[NeuroBeaker]

Yes, the dealer messed up. Yes, it's upsetting that this all came to be in the first place. However, the dealership is doing what they can do rectify the situation. It's a non-metallic paint colour so this should come up rather nicely. In the end, the car will be restored to as near as 'pristine' condition as is humanly possible.

For those of you who think a respray isn't a good result, what exactly do you have in mind as 'acceptable compensation'? Cash too? A replacement car even? What exactly do you expect out of life? Baldrick here actually seems to have found someone at the dealership who is sympathetic to his case and is empowered to try to rectify the situation in a very reasonable way - and yet some of you are trying to push Baldrick to seek further compensation... not going to happen, not necessary in this instance, and by continuing to press for it you're only going to make Baldrick dissatisfied with whatever the outcome is. Even worse, by encouraging him to respond unreasonably to a reasonable offer - the dealer could very well withdraw it! Frankly, some of you should stop trying to get someone else to grind your own axe for you if you've got some sort of a problem with dealerships in general.

To those people, I say you should have a listen to The Eagles:

YouTube - Eagles - Get Over It: From Hell Freezes...

Quote: Originally Posted by The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over - 'Get Over It'

I turn on the tube and what do I see
A whole lotta people cryin' "Don't blame me"
They point their crooked little fingers ar everybody else
Spend all their time feelin' sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that
Your momma's too thin; your daddy's too fat

Get over it
Get over it
All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it, get over it

You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if I gave you some cash
The more I think about it, Old Billy was right
Let's kill all the lawyers, kill 'em tonight
You don't want to work, you want to live like a king
But the big, bad world doesn't owe you a thing
Get over it
Get over it
If you don't want to play, then you might as well split
Get over it, Get over it

It's like going to confession every time I hear you speak
You're makin' the most of your losin' streak
Some call it sick, but I call it weak

You drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down
Complain about the present and blame it on the past
I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little ass

Get over it
Get over it
All this *****in' and moanin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it, get over it

Get over it
Get over it
It's gotta stop sometime, so why don't you quit
Get over it, get over it

It's not your fault that this happened in the first place, Baldrick. However, I feel the dealership has been quite reasonable in offering a respray. It will look fabulous, get past the incident, and move on to continue enjoying your MINI ownership experience.

All the best,
Andrew.

[sony]

I think they should do the respray, yes. And offer £500 compensation. But we all know this won't happen. Maybe if people complained more, the dealers would be more careful in the 1st place...

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by sony (original)

I think they should do the respray, yes. And offer £500 compensation. But we all know this won't happen. Maybe if people complained more, the dealers would be more careful in the 1st place...

Curious, where did you get the 500 pound figure?

[Mini-Trainer]

I feel now that we're all going round in circles you (Baldrick1001) ask our advice on this matter and with all the replies it's clear that you should take the re-spray option and cut your loses.

Of course YOU are the person who makes the ultimate decision but if they're going to fix the damage caused and I'm assuming they are going to replace the decal what difference does it make?

For example I bought my R56 and after expressly telling them not to fit the number plate holder, they did and left two dirty great holes in the front aerokit bumper.
Now the dealer assured me that the damage would be filled in and painted over, but after getting the car back the paint started to peel off

I had to then take the car back this time to be refitted with a new bumper factory painted.

Now the inconvenience to me was that this dealer wasn't local (35 miles away) and I had to take time out of my day to deliver the car twice over.
I could claim the petrol, the time and the money wasted on re-decaling the front bumper, this could have being something that could have been prevented.
Also this remember was a brand new JCW MCS, worth a good number of gold pieces.

The upshot is sometimes it's worth a battle to get what you are entitled to, because of the inconvenience, but to be honest is it worth arguing with them to MAYBE get a little more in the way of perks.

Is £50 of vouchers, worth the hassle of letters and phone calls and winding yourself up about it?

I feel the ultimate outcome is they could potentially refuse to do certain warranty work due to mods you may want to do in the future.

You've had many more responses than usual from decent experienced members on here and you should be thank full for that.
If you feel the advice is harsh and don't want an honest, unbiased opinion then don't ask for the advice.
Whereas your friends and family may empathise with your situation we here on M2 will offer fact, which is worth it's weight in gold.

Rams

[Mini-Trainer]

Quote: Originally Posted by ARCrawford (original)

Rams,

I'm pretty handy with sutures, would you like me to come over there an take care of that hole for you?

So... what'd'ya say Rams?

All the best,
Andrew.

PMSL Just fill me in with GUN GUM
Until I have a curry and the putty gets too hot and hard so then begins to fragment!!!! (Toilet humour don't you just love it!)

Rams

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini-Trainer (original)

PMSL Just fill me in with GUN GUM
Until I have a curry and the putty gets too hot and hard so then begins to fragment!!!! (Toilet humour don't you just love it!)

Rams

Oooh - wouldn't like to be around when the curry finally breaks through!

(And, of course. )

All the best,
Andrew.

[Buz999]

I would agree that a roof respray is a good offer after owning the car for two years and as long as its done well you and everyone else will never know. However it never hurts to push a little so cheeky me would ask for some freebies that add up to the amount that it cost you extra to have the decal fitted in the first place, circa £200 at a guess. Dont get all shirty and demand as you will get no where as others have said.

All the best.


MINXYMOO you're always livid

[Electric Sheep]

They're offering to put right the damage they caused - what more do you want? At least they're admitting they were at fault and they aren't trying to play hardball. Given the amount of time that's elapsed, that's the most you'll get. If you'd noticed within a more reasonable time, you'd have a better claim for compensation.

Of course, you don't have to go back once the respray is done, but it's worth trying to be civil to them, as until the work is complete, you need them more than they need you. Who else is going to do it for free?

You could try asking for a freebie (try and be reasonable in your demands) as a token gesture. Perhaps a free MOT for when your car turns three year old?

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by sony (original)

The responses so far amaze me!! Baring in mind he has paid top money for an expensive car, I'd want it to be perfect in the first place.
No respray is as good as good as when it was done at the factory. I would be livid, the dealer buggered it in the first place, of course he should be offered some form of compensation.
It makes me laugh when some of you say it's a good result!! I mean what should they say? Sorry, and clear off?????

The roof of my old MINI ONE was resprayed White by the dealers bodyshop, looked just like it had come from the factory like it

[MINXYMOO]

Quote: Originally Posted by Buz999 (original)

I would agree that a roof respray is a good offer after owning the car for two years and as long as its done well you and everyone else will never know. However it never hurts to push a little so cheeky me would ask for some freebies that add up to the amount that it cost you extra to have the decal fitted in the first place, circa £200 at a guess. Dont get all shirty and demand as you will get no where as others have said.

All the best.


MINXYMOO you're always livid

Buz, I've sent you a PM...... mister!!!!

Baldrick asked for opinions and he's got them, with mixed responses, it's up to him what he decides to do. I'm sure he's big enough to make up his own mind...

I haven't read anything to suggest anyone who's replied has an "axe to grind" or a "problem with dealerships in general"... merely giving personal opinions in response to his initial thread. Isn't that the whole point of a forum? ?

[BALDRICK1001]

Update,

Been to the dealer this morning who has offered the following:

1. Respray roof
2. £9,200.00 buy back

Whats the view on buy back price

06 plate pepper white, pepper pack, manual air con and sports seats 15500 miles 2yrs and 2 months old, A1 condition - aside, obviously, from the bl.... scratches on the roof......

Thanks to all that have offered their advise.

[wiggis]

Quote: Originally Posted by BALDRICK1001 (original)

Update,

Been to the dealer this morning who has offered the following:

1. Respray roof
2. £9,200.00 buy back

Whats the view on buy back price

06 plate pepper white, pepper pack, manual air con and sports seats 15500 miles 2yrs and 2 months old, A1 condition - aside, obviously, from the bl.... scratches on the roof......

Thanks to all that have offered their advise.

Buy back price sounds a bit on the low side to me .... (edit : actually, for a ONE, it's not bad. I had assumed it was a Cooper).

I think you'd do better than £9,200 if you let your dealership repaint the roof, and then sold it to another local MINI dealership a couple of months later ...... (see note above).

But .... in the nicest possible way, I think you'd have to be off your trolley to get rid of the car just for a few scratches on the roof which are going to be repaired free of charge by a BMW / MINI bodyshop

[supa-dupa-cooper]

That price is good

I traded in my 06 plate ONE Pepper with 18k miles and got just a bit less than that, and that was against a new car! (couldnt be fussed with selling private).

But like Wiggis says, why 'reject' a car after just over 2 years because of some scratches on the roof that the dealer is offering to sort out for you free of charge?!

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by BALDRICK1001 (original)

Update,

Been to the dealer this morning who has offered the following:

1. Respray roof
2. £9,200.00 buy back

Whats the view on buy back price

06 plate pepper white, pepper pack, manual air con and sports seats 15500 miles 2yrs and 2 months old, A1 condition - aside, obviously, from the bl.... scratches on the roof.......

Agreed and disagreed with many previous comments.

The dealer seems to be being very fair and doing their best to sort the situation out.

The decals may have been originally done by an outside firm (They're not always done by the dealer themselves, although they should be up to scratch, no pun intended , as they're putting their name too them).

You won't be able to tell the roof / panel has been painted for reasons also previously stated, and by having it done at a main dealer the chances of it being a very good job are considerably increased (paint match, finish, products used etc... etc...), saying that if you do go down that road, I'd just be very picky on any paintwork as you want it as it was previously. On that note the dealers paint MINI roofs all the time for customers & not all are done at the factory as people have last minute changes of heart or used ones are the MINI a customer wants, just with a white / black or colour coded roof and unless the dealer has another in stock they'll just paint the roof or offer to paint the roof .

In My Opinion you wouldn't / couldn't get a better out come, if you took it to court etc... etc... as they've offered to rectify the situation the only way they can, via repainting or as you've updated, offered to buy your MINI (again seems they're being very reasonable).

The price issue is up to you to accept what you think is OK but as also has been previously stated, the most patient / helpful dealers will have their snapping point and could just turn around and say you're being unreasonable and revoke all offers and as I've said, I don't think you'd get a better out come at court (you'd probably get a puzzled looking Judge give you a bit of a telling off ).

Again as previously stated why "reject" your MINI unless you're thinking of updating or moving away from MINI, as it sounds like you've loved & looked after your MINI, this would only benefit any future purchaser who would buy the MINI not knowing it's ever been painted (thinking it's MINT condition, and well looked after) and probably a reason for the buy back offer , as they'd already offered to repair the damage and as far as I'm aware I thought that's all they need to do (I could be wrong ).

[Jim Ray]

No dealer on this side of the pond would offer that much compensation. The respray, I mean.

You did not know that there was a flaw until now, therefor it did not ruin the enjoyment of having a new car. The car was not really damaged, as stated, no rust. Paint is resprayed, and touched up constantly, with there being no evidence of work at all.

The car is not new now, but you are getting a fresh look, at no cost to you. I must agree with most posters, that is a really fair deal that your dealer is offering.

[Randall Raines]

"BALDRICK1001" If the repaint issue really really worries you that much, let the dealer know this (politely, as I'm sure you have) and ask if you could hold back on the buy back offer until they have painted the roof etc... etc... and then decide then , because I presume they would be painting it anyway, just a thought .

[canvasrepublic]

I get the impression the payments are too much every month. Why else would someone get so narky over some scratches that the dealer is willing to sort out.?.

The compensation culture in this country is getting way out of hand!.

Balderick, put yourself in the dealers shoes, what would you do after 2 years?.
Bearing in mind, these scrathes could have quite easily been caused by you trying to sort the vinyl issues out.

When all said and done, you are getting new paint on your roof, which by default will look better for 2 years longer now!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by sony (original)

The responses so far amaze me!! Baring in mind he has paid top money for an expensive car, I'd want it to be perfect in the first place.
No respray is as good as good as when it was done at the factory. I would be livid, the dealer buggered it in the first place, of course he should be offered some form of compensation.
It makes me laugh when some of you say it's a good result!! I mean what should they say? Sorry, and clear off?????

Have you seen how the roof is actually painted in the factory in the first place? Once the entire bodyshell has been painted with the main colour, the car is then masked off, by hand and then the roof is sprayed, by hand, all in a process almost indistinguishable from what your dealer will be planning on doing.

Mistakes happen and the dealer is being extremely reasonable in repainting the entire roof. I would imagine s/he might be a lot less forthcoming with such a generous offer in future if s/he feels that the customer's immeadiate reaction is going to be to ask for buy back and / or compensation. Please, let's stay real here!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by BALDRICK1001 (original)

Update,

Been to the dealer this morning who has offered the following:

1. Respray roof
2. £9,200.00 buy back

Whats the view on buy back price

06 plate pepper white, pepper pack, manual air con and sports seats 15500 miles 2yrs and 2 months old, A1 condition - aside, obviously, from the bl.... scratches on the roof......

Thanks to all that have offered their advise.

According to Parker's used price guide that's a pretty generous offer for your car, as is the offer to respray the roof!

I'm really not certain what is going to make you happy with this situation. The offer to respray the roof would cure the problem for most users, but it seems that nothing is going to make you happy with this car.

I'd suggest accepting the offer of cash for the car, but think seriously before spending your cash on anything else, as scratches and dings will happen and if nothing short of a new car will do each time, it's going to be an expensive and stressful experience for you every time it happens.

PS: Could you let us know who the dealer is? I'd quite like them to look after my MINI!

[BALDRICK1001]

Thanks all f