Arrrgh.

Author
Discussion

Mr E

Original Poster:

21,631 posts

260 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
What with the ABS, the tyres and the code 54, what else could go wrong?

Oh, try this. The monkey that refitted my battery has put it back wrong. It's about 3" too far forward. Which means that the bolts are far too high. Which means the bonnet doesn't close properly.

So he just slammed it.

The bolt has punched a hole through the insulation, and raised a dimple on the bonnet, cracking the paint and the primer.

I am, all thinks considered, not hugely happy about this.

MrFlibbles

7,692 posts

284 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
I'd be going mental!

Could be worse, I've been without my car for 7 weeks now - and its going to ProDrive to get the engine stripped....

shadowninja

76,386 posts

283 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
WTF! I hope he's paying for the damage then!

tuttle

3,427 posts

238 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Mr E said:
The monkey that refitted my battery has put it back wrong. It's about 3" too far forward. Which means that the bolts are far too high. Which means the bonnet doesn't close properly.

So he just slammed it.



How do these people get-and more importantly keep their jobs?

Its just a lack of care,criminal.
Take it up with the head monkey,in the strongest possible terms.

Mr E

Original Poster:

21,631 posts

260 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Ah.

I've refitted the battery correctly. On closer inspection, he'd fitted the clamp backwards and then when he discovered that it didn't hold too well, instead of wondering why he simply added a washer. Thus raising the bolts to a bonnet/bolt interface level.


And having just washed the thing, they've also taken a nice clean half inch chunk out of my brand new Superleggras (front nearside).

I thought I was annoyed before. I was mearly slightly vexxed. I am now utterly utterly p*ssed of beyond belief.

So that'll be a new bonnet, a new alloy and a new paintjob please Mr garage.



>> Edited by Mr E on Sunday 26th June 17:22

tuttle

3,427 posts

238 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Getting them to admitt liability is half the battle too.Had a respray with a very well known body shop,some years ago.One of my brand new (just the trip up there & back-300miles) Mille Miglia EVS's had a dirty great score around 1/3 of the rim.They swore blue that they'd taken care etc.Went on for nearly 5 months.In the end I think they got me a new one just to get me out of their hair.
So stick to your guns, be prepared to be persistent & unpopular.Don't get fobbed off with words & no action.
All the best mate.
Matt

>> Edited by tuttle on Sunday 26th June 17:36

deltafox

3,839 posts

233 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Bloody hell mate!

Whered ya take the Four to?

This kind of bodging is inexcusable. If id done that, id be inconsolable.

FFS! Who on earth tells these prats theyre mechanics???

I really feel for you Mr E i really do, after having similar experiences with Tyre jockeys etc myself i can identify with your agony.

Words fail me and thats bloody hard to do! Idiots!

Mr E

Original Poster:

21,631 posts

260 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Took it to a guy I know and trust. It's not his fault.

He in turn had someone assit him, and it appears that someone is a monkey.

The problem I have is that he's currently starting a new business, and frankly what I need is a new bonnet, a full respray as Red is *impossible* to match properly and a new alloy wheel.

Bonnet is 600 quid + I think.
Respray will be thousands.
New wheel is £260-300 badgers.

This might well cause him serious problems in the cash flow area.

It's not this guys fault, it is his problem.

He will see the car tomorrow.
I have JAE in about 3 weeks that I'd like to be at. It is, after all, show season.

I will not be accepting a shoddy job on this.

deltafox

3,839 posts

233 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Man it never rains, it just pisses down!

lower

18 posts

241 months

Monday 27th June 2005
quotequote all
what makes you so sure that a paint match isn't possible? is it the standard super red 2? should be possible to match that, even if they blend the surrounding panels. i wouldn't have thought that a new bonnet would be required either. A decent panel beater should be able to dress the dent out of the bonnet.

Mr E said:
frankly what I need is a new bonnet, a full respray as Red is *impossible* to match properly and a new alloy wheel.

Bonnet is 600 quid + I think.
Respray will be thousands.
New wheel is £260-300 badgers.

tuttle

3,427 posts

238 months

Monday 27th June 2005
quotequote all
I think Lower makes a good point,A 1/2 decent paint shop should be able to match colour accurately,even down to the ageing.

Mr E

Original Poster:

21,631 posts

260 months

Monday 27th June 2005
quotequote all
Red paint is a bit of a bitch.

Yes, they can probably match the colour so it looks fab in the sun. Under sodium streetlamps, it will probably look funny.

More importantly, I then have new paint and old paint. They may match now. Will they match in 12 months time?

As for the dent, it's smack on one of the creases for the lights, and I think it will be an utter bugger to make right.

It's up to them, and they may well give it a go. But if I can see any flaws when they're done, I'm not accepting it.

Mr E

Original Poster:

21,631 posts

260 months

Monday 27th June 2005
quotequote all
Gazboy said:

When a lady in a Merc hit me, I needed a new bonnet, bumper and l/h wing. It took the b/shop 8 weeks and 3-4 goes to match the paint- afterwards they said it would have been easier and cheaper to respray the whole car. Red is an utter bitch to match.


Thanks Gaz.

:sob:

tuttle

3,427 posts

238 months

Monday 27th June 2005
quotequote all
OK,I do seem to see an awful lot of *multi-coloured* red cars-mostly the bonnets & roofs too.
Hope its gets sorted swiftly with minimum stress & MrE.


i won't mention the 'race' to my car sorted for JAE either then....

Andy Mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Monday 27th June 2005
quotequote all
Just get a carbon fibre bonnet, then you too can be vin diesel in F & F

Mr E

Original Poster:

21,631 posts

260 months

Tuesday 28th June 2005
quotequote all
tuttle said:


i won't mention the 'race' to my car sorted for JAE either then....


I'm planning to be there. Doubtful the car will be though.

I am so pissed off it's not even funny.

Mr E

Original Poster:

21,631 posts

260 months

Tuesday 28th June 2005
quotequote all
Andy Mac said:
Just get a carbon fibre bonnet, then you too can be vin diesel in F & F




Carbon is an option. But I wouldn't want it bare, I'd want some paint on the thing.

The carbon option is only a couple of KGs lighter than the stock bonnet anyway.