Need Advice: Dealer Applied Tire-Shine Stained Brand New Car

[jg4c]

Originally Posted by CroatKat

Major update!

I’ve gotten two quotes for repairs for the stained paint damage. Both body shops have tried to get it out unsuccessfully and said they would need to remove and repaint all the trim pieces, the rocker panels and blend the adjacent panels which includes the doors, the front rear bumper etc. So basically the car has to significantly reworked and I’ve gotten quotes in the $7k price range.

The dealer has offered to:
1) pay for the repairs and for a month of the loan while the car is down
2) replace the car but they don’t want to give me my full equity back. They want to hold on to the first two payments I made and they will no longer offer me the 0.9% interest, they’ve increased it to 1.99%. So I’m out another $1300 in interest and I’m out $2700 in payments made so far

So I’m not happy. They car hasn’t even had its first oil change so I don’t really want to have to strip it down and repaint it and risk any number of things like any of the sensors in the bumper not being reinstalled correctly or the paint not matching well.

I would be happy to take the replacement car offer and I’m not too disappointed with the interest change because it’s still low interest, but they want to keep my first two car payments??? That’s $2700

Not to mention all of the time off of work I have had to take to deal with this. At this point I’m not sure what to do. I’m leaning towards the replacement car but I don’t want to agree to my first two car payments going in to the void and having to repay that

Sorry, if I missed this in the thread.
So, a professional detailer, not a body shop,
couldn’t fix it?

I would not repaint a new car. See if you can
split the difference on the payments and just
absorb one payment. Sucks, but might be the
compromise. I’d want a replacement.
The bump in finance charge is not bad.

Take the replacement. You’ll always be bugged
about the damage and repaint. It’s not worth
the hassle. Don’t let them touch the new car.
Take it to a pro for film and coatings.

[Phillies8008]

Yeah, I'd be pretty unhappy about the two payments. With the interest, they're basically asking you to pay for more than half of the repair, assuming the $7,000 quote, for something that's their fault. And probably more since they're not going to pay the retail price you were quoted.

Since they've already admitted fault in offering to pay for the repair or replace the car, I'd hold their feet to the fire. By their own admission they're clearly in the wrong, so why should it cost you $4,000?

I'd be somewhat tempted to accept the repair, on three conditions: 1) you have final say over the shop that does the repair work, 2) they completely and totally warranty the work and guarantee your satisfaction in writing, and 3) the body shop absolutely does not report the repair to CarFax. The last thing you want is to find out five years from now or whatever that the CarFax is showing an accident.

[TimmyTurbos]

I'd politely tell them to expect a call from my lawyer..They are moving numbers so you end up paying for this repair basically. I'd tell them that money in your opinion is better spent on litigation. This is clearly 100% their fault and they should make you whole without any funny buisness..I'd be willing to bet once you drop the "L" word shit will start solving itself. Good luck brother. Don't fold on these nitwits!

Also snag these: https://www.amazon.com/Double-Sided-...s%2C150&sr=8-1


I put one on the dash anytime I'm at a place with a wash bucket on site!

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by TimmyTurbos

I'd politely tell them to expect a call from my lawyer..They are moving numbers so you end up paying for this repair basically. I'd tell them that money in your opinion is better spent on litigation. This is clearly 100% their fault and they should make you whole without any funny buisness..I'd be willing to bet once you drop the "L" word shit will start solving itself. Good luck brother. Don't fold on these knitwits!

On the other hand, playing the lawyer card will sometimes bring an end to any negotiations or further communication. At that point a smart person will know that they're better off letting their legal counsel communicate since they're now in a situation where anything further that they say can potentially hurt them. People really aren't as scared of the threat of lawyers as some believe, and I'm guessing the dealership can afford lawyers for longer than the OP. Suing people with lawyers on a retainer isn't always the best idea, and people infrequently respond well to threats.

If I were to decide to go that route, I'd couch it as diplomatically as possible, saying something like "I really don't want to have to get a lawyer involved, because I know that's not good for either of us, but I just feel like you're not taking as much responsibility for this as you should and that you're not handling the situation as I feel you should be. Isn't there something we can do to avoid that?" Put the onus on them rather than marching in with dramatic threats of legal action. This way you're giving them a way to save face rather than backing them into a corner.

Personally, I wouldn't go down that avenue unless it was the absolute last resort, and I'd exhaust every other possiblity first. It was the dealer's first offer, and now the OP should counter-offer and see where they land.

[tracer bullet]

So, to recap on the actual damage, it's primarily inside the wheel wells nearest the tires, the section of painted plastic facing the tires themselves. With a few spots (maybe just one) on the actual side of the car? Or is it worse than that?

I'd consider doing the equivalent of an intentional scratch that removes it, fill it in with touch up paint, sand it down and polish, and be done with it. For free and with something headed back to you if possible (a couple grand, an extended warranty, lifetime free oil changes if you don't DIY and they are near). If it's all over the car it's different, sorry. But if it's almost all on the spots facing the tires, and not really the body of the car, then I'd consider the detailer option (if they are skilled at filling in dings and scratches) and not losing a lot of payments or whatever else.

[daryl rsv4]

OP- have you tried Meguiars cleaner wax? This stuff works excellent for small scuffs, scratches, stains. I have had it in my stable for many years. I would try it 1st before going through something drastic like a repaint or trading for a different vehicle. Hope it works out for you.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by CroatKat

Major update!

I’ve gotten two quotes for repairs for the stained paint damage. Both body shops have tried to get it out unsuccessfully and said they would need to remove and repaint all the trim pieces, the rocker panels and blend the adjacent panels which includes the doors, the front rear bumper etc. So basically the car has to significantly reworked and I’ve gotten quotes in the $7k price range.

The dealer has offered to:
1) pay for the repairs and for a month of the loan while the car is down
2) replace the car but they don’t want to give me my full equity back. They want to hold on to the first two payments I made and they will no longer offer me the 0.9% interest, they’ve increased it to 1.99%. So I’m out another $1300 in interest and I’m out $2700 in payments made so far

So I’m not happy. They car hasn’t even had its first oil change so I don’t really want to have to strip it down and repaint it and risk any number of things like any of the sensors in the bumper not being reinstalled correctly or the paint not matching well.

I would be happy to take the replacement car offer and I’m not too disappointed with the interest change because it’s still low interest, but they want to keep my first two car payments??? That’s $2700

Not to mention all of the time off of work I have had to take to deal with this. At this point I’m not sure what to do. I’m leaning towards the replacement car but I don’t want to agree to my first two car payments going in to the void and having to repay that

I agree with TimmyTurbos, the 2 payments and higher interest rate is total BS!!!

The bottom line is that the dealer screwed up and you shouldn't be taking any financial hit.

In addition, if they did a repair they would report them to CarFax and that would impact your resale value.

I would insist on a new car with the same interest rate you originally had.

Here are some suggestions:

Aside from mentioning a lawyer, perhaps you should threaten them with small claims court?

Escalate this issue to BMW corporate?