Car repair guarantee

[Hugh Jaleak]

Had our car repaired by a large franchised dealers in September 2011 following a 3rd party managing to leave his handbrake off and rolling into our car..... Work was covered by the other party's insurer, and this particular garage were very keen to get the car booked in for them to repair. We eventually got the go ahead from the insurers and took it to the garage. However, on collection we weren't happy with the standard of repair at the time and made the garage redo it.

Recently my other half managed to reverse into a wooden gate, only a slight impact but has caused the rear bumper a fair bit of damage on the site of the earlier repair. We've had an independant mechanic look at the car, and he thinks the car wasn't repaired properly after the original impact.

The 'crash can' to absorb any initial impact is crumpled, doesn't appear to have been replaced, the reversing sensor in the same area wasn't replaced (so may not have worked to indicate the presence of the gate), and considering there is virtually no damage to gate despite it's poor condition it doesnt appear to have been hit very hard.

Question is, the garage offer a 'unique three year collision repair warranty to safeguard the future value of your vehicle'. Is it worth pursuing them for the poor repair in light of the independant mechanics findings? Advice appreciated.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Yeah why not? Get the report in writing and go back to their head office and see what they say. But go to the top man.

Andy

 

[Burnerman]

Bumpers on modern vehicles are designed to withstand a low speed impact without damage (paintwork excluded)....effectively they spring back into shape, but some need the assistance of a heat gun to bounce back.
However, the steel crash bar behind is likely to have suffered some damage, and if it was bent in the original impact then it should have been replaced. I think its work having a chat with the manager of your repair shop about that one.....proving things may be difficult though!
At the same time, rear end shunts - if the bumper can't cope - transfer the impact force to the boot floor so its worth checking there.
If the original repair wasn't perfect (and there's absolutely no excuse for it not to be) then I don't think the body repair shop is up to scratch ( ) and they should be reminded of that!
I don't think you'll get far with the reversing sensor - they'll just say it wasn't damaged so wasn't replaced. They are available as individual parts.
John

 

[securespark]

Are they members of MVRA?

If so, get on to them if the repair shop won't play ball.

I had a repair many years ago. It was in the bodyshop an incredible 6 times before they got it right.

Stupid things like getting oily fingerprints on a clear plastic protector that sticks onto the paintwork. Then not-so stupid things like inconsistent panel gaps, paint runs, ill-fitting interior trim and paint THE WRONG COLOUR.

It was like they were doing it on purpose. Each time they fixed the problem I complained about, something else (that was OK before) came back wrong the next time it came out of the bodyshop.

It was a £3K repair, but according to the MVRA, the bodyshop spent £15K getting it ship-shape.

 

[joe-90]

It was a £3K repair, but according to the MVRA, the bodyshop spent £15K getting it ship-shape.

Stop being silly. It's not clever.

 

[pred]

Had our car repaired by a large franchised dealers in September 2011 following a 3rd party managing to leave his handbrake off and rolling into our car..... Work was covered by the other party's insurer, and this particular garage were very keen to get the car booked in for them to repair. We eventually got the go ahead from the insurers and took it to the garage. However, on collection we weren't happy with the standard of repair at the time and made the garage redo it.

Recently my other half managed to reverse into a wooden gate, only a slight impact but has caused the rear bumper a fair bit of damage on the site of the earlier repair. We've had an independant mechanic look at the car, and he thinks the car wasn't repaired properly after the original impact.

The 'crash can' to absorb any initial impact is crumpled, doesn't appear to have been replaced, the reversing sensor in the same area wasn't replaced (so may not have worked to indicate the presence of the gate), and considering there is virtually no damage to gate despite it's poor condition it doesnt appear to have been hit very hard.

Question is, the garage offer a 'unique three year collision repair warranty to safeguard the future value of your vehicle'. Is it worth pursuing them for the poor repair in light of the independant mechanics findings? Advice appreciated.

Don't get done, get Dom!

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Thanks chaps. I'm going to get my independant to write a report on his opinion of whats what and throw it back at the repair shop and see what they say. I appreciate proving it may be difficult but has to be worth a shot. The original impact was caused by a Renault Trafic van, judging by the distance it rolled, and the angle of the car after being hit i'd say it was a fair whack.... Luckily damage appeared to be confined to light cluster/bumper and crash can. Second impact cannot have been much more than a tap otherwise i'm sure the gate would have been kindling, yet second impact has done more damage!

The garage doesnt appear to be members of the MVRA, but are a high profile dealer for a well known Marque throughout the South East/Midlands area, so I felt able to trust the car to them. Seems I was wrong. Original repair was rejected because of an ill fitting bumper and poor quality paint finish. Excuses were made about parts availability etc, but I am assured all that was required would have been available had they tried. Vehicle is a Rover, and said garage are X part (MG/Rover) agents for the area!

 

[securespark]

It was a £3K repair, but according to the MVRA, the bodyshop spent £15K getting it ship-shape.

Stop being silly. It's not clever.

Stop trolling. It's not clever.