Marked Paint

**VictorPapa** · 21-05-2009,06:03 PM

I collected my GT 140 almost two weeks ago and at the handover, I noticed a scratched rear lens, pearlescent water like marks under the laquer, swirly scratches on the paint, probably from a dirty polish cloth, and a noticeable dirt particle in the paint itself on the NSF wing. I pointed this out at the time and the dealer said they would rectify the problems. I took the car in this week and it has gone off to their bodyshop to get sorted. As I'd arranged to get my car back tomorrow, I spoke to the dealer this afternoon to see if this was still the case. It should still be tomorrow but not until last knockings as the work on the car was more than they had first envisaged. It turns out that the dirt particle appeared to have been on the bare metal and so when it was removed, the hole left by it was down to the metal. This has meant that the wing has had to be resprayed as it is almst impossible to match pearlescent paint.

Now maybe I'm being a little picky here but when I spend £23k on a new car, I don't expect to lose the car for the best part of 4 days and have to have part of it resprayed within a fortnight of having it, through no fault of my own. Surely the dirt in the paint should've been picked up in the checks before the car left the factory, and careless polishing by the dealers' preparing valeters is not really acceptible. Doesn't quality control exist anymore? If it were just a matter of polishing the light scratches out then fair enough, but a respray.....?

If you found yourself in this situation, what would expect the dealership to do? I have my own ideas but would like other's take on it before I go back tomorrow.

**machine** · 21-05-2009,06:51 PM

with that much work needed on an a brand new car with hard to match paint I'd think I'd be tempted to reject the car.

that said, if the colour was matched properly and looked good under street lighting which generally reveals a bad match I'm sure they could buy me off with cold hard cash.

Now maybe I'm being a little picky

As for that, I don't think you are. it must have passed an inspection at the factory and another at your dealer, it shouldn't have been missed.

**iallen1@btinter** · 21-05-2009,08:05 PM

reject it, i wouldnt have that, google the sale of goods act 2003, the car has to be free of faults at the time of delivery, if you have finance tell them as well. or get thyem to get the rep out, you will get a new car no problem

**ptolemy** · 21-05-2009,08:15 PM

From my previous experience working at a VW (and others) dealership I'd say that the dirt particle in the paint was the only factory fault. The pearlescent marks you refer to were sometimes found on the darker cars and were often the result of industrial contamination / fall out from where the car had been parked prior to delivery. You will be lucky to get rid of these without repainting. As for the scratch on the light and swirl marks, likely to be the result of clumsy transportation and crap valeting. Some valeters are great but often their team consists of minimum wage kids who haven't the slightest idea of how to treat a newly painted car. I never let a dealership wash my car when it is taken for service. Anyway, whatever the cause, it is not living up to most peoples idea of a 'new' car. We had people reject cars for less.

**VictorPapa** · 21-05-2009,08:25 PM

Originally Posted by iallen1@btinter

reject it, i wouldnt have that, google the sale of goods act 2003, the car has to be free of faults at the time of delivery, ....... or get thyem to get the rep out, you will get a new car no problem

That was my thought.......shame is I'll have another 10-12 week wait

....without any car this time. I had use of my wife's oldun before but that's gone now too.

I only let the car go to their bodyshop as they indicated that it was only a matter of polishing the scratches out and replacing the rear light lens but I wasn't expecting that the wing would need a respray.

I'm really p'd off that a new car costing in excess of 23k can be like this. I'm not sure what the long term implications of a resprayed wing will be either. I mean, I bought this car, and specced it up, as I have very intention of keeping it for at least 10 years but will this paint job show more as time passes? I'd only had the car for 9 days before it's gone back - I've not named the dealer yet for obvious reasons but depending on how it goes tomorow, I may just do that.

I'm going to call ConsumerDirect first thing tomorrow, along with VW Customer Care, so that I can go to the dealer fully armed with the info I need.

**ptolemy** · 21-05-2009,09:23 PM

If it's a good enough repair it will wear as well as the other paint. I had a new Polo which had door damage on delivery and ended up having the panel resprayed. After four years it still looked as good as new. Unfortunately only time will tell by which time you may have a five year old car with a faded panel. If you keep the car you need to get it in writing from the dealership that the original factory paint warranty and anti corrosion warranty will be unaffected by this repair. At least then if you get a paint problem they will have to rectify it. I would also suggest that they add in writing that any paint defect beyond the paint warranty period that affects this panel and is obviously the result of the respray should be covered. It's no reassurance but there are lots of people out there driving brand new cars that have been back to the bodyshop before delivery without them knowing. It's a shame that they didn't pick this up and sort it out before you got the car and then you wouldn't have to get upset over what should be a pleasant experience.

**iallen1@btinter** · 21-05-2009,10:23 PM

you dont need much info honestly, just reject it and as i have already said take the sales of goods act 2003, they will have to change it, and they should let you have your car until the new one comes, my old man had a new 05 polo and after a month he noticed different shades of silver, the rep came and measured the oaint depth, and they wanted to respray it, no chance said my old man so they ordered a new one

**RickT** · 21-05-2009,10:37 PM

Originally Posted by VictorPapa

That was my thought.......shame is I'll have another 10-12 week wait

....without any car this time. I had use of my wife's oldun before but that's gone now too.

I only let the car go to their bodyshop as they indicated that it was only a matter of polishing the scratches out and replacing the rear light lens but I wasn't expecting that the wing would need a respray.

I'm really p'd off that a new car costing in excess of 23k can be like this. I'm not sure what the long term implications of a resprayed wing will be either. I mean, I bought this car, and specced it up, as I have very intention of keeping it for at least 10 years but will this paint job show more as time passes? I'd only had the car for 9 days before it's gone back - I've not named the dealer yet for obvious reasons but depending on how it goes tomorow, I may just do that.

I'm going to call ConsumerDirect first thing tomorrow, along with VW Customer Care, so that I can go to the dealer fully armed with the info I need.

One thing to point out, at most VAG reapair centres they only warrant the work carried out for 2 years, so if the affected area looks shabby down the line and discolors you may not have the warranty on that area of the car.

I would call VW Customer Car and ask for advice, the dealer has to put it right for you, free of charge, but that does not help you..

I would assess it when it comes back and do not take the car home if you are not happy about any marks... leave it with them to resolve and request a similar or better demo car for your troubles.

Cheers

Rick