New car has had paint on it - dealer failed to mention it
Discussion
On a £100k+ car I'd expect perfection.
Speak to the dealer, ask them to get it resolved.
This isn't a dodgy dealer.
This is poor supply chain management and Mercedes head office will want to know.
When I worked at BMW the quality control was meticulous, and if there were any issues like this it was fixed for the customer and then the supply chain was traced every step of the way until they found out who had f
ked up the car.
Yes, cars often needed a respray on some bits on the way in.
But there were professional paint bays and stuff was stripped back to metal and resprayed to factory standard.
Speak to the dealer, ask them to get it resolved.
This isn't a dodgy dealer.
This is poor supply chain management and Mercedes head office will want to know.
When I worked at BMW the quality control was meticulous, and if there were any issues like this it was fixed for the customer and then the supply chain was traced every step of the way until they found out who had f
ked up the car.Yes, cars often needed a respray on some bits on the way in.
But there were professional paint bays and stuff was stripped back to metal and resprayed to factory standard.
OP
Won't make you feel any better, but I once took delivery of a new company car - a Laguna. Included within the pack was a damage report, together with a rectification note.
Who'd have thought that a French distributor would do better than a presumably specialist/prestige manufacturer.
Won't make you feel any better, but I once took delivery of a new company car - a Laguna. Included within the pack was a damage report, together with a rectification note.
Who'd have thought that a French distributor would do better than a presumably specialist/prestige manufacturer.
NPI said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Almost all the Merc dealerships in UK are these days directly owned by Merc in any event.
They own quite a few (especially around London) but not almost all in the UK by any means.http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedking...
There was a Quest documentary (Mighty Ships) covering a Ro-Ro ship transporting expensive cars around the world - very easy to see how so many get pranged. They were under a lot of financial pressure to move a lot of cars in a very short period.
Found it on youtube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP9VLBjHqmA
Found it on youtube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP9VLBjHqmA
Remind me again how much you spent? 
I'll echo what was said about the detailer, if he's using one of those high intensity lamps it's possible the dealer hadn't seen it. The dealership also won't use a micron guage thingymabob as they wouldn't be mopping the car
Rich_W said:
Wonder if dealer even knew.
Think how many people get in and out of the car before the dealer even touches it. How many hands before it leaves the factory? Factory to dock (if foreign) Dock to ferry. Ferry to transporter. transporter to holding yard. yard to transporter. transporter to dealer. dealer staff (valeter, pdi tech, sales gopher) Lots of places for a door to get bumped and repaired badly on the sly.
Sensible chat first.
Extrapolate from there if needed IMO
And very much this. Just remain calm and ask the dealer to rectify it to your satisfaction. Think how many people get in and out of the car before the dealer even touches it. How many hands before it leaves the factory? Factory to dock (if foreign) Dock to ferry. Ferry to transporter. transporter to holding yard. yard to transporter. transporter to dealer. dealer staff (valeter, pdi tech, sales gopher) Lots of places for a door to get bumped and repaired badly on the sly.
Sensible chat first.
Extrapolate from there if needed IMO
I'll echo what was said about the detailer, if he's using one of those high intensity lamps it's possible the dealer hadn't seen it. The dealership also won't use a micron guage thingymabob as they wouldn't be mopping the car
doesnt matter what make or model it is this happens more often than you would think...
I worked in the trade for several years and i had several cars not arrive from the port due to being damaged at the port and that they would repair said damage before releasing the car to the dealer...
They would never say anything about damage until they had to. usual the excuse was ' there was no space on the truck' or ' it was stuck behind another load and we cant get to it yet at the moment but we'll do our best to get it to you ASSP'
If it took ages and we as a dealer started complaining then and only then would they say ah well it got damaged in transit and we're fixing it but yet that person would never be able to say which part of the car was damaged so you couldnt scrutinise the area in question...
When the car would then turn up you'd find a manager plus a salesman plus a service managers plus a bodyshop tech (if they had one) going over the car to try to see the problem area. if no of them can find it - its a good job and nothing to worry about... If one of them sees it they would ask the others to find it and if they cant the salesman would run the gauntlet so to speak...
If they all or the majority find the problem then it goes to a bodyshop or smart repairer in the hope that he/they can cover it up...
I worked for Numerous VAG garages several brands, Alfa, Vauxhall, Ford, Mitzi, MG Rover, Suzuki, Pug, stron to name a few and all of them had these issues...
I would honest put my hand on my heart and say that probably about 1 in 50 new cars would have had some form of paint or repair work before the customer gets the car.
I had cars which had new gearboxes, new engines, new drive shafts, new wiring looms, new doors, complete resprays, panel painted, seats re trimed etc etc etc...
So dont be angry just find out who repaired it and where...
If its new as well and it was the dealer id take it to head office customer services with pictures and readings from the paint depth gauge plus what ever written correspondence from the dealer... Get everything in writting... or get the dealer to sign a piece of paper confirming whats been said and by who otherwise you'll be up sht creak without a paddle in your 100k boat....
I worked in the trade for several years and i had several cars not arrive from the port due to being damaged at the port and that they would repair said damage before releasing the car to the dealer...
They would never say anything about damage until they had to. usual the excuse was ' there was no space on the truck' or ' it was stuck behind another load and we cant get to it yet at the moment but we'll do our best to get it to you ASSP'
If it took ages and we as a dealer started complaining then and only then would they say ah well it got damaged in transit and we're fixing it but yet that person would never be able to say which part of the car was damaged so you couldnt scrutinise the area in question...
When the car would then turn up you'd find a manager plus a salesman plus a service managers plus a bodyshop tech (if they had one) going over the car to try to see the problem area. if no of them can find it - its a good job and nothing to worry about... If one of them sees it they would ask the others to find it and if they cant the salesman would run the gauntlet so to speak...
If they all or the majority find the problem then it goes to a bodyshop or smart repairer in the hope that he/they can cover it up...
I worked for Numerous VAG garages several brands, Alfa, Vauxhall, Ford, Mitzi, MG Rover, Suzuki, Pug, s
tron to name a few and all of them had these issues...I would honest put my hand on my heart and say that probably about 1 in 50 new cars would have had some form of paint or repair work before the customer gets the car.
I had cars which had new gearboxes, new engines, new drive shafts, new wiring looms, new doors, complete resprays, panel painted, seats re trimed etc etc etc...
So dont be angry just find out who repaired it and where...
If its new as well and it was the dealer id take it to head office customer services with pictures and readings from the paint depth gauge plus what ever written correspondence from the dealer... Get everything in writting... or get the dealer to sign a piece of paper confirming whats been said and by who otherwise you'll be up sht creak without a paddle in your 100k boat....
OP, what are you wanting the dealer to do?
Apology, cash refund, free service, repaint the panel which has been repainted, replace the vehicle (18 month wait remember), reject the car and get a refund or even something else.
I appreciate that you're not happy, but take a step back and thing rationally about what outcome you are hoping for. Assuming your detailer is right, Mercedes can't un-paint the panel so whatever happens to your car, that situation can't be reversed.
Apology, cash refund, free service, repaint the panel which has been repainted, replace the vehicle (18 month wait remember), reject the car and get a refund or even something else.
I appreciate that you're not happy, but take a step back and thing rationally about what outcome you are hoping for. Assuming your detailer is right, Mercedes can't un-paint the panel so whatever happens to your car, that situation can't be reversed.
The Surveyor said:
OP, what are you wanting the dealer to do?
Apology, cash refund, free service, repaint the panel which has been repainted, replace the vehicle (18 month wait remember), reject the car and get a refund or even something else.
I appreciate that you're not happy, but take a step back and thing rationally about what outcome you are hoping for. Assuming your detailer is right, Mercedes can't un-paint the panel so whatever happens to your car, that situation can't be reversed.
This is the important question. What do you want them to do about it? Repainting the panel is the most realistic solution - but, clearly, it's not one you want. So do you want them to replace the door?Apology, cash refund, free service, repaint the panel which has been repainted, replace the vehicle (18 month wait remember), reject the car and get a refund or even something else.
I appreciate that you're not happy, but take a step back and thing rationally about what outcome you are hoping for. Assuming your detailer is right, Mercedes can't un-paint the panel so whatever happens to your car, that situation can't be reversed.
TooMany2cvs said:
The Surveyor said:
OP, what are you wanting the dealer to do?
Apology, cash refund, free service, repaint the panel which has been repainted, replace the vehicle (18 month wait remember), reject the car and get a refund or even something else.
I appreciate that you're not happy, but take a step back and thing rationally about what outcome you are hoping for. Assuming your detailer is right, Mercedes can't un-paint the panel so whatever happens to your car, that situation can't be reversed.
This is the important question. What do you want them to do about it? Repainting the panel is the most realistic solution - but, clearly, it's not one you want. So do you want them to replace the door?Apology, cash refund, free service, repaint the panel which has been repainted, replace the vehicle (18 month wait remember), reject the car and get a refund or even something else.
I appreciate that you're not happy, but take a step back and thing rationally about what outcome you are hoping for. Assuming your detailer is right, Mercedes can't un-paint the panel so whatever happens to your car, that situation can't be reversed.
P1H said:
TooMany2cvs said:
The Surveyor said:
OP, what are you wanting the dealer to do?
Apology, cash refund, free service, repaint the panel which has been repainted, replace the vehicle (18 month wait remember), reject the car and get a refund or even something else.
I appreciate that you're not happy, but take a step back and thing rationally about what outcome you are hoping for. Assuming your detailer is right, Mercedes can't un-paint the panel so whatever happens to your car, that situation can't be reversed.
This is the important question. What do you want them to do about it? Repainting the panel is the most realistic solution - but, clearly, it's not one you want. So do you want them to replace the door?Apology, cash refund, free service, repaint the panel which has been repainted, replace the vehicle (18 month wait remember), reject the car and get a refund or even something else.
I appreciate that you're not happy, but take a step back and thing rationally about what outcome you are hoping for. Assuming your detailer is right, Mercedes can't un-paint the panel so whatever happens to your car, that situation can't be reversed.
So do they take it back to metal, and risk compromising (further) the factory rustproofing?
Do they strip the door down, reskin or reshell it, and risk introducing a stack of rattles?
Do they take it back and make the OP wait another year and a half for a replacement car?
One thing's for certain, they can't un-damage it.
?
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