Paint Damage Whilst in Porsche Dealer
Discussion
Morning All,
I picked up my car earlier on this week following having an alloy being refurbished, only to find the following damage had suddenly appeared on my front bumper whilst in the dealership (Porsche Main Dealer):
This area is roughly 60mmx25mm.
The dealer is claiming that they were aware of a minor defect in the paint (not that they made me aware of this) and this defect has allowed water etc. to get under the paint.
They’ve then washed the car “as careful as possible” (again without informing me of said risk/or defect existing) and the above is how they’ve left the car.
Seemingly, they’re not accepting responsibility, as upon handover the video they’ve taken walking around the car shows the below minor blemish (which could also be a dead bug IMHO - who knows):
I.e. the defect was already there?!?!?! Car has literally just passed 3 year paint warranty by a couple of weeks FYI. So full bumper respray required to remedy.
Can some of you fellow PHers cast some wisdom or suggestions to get this moving?
Am fed up with this car. Gatwick VIP Parking annihilated my wheel which the car was in for getting fixed, and now this!
Many thanks in advance!
I picked up my car earlier on this week following having an alloy being refurbished, only to find the following damage had suddenly appeared on my front bumper whilst in the dealership (Porsche Main Dealer):
This area is roughly 60mmx25mm.
The dealer is claiming that they were aware of a minor defect in the paint (not that they made me aware of this) and this defect has allowed water etc. to get under the paint.
They’ve then washed the car “as careful as possible” (again without informing me of said risk/or defect existing) and the above is how they’ve left the car.
Seemingly, they’re not accepting responsibility, as upon handover the video they’ve taken walking around the car shows the below minor blemish (which could also be a dead bug IMHO - who knows):
I.e. the defect was already there?!?!?! Car has literally just passed 3 year paint warranty by a couple of weeks FYI. So full bumper respray required to remedy.
Can some of you fellow PHers cast some wisdom or suggestions to get this moving?
Am fed up with this car. Gatwick VIP Parking annihilated my wheel which the car was in for getting fixed, and now this!
Many thanks in advance!
Unfortunately unless you get the dealer to thoroughly check the car "in" with you when you drop it off, it is a difficult one to deal with. I suspect that there may have been a stone chip on the bumper and that in the over zealous cleaning of the car by the OPC, probably with a high power pressure washer/steam cleaner, that they have caught the area of poor paint work where the chip was and been too close to the surface and it has ripped the paint off it, before they realised what they were doing. When my cars were sufficiently new enough to be main dealer serviced, I insisted that they did not clean in any way the car and now many of my friends do the same following my example, and some will even insist on waiting for it rather than leaving it with them when possible.
You can try the service manager (or even the dealer principal) and lay it on thick with them, though unless you've good evidence and are a very very good customer, I think you might be onto a loser sadly in this instance. A smart repair might be the answer until such times as you have the front bumper completely repainted as it will be quicker to undertake and can be done whilst you are at home/work whereas a bumper repaint will take a couple of days. It's one of those things where you question why you go to an OPC when you are treated so poorly?
You can try the service manager (or even the dealer principal) and lay it on thick with them, though unless you've good evidence and are a very very good customer, I think you might be onto a loser sadly in this instance. A smart repair might be the answer until such times as you have the front bumper completely repainted as it will be quicker to undertake and can be done whilst you are at home/work whereas a bumper repaint will take a couple of days. It's one of those things where you question why you go to an OPC when you are treated so poorly?
MrC986 said:
Unfortunately unless you get the dealer to thoroughly check the car "in" with you when you drop it off, it is a difficult one to deal with. I suspect that there may have been a stone chip on the bumper and that in the over zealous cleaning of the car by the OPC, probably with a high power pressure washer/steam cleaner, that they have caught the area of poor paint work where the chip was and been too close to the surface and it has ripped the paint off it, before they realised what they were doing. When my cars were sufficiently new enough to be main dealer serviced, I insisted that they did not clean in any way the car and now many of my friends do the same following my example, and some will even insist on waiting for it rather than leaving it with them when possible.
You can try the service manager (or even the dealer principal) and lay it on thick with them, though unless you've good evidence and are a very very good customer, I think you might be onto a loser sadly in this instance. A smart repair might be the answer until such times as you have the front bumper completely repainted as it will be quicker to undertake and can be done whilst you are at home/work whereas a bumper repaint will take a couple of days. It's one of those things where you question why you go to an OPC when you are treated so poorly?
Thanks for your reply. The irony is that this particular OPC is very fastidious with receiving customer cars and walking customers around whilst videoing the vehicle condition. You can try the service manager (or even the dealer principal) and lay it on thick with them, though unless you've good evidence and are a very very good customer, I think you might be onto a loser sadly in this instance. A smart repair might be the answer until such times as you have the front bumper completely repainted as it will be quicker to undertake and can be done whilst you are at home/work whereas a bumper repaint will take a couple of days. It's one of those things where you question why you go to an OPC when you are treated so poorly?
This is where my second photograph came from - a screenshot of THEIR handover video. The service advisor was very detailed about pointing at other minor defects, but this was not noted at any time...
A further irony is that I’ve probably paid circa 3 x what I could have paid to have had a wheel refurbished versus someone independent that comes out to your home/work address! I’d still have a decent front bumper and change to spare!
Using a pressure washer...the number one reason I do not let anyone wash my car, for whatever reason it seems to be the accepted method of cleaning a car these days whats wrong with using a hose with normal tap pressure.
I've seen lots of damage to paint finishes (its usually the lacquer that peels off) by the reckless use of a pressure washer, in this case its down to operator error and the dealer should be liable for the damage caused while the car is in their care.
I've seen lots of damage to paint finishes (its usually the lacquer that peels off) by the reckless use of a pressure washer, in this case its down to operator error and the dealer should be liable for the damage caused while the car is in their care.
I think the question is how much grief do you want to have?
To me this looks like a stone chip in the PU that has been exploded by pressure washing. If this was on the metal bodywork then it needs to be sorted, note the paint warranty would not cover this sort of damage anyway.
After my experiences with the service dept at OPC Reading regarding vehicle damage (new window, paint on 4 panels and a £5k bill) plus their quite frankly shocking attitude you should just dab it in with a paint stick as it won't rust and move on with your life.
P.S. never let the dealer wash the car because the methods that some use are highly likely to cause damage to bodywork. They typically use some sub-contract company paying people minimum wage and expecting top quality detailing of cars with predictable cutting of corners.
To me this looks like a stone chip in the PU that has been exploded by pressure washing. If this was on the metal bodywork then it needs to be sorted, note the paint warranty would not cover this sort of damage anyway.
After my experiences with the service dept at OPC Reading regarding vehicle damage (new window, paint on 4 panels and a £5k bill) plus their quite frankly shocking attitude you should just dab it in with a paint stick as it won't rust and move on with your life.
P.S. never let the dealer wash the car because the methods that some use are highly likely to cause damage to bodywork. They typically use some sub-contract company paying people minimum wage and expecting top quality detailing of cars with predictable cutting of corners.
Your car was in their care, they caused the damage. Don’t accept anything other than a full rectification of the damage. Have a meeting with the DP and give him the option of putting matters right or go to PCGB and complain.
An OPC caused damage to my wife’s Boxster and they faffed about till I met the DP and took it to PCGB.
Was rectified shortly thereafter. Good luck.
Cheers.
An OPC caused damage to my wife’s Boxster and they faffed about till I met the DP and took it to PCGB.
Was rectified shortly thereafter. Good luck.
Cheers.
DashboardD said:
I.e. the defect was already there?!?!?! Car has literally just passed 3 year paint warranty by a couple of weeks FYI. So full bumper respray required to remedy.
Are you saying that each stone chip means a full respray of the affected panel???How old is the car, and what 3 year paint warranty are you talking about?
I just use touch up paint and stick to remedy.
My preferred OPC are very good, but one thing that I absolutely insist on is that they do not ever wash my car. Whenever the car is in for work, I ensure they write it at the top of their service sheet in capital letters.
Theres no way I would let their 'rag draggers' wash my car, I've seen how they do it - absolutely no care with the pressure washer & I've even seen them pressure wash their wash mits whilst they were on the floor before using them on the Porsche stock. No wonder their cars are full of swirls...
The damage is definitely where a pressure washer has lifted paint. I'd stand firm with the OPC, the very least they could do is either get it smart repaired or paint the whole bumper at cost price. Personally I would be looking to them to rectify the damage at no cost.
Good luck with your negotiation.
Theres no way I would let their 'rag draggers' wash my car, I've seen how they do it - absolutely no care with the pressure washer & I've even seen them pressure wash their wash mits whilst they were on the floor before using them on the Porsche stock. No wonder their cars are full of swirls...
The damage is definitely where a pressure washer has lifted paint. I'd stand firm with the OPC, the very least they could do is either get it smart repaired or paint the whole bumper at cost price. Personally I would be looking to them to rectify the damage at no cost.
Good luck with your negotiation.
Have you checked if a smart repair is a viable option and if so how much it will cost?
I would certainly express my displeasure to the OPC principle. But if a smart repair were viable perhaps its not worth the effort turning the screw to get a respray out of them. Save yourself the headache and pocket any possible good will for the future.
I would certainly express my displeasure to the OPC principle. But if a smart repair were viable perhaps its not worth the effort turning the screw to get a respray out of them. Save yourself the headache and pocket any possible good will for the future.
I had a bigger bumper scuff smart repaired invisibly for £30 by my long term paint man.
But I still don't understand what is the relevance of "paint warranty" on a plastic bumper? Or for that matter on metal panels. I'd rather touch up small chips and wait for the whole bonnet to corrode to nothing than have it resprayed every time I pick up a chip. I'd have spent tens of thousands by now doing the latter.
But I still don't understand what is the relevance of "paint warranty" on a plastic bumper? Or for that matter on metal panels. I'd rather touch up small chips and wait for the whole bonnet to corrode to nothing than have it resprayed every time I pick up a chip. I'd have spent tens of thousands by now doing the latter.
DJMC said:
I had a bigger bumper scuff smart repaired invisibly for £30 by my long term paint man.
But I still don't understand what is the relevance of "paint warranty" on a plastic bumper? Or for that matter on metal panels. I'd rather touch up small chips and wait for the whole bonnet to corrode to nothing than have it resprayed every time I pick up a chip. I'd have spent tens of thousands by now doing the latter.
For those of you with similar replies that seem to think that this is merely just a ‘chip’. Perhaps it WAS a chip, but now it is significantly more than just a chip. My articulation of events may not have been clear enough, but hopefully this additional photo will help fill in the blanks... Thanks to those of you whom have got the gist...But I still don't understand what is the relevance of "paint warranty" on a plastic bumper? Or for that matter on metal panels. I'd rather touch up small chips and wait for the whole bonnet to corrode to nothing than have it resprayed every time I pick up a chip. I'd have spent tens of thousands by now doing the latter.
FYI the car is 3 years and 2 weeks old. The relevance is that Porsche provide a 3 year paint warranty from new, and whilst I’ve extended the warranty for a further 2 years, paint won’t be covered...
Got it. So It's out of paint warranty now, I see your point. Mine was driven back by OPC to my home after service issues. Muti stone chips in one area of bonnet. Nothing I can do now other than take it up the tailpipe! Whereabouts are you located? My paint man is a wizard, but will advise if he can't fix it invisibly.
For the benefit of myself and others can you please explain your rationale (assuming the paint warranty was valid) why this would be covered under the paint warranty?
My personal view, if the paint finish in this specific area was completely defect free then I think the peeled paint damage would be negligence by the dealer and they should repair it to Porsche standards.
The original photo in the 1st post doesn't seem to show pristine paint on the bumper hence believing the pressure washer has probably got under a paint chip and subsequently causing the damage.
My personal view, if the paint finish in this specific area was completely defect free then I think the peeled paint damage would be negligence by the dealer and they should repair it to Porsche standards.
The original photo in the 1st post doesn't seem to show pristine paint on the bumper hence believing the pressure washer has probably got under a paint chip and subsequently causing the damage.
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