Any Paint Experts? Need Some Advice

[Guest nelse]

After an unfortunate incident were my galaxy recieved a nice key scratch down both doors and rear wing i have been having a running nightmare, shan't go into too many details but the the jist is the insurance approved repairer has been a nightmare, first time spayed and they left a nice textured paint finish on both doors, one you could feel, made a half hearted attempt to polish it up, failed and finally agreed to put it right after failing to convince me 'orange peel is quite common on modern paints'. all they did though was to relaquer the panels, this resulted in a nice splattering of foreign particles in the laquer coat, and I don't mean one ot two, literally everywhere, so after trying to yet again convince me this was nothing to worry about they agreed to sort it out. which to be fair they did.

 

Now onto the crux of the matter, it was also evident that the new paint had a much darker appearence and under strong sunlight looked far more purple than it should, or at least than the rest of the car does (state blue does often have tendancy to have a purple tinge to it). of course par for the course they have denied anything is wrong. They agree to an inspection and that they would go with it's findings, so do I. So an enginer (insurance appointed) inspects it and agrees all is not well, It's been spayed the right colour but doesn;t match well. Insurance company tell me the repairer are doing investigations as to how to rectify the problem, however everytime i talk to them they still deny anything is wrong comming up with ever more fancyful excuses. Eventually after a serious earbashing from me to the insurance company they say the repairers need the car for a few days to work out what has gone wrong. So in expectation but trepedation i take the car in, only to be subjected to a badgering by employees about 3 or 4 trying to convince me all is well, eventually findind one or two angles and light conditions where things don't look too bad.

In frustration i eventually left the car with them suppossedly to be inspected by a rep from the paint supplyer. I go off to complain yet again to my insurance company about thier attitude and practices

I get a call the follwing day saying i need to go in so they can show me some things and explain what they can do. So expecting the worst i go in,. their explanation is as follows

 

The paint on the side of the car which has been painted doesn't match the bumper because it's now thicker having been resprayed,It only matches the other side because it thins out as it meets the bumber. how State Blue has a renouned problem in geting a colour match, (funny how a Ford dealer sprayed the bonnet and front wings without a problem, not once but twice). He claims both the paint rep and now the engineer agree the paint is the right colour, thought i've had no confirmation from the engineer of this, and that the engineer (appointed by the insurence company) had told him to sort out with myself what to do to make me happy with the job. The only suggestion was to paint the bumper by the rear wing and blend the paint in. On pointing out how the paint looked different on either side of the car (turning it round to see it in the same light, his response was, you don't ever get to see both sides of the car at the same time so not to worry.

He suggested that painting the panels again would be pointless as putting more paint on would probably not sort the problem and may make it worse. (scaremongering to put me off asking for a respray comes to mind)

Oh and apparently they are only offering to do anything as a good will guesture.

My insticts, honed after seeing there attitude to problems displayed previously, say it's all bollocks to avoid putting right a job which is just not quite right but quiet a few people would accept it without noticing, well not until a nice bright day, and even then you could lay on the floor and look up at the car so as not to notice.

My theory is that they indeed painted the car with the right paint, however somewhere in the spraying process something has gone wrong, possably in applying extra coats of laquer which has caused both a slight colour mismatch and effected the way the light relects the colours of the paint and metaflakes.

 

So any paint experts out there know how much my insticts are right.

Or is State Blue a demon colour from hell that can only be matched with the aid of devil worship, advanced witchcraft and a huge slice of luck.

[iainkirk]

1. I assume the insurance repair has a warranty. Reject the repair due to the vehicle not having been returned in the pre-damaged condition.

2. Ask your insurer if they will accept the report from AND PAY FOR an inspection from an independant assessor, chosen by you (as they chose the last one).

3. Obtain a report from your local Ford dealer. The insurance company cannot possibly reject a report from the representative of the vehicle's manufacturer.

[johnb80]

I would involve the AA, RAC or Trading Standards. Paint can be a terrible job to match up, maybe near on impossible BUT they know the risks, they take your premium. If you can get an independent report that says it ain't right, give them one last chance to sort it (with them providing a loan vehicle), if that's unsuccesful, take it to a reputable paint shop, get it put right and sue them in the small claims court.

 

Regards - John

[Masked Marauder]

OK, first let me say that I have prepared an award winning car.

 

1st. Orange Peel Effect. There are several reasons, all can and should be avoided in a professional workshop. Ultimately the absolute solution is correct "knocking back" at every stage of the job.

 

2nd. Mis-matched paint. Piss-poor matching skills and not blending in are the cause here.

 

3rd. Crap in the laquer. Nuff said on that.

 

4th. Paint too thick. No, No No! That is bullshit to be polite.

 

In short they have cocked the job up. Everything says a bad job has been done and they know that to put it right is a full re-spray with a lot of preparation. And they don't want to do that.

 

So what is your recourse? Difficult answer, because the contract is between them and the insurance company. That is why you should NEVER EVER use the insurance company's repairers, they will use third party parts, panels and paints. Legally your not obliged to.

 

If your a member of the AA or RAC contact their legal assistance department for more help. Other than that take legal advice, a solicitor's letter is the best way to show you are serious.

[seatkid]

many years ago I had the passenger door on my Passat replaced under the 6 year corrosion warranty in the sixth year.(small hole appeared in the middle)

The VW dealer bodyshop manager proudly said they sprayed the new door 3 times until they got a good match (after 6 years the metallic bue had faded somewhat). I thought at the time that was good service considering the age and the state of the car. I didnt think they would be that bothered.

 

Metallics have always been difficult to match exactly, thats why they spray an entire panel, but a newish car like yours shouldnt be a problem for a good body shop. I would get the Insurance company to agree you take it to another bodyshop. The top one in your town (ask around). Threaten to sue and/or involve trading standards.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Masked marauder is correct in all respects. Do not get part of a bumper re-sprayed - only whole panels should be re-sprayed in metallic colours. Sounds like extensive rubbing-down and proper preparation is required before they attemp to apply any more paint. There are a number of aids that reputable bodyshops can use to ensure that they get the correct shade when they mix a colour. Blues should not be too difficult to match up either.

Good luck - sounds like you nay need it.....

[Guest nelse]

Thanks everyone for confirming what I suspected and that i wasn't just being difficult, I was beginning to question my own judgment and the constant arguement was starting to wear me down, typed a short sharp letter to the insurance company outlining my greivence and what i want done. I've had it written for ages in the blind hope it would be sorted without need i've put off sending it,just a few minor changes to update it.

 

I think this is partly down to the insurance company getting the garage to cut corners nd do the least possable in order to lower the repair cost, leaving very little for the repairer to play with, so when things have gone wrong they have put all their afforts in trying to convince me it's fine. rather than putting there hands up and admitting it. Some of the rubbish they have come out with is beyond belief, changing tack and contradicting themselves at the drop of a hat. I've started calling the whole saga "The everchanging story". I believe they would rather not get paid for what they have done than have to fork out time and money to rectify the work.

 

Anyhow I Spoke to a local Ford dealer today and unfortunately need to call back monday to organise taking it in for an inspection. Will be phoning the repairer on monday to say only a proper and complete respray of the two doors and rear wing will 'make me happy' (their words not mine). nice letter about compensation for the continued hassle and upset, lost time from work, to follow on when i've finally got it sorted. But i have a suspicion it will be a while yet before that happens.

[Guest fredt]

One of the problem with having repairs done by insurance approved repairers is the fact that the repair companys have to keep the costs down in order to keep the insurance companys happy and the work comeing in, the other reason is the work involved with sorting through the different quotes from other body shops where as the approved repairer has a set price list to work to for certain repairs

a good case of cost cutting is my neighbours daughter who has a 206 gti well it got rear ended and was damaged beyond repair finacially :o ok she thought the insurance company will pay up the present market value of the car and the gap insurance will make up the shortfall! no no no ! the gap company faced with paying out

[Guest andeee]

Just to change tack slightly, has anyone had any experiences of a company called "ChipsAway"? They claim to be able to repair minor stone chips, scratches and the like without having to spray the whole panel. Any info gratefully received.

[johnb80]

They did two jobs for me one on a Range Rover, one on a Granada, both metallic green. One word sums it up CRAP. I could have done a better job with a cheapo aerosol can from Halfrauds. One job they did do that was incredible was a repair to a torn leather seat, it was almost invisible.

 

For the paint do it yourself or go elsewhere.

 

Regards - JB

[Guest nelse]

Just a general question then, does anybody know a body shop that they would recommend in the Birmingham area?

[Marky]

Nelse...know a few NOT to use !!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

There's a guy out at Earlswood who is one of the'old school' of panel beaters

He'll take his time but it will be perfect, he did a few dinks on a friends met

green bmw and the repairs were invisible!!!! Let me know if youy want his

number.

 

Mark

[Masked Marauder]

They did two jobs for me one on a Range Rover, one on a Granada, both metallic green. One word sums it up CRAP. I could have done a better job with a cheapo aerosol can from Halfrauds. One job they did do that was incredible was a repair to a torn leather seat, it was almost invisible.

 

For the paint do it yourself or go elsewhere.

 

Regards - JB

I know a couple of people who have had very good results from Chips Away, but they are franchisees, so the standards of work may not be consistant.

[Richmond]

On the original question, I wouldn't worry about why the paint job is nbg. Tell them you're entitled to a proper job and that, one way or another, they have to do one even if it means respraying the whole thing (I was always led to believe if you wanted a respray to look really good, it had to be complete). By now, they're probably wishing that they had.

 

The explanations, true or not, of why the new paint looks different to the old are interesting but irrelevant to your situation.

[Guest Boggler]

After various dings, front bumper (down to me) rear bumper, then some B*!!! keying along the passenger side from the bonnet to the rear quarter mine was beginning to look like a patchwork quilt with the slight mismatch in colours. I of course complained and asked if anybody knew about tinting or aging paint and was told they don't do that anymore. :rolleyes:

 

So I contacted my Insurers to complain, result total respray of everything below the roofline. I suggest you might like to have a word with your Insurers also.

(I also got a demo Sharan rather than the usual group A ie Ka while it was being done :D )

[Guest nelse]

quick update, unfortunately unable to get to My local Ford dealer as yet, bloody life getting in the way, however have spoken to my insurance company and articulated just how i feel, followed up with a letter, went through what was said by the repairers last time i went to see them and how it all seemed very odd and contradictory. They contacted the inspecting engineer and called me back confirming what i suspected, once again they had twisted the facts, misrepresented what the engineer had said and basically lied in an attempt to get me to o.k. a bodge,. Was told to call them and follow up with a letter to say a full respay of the repaired panels was the only rectification i would consider. Did this and without a bat of the eyelid the reply was "yeah we'll do that no problem". If it's no problem why the difficult attitude and refusal every other time i've said this is what i believe is needed. left me absolutely lost for words, after nearly three months of crap off them they do say o.k with out a whimper. However this leaves me with a new dilema, I have to be honest after all they have subjected me too i don't trust them to to do any work on my car, especially work which will be free of charge, I really don't fancy another 3 months of what i've just had. So do i now take the fight on to Have the car repaired at a body shop of my choice, or do i have to give them a final chance to put it right (even though in my view they have had ample chances to do so but have up till now refused to)

[johnb80]

Tell the insurance company you want to take it somewhere else, suggest a company and see what they say. I can forsee there *may* be a problem because they would be putting pressure on the original repairer to do the work F.O.C. obviously going elsewhere they're going to have to pay again. Be a pain, stand your ground and warn them if they insist on using this second rate repairer that if it isn't right this time that you will take it to a reputable repairer, have the work done, hire a car whilst yours is there and sue them for the full cost of repairs, the hire car and compensation for all of your time, trouble and stress.

 

Go for it.

 

Regards - JB

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Agreed.

[Guest EVSS]

have seen this a few times , insurance co moves vehicle to another repairer and then they treat it like a hot potatoe (dont want to get their fingers burnt twice so usually do a proper job). you can always ask for an insurance engineer to inspect, prior to picking the vehicle up and on a couple of occasions ive even seen insurance excess being refunded as a goodwill gesture. gary

[italiastar]

My experience of the insuranc company's approved repairer on my wife's Golf convinced me never to use them again. A simple panel beat and spray job turned out to be a three week and three attempt night mare - even then it wasn't done properly.

 

They replaced a slightly bent tailgate - badly spraying it so that primer could be seen through the paint - the inside even had patches of primer, in removing the rear window they placed it on the floor and severly scratched it (another

[Guest nelse]

Hi all, been a while and due to illness and overwork things have had to take a back seat, however just a quick update on how things now stand.

 

The Insurance company agree that because of the repiarers actions and previous attitude i have every right to refuse to use them to rectify the faults and will support me in this, Having to wait for a Official full Written Engineers report as to what is required to rectify the faults, (Full respray of both doors and rear quater is the verbally conveyed unofficial version) When this is done we can go about the process of sorting out who's going to do it, but due to the circumatances surrounding this bodged repair, i have been told they would have no trouble allowing me to nominate my prefered garage. Time to start asking and lookind around.

 

So a little way to go but things looking good at the moment for a satisfactoy outcome.