[Biemdreamer]

I'm seeking advice. Prior to closing the deal on the purchase of my car, my sales guy stated the dealer would have a BMW approved paint/body shop remove some stains from my hood that were not coming off with a wash and a rub at the dealer. The work was done as promised. When I got to washing my car a few days later I appreciated that the area that was worked on has less luster and less depth than the rest of the hood!!!! I am assuming my clear coat was taken down....the salesman said they would use some clay to remove the spots. Any suggestions as to how to best repair this or approach the dealer regarding this issue. I am purchasing the car and plan on keeping for many years. HELP!!

[mds82]

Well a picture would really help. Depending on what they did to thw spot on your hood they may have just buffed the spots out. If the person buffing was not very experienced they could have burned the clear coat a bit, and if they did that they sorry to say, but your out of luck. If they burned it most likely they will need to take the car back, wet sand the spot(s) and re clearcoat the car.

That is the worst case senerio though. You could try to just use a light swirl remover on the areas to try to even out the finish, and see if that gets sone of the luster back. If you cant get it yourself take it back to them and complain.

[txusa03]

I agreed, it sounds like they went a little too deep and took off your clear coat. But the good news is (I think), they can just remover the clearcoat on the hood and add a new layer of clearcoat. Since it is the hood, it should be easy. What freaking dealer is this?

[Biemdreamer]

An update for any who might find this interesting. I tried various approaches to make the affected paint blend in with the rest of the paint - I couldn't make it work. Took it to the dealer. Sales manager agreed there was a variance and stated they would gladly have their BMW authorized body shop "make it right - like new - whatever it was." Before turning my car over to have "it" fixed I sought the opinion of an unbiased expert - an owner of an auto body paint shop. Wow! What did I learn from him? He showed me the dimple in the paint where someone got a little too vigorous trying to rub out my original spot. To cover this the body shop "burnt in" with a blend of clear and base coat over the area to cover this goof. The variance I could see was the attempt to blend the paint from the body shop with the factory....on a brand new frickin BMW to adress a water spot noted prior to purchase.

I called up the SM at the dealer. Advised him of my findings. He was incredulous---he highly doubted that that variance was paint. I clearly, slowly, calmly, firmly expressed my disatisfaction with the apparent situation----their was no way I could accept this purchase knowing the paint is not factory by no fault of my own. He stated.....and this blew me away....that if there was a paint job done without my authorization he would get me a new car.

Well, went to the dealer....he measured the paint on the hood.....in the area of question it clearly measured thicker than elsewhere!!! My hood had been painted!

We went inside, sat down....and ordered a 2007 328 with all the same options and color of my 2006 325 - for what I payed for my 325.

I am very thankful for the integrity of this dealer and SM. I am blown away that this could have happened and very glad I obtained an unbiased second opinion and asked for what I thought would be impossible(provide me with a different new car). I learned a few lessons....maybe it will help anyone else with any similar issue. Great car, Great dealer, Great car maker.

[ZuerstBMW]

Thats great.

[BK]

Nice conclusion. Sorry it happened, but enjoy the 328i.

[txusa03]

Can you tell us what dealer this is? I know at momentum-59, they have this tool that measure the pain thickness. They use it on my old car just to make sure there was not body work done on the car. When you have body work and repaint, the paint surface will never be uniform in term of thickness and that tool can detect such variance in paint surface. What a deal you got there and considering what you had to go thru on a brand new car purchase. I think that is the only way to make it up to customer.

[glock17]

Must be nice to have that kind of service. My dealer stills owes me some body work from prior to the sale (road rash on the front bumper). I'm sure when I take it back he'll "forget" that he promised it too me just like the Xenon headlights that my car supposedly had. Enjoy your new 328.

[pacman]

thats great news!!!! so when r u getting ur new car????

[Biemdreamer]

The sales manager did use a paint meter to measure the paint. Prior to my coming to speak with him he states he would measure the paint. He took measurements from various places on the hood and the all measured 4.0 - 5.0 (units???? micrometers?) - then he measured the area in question - all were 6.5 - 7.5. I asked him what this meant ( I knew what it meant - I'd been painted without my authorization) - he said it meant I was going to be getting a new car. Pretty wild!!! The dealership (BMW North Houston-The Woodlands Texas) has been great with me from first encounter in the showroom all of the way through this process so far. Hopefully looking at a late December 2006 delivery - don't know if this is for real or not - I can be patient - I've dreamed about this car for 25 years (since I was 15 - I'm about to turn 40). Lessons learned - be patient, be persistant, be firm and stick to your guns(it doesn't hurt to get things in writting either). Although this has been stressful I am able to order the car I had with some changes I wished I had in the previous car (light poplar wood, fold down rear seats, Logic 7 and Sirius) plus I get 15 more HP and 15 more ft/lbs torque. Thanks for the feedback.

[picus]

Microns; that's 1/1000ths of a millimeter; typically you'll get a reading of 3.5-5 on a new car. It sounds like the area in question was sanded them air brushed to blend it in, but it was not re-sanded and polished, so it was basically un-polished paint (like putting shoe polish on a shoe, but not buffing it). You're lucky - honestly most dealerships would have offered to buff the hood or re-paint it rather than give you a new car (incidentally, if done right it could have looked fine, but it sounds like they messed it up). So good on ya.

[Biemdreamer]

For any who may be inerested in this saga. Not only are these cars the Ultimate Driving Machine, but my dealer is the Ultimate Dealer! (BMW Houston-North - The Woodlands). They completly did everything they said they would do to correct the error/miscomunication/oversight...whatever the heck happened to my 325. On 12/29 I took delivery of my 328 to replace my 325. She is wonderful.....I know,

Anyways, don't ever hesitate to clearly share with your dealer your expectations if they desire to have you as a satisfied customer. This is not to say you will always get what you desire, but if you don't ask you are less certain to get it.

Kudos to my dealer for great service and to BMW for great cars!

[txusa03]

great ending