaging them either!) and wait for them to call when they have the new bumper......

 

[trapperjohn]

Old wheels. Good idea.

I think the bodyshop also want my car out of the way to, so it's one less thing for them to worry about.

^Surely not.

Dont forget to ask them how long the paint has to dry/harden before you can start polishing. whoops sorry - detailing again.

 

[Rashman]

I think the bodyshop also want my car out of the way to, so it's one less thing for them to worry about.

^Surely not.

Lol!! I think they want me off their job sheets as quickly as possible!

Yes, old wheels!
They will need to take the front near side wheel off to install the new wheel arch liner, so I will be putting my old wheels on tonight.

As for the paint, yes, I need to ask them how long I need to wait for the paint to fully cure before waxing the hell out of it! Lol

I have some catch-up to do.. Rest of the car has been waxed 74 times

 

[C240Sport97]

why not get MB to come round to your house to take off the bumper ..

you can bring the car in for fitting new bumper when the time comes

 

[C240Sport97]

when a vat becomes empty, they sluice it out before filling it again. He was saying that, although filling the vat with another load of paint the same colour, the new batch may be a very slightly different mix to that of the paint that was in the vat before - hence the need for their swatches.

I'm no expert on the factory facilities or the way they do things and I don't know enough about the paint processes to know whether he was having me on or not.

I'm no expert either but it still does not make any sense ...

what this means is that there should be cars of the same colour out there that look markedly different.