Bill, that is one hell of a memory about the fasteners, but much to my horror, I got nothing from that car except what fell out when it was upside down in the creek

If there is any way you can get your hands on them, I would buy the headlights and tail lights for sure. Sorry to sound like I am asking for parts after your tragedy, but I have a very interesting project I would like to try and they are cost prohibitive to get and then tear apart

 

My condolesences. Afrigging amazing what depth of sewage some live in. Let it go -- that is the best thing you can do for yourself. Don't give another second of your attention to the knucklehead.

 

I think it could have been a Rutgers hater. I won't put any logos on my car for fear of a hater taking it out on my car. Too many idiots on the streets and why be a target?

 

So, I talked to the autobody shop yesterday afternoon and they are working on my car. The parts were ordered last week, and sure enough 1 headlight and 1 taillight are on national backorder. Didn't get specifics on driver or passenger side, though. So, they will finish the rest of the work and let me have the car back until those parts do come in.

Hopefully I will have my baby back sometime next week!

 

Boiler, I have a passenger side headlight I might be coaxed into parting with. It is not perfect and the two projection headlights are not in alignment, (the reason it was replaced). PM if interested. Larry

 

Thanks for the info, and I will keep that in mind, but for now, I have lots of other projects to attend to....

Bill I am glad they are getting you sorted out.

 

Thinking of parts availability: In my 300 I hit the back of a guy (who admitted that) he STOPPED for a yellow light as the sun was low in the sky and blinded both of us. No tickets, but a lot of cosmetic front end repairs to the 300.
The local Mercedes dealer is the one my ins. co. sent me to. They said they worked on XFs and never had trouble getting parts. Sounded good until he said "of course, if you wreck your car it might be the first one we CAN'T get parts for..." HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

So, after over a month of waiting I went to see my baby yesterday after talking to the bodyshop. And I'm disappointed. The car was painted, but not buffed and was covered in dust, so I coudln't tell how the paint job was, except for a large obvious run on the back bumper... Still no headlights or taillights. The front glass apparently needs some kind of weatherstripping that they didn't know about, so the front window isn't in. The back glass was put in crooked, and needs to be redone. The wheels were repainted - but they didn't clean the brake dust/dirt off the inside of the wheels - they painted over it! Argh. Can you tell I'm not really very happy??? When I told the guy at the body shop that I wasn't happy about them not even having the paint job finished in 32 days, he started to give me attitude (ie - telling me I didn't know how bodyshop work goes, how long it takes, etc).

So, I'm going to stop by again tomorrow and make 'em clean the dust off so I can check the paint, and I'll give them a list of everything I find wrong so they can fix it.

of course, next monday my insurance rental has to be returned, so I have to get them to cover the rental, too I suppose - after all, the car would be drivable with the scratched head/tailights, so if they haven't been able to complete the other repairs in 40 days, I dont' really feel it's my responsibility to cover a loaner car, but theirs.

thanks for listening to my rant!

B

 

Time to find a different shop!

 

Ditto That! Did you know that aficianados and amateurs means the same thing? You need to return their attitude w/ some of your own my friend. Tell your adjuster they are not competent and get another estimate to fix their high school shop class work!

 

Well i know how body shops work and that place sucks! Talk to your insurance company, the adjusters have the shop by the short hairs. I see our shop bending over backwards to appease the ins companies. Ask the shop head idiot what tier level his shop is (#1 the best). Then ask him what skill level the tech is, A level is the top.

Man I can't even fathom turning out a car like they are doing to you!!! A flippin run They have to be kidding. Im sorry but they are a **** shop and you HAVE to get your ins. company fired up or you will get walked all over. I cant believe he gave you attitude . Heres a hint, go in there with a clipboard and a camera. Body shops all take several pics of cars before they touch them to give them a fighting chance when/if it gets nasty with the ins company. Look at EVERYTHING you dont like and take several pics & notes of each one...you have the right. This will put them on guard to either get it together or try to snowball you more.

Pooly

PS. Shops are struggling hard for buisness so be aware how much power your $ has. If they tick off your ins company it will bite them in the butt. I'd be mad as hell and would take this place to court (again good reason for notes and pics) DONT FORGET HOW MUCH THAT CAR COST NEW, ITS NOT A BEAT UP KIA!!

 

Just a thought. When dealing with sub contractors on my construction jobs who have done less than acceptable work, I make a detailed punch list and go over every item with them in detail. Then I ask them if they would pay their money for work of this quality and explain that I am not going to either. I set up a time frame for repairs to be made and explain that after that point some one else will be making the repairs and the cost will come out of their check. You are the boss here, don't take any of that tail wagging the dog crap. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Ok, I talked to the insurance company today. They talked to the shop, and all is ok for now. The bodyshop will cover the rental car until car is drivable. They also said they won't buff the paintjob until all the glass is installed, probably next Monday/Tuesday. So, I will go look at the car then and speak to the shop about any issues with the work...

Feeling a little better, though...

 

 

while I cant see from the pic, Id be pretty certain it will be cleared before it rolls out. They are most likely holding off to wetsand the runs out smooth then clearcoat. If you see any dirt or imperfections in the clear THEN tell them they need to buff out the clear till its smooth.

We just did a 01 civic that belonged to a teen with 130k on it. We even buffed out the rear door jamb to fix a hiccup in the clear. The car looked really good when it rolled out....it was trash when it came in. Just a testiment to how a customer oriented shop works.

 

I went and saw the car yesterday. It was buffed, and every body panel has orange peel. And dust embedded in the finish. And divots from where larger particles of dust/dirt were buffed out... The wheels were painted a different color(silver, but a flat silver not the sparkly silver the OEM wheels are), had runs and they hadn't cleaned the dirt/brake dust off the inside of the wheels - they just painted over it...

And the owner of the shop wouldn't even discuss it. When I mentioned the orange peel, he immediately said he'd call my insurance company to have somebody come look at the car...

 

Call your insurance company and tell them you want them to look at it also, and that you MUST be there when they do. Then you can be sure the shop gets the right instructions and what they plan to do, or it goes to a different shop to be done right!

 

I sure hope it works out for you. I get sick just readn about they are treatn your car. I' d listen to everything Green-Ghost is tell'n you. Him be'n in the bizz and all.

 

Good luck with all this, I know from experience the insurance companies can be a real pain in the *** to deal with, but hopefully they can get you taken care of and satisfied in the end...

 

Good luck!

It is sick what some people do. Hearing about the spotty availability of parts frightens me because I have to park my car outdoors.