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
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.
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!
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 ...
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!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff