[new_mini]

Our 2 month old (2000 miles) MINI was in the dealers bodyshop last week after a front smash costing the insurance company £2800. When it came back there were

-little raised bits in the paint
-a white spot in the paint
-orange peel
-2 screws were missing from the both side wings (I spotted the empty screw holes) so both side panels moved
-2 inches of the rubber seal round the front window was tucked back behind the metal
-Overspray on the glass
-Chip by a headlight washer jet

and

-***LEFT HAND DRIVE LIGHTS HAD BEEN FITTED!****

The orange peel was buffed after I mentioned it so much that the undercoat is showing (will be resprayed) and the LHD lights were replaced with RHD ones. Now the xenons are only 20% of what they were before the crash (annoying since they cost £350). We were told the side panels were not taken off but the screws were found in the car side pocket.

Its going back for 2 days next week.

[DNV122]

Go back, speak to the bodyshop manager, point out the faults and get them to fix it.

Use the AA or another independent advisor if required - do not pay for this........

[Goonery]

Its going back for 2 days next week. [/quote]
This is not a usual BMW dealership standard, did they put the job out to a commercial bodyshop?.
Might be an idea if you named them here, it would get a reaction from MINI UK I'm sure.

[Tone]

As far as I know BMW don't actually have their OWN bodyshops - they recommend where they send customers to - companies that deal with various makes of car - usually at the top end of the market. This has been my experience.

But the customer can pick any (usually less expensive) bodyshop.

[scooperman_uk]

shouldnt make any difference. if u go through BMW MINI, they are responsible for maintaining the standards. ive dealt with accident repair centers a few times and several times ive honestly thought how do they expect to get away with the work they have done. like a door panel replacement due to lock vandalism. the door was supposed to be replaced but instead the old door used and the lock replaced and filled around...

as a few people have said. dont hand over your payment, refuse to sign off the work until you are happy with it completely. they then will have to fix the concerns. i sent one car back 5 times due to crappy finishing on respray and further damage incurred during the stay.

[new_mini]

It was the dealer's own bodyshop it went into.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Sorry to hear of your problems.

I had similar problems with body work done by the dealer on this side of the pond. This seems to be a weakness in the BMW system.

The problem started with the installation of the factory roof rack. Mine was the first one installed by the dealer and they managed to gouge the paint near several of the roof bolts (Frankenstein Bolts). When I brought it to the attention of my Motoring Advisor he immediately agreed there was a problem that needed to be repaired. OK so far.

I asked if it could wait for my 10,000 mile service to which he replied; No problem! At the drop-off, I point out the problem to the service advisor, all is well.

To make a long story short; it took four and one-half WEEKS to get my baby back correctly fixed. Mostly due to poor quality control on the part of the BMW dealership.

Ultimately, all is well. She is perfect once again. Thank gawd the dealer had "Courtesy cars" available for warranty work. I actually managaed to complete the whole break-in period on one of the courtesy cars, all 1,200 miles.