[bueller]

That sucks man...

I used to live in So Cal and my experience was that reputable repair shops do a far better job than places here in Canada. Maybe its a California car culture thing, or maybe the lawyer to person ratio is higher and repair shops bring their A game.

I had a similar thing happen here in Canada and the repair shop the dealer owns should only be allowed to work in taxis. There were prep marks and fish eyes, it was horrible.

Fortunately, I have several lawyers in my family, they contacted the dealership and the found a factory painted hood to swap for the one they ruined and all was resolved without filling suit.

From your photos it looks like they will have to replace and paint a new front bumper as the fastening tabs look broken. I would let the paint cure before applying the clear bra. The paint they use for the bumper needs to be mixed with a plasticizing compound in order to prevent it from cracking. There will be color and clear coat. The paint needs about 30 days to fully cure before you should apply wax or sealants, I would imagine that a clear bra falls into that category.

Take a look at this

Hope it helps!

B.

[RedRaiderDavid]

Shit happens, they owned it and are taking care of it so no sense getting worked up about it. Its not like they wrapped it around a telephone pole and were trying to fix it knowing it would never be the same car again. Its just a bumper and if your car is like most there were probably a few rock chips in it that were driving you crazy.
BTW, I really like your wheels, I don't know if I have ever seen that style BMW rims.

[mbfanos]

The thing I would ask them if I were the OP is: is there any other damage done to the car?

[bily]

Screw that. Have them take a new bumper off a new car on their lot for yours. This way you don't have to deal with crappy repaint. A man cannot replicate was a machine does in painting. I don't care how experienced they are. There are too many curves and crevices to get that perfect application and then if it gets hit and they did not flex it right it peels. Not to mention many of the replacement parts are damaged and have to be repaired prior to painting. So even a new bumper can have damage. And I guess a new one on a new car can too from shipment.

Time to trade it in.

Hope it all works out.

[mbfanos]

Originally Posted by bily

Screw that. Have them take a new bumper off a new car on their lot for yours. This way you don't have to deal with crappy repaint. A man cannot replicate was a machine does in painting. I don't care how experienced they are. There are too many curves and crevices to get that perfect application and then if it gets hit and they did not flex it right it peels. Not to mention many of the replacement parts are damaged and have to be repaired prior to painting. So even a new bumper can have damage. And I guess a new one on a new car can too from shipment.

Time to trade it in.

Hope it all works out.

So you trade you car in every time it has a damage?

[Sharp_Cai]

Updates: My car is still in the body shop for repair. So far, no damage was made beside the front bumper. Dealer has to replaced the bumper front lip and clear bra. Will update you guys when I see my car again. Hopefully it will look the same. Also, I am going to contact BMW USA for this. I understand shit happens sometimes, but the way they treated it is like it can be fixed no big deal. That is what really pisses me off.

[CIWS]

Originally Posted by Sharp_Cai

Updates: My car is still in the body shop for repair. So far, no damage was made beside the front bumper. Dealer has to replaced the bumper front lip and clear bra. Will update you guys when I see my car again. Hopefully it will look the same. Also, I am going to contact BMW USA for this. I understand shit happens sometimes, but the way they treated it is like it can be fixed no big deal. That is what really pisses me off.

I'm not sure if going to BMWNA at this point will really serve your situation as long as the dealership is working to make things right and you are ultimately satisfied with the repair job. Accidents do happen, and to a car dealership they usually look at it as another one of many cars they deal with, they simply aren't going to see it as an owner does. Most doctors are the same way with patients. But of course if you feel that action will serve you then certainly do it.


Here's a pic of my 2006 Cadillac STS-V, bought it with 108 miles on the odo.



If you look on the body at the door sill (the lowest piece below the doors) That part extended lower than any other model they sold at the time (2006) and if it was put on the lift to do any work a tech had to be careful and puck it or they could get damaged, crushed, as you will see in these pics.






Those particular pictures are from the Third time they did that to my car. Each time the tech would never say anything after they did it, just return the car to the service advisor. I would discover it (by then I knew to look after). In that particular instance the tech denied he even put the car on the lift when they had to replace a tire, he said he just jacked the car up. Obviously one can see the crush marks from the points on the lift and they would match to the lifts they used. So not only would the tech damage the car and not mention it, they would try to lie about it. I happen to be there one time getting a part for my car and saw another owner's STS-V come into the drive from service who had also just had his sills crushed by their lift. Which I pulled him aside and warned him about before he left. The dealership always took care of and replaced the body parts, but to me there was an obvious problem with the people they chose to work on one of their most expensive models at the time, and needed extra attention when being put on the lift. But after three times of it happening to me that was no longer just an accident, this was a sign of serious negligence.

I had multiple service / damage issues with the two V cars I owned by the dealership, and is the main reason I left the brand. At the time the next closest dealership was across town and they were no longer worth owning if that's what I would have to do to get service.

[F30lolz]

Originally Posted by Sharp_Cai

Updates: My car is still in the body shop for repair. So far, no damage was made beside the front bumper. Dealer has to replaced the bumper front lip and clear bra. Will update you guys when I see my car again. Hopefully it will look the same. Also, I am going to contact BMW USA for this. I understand shit happens sometimes, but the way they treated it is like it can be fixed no big deal. That is what really pisses me off.

Almost two weeks and still w/o the car? Also as someone mentioned they should have pulled a bumper off of another car on the lot just to get you back on the road, offer you other free services (walnut blasting, wheel refinishing) for the inconvenience. Minor note but look at the loaner contract as some dealers may have a certain mileage restriction per day. For this situation you should be fine.

[rolltidef32]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

Almost two weeks and still w/o the car? Also as someone mentioned they should have pulled a bumper off of another car on the lot just to get you back on the road, offer you other free services (walnut blasting, wheel refinishing) for the inconvenience. Minor note but look at the loaner contract as some dealers may have a certain mileage restriction per day. For this situation you should be fine.

You can't just pull a bumper off of another car to fix one.

Let me help here with a little car and body manufacturing and maintenance knowledge; have also done a BMW, Benz, and Porsche factory tour. The process sounded very similar for each.

Each car is build married to exact parts, during the manufacturing, not one part is exchanged for the same from another car unless heavily damaged. Example, the doors come off of the car, yet follow on a tract along with the car frame until rejoining at the end of the process and the engine is dropped in.

Replacement parts, yes, even OEM don't always fit perfectly; depends on how made. That is also an M Sport bumper, which is in shorter supply, so getting it over from Germany likely took around 7 days. May have been made even seeing that this is a USA spec car.

Now for paint, paint must be matched due to weathering, wear, etc. it's not a fast process, plus this guy wanted a paint coating reapplied over the clear coat. Paint must also cure. This entire process may be another 3-5 days.

Already I'm up to 10 days. I estimate this will take 12-16 days if lucky.

Welcome to the world of foreign cars people. Good thing is, once it's done, it'll be done right as long as the OP wasn't a jerk. Do that, and they will really screw you.

[Feanor]

Originally Posted by Sharp_Cai

Updates: My car is still in the body shop for repair. So far, no damage was made beside the front bumper. Dealer has to replaced the bumper front lip and clear bra. Will update you guys when I see my car again. Hopefully it will look the same. Also, I am going to contact BMW USA for this. I understand shit happens sometimes, but the way they treated it is like it can be fixed no big deal. That is what really pisses me off.

The time taken so far, as said by another poster, is to be expected tbh. It all comes down to their attitude though. If they were suitably apologetic then personally I'd be as gracious and kind as possible about it; we've all made mistakes and felt awful for them so basic human empathy makes me inclined to be forgiving of honest and honestly apologised for mistakes. It also tends to be worthwhile, as when I've been gracious in my complaint the staff couldn't do enough for me then and in the future.

If, though, they've treated it like it doesn't matter as you seem to say then I'd have at 'em!

[VCuomo]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

... Also as someone mentioned they should have pulled a bumper off of another car on the lot just to get you back on the road ...

That's hilarious! Where are you playing next weekend?

[bily]

Originally Posted by VCuomo

That's hilarious! Where are you playing next weekend?

As hilarious as it sounds. They did it on my X5. So you say it can't be done, but it can be. And if you don't ask you will never know.

[MforLove]

Make sure the dealership doesn't go through your insurance and just pay the deductible, I know places that have....

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by bily

As hilarious as it sounds. They did it on my X5. So you say it can't be done, but it can be. And if you don't ask you will never know.

Kinda crazy. Then the guy buying that new X5 off the lot unknowingly ends up with a replacement repainted bumper? Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

I read the BMW port prep facilities keep around 10 different shades of estoril blue alone for touchups/repairs. That's just to match the brand new factory finish due to manufacturer variations. It seems like a crapshoot to swap a bumper from another car off the lot and hope it matches exactly.

[Alano_Mpower]

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

Sorry but dont worry.

You wont notice the difference.
Front bumper swap is super easy.

I took mine off and put it back myself....
No issues at all.

Great opportunity to request no holes drilled for front plate.. Go with magnetic plate holder

is there some DIY guide on that?

[jd_perspective]

buffoons!