Dealer negligence with brand new car
Discussion
Just after others opinions on this...
Main Dealer fitted a numberplate to the bootlid of my car. Rather than use the four factory fittings which are pre-drilled into the bodywork with proper plastic mounts, they appear to have just stuck the numberplate to the car then drill two holes straight through the plate and into the metal bodywork and screwed the plate on with self tappers. (I guess it was easier/quicker to do it this way than to use a template and drill holes in the numberplate to match the factory fittings.)
The bit I am upset about is that they didn't apply any paint protection to the holes that they drilled - they left the metal bare and exposed and prone to rust.
This was a BRAND NEW car.
I haven't approached the garage concerned - but am quite upset by it. I'll certainly bear this in mind when it comes to deciding where to take the car fort servicing (I do over 25k per year so thats 2 services a year). Do I really want to give my custom to a garage that can't even fit a numberplate professionally?
Or..... am I expecting too much here? Am I being over sensitive?
I only know this because I transferred my cherished number from my old car. The paperwork didn't arrive in time for the garage to do it so I had to do it myself.
Main Dealer fitted a numberplate to the bootlid of my car. Rather than use the four factory fittings which are pre-drilled into the bodywork with proper plastic mounts, they appear to have just stuck the numberplate to the car then drill two holes straight through the plate and into the metal bodywork and screwed the plate on with self tappers. (I guess it was easier/quicker to do it this way than to use a template and drill holes in the numberplate to match the factory fittings.)
The bit I am upset about is that they didn't apply any paint protection to the holes that they drilled - they left the metal bare and exposed and prone to rust.
This was a BRAND NEW car.
I haven't approached the garage concerned - but am quite upset by it. I'll certainly bear this in mind when it comes to deciding where to take the car fort servicing (I do over 25k per year so thats 2 services a year). Do I really want to give my custom to a garage that can't even fit a numberplate professionally?
Or..... am I expecting too much here? Am I being over sensitive?
I only know this because I transferred my cherished number from my old car. The paperwork didn't arrive in time for the garage to do it so I had to do it myself.
Edited by 38911 on Friday 16th September 14:13
Drive to dealer.
Ask to speak to manager.
Don't explain the problem, just show him.
Ask what he's going to do about it.
Get it clear in your head what you expect him to do, and then see if he meets of exceeds your expectations.
I would expect the whole section to be tidies up, rust proofed and made good in some way.
And, I would expect some sort of recompense to say sorry – a free service perhaps.
If they don't do anything then be prepared to tell them to take the car back (if you feel that strongly) and then order again from a different dealership.
If it was me I'd be pretty damned annoyed they had done that.
Ask to speak to manager.
Don't explain the problem, just show him.
Ask what he's going to do about it.
Get it clear in your head what you expect him to do, and then see if he meets of exceeds your expectations.
I would expect the whole section to be tidies up, rust proofed and made good in some way.
And, I would expect some sort of recompense to say sorry – a free service perhaps.
If they don't do anything then be prepared to tell them to take the car back (if you feel that strongly) and then order again from a different dealership.
If it was me I'd be pretty damned annoyed they had done that.
Seems the standard way of doing it? Stickky pads to fall off in a week, or self tappers boshed in.
I got a company vehicle Kangoo van a number of years ago, from brand new the van had serious electrical issues - crazy central locking, rear door electrics not working, eventually total electrical failure. Turned out a self tapper holding the rear plate on went through the loom in the back door. They'd ignored the threaded holes in the door and put self tappers in.
I'm not sure what they'll be able to do in your case, it's not like they'll replace the boot lid just for two 3mm holes? I'd just get on with driving the thing, and never worry about it. At 25k a year, the car will be f
ked long before the screw holes in the boot lid rust.
I got a company vehicle Kangoo van a number of years ago, from brand new the van had serious electrical issues - crazy central locking, rear door electrics not working, eventually total electrical failure. Turned out a self tapper holding the rear plate on went through the loom in the back door. They'd ignored the threaded holes in the door and put self tappers in.
I'm not sure what they'll be able to do in your case, it's not like they'll replace the boot lid just for two 3mm holes? I'd just get on with driving the thing, and never worry about it. At 25k a year, the car will be f
ked long before the screw holes in the boot lid rust.Edited by HellDiver on Friday 16th September 13:34
Seen this before on my 3 year old Civic type R (a few years back now).When i removed the rear plate to put on my P/Plate i found they did to same to mine, how can people be so stupid? If i had noticed and had the car from new i would have be very very annoyed,i checked a friends Type R also from the same dealer and that one too had the same treatment!!
It's not that they're stupid, they just don't care.
It's 2 mins to put a couple of holes through the plate, screw in a self tapper. Or spend 10 minutes fiddling about getting a template to drill holes in the plate, take the paint out of the threaded holes, find the correct threaded bolts, yadda yadda.
It's 2 mins to put a couple of holes through the plate, screw in a self tapper. Or spend 10 minutes fiddling about getting a template to drill holes in the plate, take the paint out of the threaded holes, find the correct threaded bolts, yadda yadda.
38911 said:
Or..... am I expecting too much here? Am I being over sensitive?
Not really, but if you are of a sensitive disposition then it's probably best not to buy new cars, and have someone else take the car for servicing etc.Every interaction I have with garages makes me feel ill. Even a Honda dealer (not the obvious one from my user name) fitted a rear number plate miles away from straight (how crap does it look when you see that?) although I did get a free service out of that (after noting it in the Honda satisfaction survey).
Snowboy said:
Why funny?
Don’t most dealers offer some sort of few weeks no quibble return policy?
Maybe they don't anymore.
It's been a while since I looked at a brand new car policy.
You might be worth trying this but I fail to see them taking it back over a few holes. They would most probably offer a discount on servicing or even replace the damaged part/body panel.Don’t most dealers offer some sort of few weeks no quibble return policy?
Maybe they don't anymore.
It's been a while since I looked at a brand new car policy.
But PLEASE go back to the dealer and express your thoughts to them as they will no doubt be marked under some part of CSI and wont want this cropping up on that report.
Never had problems with double sided tape and prefer to use that than drilling, as plates will ingress water and look crap after a year. I would be livid with that to be honest. We had a car with the same issues on the rear, just drilled into the lid.I sealed the holes with sealant and then stuck on with sticky tape with a new plate.
2 zinc plated tapers, which are invariable self drilling and a skivy from the workshops, job done cheapest in 10 minutes..........
I would not be happy at all and speak to the dealers.
2 zinc plated tapers, which are invariable self drilling and a skivy from the workshops, job done cheapest in 10 minutes..........
I would not be happy at all and speak to the dealers.
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