Respray Issue - Where Do I Stand? (Pics)
Discussion
Last August I had a non-fault accident, where a driver reversed into the side of my front clam. The insurance company agreed with the well-known Lotus repairers that a new front clam was required. As soon as all the relevant parts were in stock, the car went in for repair in September 2013.
This weekend I noticed quite substantial bubbling on the front, near the headlight cluster. I understand that with fibreglass, paint can bubble, especially if it's a job where the paint has been rubbed back and redone. However should I expect this on a new front clam, with a full front respray, after 6-7 months use?
I haven't spoken to the dealer yet - I need to book the car in for tyres soon, so I'll bring it up with them then. However I'd like to know where I stand before I have said conversation! My Dad reckons that dust/dirt is a contributing factor, in that it was contaminated when being sprayed. I'm guessing this could potentially require a nigh-on full front respray to resolve, which usually costs the best part of £750ish.
Does the work fall under some sort of guarantee? Should I expect it to be resolved free of charge? Do I need to just suck it up as one of life's inconveniences? Even though I use it everyday, it's still my pride and joy ... I'm somewhat gutted.
Any advice much appreciated!
This weekend I noticed quite substantial bubbling on the front, near the headlight cluster. I understand that with fibreglass, paint can bubble, especially if it's a job where the paint has been rubbed back and redone. However should I expect this on a new front clam, with a full front respray, after 6-7 months use?
I haven't spoken to the dealer yet - I need to book the car in for tyres soon, so I'll bring it up with them then. However I'd like to know where I stand before I have said conversation! My Dad reckons that dust/dirt is a contributing factor, in that it was contaminated when being sprayed. I'm guessing this could potentially require a nigh-on full front respray to resolve, which usually costs the best part of £750ish.
Does the work fall under some sort of guarantee? Should I expect it to be resolved free of charge? Do I need to just suck it up as one of life's inconveniences? Even though I use it everyday, it's still my pride and joy ... I'm somewhat gutted.
Any advice much appreciated!
SmoothCriminal said:
How did you get it repaired?
It was done on insurance (her insurance!), at a well-known, well respected Lotus repair specialist. New front clam, with full front respray, including doors to blend in. Doors are fine! I've seen bubbling too, but not in such a large amount, nor after such a short period of time. The strip in the first picture is around 1-1.5 inches long, completely raised
Ikemi said:
SmoothCriminal said:
How did you get it repaired?
It was done on insurance (her insurance!), at a well-known, well respected Lotus repair specialist. As whenever I've had to have my non fault repaired when I used their approved repairer I've always had a 12 month guarentee (what ever that's worth).
Did you get any documents with the repair and invoice or something normally at the bottem is had the terms and conditions of repair.
Impasse said:
That's not a paint issue, it's the clam.
Do you know what about the clam might be causing this? I doubt I'll get another clam out of them ... They're around £2K unpainted, unless I find one off eBay, but that'll be at my expense. The issue is, once that paint flakes off, I'll have strips of white visible. Perhaps I should just get the thing wrapped! Idea?
SmoothCriminal said:
Sorry meant to say was it organised by the insurance or did you specify what garage it went to?
As whenever I've had to have my non fault repaired when I used their approved repairer I've always had a 12 month guarentee (what ever that's worth).
Did you get any documents with the repair and invoice or something normally at the bottem is had the terms and conditions of repair.
Hmmm ... I'll need to check that out. I did specify the garage used. They're not the best when it comes to paperwork, in all honesty, but they are held in high regards on places such as SELOC (SE Lotus Owners Club).As whenever I've had to have my non fault repaired when I used their approved repairer I've always had a 12 month guarentee (what ever that's worth).
Did you get any documents with the repair and invoice or something normally at the bottem is had the terms and conditions of repair.
Should not have happened, but I bet the bubbling is a result of the clam not being properly cleaned before applying paint.
All fibreglass and similar parts have a coating of a release agent in order that they come out of the moulds. Before painting them, one has clean off the release agent and you need to be very thorough about this point.
If that is the cause, every last bit of paint on the whole thing will need to be removed, fully cleaned and then painted again.
I bet there is a bit of an argument about this.
All fibreglass and similar parts have a coating of a release agent in order that they come out of the moulds. Before painting them, one has clean off the release agent and you need to be very thorough about this point.
If that is the cause, every last bit of paint on the whole thing will need to be removed, fully cleaned and then painted again.
I bet there is a bit of an argument about this.
The well known specialist will fix it. You shouldn't need to get the other parties insurer involved, they will honour their work for a year at the very least. If they DO mess you about, then get the insurer who paid for it involved.
No way you should accept that happening to a new clam in under a year.
It was DEFINITELY a new clam was it?
No way you should accept that happening to a new clam in under a year.
It was DEFINITELY a new clam was it?
Slidingpillar said:
Should not have happened, but I bet the bubbling is a result of the clam not being properly cleaned before applying paint.
Agreed, surely that is a reaction under the paint.Either that or moisture has got under there somehow. Is the back of the clam in good order ?
Fibreglass can be a nightmare as it can release pockets of air whilst being baked, although it tends to micro bubbles rather than big bubbles like you have there.
The body shop must guarantee their work, normally for 12 months, so them sorting out the rectification should be a non issue. Have you spoken to them?
The body shop must guarantee their work, normally for 12 months, so them sorting out the rectification should be a non issue. Have you spoken to them?
Impasse said:
That's not a paint issue, it's the clam. They'll faff around for ages in an attempt to make a temporary repair into a permanent one, but I doubt anything other than a new clam will fix that long term.
This. 100% not the paint. It's a common problem on Lotus and VX220 clam shells and can only be remedied by a decent fibreglass/boat repairer or a completely new clam shell. In fact Vauxhall recalled a lot of the VX220s to replace the clam shells because of this issue but there was only a small window of opportunity to get this done and you had to jump through hoops to get it done under warranty. It must have cost them thousands! Rubbing that back and repainting will not be sufficient.
Keep this thread updated as I'm keen to know how you get on.
edo said:
It was DEFINITELY a new clam was it?
It was listed on the insurance quote as a new clam!Crafty_ said:
Either that or moisture has got under there somehow. Is the back of the clam in good order ?
The rear clam is original and over 10 years old now; no signs of bubbling whatsoever *touches wood*p4cks said:
It's a common problem ... and can only be remedied by a decent fibreglass/boat repairer or a completely new clam shell.
Rubbing that back and repainting will not be sufficient.
Keep this thread updated as I'm keen to know how you get on.
Is it something in the clam that is defective? Wouldn't rubbing it back, cleaning it up and respraying the clam not solve the issue? Why would the bubbling return? Genuine question, as I have no idea!Rubbing that back and repainting will not be sufficient.
Keep this thread updated as I'm keen to know how you get on.
I'm going to call the garage tomorrow to let them know I need to see them, then I'll pop over after work. I'll let you know how it goes!
ikemi said:
p4cks said:
It's a common problem ... and can only be remedied by a decent fibreglass/boat repairer or a completely new clam shell.
Rubbing that back and repainting will not be sufficient.
Keep this thread updated as I'm keen to know how you get on.
Is it something in the clam that is defective? Wouldn't rubbing it back, cleaning it up and respraying the clam not solve the issue? Why would the bubbling return? Genuine question, as I have no idea!Rubbing that back and repainting will not be sufficient.
Keep this thread updated as I'm keen to know how you get on.
I'm going to call the garage tomorrow to let them know I need to see them, then I'll pop over after work. I'll let you know how it goes!
Edited - Fixed quoting
Edited by p4cks on Tuesday 8th April 12:46
Even if you're right p4cks, which no doubt you may well be, it's going to be struggle to persuade the garage to replace £2K worth of front clam What can I do? I guess I'll have to see what the garage suggests, but ultimately I imagine I'll have to accept an offer of a full respray and go from there ... ? If it bubbles again, will I still have comeback?
I know it's only a small thing, in the grand scheme of things/life, but it's annoying! You'd think a new clam and respray wouldn't result in this ...
What can I do? I guess I'll have to see what the garage suggests, but ultimately I imagine I'll have to accept an offer of a full respray and go from there ... ? If it bubbles again, will I still have comeback?I know it's only a small thing, in the grand scheme of things/life, but it's annoying! You'd think a new clam and respray wouldn't result in this ...
All you can do is talk to the garage who did the work, and give them an opportunity to rectify the problem. They fitted and painted a new clam less than a year ago and it is bubbling, so they can hardly wriggle out of it.
Keep it pleasant (as I am sure you would) but make sure they realise you aren't going to be taken for a mug, and have done your research and are concerned that a respray may not be sufficient.
Keep us posted.
Keep it pleasant (as I am sure you would) but make sure they realise you aren't going to be taken for a mug, and have done your research and are concerned that a respray may not be sufficient.
Keep us posted.
Ikemi said:
Even if you're right p4cks, which no doubt you may well be, it's going to be struggle to persuade the garage to replace £2K worth of front clam What can I do? I guess I'll have to see what the garage suggests, but ultimately I imagine I'll have to accept an offer of a full respray and go from there ... ? If it bubbles again, will I still have comeback?
I know it's only a small thing, in the grand scheme of things/life, but it's annoying! You'd think a new clam and respray wouldn't result in this ...
For me, I wouldn't accept a respray as an offer as that is papering over the cracks so to speak. The only thing that will remedy the bubbles is a fibreglass/boat repairer. What can I do? I guess I'll have to see what the garage suggests, but ultimately I imagine I'll have to accept an offer of a full respray and go from there ... ? If it bubbles again, will I still have comeback?I know it's only a small thing, in the grand scheme of things/life, but it's annoying! You'd think a new clam and respray wouldn't result in this ...
It could be moisture ingress into the fibreglass.
One way to remedy this is strip the paint and bake gently in paint shop oven.
However even this is not a guaranteed way to rectify.
Source - Finishline UK explained this when I went for a quote for a respray - I have bubbling on my fibreglass hard top.
One way to remedy this is strip the paint and bake gently in paint shop oven.
However even this is not a guaranteed way to rectify.
Source - Finishline UK explained this when I went for a quote for a respray - I have bubbling on my fibreglass hard top.
An update!
I took the car back to the garage that carried out the repair and they agreed that this should not have happened. In fact, after some closer inspection with the garage owner, we found far more bubbling across the entire clam. Not micro-pits, but lifted bubbles. There also seems to be areas where the paint switches from a gloss-like finish to a matte finish, and a crack was found above the indicator light.
Basically, the garage (who have been very helpful), agreed that it could possibly be water ingress in the clam, where the moisture was present before prep was undertaken.
The clam was sourced from Bell & Colvill, and Lotus themselves are now involved in this. I've been told that a Lotus representative visits the nationwide dealerships every month and as such, my car needs to go to Bell & Colvill for this representative to view. He/She will then make the call as to whether the clam needs to be replaced, or whether it needs to be stripped back and then resprayed. If the former, then the waiting list for a new front clam is around 8 weeks. Suffice to say, this may drag out a bit!
I took the car back to the garage that carried out the repair and they agreed that this should not have happened. In fact, after some closer inspection with the garage owner, we found far more bubbling across the entire clam. Not micro-pits, but lifted bubbles. There also seems to be areas where the paint switches from a gloss-like finish to a matte finish, and a crack was found above the indicator light.
Basically, the garage (who have been very helpful), agreed that it could possibly be water ingress in the clam, where the moisture was present before prep was undertaken.
The clam was sourced from Bell & Colvill, and Lotus themselves are now involved in this. I've been told that a Lotus representative visits the nationwide dealerships every month and as such, my car needs to go to Bell & Colvill for this representative to view. He/She will then make the call as to whether the clam needs to be replaced, or whether it needs to be stripped back and then resprayed. If the former, then the waiting list for a new front clam is around 8 weeks. Suffice to say, this may drag out a bit!
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