Markallain Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Talking to a dealer today who said that probably as much as 40% of new cars have some paintwork done before delivery due to damage in transit. In most cases the new owner won't even know as they are under no obligation to tell them. The 40% figure seemed a bit high to me. If it is true there will be many of us with cars which have had work done unknowingly! Anyway is this due to manufacturers now using softer paints and is the "retouched" paint done by the paintshop in fact better quality? or is the factory paint the best you will get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 A guy at work bought a new Fiat Doblo a few months back. His son noticed when they went to pick it up that it was scratched so they agreed to paint it for them. Even better was when we got the new Ford vans at work and when you looked at the front wing on one of them it was very clearly a different colour on a large patch of it. When confronted, Ford admitted they'd had to respray virtually the whole wing due to damage in transit [pun not fully intended ]. They then reluctantly agreed to respray it properly or replace the wing, I can't remember which they did. 40% of new cars? Probably not far off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 No way near that figure, probably less than 4%. Most cars are transported in covered trucks with protective film and the dealership inspect them at delivery as after they sign off on them, any damage is their responsability...... However, a can tell you that 3% (yes three percent) of BMW's delivered have known faults with them....... nothing serious or they wouldnt be going out, but something a tech has picked up or missed during the in PDI. Mostly warning lights which are on, and are simply reset so the car can be delivered on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32North Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] No way near that figure, probably less than 4%. Most cars are transported in covered trucks with protective film and the dealership inspect them at delivery as after they sign off on them, any damage is their responsability...... However, a can tell you that 3% (yes three percent) of BMW's delivered have known faults with them....... nothing serious or they wouldnt be going out, but something a tech has picked up or missed during the in PDI. Mostly warning lights which are on, and are simply reset so the car can be delivered on time. [/ QUOTE ] I think its higher than 4%. They guy that did the door on my car siad he got quite a lot of business from VW and Audi in Stirling to 'sort' cars that had been cosmetically damaged in transit before the customers took ownership. Plus, I knw of a few people Fiat, Ford, VX, etc who've had the same issue. Don't think its as high as 40% but maybe closer to 10% - 12%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_R32 Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 I'd say nearer 5-10% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I'd say nearer 5-10% [/ QUOTE ] I'd agree. I've seen several cars that have arrived damaged at the dealers. The dealer normally tells me the real reasonfor the delay in delivery but spins the customer a yarn! It is a problem that seems to effect a lot of Fords Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johna1 Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 I have a picture somwhere cant find it. Bugger Its two BMW 5 Series up side down beside one of them massive lorrys that carrythem. In America of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johna1 Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 And i woulnt worry about damge in transit. Id worry about valeters knellinf over you car in dirty clothes using dirty cloths with gravel in them. That does more damage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markallain Posted June 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 So is the paint applied in the bodyshop just as good as the factory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfer Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] So is the paint applied in the bodyshop just as good as the factory? [/ QUOTE ] NO, factory baked is best, a good few Lexuses are repainted in some way before delivery, they have there own paintshop on the dock area thats how bad it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 I had this problem with my Fiat Coupe. One area where they had clearly touched it up (badly) before I picked the car up. Fortunately, they were very good about it and redid the job (well, this time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurfette Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 When I got my C2 last year, it was delivered with scuffs and scratches that they hadn't even bothered to try and hide! Nothing major though and the one small section they repainted wasn't obvious at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 I've always kept in close touch with the salesman around delivery time, and "dropped in" as soon as I could after the transporter leaves. Saw the 911 about 2-3 days after arrival and the Mrs' X3 about 2 hours after unloading ... both were perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Many years ago, my wife took delivery of a Panda (yes, I know!) which had dents all down one side and a loose lower seat belt mounting. We tried to reject the car, but consumer powers weren't as strong in those days. The inner sill was cut open to gain access to weld the seat belt mounting and the dents were straightened out, but I was never happy about the car. Little surprise that the car was subject to several claims under the corrosion warranty and was traded in at nine years of age, leaking rain water like a colander. (We kept an umbrella in the car for use by the front seat passenger!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterS Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I've always kept in close touch with the salesman around delivery time, and "dropped in" as soon as I could after the transporter leaves. Saw the 911 about 2-3 days after arrival and the Mrs' X3 about 2 hours after unloading ... both were perfect. [/ QUOTE ] Don't forget though that damage *might* have already been fixed at the manufacturers import centre if it occured between the factory and the UK. Only damage caused between the import centre and dealer would be fixed at the dealer, AFAIK... Having said that, I'm sure most cars are fine Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Don't forget though that damage *might* have already been fixed at the manufacturers import centre if it occured between the factory and the UK. [/ QUOTE ] True. Hadn't thought of that. Mind you, if they did fix either of them, they did so very well indeed (and without taking any of the covers off them! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfer Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I've always kept in close touch with the salesman around delivery time, and "dropped in" as soon as I could after the transporter leaves. Saw the 911 about 2-3 days after arrival and the Mrs' X3 about 2 hours after unloading ... both were perfect. [/ QUOTE ] Don't forget though that damage *might* have already been fixed at the manufacturers import centre if it occured between the factory and the UK. Only damage caused between the import centre and dealer would be fixed at the dealer, AFAIK... Having said that, I'm sure most cars are fine Peter [/ QUOTE ] Dead right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 [ QUOTE ] 40% of new cars have some paintwork done before delivery due to damage in transit..... [/ QUOTE ] Wouldn't surprise me. Many of the bigger car supermarkets and retailers even have their own paintshops now! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Had a crappy FIAT company car when I first started work - there were 4 of them delivered at the same time. Every one of them had had some (poor) touching up done on the paintwork - the edge of the front doors on mine was chipped to hell and someone had blobbed a load of paint on in an attempt to cover up the damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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