F80 M3 Dealer Damage!
Discussion
Pretty sure the dealer won't replace the vehicle though that is without question the very best outcome for you, just very unlikely to happen.
My trusted garage damaged the bonnet on my E39 M5 (jacked up the engine to change the engine mounts without lifting the bonnet up...!). Result was a small raised 'pimple' where the bonnet came into contact with the edge of one of the plenum chamber nuts - raised 'pimple' less than 3mm high. A very good bodyshop said this could not effectively be repaired by panel beating etc as the metal (steel) had stretched. Upshot was a new BMW OE bonnet painted and fitted paid for by my garage & FOC to me.
Was delighted with the result and was indistinguishable from surrounding panels, plus was finished with a very hard clearcoat. The bodyshop concerned is a really good one who use a top quality paint system + employ guys who are experienced and fussy.
Best result for you would be to insist on a new OE bonnet and then find a really good bodyshop to finish and fit the panel. That may or may not be the BMW bodyshop they'll certainly want to use. Negotiation is key here. Panel beating an alu panel is a pretty specialised and rare skill, so in the real world I just can't see this giving an 'as new' result (though you might be lucky, chances are you won't).
If they do insist on using their own bodyshop - even if fitting a new bonnet panel - you could commission a professional independent inspection of the finished result, chargeable to the BMW dealer. Given the value of the vehicle I would make this a condition of the repair. Negotiate.
(edit: for typo)
My trusted garage damaged the bonnet on my E39 M5 (jacked up the engine to change the engine mounts without lifting the bonnet up...!). Result was a small raised 'pimple' where the bonnet came into contact with the edge of one of the plenum chamber nuts - raised 'pimple' less than 3mm high. A very good bodyshop said this could not effectively be repaired by panel beating etc as the metal (steel) had stretched. Upshot was a new BMW OE bonnet painted and fitted paid for by my garage & FOC to me.
Was delighted with the result and was indistinguishable from surrounding panels, plus was finished with a very hard clearcoat. The bodyshop concerned is a really good one who use a top quality paint system + employ guys who are experienced and fussy.
Best result for you would be to insist on a new OE bonnet and then find a really good bodyshop to finish and fit the panel. That may or may not be the BMW bodyshop they'll certainly want to use. Negotiation is key here. Panel beating an alu panel is a pretty specialised and rare skill, so in the real world I just can't see this giving an 'as new' result (though you might be lucky, chances are you won't).
If they do insist on using their own bodyshop - even if fitting a new bonnet panel - you could commission a professional independent inspection of the finished result, chargeable to the BMW dealer. Given the value of the vehicle I would make this a condition of the repair. Negotiate.
(edit: for typo)
Edited by Depthhoar on Thursday 16th April 17:12
Depthhoar said:
If they do insist on using their own bodyshop - even if fitting an new bonnet panel - you could commission a professional independent inspection of the finished result, chargeable to the BMW dealer. Given the value of the vehicle I would make this a condition of the repair. Negotiate.
Good advice here, this is what I would do.magnum555 said:
Depthhoar said:
If they do insist on using their own bodyshop - even if fitting an new bonnet panel - you could commission a professional independent inspection of the finished result, chargeable to the BMW dealer. Given the value of the vehicle I would make this a condition of the repair. Negotiate.
Good advice here, this is what I would do.
and make sure the bodyshop in question knows this is going to happen prior to the car going in for repairs, might get them to up their game.
Settle for nothing but a perfect job.
ds.
MadMarkM3 said:
Thanks for all the responses - BMW Customer Services have put a Senior Advisor on the case and promised to get back to me ....
As a back stop to this, tell the dealership you will instruct your insurance company to claim the repair from them. This a no fault accident from your POV and as such they are totally liable for the full repair and the car returning the car to the exact condition it was in.
Certainly worth talking to your insurers.
I'd also tell them you want recompense for losing the utility of the M3.
M3 costs say £60k....your replacement car is say worth £30k.
Let's assume you are keeping your car for three years. That works out at roughly £30 a day that you are not enjoying the utility you have paid for...that works out at roughly £300 for ten days. Which is about the cost of the service.
Mate of mine had his M3 written off a few years ago (we're talking a new E46) by a BMW dealer. They tried to fob him off with a 320d or something.
He rang BMW UK and said something like "Somewhere within your organisation there is a BMW M3 on your fleet...I would like that car on my drive tomorrow morning...followed up by a load of legal threats"
Car was on his drive the next day.
M3 costs say £60k....your replacement car is say worth £30k.
Let's assume you are keeping your car for three years. That works out at roughly £30 a day that you are not enjoying the utility you have paid for...that works out at roughly £300 for ten days. Which is about the cost of the service.
Mate of mine had his M3 written off a few years ago (we're talking a new E46) by a BMW dealer. They tried to fob him off with a 320d or something.
He rang BMW UK and said something like "Somewhere within your organisation there is a BMW M3 on your fleet...I would like that car on my drive tomorrow morning...followed up by a load of legal threats"
Car was on his drive the next day.
RichardM5 said:
Even fitting a brand new bonnet, free service and equivalent hire car would be unacceptable.
Even with replacement parts you still have a car that's had a resprayed bonnet and this will have to be blended into the wings and bumper, if you were to sell the car immediately after the repair that would diminish it's value. Someone looking at the car could think it's had a front end collision, if I was looking and saw such evidence I'd be very sceptical. They will of course say that it will be repaired to BMW standards blah blah, but in my experience BMW standards of repair are OK at best, there will be signs that it's been repaired.
My starting point, although probably extreme in many peoples eyes, would be to require a replacement, plus provide an equivalent until the replacement is provided. Anything less and you'll probably be out of pocket which is not right. You should be restored to the position you were in before the damage occurred, and the only way to full achieve that with a very nearly new car is to replace the vehicle.
Seems a bit OTT. You won't find a used Porsche at an OPC that hasn't had it's "front pattern" prayed. It's done as a matter of course to bring them up to snuff. I suspect BMW do the same for cars over a certain value.Even with replacement parts you still have a car that's had a resprayed bonnet and this will have to be blended into the wings and bumper, if you were to sell the car immediately after the repair that would diminish it's value. Someone looking at the car could think it's had a front end collision, if I was looking and saw such evidence I'd be very sceptical. They will of course say that it will be repaired to BMW standards blah blah, but in my experience BMW standards of repair are OK at best, there will be signs that it's been repaired.
My starting point, although probably extreme in many peoples eyes, would be to require a replacement, plus provide an equivalent until the replacement is provided. Anything less and you'll probably be out of pocket which is not right. You should be restored to the position you were in before the damage occurred, and the only way to full achieve that with a very nearly new car is to replace the vehicle.
That's why I said as a starting point. It gives the goal to which you are entitled to achieve - the position you were in before the damage occurred, a new car that has not been obviously resprayed.
They will of course say that it will be repaired to BMW standards which are as good as factory finish. You then give them the opportunity to repair the car to the standard they have specified and hold them to this. Any paint inclusions, fish eyes, swirl marks under the clear coat etc. are not to factory standard, you can almost guarantee there will be some. They have then not repaired the car to their own standards which does not give them a leg to stand on.
They will of course say that it will be repaired to BMW standards which are as good as factory finish. You then give them the opportunity to repair the car to the standard they have specified and hold them to this. Any paint inclusions, fish eyes, swirl marks under the clear coat etc. are not to factory standard, you can almost guarantee there will be some. They have then not repaired the car to their own standards which does not give them a leg to stand on.
Wills2 said:
Agreed, they damage the bonnet on your new 60k car and offer to "fill it" like you would a 2k Astra?
Seriously that is very unreasonable, new bonnet minimum + free service at least OP.
Agreed, new Bonnet for sure, if they repair they keep the car money back.Seriously that is very unreasonable, new bonnet minimum + free service at least OP.
Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 16th April 08:58
MadMarkM3 said:
Thanks for all the responses - BMW Customer Services have put a Senior Advisor on the case and promised to get back to me ....
What is the dealership saying? I know the service advisor suggested filling, but have you spoken to the DP/brand director whatever they call themselves these days? Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff