Shoddy spray job

[maddog]

My W210 is currently under going rust repairs from a main dealer , i had to pay to have my bonnet resprayed myself as i thought it would look odd with two freshly painted wings and doors next to a old bonnet but it was done at the same time as the warrantied rust repairs and MB billed me for it.

Just had a good check over the car and i've found the engine covered in overspray its clear they didnt remove it to spray the thing you would think the £367 LABOUR element would have included removing the bonnet from the car!!!

The car is going back for more bodywork anyhow next month so i will mention it then , i dont think its unreasonable to ask them to clean off this overspray do you??

 

[television]

Thats just plain lazy, we always mask off the engine as nothing looks worse than spray dust

 

[Aussie Nick]

I suggest you do it yourself. Its not that hard. I say that because i think they will do a S...t job of that one too. Lazy and unprofessional

 

[maddog]

What do you think , thinners on a rag??? I'm worried about damaging the plastic

Its not simply sanding dust these pics where after i tried to clean it off

 

[42864]

You say that the car is "going in next month" for more work, -- If you are going to complain I would do it sooner rather than later complain about it now and get them to sort it out when the car is in next time !

 

[television]

No you cant use thinners and a rag, it will melt the plastic and look awful, make them do it, and I mean that

 

[citroennut]

hi,
i can fully sypathise with you, last car - w210 was resprayed because of rust - aren't they all going to be?!, bonnet was then a different colour. took it back and argued that as it went in one colour it would come back one colour, they resprayed the bonnet but not the roof- too far away to see difference. it then took 7 months of wrangling till i was happy with the fit and finish of the panels. btw if they replace the doors ensure the correct level of deadening is used, tap one door and compare with one which has not been replaced. my problem was it went to an 'authorised repairer' but not a mercedes garage, i should have insisted it went to mercedes, would not give aouthorised repairer an airfix kit to build and paint. keep arguing till you are satisfied.
simon

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi madog > i would suggest you try a bit of petrol with a soft rag on one little section. Lets face it whatever these Drongos do will be worse than you can do to fix it. These covers are generally pretty resilient and I have noted Malcolm's concerns. I think if you test a little area it will indicate if you can remove easily or otherwise. I would be careful not to scrub the surface which may leave abrasive marks.

 

[philharve]

Overspray may indicate shortcuts.

Hi maddog

I must admit surprise that the bodyshop did not remove the body panels before repainting them. Like you I had to pay for the bonnet respray myself. It was removed prior to painting so that the new paint layers could be baked in an oven. All the paint was removed first and fresh layers built up after rust-proofing the bare metal. The presence of overspray suggests corners may have been cut and your panels may have been given a quick blow over after treating the rust.

My bonnet was repaired almost a full year before the front wings but, nevertheless, the paint match between adjacent panels is perfect. The repairer performed a spectrographic analysis of the paint on adjacent panels and devised a perfect match, suitably pre-aged. Being a dark blue colour, it would hide any imperfections, however, I never did discover any.

REGARDS

Phil