Validity of BMW Paint Warranty if BMW NOT doing bodywork repairs?

[Jamie]

Dudes,

This morning on Wilson Road SW1 (Victoria) @ 8.15am, some dude working for ESSO decdied to 'mod' my car by overrunning his lane in traffic and scraping the drivers side rear panel, near off side wheel and drivers side leading edge of bumper. The bit that did the scraping was the 'fiit ledge' the passenger to the lorry driver uses to 'step up' into the 'cab' part of the lorry. It sticks out a bit from the rest of the lorry.

His fault. End of.

Anyway - not not that bad, its gonna require new wheel, some bodywork on the rear quarter and maybe new rear bumper (depending on if the scratch is deep enough or not?)

My insurer, Adrian Flux , are already on the case of gettin my car sorted. I have full legal cover, so it also means i dont have to shell out any excess and get it back after - result. Only issue is that THEY have approved bodyshops which i HAVE to take car to (selection) - but of course BMW is not on their list.

So my question is - would my BMW Paint (anti-perferation) paint warraney be invalidaed if bodywork was done by a NON-BMW approved reparier? If so, im gonna use that angle with insurance to get them to let me get it fixed at BMW apprived joint.

Currently ive selected the nearest place to me, 'Masters Citroen'. What do you think?

Also the mashed wheel, its just like it had been kerbed bad, so may ask them to put down for new wheel in quote, but NOT buy it and instead put that cash towards re-painting me front bumper - do you reckon they will do this?

Any other advise - suggestions?

Yea, i know pics pics pics, but working from diff office today (hence damn city driving which i dont usually do!) so no camera dock to move pics!

Cheers

Jamie

[scorcher]

Unfortunately BMW won't warranty any paintwork done by a non approved bodyshop. Tight sods.

Glad you were ok though - must have been loud and scary :eek:

[h4pry]

Apart from the so called quality....How will BMW know the car has been repaired somewhere else / at all? [hmm

[Stock323iSaloon]

Apart from the so called quality....How will BMW know the car has been repaired somewhere else / at all? [hmm
they use a clever thing called micronmetre or something like that - a magnetic device that measure how thick your paintwork is. it should be consistent throughout the bodywork until it gets to the repaired bit.

[lee330sport]

BMW paintwork is the worst of any ive seen, id rather take it to an independant and lose the warranty.

[Har5ha]

You insurance company should let you get it repaired at a garage of your choice. The just send out an inspector to check the damage and try and haggle the quote down a bit.

I've done this before...and its been fine. For you own peace of mind might be better to get it done a bmw approved garage.

[h4pry]

they use a clever thing called micronmetre or something like that - a magnetic device that measure how thick your paintwork is. it should be consistent throughout the bodywork until it gets to the repaired bit.


Yes but whats to say that the repaired part is thicker / the same as factory. I'm sure they would struggle to uphold this theory legally.

The indie body shop will presumably use BMW paint anyway?

[Nav]

Hi mate

Sorry to hear about your car. :mad:
Insurance companies try to "bully" customers into use their approved garages, but you can take your car down to BMW and get an estimate. Then you can provide this estimate to your insurance company and once approved, you can go ahead with the repairs.

Good luck with it all

[Ali]

Hi mate

Sorry to hear about your car. :mad:
Insurance companies try to "bully" customers into use their approved garages, but you can take your car down to BMW and get an estimate. Then you can provide this estimate to your insurance company and once approved, you can go ahead with the repairs.

Good luck with it all

I completely agree.

I had an accident in November last year, and Direct line attempted to take my car to one of their own garages.

I threw a fuss and made them take it to my local bmw dealer.

Saying that though, I wasn't very happy with the paint job done by the dealer... Scotthall Borehamwood... :mad: :mad:

[330-Singh]

Approved BMW bodyshops aren't necessarily good.

There are only 2 bodyshops that I would feel comfortable leaving my car at and they are independent garages that have been established for over 30years.

Having said that your original Q about warranty, best ask BMW directly

[benny boy]

Dudes,

This morning on Wilson Road SW1 (Victoria) @ 8.15am, some dude working for ESSO decdied to 'mod' my car by overrunning his lane in traffic and scraping the drivers side rear panel, near off side wheel and drivers side leading edge of bumper. The bit that did the scraping was the 'fiit ledge' the passenger to the lorry driver uses to 'step up' into the 'cab' part of the lorry. It sticks out a bit from the rest of the lorry.

His fault. End of.

Anyway - not not that bad, its gonna require new wheel, some bodywork on the rear quarter and maybe new rear bumper (depending on if the scratch is deep enough or not?)

My insurer, Adrian Flux , are already on the case of gettin my car sorted. I have full legal cover, so it also means i dont have to shell out any excess and get it back after - result. Only issue is that THEY have approved bodyshops which i HAVE to take car to (selection) - but of course BMW is not on their list.

So my question is - would my BMW Paint (anti-perferation) paint warraney be invalidaed if bodywork was done by a NON-BMW approved reparier? If so, im gonna use that angle with insurance to get them to let me get it fixed at BMW apprived joint.

Currently ive selected the nearest place to me, 'Masters Citroen'. What do you think?

Also the mashed wheel, its just like it had been kerbed bad, so may ask them to put down for new wheel in quote, but NOT buy it and instead put that cash towards re-painting me front bumper - do you reckon they will do this?

Any other advise - suggestions?

Yea, i know pics pics pics, but working from diff office today (hence damn city driving which i dont usually do!) so no camera dock to move pics!

Cheers

Jamie


hi mate your legal rights are that you can take your car to any body shop you want. Insurance companys have certain body shops on a li :) st because they get deals for sending work to that body shop insurance companys can get done for this take it where you want hope that helps

[Jamie]

To all - thanks for replies

Yea I heard about that paint quality detection tool - hummm. My cars commin upto 4 years old. Work im needin doin is apparently warrantyied for 3 years (according to person on phone from insruance) - so shud be ok there.

As for bodyshops - i reckon i wanna take it to sumplace else that is insurance approved. I dont reckon that a 'main dealer' will entertain my request to use money from NOT buying a replacement alloy to paint (to contribute towards) my front bumper....heck, how much does it cost to paint a front bumper? 200 max? And how much is a 17" wheel like mine from BMW? 150? i dont mind paying the 50 at all - not sure if they will do it, but im pretty sure another non main dealer WILL do it!

Im gonna get on to em about where i can take it - read up on some fine print [read [read

ta

Jamie

[harmzz]

jamie first of all sorry to hear bout that hope u got all the detials of they guy so u can claim back of em....

secondly.... with me old car my insurance would say u can only go via our authrosied ones i refused and went to ford direct.... only reason is.... with approved insurers its less hassle of paper work... the reason why they want u to go to there ppl....

u can and i repeat take it to bmw.... get a quote fax it to ur insurance company and they will in turn fax through bmw to authorise the work a bit longer to do but worth it ...

as for ur wheel if u want a new one... u got to keep ur old one too if u wish...

if u looking for a place to get work done i can recommend a company in east london who may be able to sort you out... family mate

best of luck with it all

[Chaos]

I thought it was law now that you can take it to whoever you like to get it repaired. They can ask you to use their repairers but you can insist on taking it elsewhere and they can't discriminate against you for doing so. I certainly advised one of my admin girls to do that last month when she got T-boned at a junction and the insurance company backed down and said ok - her car is in with the BMW dealer who sold it to her being repaired this week. I'm sure it's law now, I'll try to double-check if I get time after work tonight.

[Chaos]

I meant to add (and took too long editing :p ) that I think the only issue may be courtesy cars as you usually won't get one from the insurance agency if you use a non-approved repairer, but a BMW dealer should provide one anyway so you should be ok. you may need to get an estimate first though, another snag they throw at you when you try to do it your way..