Cars gone into the bodyshop today.

**sonic** · 25th April 2007, 10:32

Dropped off the Vec at 9 this morning to have my bodywork damage repaired.

The guy has told me that it will be ready tomorrow afternoon.

I had an argument with my insurance co. to use this bodyshop which is local to me and came with numerous recommendations from friends. They wanted me to use their recommended repairers, who funnily enough dont have much of a decent reputation around here! And using the local guy saves me two 50mile round trips to drop off and pick up the car.

So far I have been really impressed. The bodyshop is run by one guy who does all the work himself. He has found a couple of blemishes on the paint not connected with the damage. He thinks it is probably a poor repair by a dealer as a result of 'transporter' damage, but he has said that he will sort it out before my car comes back to me.
Told me that he likes cars to leave his bodyshop perfect!

So tomorrow will tell. If he does a good job, which I am pretty sure he will, then I'll post his details up for you all.

**Damian** · 25th April 2007, 10:45

Where do you live mate. I am sure other people would be interested to kniow of a good bodyshop like that

Cheers

**andy.l** · 25th April 2007, 10:47

i`m sure they will do a very good job,its very difficult to trust bodyshops
these days,especially the dealer ones as they just dont give a f..k about
anyones car as long as they can repair it within the time they have been
given and thats not right as they shud really take gud care in their work
so hope all goes well for yours and look forward in the result tomoz

**Duncan** · 25th April 2007, 11:07

Originally Posted by sonicboom

I had an argument with my insurance co. to use this bodyshop which is local to me and came with numerous recommendations from friends. They wanted me to use their recommended repairers, who funnily enough dont have much of a decent reputation around here!

That's often the case. Last year I told my insurers I wanted it to go to me dealer for the bodywork repairs, and they didn't argue. The Approved Repairer they initially recommended to me didn't have as good a reputation as the place my dealer used. It's all down to them being able to get good deals/reduced labour rates at the places that are their ARs, nothing to do with them being a better repairer than somewhere else.

D

**vectrasri03** · 25th April 2007, 11:41

Recommended insurance company repairs (use our approved one or don't get a free hire car) work to short time scales and are instructed not to replace items (door strips, bumpers, exhausts etc.) if they can get away with it. Its all about money.

Where I work there is a good spray shop over the road, I had them inspect my insurance fix on my old car and they stated that it should have had a new imisher rear box, bumper wasn't prepared properly and choice of shade was incorrect. They were also amazed how they managed to dent three of my wheels by putting the hooks from the transporter into the spokes. Every headrest in the car had been swapped about and it also had 20+miles on the clock (even though it went via transporter and returned).

Went mental and got no help from both the company or insurance company. If I get into this situation again I will demand it goes to my local one, I can even go and inspect the work @ lunch etc.

**sonic** · 25th April 2007, 11:41

Originally Posted by Duncan

It's all down to them being able to get good deals/reduced labour rates at the places that are their ARs, nothing to do with them being a better repairer than somewhere else.

Exactly... The guy at the bodyshop I am using told me he was contacted by my insurance Co. and they got him to reduce his quote. They told him he was more expensive than the approved repairer, and if he wanted the job he wold have to come down a bit.
He was already well under the quote from the AR before they got him to reduce his quote....Cheeky barstewards!!
But as he said, "I am cheaper and I'll do a better job!"

**veccy22** · 25th April 2007, 13:17

my local repairer passed away ! which i'm gutted about as apart from him there is'nt really anyone else i trust ! bummer !

**blr123** · 25th April 2007, 15:29

Sonicboom.........just remember to ask them NOT to polish it...........we have detailed several cars that have been polished by bodyshops, we have yet to find a bodyshop that can actually polish a car properly without inducing holograms & buffer trails

Bryan

**veccy22** · 25th April 2007, 15:42

thats a good point !! many moons ago my beloved 19 16valve hatch went walkies ! it needed minor cosmetics when finally recovered ! but the paintshop had polished it ! from a distance all looked well , close up you could see swirls etc !!

**Karl** · 25th April 2007, 16:45

mine is back from the bodyshop today (wife reversed into the wall outside the house!), its amazing, tiny section of scratches on the rear quarter has turned into a whole nearside respray and new rear bumper and lens, thank god I aint paying! I wonder if the lease company realise how much they have been stung for!