[grumpy07470]

Since your insurance paid for the repair, call them and see what they say. Let them send out an adjuster and see if they are satisfied with the work that they paid for! just my take on the subject.

[tavis1]

I've been in this situation before. I ended up hanging out in there lobby being the most anoying person they ever sat eyes on. For example talked loudly, cracked stupid jokes, passed gas, belched, showed and told incoming customers the problem I was haveing. After having the truck three times before and "finding nothing wrong" they magically found the problem and had it fixed that afternoon- never to have a problem again.
Tavis1

[snid]

I went back to the body shop today and went over the things that I was not satisfied with. I'm dropping the car off in a few days so they can work on it. Of course, since parts need to be ordered, something will not be there on time and I'll still be waiting in a week or so.

[David W.]

If I missed a post on this sorry, but I think you're still fighting with the tow company. Yes. If so then call them up and ask for their insurance agent name and phone number. If they do not give it to right there and then send them two letters asking for the info. One sent regular mail and the other sent certified.

What you need is their insurance company and the policy number. File a claim with them for the rims.

[MGB Boy]

It's not unreasonable to expect that people being paid to fix things will do so. Go after them and keep bugging them until it's right, even if being the squaeky wheel doesn't come naturally. I had that fun with Shearer Chevrolet a few years back (snid knows who I mean, for the non-locals). "Fixed" had a pretty malleable meaning for them, so the car just kept going back until it was really done. Do the same.

As for Spillanes (the tow company), they have a reputation in the Burlington area for jackassery (if thats a word) that goes back years and years. A new set of rims isn't cheap, threaten court action if they don't step up to the plate, and if they still don't, follow thru. Outfits like that slide by on the assumption that no one would really go to all the trouble.

-Ricardo

[jsteine2]

Sorry about run in with moose... but great looking car! Love that color, too bad its gone in 2004.

John

[snid]

Replacement wheels have arrived at the towing company. They even mentioned that their tire equipment won't handle the rims / tires without scratching them, so they're getting things set up to take them someplace else. Hopefully tomorrow the wheels will be taken care of.

Then, it's just the last few things with the body shop. Still missing a roof rack bolt cover, and a piece of trim they scratched needs to be replaced. And the bill for the rental car, which was supposed to be billed to what my insurance would pay so it was $0 to me, turned out to be $150 to me... I'm going to have to see what the body shop has to say about that.

Remaining, newly discovered problems. The paint on the hood is not "perfect". A couple of bumps where the hood release latch is where the wet paint dripped, and very little paint along the upper edge of the hood in places. I think I'll let that slide.

I also noticed that my front left tire squeels more easily than I think it should when cornering, and that is the part of the car that got hit. It's definitely nothing major as I have to be going pretty hard into a corner to have the tires make noise, but it is a concern. The alignment was checked as part of the repairs, and I got a new, good tire pressure gauge and made sure the tire pressures were right. But, that tire still makes noise first, on both right and left turns.

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by snid

I also noticed that my front left tire squeels more easily than I think it should when cornering, and that is the part of the car that got hit. It's definitely nothing major as I have to be going pretty hard into a corner to have the tires make noise, but it is a concern. The alignment was checked as part of the repairs, and I got a new, good tire pressure gauge and made sure the tire pressures were right. But, that tire still makes noise first, on both right and left turns.

Have a good look at the tire, maybe its something as simple as it getting worn unevenly (Did you/the moose leave a rubber streak?). Sounds like it could be something simple as you've said, or maybe the suspension needs a bit of adjusting at the dealer...

[snid]

Got the front wheels taken care of yesterday. The tire mounting looks to be very well done, no scratches on the wheels anywhere. They even used metal valve stems. Of course, now the front valve stems don't match the rear ones.

They used a hand torque wrench to put the wheels on, not an air wrench. I haven't checked the torques yet... I'll give it a few more days then check them myself with my torque wrench.

Only two little parts left to go, unless I decide that something is indeed off with the suspension. It's been raining all week, so I haven't had good conditions to research the mysterious tire squeal.

[jimskater]

Snid,

What's the latest? All sorted out?

[snid]

Quote: Originally Posted by jimskater

Snid,

What's the latest? All sorted out?

Almost. I've given up worrying about possibly suspension problems. For a while I thought the front left wheel was losing traction too early, but that seems to have gone away. I guess it's possible something in the suspension did get tweaked, and the tire has now worn to match. Or, it was all in my mind

I'm still waiting for a roof rack bolt cover (which the body shop lost) and a replacement windshield trim piece (which the body shop nicked when putting things back together). Last Friday, they said they had received one of the parts. I'll call again today.

[jimskater]

Sounds like all's well, then. Happy motoring.

[snid]

It took a while, but everything is finally fixed.

Sorry about the broken links to my pages throughout the thread. I re-did my pages as part of my job search. I'll go through and fix the links here later.

[Rob.]

Glad your Mini is finally repaired
I enjoyed reading through the thread and really like the VR / W combo.

[Beester]

First of all, I'm glad that your family is ok!

Then the car of course... I enjoyed reading this thread, and keeping informed on your progress.

I'm very glad your cooper is back in mint condition!

Killer combo (VR-WR and white rims), I enjoy it daily