33 replies to this topic

[-Mini-23-]

Dear all,

 

I apologise in advance for the long post but I need help.

We have bought a little mini cooper last year in July 2014 from a mini specialist in the East Midlands.

It had a bit more than 40,000 miles and was 23 years old.

In addition to buying the car, we have also agreed several repairs to be made which were supposed to be completed early September 2014.

 

We have paid for the car and the quote for the repair was £2,500 to be paid in stages for the following:

BOOT - Replace panel

REAR VALANCE - Pull straight and repair minor corrosion

OFF SIDE REAR QUARTER - Replace seam strip

DOOR OFF SIDE - Replace skin - align correctly

OFF SIDE A PANEL - Repair light corrosion where in meets the door frame

OFFSIDE FRONT WING - Repair corrosion where it meets the scuttle

SCUTTLE - Remove screen and check for any signs of corrosion and repair as necessary

BONNET - No Faults

FRONT PANEL - Reform joints to front wings

NEARSIDE FRONT WING - Repair corrosion where it meets the scuttle

NEARSIDE A PANEL - Replace Panel

DOOR NEAR SIDE - Replace skin

NEARSIDE REAR QUARTER - Attend to shallow dents

DOOR STEPS BOTH SIDES - Cut out and replace

SILLS BOTH SIDES - Cut out and replace

ROOF - Attend to shallow dents and corrosion around roof lip

Repaint in 2k primer, basecoat and laquer.

Replace roof trim

Fit new decals

Clean Headlining

Paint seat frames

Supply boot carpet

Paint wheel arches to body colour

Replace front indicator covers

Change screen inserts, window and door rubbers

Replace antenna

Supply + fit black carpet set replacing also insulation felt

Supply + Fit halogen headlights

Apply anti rust treatment

Steam Clean engine compartment

Fit new dashboard,  centre console as supplied by client.

REAR SUBFRAME - I have inspected the unit, whilst having light surface rust the component is fit for use and does not require replacing

6 Months parts warranty ( Return To Base)

 

I don't know much about cars but thought that £2,500 for the above was fair.

The whole process was utterly frustrating and to cut to the chase, we have received the car tonight, nearly 1 year after we bought it.

I am devastated to see what state the car is in and have unfortunately already paid £1,500 worth of repairs.

 

It is absolutely filthy, the carpet is not new, there is a dent in the bonnet, the paint is flaking off in places, there is a little hole in the back etc...

 

I have attached some pictures to show some of the issues.

 

Can someone recommend a reliable garage that we can bring our car to?

We need someone experienced to assess the state of the car and the works that have been carried out to determine whether we can ask for a refund for the amount paid already.

 

In addition, I believe that most of the above still needs to be done properly and I really need someone reliable to finish our little car.

 

Does anyone have any advice?

 

Thank you for your help!

 

Kind regards,

 

Laura

Attached Files

•  002.JPG   62.9K   95 downloads
•  003.JPG   42.08K   62 downloads
•  004.JPG   72.64K   74 downloads
•  005.JPG   69.31K   62 downloads
•  006.JPG   123.85K   59 downloads
•  008.JPG   63.12K   63 downloads
•  009.JPG   101.21K   66 downloads
•  010.JPG   52.46K   62 downloads
•  012.JPG   33.11K   56 downloads
•  013.JPG   62.88K   73 downloads
•  016.JPG   40.98K   61 downloads
•  019.JPG   95.15K   88 downloads

[Archived1]

sorry but that looks like crap. 

[Shifty]

Have you spoken to the company in question before posting this?

[-Mini-23-]

Hi Shifty,

 

Yes, the person repairing our car has delivered it today and I have expressed how unhappy I was.

He has offered to take it away again to replace the bonnet.

 

At this point, I have lost all trust and was not willing to let the car go back after waiting for one year to see results like the above.

[Shifty]

To be fair though it doesn't say that the carpet was going to be new?

[DFulton]

Does look pretty apalling. Don't know anyone in that area, I'm afraid. I can recommend Jason at the Mini Restoration Company, but he's up in Lancashire.

£2,500 for the work you described does sound quite cheap to me though.

Actual quality of work is going to be subjective, but you obviously have a quote / invoice for specific work. It's probably worth going through the specifics to check what was agreed. For example, that's obviously not a "new" carpet, but could they have just quoted to "replace" it? Similarly, when you talk about replacing the boot panel, is that the lid, or the floor? It's obvious that the latter hasn't been done. Do you have photographs from before the work?

With regard to quality of work, I'm not a consumer rights expert, but I think there are certain rights around a car being appropriately marketed. For example a £100 car can't be expected to be in mint condition, but it's reasonable to assume a £10,000 one with a new MOT won't fall apart on the drive home. So for repairs, if you paid for a new sill, I would expect that to be structurally sound. May be worth getting an MOT done to get a better view of how sound some of the repairs are? You may then have some redress with the supplier.

Edited by DFulton, 02 July 2015 - 10:05 PM.

[eean]

Just replace the bonnet? What's going on with the 'filler' on the step sill??!! Did they provide an not as well? If so they want reporting, name and shame them, that is ridiculous to do that bodgery and expect you to pay for it. I would park outside their garage and offer to show the car to potential buyers of their cars and see how long it is before they offer a refund, I'd want my money back because as you say you've lost confidence, good luck

[eean]

To be fair though it doesn't say that the carpet was going to be new?

I think that's the least of its problems :-(

[eean]

Any pics of the inner sills and in the bins at the back because if the outer sills needed replacing then the inners would most probably needed a few repairs too

[-Mini-23-]

@Shifty

I have had numerous conversations about the condition the car was supposed to be in once finished which also included new carpet. The carpet is also by far not my biggest concern. It has unfortunately not been glued which means it falls down on the drivers seat exposing the insulation which I think should have been replaced also.

 

@DFulton

I don't know much about cars but also thought £2,500 cars was reasonable when we agreed it last year.

The person sounded very trustworthy and knowledgeable which has probably made me a little naive. 

He went around the car with me and showed me all the things that need to be done at which point we then agreed the price.

I didn't take any pictures prior to works being done as I was promised a picture diary of all the works being done which has only happened to an extend.

The car has passed the MOT. I bought it on the basis that it is mechanically sound.

 

@eean

Naming and shaming is very tempting especially since I don't want this to happen to anyone else but I am not knowledgeable enough to point out all the things that are wrong. I just want my money back and find a good garage to help me.

[Shifty]

Please don't go down the name and shame route, it's not fair to the other party, they need to be given a chance to respond to your complaints first. Try and sort this out between yourselves before airing any dirty laundry.

[-Mini-23-]

@Shifty

I will not name and shame but I don't think I can resolve the issue with the garage.

The car was 10 months delayed and really looks very bad. It's absolutely filthy which is not shown on the pictures. Paint is flaking off in places with 

the crack in the bonnet and a little hole in the back being the worst.

Would you still trust them to handle your car?

 

I am just so disappointed since I had a good feeling when I first met the person.

This is my very first car too which makes it even more heartbreaking.

 

Can you recommend a garage not too far from me?

[Ben_O]

The little hole in the back you talk of is an unfinished plug weld by the looks of it.

 

I don't think you can expect to receive a full refund unless every single repair quoted for is at a point where it cannot be rectified without starting again. 

The door steps look too deformed to have been replaced and if they were, they haven't been done well at all. The step panel is a straight pressed panel and you would be hard pushed to end up with a finish like that as the only place filler belongs to on a new step is over the joins at each end if needed.

 

It just looks like it was rushed to a mediocre standard which unfortunately occurs all to often when it comes to customers who are not knowledgeable and it is a real shame. I believe if you can't offer the same high standard to all customers then don't bother going into business.

 

One thing that i keep going over is thus. £2500 is too cheap for the work quoted. Most places would charge near to that just for the prep and respray!

 

Hope you get it sorted and i am sorry you have had a bad experience. There are still skilled craftsmen out there who will do an excellent job for a fair price.

 

Ben

 

Ben

[eean]

I would agree 2500 is cheap for the work quoted but I suspect he knew you didnt know anything about cars aswell thus taking the pi**
I would think about going to see citizens advice, poor you having this ballache thrown in your lap with a first car purchase :-(

[ChopperHarris]

As an aside, if the new parts have been supplied (?) theres more than a grands worth there alone (with paint and sundries)