[jasonfields007]

Hi All,

We've recently had our cooper s repaired after a collision to the front side. Our insurance company sorted out one of those accident repair places to fix up the car. They were called Five Star of Hemel Hempstead... avoid them like the plague.

The car got a new bonnet and they had to obviously spray it (electric blue). They also re-sprayed and re-lacquered the doors so you didn't notice the slight colour difference of the new bonnet. It's now a month on and we're starting to notice small dents and ripples in the paintwork of the doors and bonnet appearing. We took it to our local Mini dealer who told us that Five Star have done it all wrong and quoted just over £1000 to put it right... rubbing down the doors / bonnet & re-lacquering/re-painting . Five star have also hung the bonnet wrong which requires replacing some bits. (have a look at the attached pic). In the meanwhile, we're writing a letter to the insurance company and hopefully they will agree for the work to be redone at the Mini dealer.

Moral of the story... if you have a problem, always get your Mini fixed at an authorised BMW/Mini body shop.

If anyones got any advice on this situation, please let me know.

Thanks

Jason

[jasonfields007]

this is what the car looks like on a good day

[jasonfields007]

another...

[Martin L]

An authorised MINI repair shop is the only place where you should take your MINI to get repaired. It is your right to choose where your car is repaired and not the insurance companies. They don't want to advertise this fact as it does usually cost them more.
Unfortunately you have learnt the hard way

To rub salt into the wounds all the repaired and replaced parts no longer fall under warrantee as they've been fitted at a non authorised repairer.

I'd pursue you're insurance company to get it put right at a MINI dealer as it's a total bodge job. What will probably happen though is they'll send it back to the orginal workshop to get put right as it won't cost them any money.

[Minimum]

Sorry about your accident. I went through the same headache on my other car (BMW 528i) shortly after I bought it. I had the work done at a shop that my insurance company suggested and when I got the car back, it was laughable at how bad the quality of work was, except I wasn't laughing at the time.

The only good thing about it was, since the insurance company recommended the shop (since they did cheap work), the insurance company was responsible.

The result was the insurance company made me give the shop another chance even though at that point I feared those people even being near my car. It turned out the flunkies didn't improve their skill prior to their second attempt to do it right.

An insurance adjuster came and looked at my car and I pointed out all the flaws. The insurance company then agreed to pay to have it re-done at a place that I chose, which was the place my BMW dealer recommended.

After it was all done, the result was better, but it still wasn't perfect and the whole thing still irritates me even though it happened around 7 years ago now.

My advise to you is to keep fighting your insurance company to get them to pay for quality work. They'll probably put up a fight, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease and they'll eventually pay. Just be prepared to write some letters and make some phone calls.

[jasonfields007]

thanks very much for your advice... this should be fun

jas

[Bonjour]

Sorry to hear of the accident mate. The hanging of that bonnet is terrible.

I recently had to have something similar done to my car - new bonnet and front wing following an accident. Being with Mini insurance the job was done at a BMW bodyshop, and although I wasn't pleased with how long it took (5+ weeks) or how I was treated, I have to admit they've done a top job.

All the best getting it sorted.

[mrs. peel]

I had an accident also - but not a very bad one. The bonnet had to be replaced and painted. I took it to the dealer's body shop I bought it from (Moritz Mini, Dallas, Texas). They screwed up the paint....the bonnet didn't match the rest of the car. The assistant body shop manager tried to tell me their paint job was better and the rest of my mini looked like motorcycle paint because it was too glittery. He assured me the tech who painted it probably made sure it matched in the garage, just not in the sun. DUH. Typically I do drive my car outside.

I didn't accept it. When I called the schmuck the next day, he sheepishly admitted they didn't have the formula from MINI - so it was their fault.
BE CAREFUL even if you take it to a dealer.