2004 A4 bodykit side skirts

[Adina]

Hi guys can you help me please this i have a 2004 A4 and it has a bodykit i had to take it today for its MOT and when they lifted it they have damaged both side skirts. Do you know who would repair this for me and how much it will cost?

[dansansome]

surely thats the garage's problem?

after all, they are the ones who damages the skirts.

[Adina]

surely thats the garage's problem?

after all, they are the ones who damages the skirts.

The danmage occured in the MOT centre and they have said that they are liable for any damage casued to vechiles during testing..Adina

[Adina]

Sorry the MOT centre have said they are NOT liable for damage caused

[dansansome]

ok, so if they dropped your car off the ramp, or dropped a lump hammer through your windscreen, then they arent liable?

hmmm. well, i dont think i would be as affable as you seem to have been. i think i would be phoning citizen's advice about this, as a minimum. i'd like to bet that as soon as you start mentioning small claims court etc, then they would get something sorted pretty quickly.

however for your original question, maybe call an audi parts dept to get prices for the replacement skirts, and call a local bodyshop to see if they can give you a ball park figure, or take it to them for a full quote.

i recently had a rear bumper replaced (ok, on an escort) but parts aside, the labour & paint were in the region of £200. seeing that there are two skirts to remove/refit, i would guess around £250-300 labour and materials, then add on price of skirts.

seriously tho, i think you have an extremely good case to get the garage to replace them at their cost.

[Adina]

Believe me i am very annoyed about the incident i have aslo had to replace two of my RS6 18" alloys this month due to pot holes and to be honest i can not afford for the side skirts to be expensive.The wheels cost me 140 each and i am fighting with the roads service regards this matter and the thoughts of having to fight the MOT centre i just have not got the energy at this stage....I called Citzen Advice and they have said that as the MOT centre have notices on their premises that i will have to fix the car myself and at the time the MOT centre said that the bodykit was not standard on cars although i purchased the car kitted out.I love the A4 but at this stage i have had enough..

[two_paracetamol]

I agree with dansansome.

It surely does not matter what notices they have up they still have to use reasonable care and damaging a car on a lift is NOT reasonable. What's the damage? If the side skirts have been crushed from beneath then i think I would be having someone take a very careful look at the sills beneath the cosmetics. I am sorry to tell you this but I have had a car lifted by a garage and the superficial looking skirt damage hid major structural injury beneath on the sills.

I would drop them a note explaining that you are not happy, that they have not used reasonable care and you are seeking legal adv. Get a bodywork spec to give you a free estimate and ask about possible damage to sills etc etc as they tend to qoute on what they can see and use a rider about finding add damage during repair to cover what cannot be seen easily!

Then decide whether you have the fight in you for it!