Main dealer doing smart repairs

brightside229

brightside229

brightside229

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Is it usual practice for cars to be fixed with smart repairs by main dealer?

Went to view a FK8 type R listed for over £26k, one side of rear bumper was a different colour to rest of car and noticed it straight away.

They are going to to again with another smart repair, but I have my doubts if they will be able to get a good match




Other side of bumper match is fine so I am 99% sure its a smart repair and that it was done by the honda dealer the first time, even though they did not admit it, just said they have no idea what is done in prep by the facility before they get it
 
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Remember the bumper is plastic and the quarter is steel.. the colour match is never going to be 100% perfect.

But I do agree that match is quite bad!
 
Other side matches perfect, so not just a difference in materials, looks even worse in person.

Sales person even told me he could not notice, and said he asked 4 others and neither could they.

So that vertical trim has red over spray on it, so definitely been painted.

I noticed the colour in a video they sent me but they said it was just the lighing so I then travelled 35 miles to see it, so am a bit annoyed about being lied to
 
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There are quite a few instances where minor scratches and dents will be repaired at a 'proper' body shop using smart repair techniques. Sometimes it's just the most appropriate method.

In vaguely connected subject, on 2nd day of my ownership of (non main dealer) 2nd hand Civic, my wife and 7yo son managed to smack her car door into mine on a very windy day. It's off for paintless dent removal and minor paint repair at a 'full' body shop to the tune of £160 next week. I dare say that'll cost a similar amount to it being done by one of the mobile smart repair companies.
 
Is there any real reason a small localised repair like this has to be any worse or less durable of lesser quality when done as a smart repair, vs in a bodyshop booth? Assuming no flies land in the paint and they use a heat lamp or similar to dry it, i'm not really sure what the practical difference is.
 
brightside229 said:
Is it usual practice for cars to be fixed with smart repairs by main dealer?
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Yes because not all dealers/franchises will have their own bodyshop, and for most small scratches, dents and blemishes a smart repair is normally perfectly acceptable.

Tom_ed1987 said:
Is there any real reason a small localised repair like this has to be any worse or less durable of lesser quality when done as a smart repair, vs in a bodyshop booth? Assuming no flies land in the paint and they use a heat lamp or similar to dry it, i'm not really sure what the practical difference is.
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Not sure if still the case but bodyshops used to have an edge when it came to colour matching paints that had been subject to aging etc.

I imagine the other half of the problem is that because of their nature, a smart repairer will be done in a matter of hours, rather than having the time to prep thoroughly, paint, and then allow the paint to cure, and then separate lacquer, and then follow up with wax etc. as a bodyshop will normally do.
 
brightside229 said:
Sales person even told me he could not notice, and said he asked 4 others and neither could they.

, so am a bit annoyed about being lied to
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This seems fairly typical of high car turnover dealers, blind to the obvious and don't admit anything. Had similar when my AC condenser was replaced and the front bumper was not put on straight, obstructing part of the headlight and a large gap on the other. It didn't help the manager did have a visual impairment but refused to put the car back in the workshop because I shouldn't expect "factory condition" on a repair. Another phone call to head office who were covering part of the goodwill (paying the dealer) and the car was back in overnight and the job done properly.
 
Completely normal for large dealers to have their own in-house SMART depts to deal with cosmetics damage including wheels.

Some of them now have special "cameras" that they use to image the current paint colour on the panel which then tells them the mixtures to use to get an exact match. This might not be the actual "official" colour it was painted with at the factory
 
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Went to view it again on Saturday, they have meant to have had another go, but not sure if they did or did not. Still does not match. Car also has a tear to the top seal around the window screen, probably 1.5" in size.

it is also due a service in 5months time, which they are refusing to do as it has only done 1.5k since last service, and refuse to do a free one in 5months and want me to pay for it myself at a as of now, undisclosed amount.

not sure if i am being too picky with a second hand car...

Oh yea, also side marks on the bumpers are full of water on both sides, alloyws have been "smart repaired" with one alloy lip not even being straighened just painted, one tyre has a deep gouge in the tyre, but passed the MOT.



 
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More noticeable in some pictures than others, but I don't think it's a good match personally.

I agree if you're not happy with it now, you will only be more annoyed with it down the line.

Buying a car should be fun and exciting, if you already have a poor dealer trying to mug you off then go elsewhere in my opinion.
 
The mismatched panel will bug you forever if it bugs you now.

Walk away because refusing to service the car or even provide any discount on the upcoming service is a warning sign that the dealership take shortcuts.
 
It's not like you're at banger money, that's more than my car cost brand new. As others have said it'll only grate on you every time you look at it even if it's in generally good condition.
 
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brightside229 said:
Went to view it again on Saturday, they have meant to have had another go, but not sure if they did or did not. Still does not match. Car also has a tear to the top seal around the window screen, probably 1.5" in size.

it is also due a service in 5months time, which they are refusing to do as it has only done 1.5k since last service, and refuse to do a free one in 5months and want me to pay for it myself at a as of now, undisclosed amount.

not sure if i am being too picky with a second hand car...

Oh yea, also side marks on the bumpers are full of water on both sides, alloyws have been "smart repaired" with one alloy lip not even being straighened just painted, one tyre has a deep gouge in the tyre, but passed the MOT.
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It looks like you're at Honda garage with it, when we bought our MK10 Civic Sport+ we were told they always sell them with at least 6 months of service left on them.

The side markers fill with water, don't worry about that - our were not (as it had replacements fitted https://i.imgur.com/lxdCgpx.jpeg), but a lot that I looked at were.

Is the bumper repair, damaged alloy and tyre all on the same corner?

I'd walk away, not like it's a unique car; https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-se...rt=relevance&year-from=2017&zero-to-60=4_TO_6
 
Is is just me, or is red either the easiest colour to spot this, or maybe the hardest to get right?
 
Even colour blind people can spot this.
I used to have a little paint tester - probably one of the best little gadgets if you are looking to buy a used car.
 
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