Help, body shop did something to my paint!!!

I

imported_jbr

New member
Help,



I brought my car (age 10 years) in to an established body shop to have some rust removed. I never had to take my car to a body shop before, so I didn't have experience, but I dealt with the owner of the shop and they have a window on to the work area, so I felt OK leaving my baby there.



When I got her back, she was all SCRATCHED up!! in some places down to the metal. I insisted that they repair it, but they did a horrible job!!



They had to repaint 2 panels, it looks OK but a little orange-peel. The car is dark metallic green "pearl" with clear coat.



My main concern is the passenger door, where they "buffed out" one of those scratches you can feel with your nail (and you can see the primer in the middle). The scratch is gone, but it LOOKS to me (I can't be sure) that they used a rotary buffer on the entire top half of the door. And they didn't know how to do it, because now the paint on that area looks duller and a lighter colour than the rest of the paint. Also, my paint is metallic pearl, so it kind of glitters in the sun. The passenger door no longer glitters very much.



Did they burn my paint? Is there any way to fix this? Since this happened (January) I've clayed twice and been over the whole car with Meguiar's polish glaze, Meguiar's #9 and Meguiar's Gold Class wax and random orbital polisher. There seems to be no difference, it still lacks gloss and colour!



Can I fix this! Please advise! :nixweiss :confused:
 
Mean, it really sounds like they did a number on your car. Where was the rust on your car ? Did they do more than you asked of them ? How high up the ladder have you gone ? They should resolve the situation if there a reputable shop.....Mention the word small claims ....make them aware that you are completely dissatisfied with their work......And tell them if they cant resolve this in a timely manner, youll seek legal advice....
 
Most body shops have a lifetime warranty on their work. I would not hesitate to return to the shop and point out your problem.
 
So based on the responses, it is likely that

1) The paint is damaged and

2) I will need to have it professionally repaired. Right?



In answer to your questions Patrick... the rust was on the bottom, inside of the doors where the outer metal curls over the inner metal. It wasn't very much rust but I wanted it taken care of before it got worse. I dealt directly with the owner, who laughed off the scratches: "You're worried about THAT?"



There are two reasons why I DON'T want to take it back there.



1) it was 6 months ago, I knew there was something wrong but because it was so cold, I thought maybe the polish they used froze and was imbedded in the paint or something.



2) They did repaint two panels on my car due to scratches that were to the metal, they wanted to touch them up but I insisted that they repaint. Also, they painted inside the doors where they had sandblasted the rust.



I can't believe what a poor job they did, when I got my car back the first time (after the sandblasting) the paint colour didn't match, and there was primer or something overspray on the rocker panels. So when they painted over their scratches I also made them repaint the rockers.



This time the colour matches, but there is pretty bad orange peel there.



so I am VERY reluctant to take my car there a third time, my reason for posting is that I didn't know if the paint might be damaged or not, because if it is, I have to save my pennies and go elsewhere.



:angry
 
MeanGreen - Sorry to hear about what happened to your car. To answer your questions, YES and YES. If the shop is THAT incompetent and inconsiderate (stronger language comes to mind after his "you're worried about that?" remark!), taking it back might not be in your best interest. Sometimes all you can do is chock the expense up to experience. I'd find a GOOD shop, one that has (satisfied) customer references, and have them fix it. I wouldn't bother with trying to sue the first shop or anything, I'd just move on. BTW, not to be a TOTAL pessemist, but how well do you think that shop fixed your rust problem? Rust in the crimp at the bottom of the doors can be tricky for even the BEST shops. But then again, a shop fixed a similar problem on my XJS in the 80's, TERRIBLE work, paint (beyond just overspray) EVERYWHERE, just awful. But the rust never came back, so maybe you'll luck out too.
 
Sorry to hear about the bad job. I had the side of my Merc SLK repainted after it got scratched. The job was not bad at all, however since I knew about paint, when I looked closer I could see the texture difference in the metalic. One cause of this (and the one I think it was), is applying the paint to 'hot' - eg the a hight percentage of thinner with the pigment. The time and speed of evaperation then chnages the texture a little. Anyhow had another need to get my front wing (fender I think you call them) and took it to a different place. First thing I did was let them tell me what they thought they needed to do to fix the wing, then I showed them the repainted side of the car and asked them what they thogyht may have gone wrong. The person took a good look and explained to me the causes of the paint effect. Now this is a very very small effect in the paint, so I had the confidence that 1. He understood what he was doing, and 2. he understood that I woul dnot be happy even with this very very small level of defect.



Anyhow - I would take it to another paint shop, let them take a look at it and tell you what they think caused the issue, and how they would fit it and not get it into the same mess. This allows you to guage there knowledge and also set expectation.
 
Accumulator, thanks for your comments, I examined the areas carefully where the rust was and it seems to be completely gone. I know they have different guys who do the paint, so I am satisfied that the rust is OK.



richardp, I think your advice is excellent, thank you! in fact I have a few shops in mind where I can take it, and this would be a great way to know if I can trust them or not. Like the rest of the people on the board, I am very very concerned about the quality of my car's paint, I just don't have the money to throw around getting all of the flaws redone until it's perfect! I need it to be right the first time!



Thanks again everyone for your comments
 
I just don't have the money to throw around
Click to expand...

Hence my suggestion of a threat..........

Why does everyone bcome complacent when they get ripped off ? People need to speak up for what there entitled too.....

Im not saying you would take them to court, just show them your playing with a full deck and wont take "NO" for an answer....







Wheres everone cajones ?????
 
Hi Patrick, you're right, but I caused a big scene last time and got them to "fix" some scratches and paint overspray.. and now I have orange peel and burned paint!! I do NOT want to go back there, even though it is obviously their fault and they should re-do it, but I don't want them going near my car ever again. I'd rather swallow the cost of having someone else do it.



You're right, of course, but I called the BBB and they can not do anything nor register a complaint because I have to go to THEM to fix it. THAT's the part I hate the most that I can't warn others about this poor service.
 
Ang, I remember the job they did on your car. Take it back!!!! There is no excuse to the work that they did and you dont deserve the problems you've had. Do you have some sort of Better Business Bureau in Canada? I would go back and see what they say, and if they dont fix it, go further with your measures to get some changes to their company, and then start to look for another place. But thats just my opinion. :)
 
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