Garage crashed my car. What to do?

Garage crashed my car. What to do?

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Discussion

snorky782

1,115 posts

98 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
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Old Merc said:
4rephill said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
I'm surprised at how many of you are saying you can't notice when a car has been repaired. Perhaps, if it was a micro-dent or a tiny scratch, but anything larger where bumpers have to be removed and new clips used, always stick out like sore thumb in my experience.

Also, it may look good initially but after a couple of years imperfections will become a bit more obvious...a bit like plastic surgery. I know a girl who had a nose job and she looked great...now when she smiles one eye doesn't squint the same as the other side. Looks a right mess.
Sounds to Me as though you need to find some better quality body shops!
Quite right,why do people think any repair will go wrong or be carried out poorly.
Seven years ago my pride and joy Merc SL was rear end shunted.I demanded that it was repaired by a local Mercedes restoration specialist who replaced most of the rear end.Today I have just given it a polish for a show,I gaurantee you there is not a blemish in that seven year old paint job and I bet you could not find any evidence of a repair.
He'll just be one of those people who claim to have OCD, when in reality they're just fussy f***ers, who can't really tell any way, but like to pretend they can. I wonder how people like this get on with their home, as that will be full of restoration, or do they rip walls down, if they remove a picture hook?

SpeedMattersNot

4,506 posts

195 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
snorky782 said:
Old Merc said:
4rephill said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
I'm surprised at how many of you are saying you can't notice when a car has been repaired. Perhaps, if it was a micro-dent or a tiny scratch, but anything larger where bumpers have to be removed and new clips used, always stick out like sore thumb in my experience.

Also, it may look good initially but after a couple of years imperfections will become a bit more obvious...a bit like plastic surgery. I know a girl who had a nose job and she looked great...now when she smiles one eye doesn't squint the same as the other side. Looks a right mess.
Sounds to Me as though you need to find some better quality body shops!
Quite right,why do people think any repair will go wrong or be carried out poorly.
Seven years ago my pride and joy Merc SL was rear end shunted.I demanded that it was repaired by a local Mercedes restoration specialist who replaced most of the rear end.Today I have just given it a polish for a show,I gaurantee you there is not a blemish in that seven year old paint job and I bet you could not find any evidence of a repair.
He'll just be one of those people who claim to have OCD, when in reality they're just fussy f***ers, who can't really tell any way, but like to pretend they can. I wonder how people like this get on with their home, as that will be full of restoration, or do they rip walls down, if they remove a picture hook?
Who, me?! laugh You should see my cars!

I worked in the motor trade for 15 years and it's very easy to spot when a car has been worked on, especially when you know the brand. There are competent repairers (and mechanics) out there but they are few and far between. Perhaps this 'Mercedes restoration specialist' is perhaps, a specialist in the restoration of Mercedes'...but your average body shop will be full of cowboys, whether it's Fred in a Shed or a main dealer.

I'd be interested to see the OP's repair work on his car...



Alex_225

6,233 posts

200 months

Monday 27th June 2016
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If it's a dealership, let them repair it and give the repair a thorough look over once it's complete.

As mentioned already, there will be hundreds of new cars sold which have been repaired somewhere or other. You'd be hard pushed to know which have and which haven't.

Riley Blue

20,906 posts

225 months

Monday 27th June 2016
quotequote all
Alex_225 said:
If it's a dealership, let them repair it and give the repair a thorough look over once it's complete.
It's often worth reading more than the first post...

R E S T E C P

660 posts

104 months

Monday 27th June 2016
quotequote all
4rephill said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
I'm surprised at how many of you are saying you can't notice when a car has been repaired. Perhaps, if it was a micro-dent or a tiny scratch, but anything larger where bumpers have to be removed and new clips used, always stick out like sore thumb in my experience.

Also, it may look good initially but after a couple of years imperfections will become a bit more obvious...a bit like plastic surgery. I know a girl who had a nose job and she looked great...now when she smiles one eye doesn't squint the same as the other side. Looks a right mess.
Sounds to Me as though you need to find some better quality body shops!
yes We had a metallic black BMW repaired at a local independent insurance authorised place (not main dealer). New bumper and the rear quarter resprayed.
I'm very fussy and went over it with a fine-tooth comb. It was absolutely perfect and the only way you could tell a repair had been done was the lack of swirl marks on the newly painted bit!

It started off as a pile of metal and plastic, so there's no reason it can't be put together as good as new if they put the effort in.

Jonno02

2,246 posts

108 months

Monday 27th June 2016
quotequote all
I used a one man band repairer around my area. I didn't even know he existed until my other half's stepdad mentioned him. His business looks like a rusty old abandoned shed.

I had some serious gouges out of my car caused by a kid on his bike and was quoted circa £350-400 by 4 other garages which were local. This guy quoted £160 to do that damage, plus a part on the passenger door where my friend opened it onto a brick.

Workmanship - flawless. Absolutely brilliant.

Girlfriend reversed her car into a concrete garage pillar the other week. Back to this guy. I reckoned around £250 from a large outfit. Him...£100. Car sorted, again flawless and he wanted £90. Wouldn't let him reduce his price.

Smaller outfits survive based on their name. A lot of main dealers can get away with shabby work because "we carry the name" and people trust they've not done a bodge.

Pip1968

1,346 posts

203 months

Monday 27th June 2016
quotequote all
Jonno02 said:
I used a one man band repairer around my area. I didn't even know he existed until my other half's stepdad mentioned him. His business looks like a rusty old abandoned shed.

I had some serious gouges out of my car caused by a kid on his bike and was quoted circa £350-400 by 4 other garages which were local. This guy quoted £160 to do that damage, plus a part on the passenger door where my friend opened it onto a brick.

Workmanship - flawless. Absolutely brilliant.

Girlfriend reversed her car into a concrete garage pillar the other week. Back to this guy. I reckoned around £250 from a large outfit. Him...£100. Car sorted, again flawless and he wanted £90. Wouldn't let him reduce his price.

Smaller outfits survive based on their name. A lot of main dealers can get away with shabby work because "we carry the name" and people trust they've not done a bodge.
Good for him but would that be CASH ?

Pip

stuttgartmetal

8,108 posts

215 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
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[quote=Buster73]


Great stuff , bit of a bummer but all sorted plus more in the end .

Now go and spoil it all by asking for a voucher from JL like broken brains suggested.[/quote

Ooh that hurts.




Alex_225

6,233 posts

200 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
Alex_225 said:
If it's a dealership, let them repair it and give the repair a thorough look over once it's complete.
It's often worth reading more than the first post...
Yes mum! rolleyes

Andehh

7,107 posts

205 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
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Evolved said:
Only if recorded, and please don't phone the insurance!

You would be amazed at how many 'brand new' cars have had a similar amount of work before ever being delivered to the first owner. If the repair is done well then there's no way of knowing..
This*

You'd me horrified if you saw the amount of damage & repairs that are done to brand-new cars before they've even clocked their first mile outside the factory! Then again at the port and again at the receiving dealership!!

Jonno02

2,246 posts

108 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Pip1968 said:
Good for him but would that be CASH ?

Pip
Yes. Bear in the mind, VAT wouldn't take it anywhere near the previous prices either. He does give you a receipt too though. Workmen, roofers, joiners, plumbers etc all prefer cash, wonder why that is... :P