Advice required - Bodyshop messed up my car

My MK1 has been in the bodyshop for 8 weeks, and yesterday it came back. I had originally advised that I wanted a Show finish and they quoted me 2000pounds for this and seemed really excited about the project.

On closer inspection, there are small squiggle-like scratches all over it (looks like it's been caused by the polishing machine) and it's quite orange-peely and when the light shines on it, you can see that it's not straight! A thousand miles from a show finish.

I think that all he has done is rub it back, skimmed it breifly and painted it, effectively gave it a 1k paint job.

I now have to resign to the fact that this is not a show car and for it to be one I will have to pay for someone to redo it.

Thankfully he's not asked for the money yet. I'm not sure what to say to him or how far I should be pushing the money thing.

Any advice, greatfully received.

Jim

did you check it over when you picked it up and bring the issue up then as surely that would of been the best time. if not i'd say go back to the guy and show him and tell him its not what you wanted and ask what he's going to do about it.

also, please bear in mind that I dismantled it myself and gave them a bare shell.

tell him your not happy and you want it sorting

if he refuses don't pay him until he does

Its a hard one as the bodyshop man should know what is good and what isn't.

My advice would be just to approach him sensibly (as I'm sure you would) and tell him your issues.

Its not the easiest of things to do but its a lot of money for something you're not happy with..

Good luck!

Gazvenn - Didn't have chance to check it over as he dropped it off to me on a flat bed yesterday.

well i'd just go with what everyone else said and just get back to him as soon as you can and tell him the issues and ask what he's going to do about it.

Cheers everyone - Realistically though, he's not going to go over the work that he's already done. We're going to have to decide a price that we're both happy with.

the squiggly lines are probably da sander marks under the paint,if they are on the surface,they could be mop marks from polishing
Bert

Bert - is it to be expected then? Or should these not be there?

sounds to me like he needs to flat the paint back, correct the problems and paint it again.

Like bert said, those squigles are probably left over from sanding and are therefore under the paint.  Only way to get them out will be flat it back, filler primer and then paint.

Jon.

squiggly lines are definately da sanding marks, if there under the paint then there not going away, if there just flatting marcs from wet flattting the he should be able to get them out, thats if he's base coat/lacquerd. if its been painted in solid, and i think it has as that would give the orange peel finish, he should be able to rectify all of it. aslong as he's a good polisher. polishing is the key to being a good painter, its rare that someone can get a perfect finish straight from the gun.  you paid strong money, so you have a good case to complain, but be sharp because im sure hes relying on getting the full 2k off ya, and im sure he'll be dissapointed to get less.

Cheers Cuthbert - It has been painted in Base
coat/ Clearcoat.

ooh then 2 things shoot out to me.

1. the orange peel means he either hasn't put enough laquer on and is scared to burn through it, or he hasn't polished it properly.

2.  bad news is if those sguigly marks are under the paint, which it sounds like they are, then you'll need to get the laquer off that area, then build a few more layers of base and hope it goes.

To be honest, if i'd payed 2k for a paint job and it came back dusty i'd be kicking his head in lmao let alone having marks in the paint.

Ring him straight away today. he should have a mobile?  if not leave him lots of voicemails. For him to bring it back like that says he never checked it in daylight himself. Or he needs a white stick and sunglasses.

Jon.