Classic Hifi Care

Out here, poor communication, upselling, and incompetence is the rule rather than the exception when you deal with almost any small business. I grit my teeth, say a little prayer, then hold my breath that they won't ruin my property or get me involved in a lawsuit of some kind. Typically, any time you start a project that costs more than about $500, a lawyer should be included in the team of "professionals" who do the work. People's word is no good, they slop thru the project, then nobody is in charge when you have a problem or concern. Passing the buck is also the rule. Get the money then run. The wild, wild west. It's always been like that to an extent, but people are just getting better at it then they used to be.

When I had my car washed on May 25, a nozzle fell off the machinery and put a dent about the size of a BB in the roof of my Mini. This turned out to be a $5,127.86 dent. The interior had to come out except for the rear seat. There are six air bags to contend with. The glass all had to come out, the hatchback had to be removed. I got a new windshield and a new rear view mirror in the deal, along with a couple pieces of carbon fiber trim that was turning dull. The interior is white, so it had to be removed and bagged to protect it. The air bags have to be re-programmed when they go back.

The body shop I used is a small shop, not far from the house. My State Farm agent recommended them. State Farm and I were at odds over this deal, but it all worked out. I was apprehensive to say the least. I never heard of this place and had zero reason to believe they would be any better than anybody else. I have to admit, I am impressed. Their communication was excellent. They called BY TELEPHONE every day and gave the wife an update. They couldn't get the windshield in when promised, so they gave me a $50 gas card, which will run that thing for two months, just because they were a day later than promised. With the exception of the engine compartment, the car looks like it has never been driven. They used a clay bar on it and polished out some of the booboos that a ten-year old car would have in the paint. They touched up some paint chips and polished the whole body. They cleaned the headlights, which weren't all that bad, but they look better now. They did what they said they would do, and was done when promised. They give a lifetime, as long as you own it 100% warranty. That is enforced by State Farm. State Farm requires that of all their approved body shops.

Sometimes you are pleasantly surprised. These guys didn't twiddle with the electronics. No loud rock music on the radio. All they did was to turn off the AC and change the seat position. They called the wife and asked if it was okay to do that. I had asked them not to twiddle with the electronics, since I'd have to take it to the Mini dealer to get them set back. And, that if they disconnected the battery, to put a maintainer on the electrical system so as to not set it into the Green mode, which is default. That makes the engine stop at stoplights. That feature is disquieting in traffic. Plus, who needs to kill the engine at lights on a car that gets almost 40 mpg. This they did, successfully.

So, to the guys at Roadrunner Collision Center, I thank you. You told me you were not like "those other guys" and you were right.

Good news, Greg, I'm glad it worked out.

Bill

Wow, all that to fix a BB sized dent?... you would think a good paintless dent repair guy could fix that in a few hours

A dentless repair might have worked. I look at it this way. That car is my baby. Well, my little baby. The Buick is my big baby. I try to take care of it. I took it to the carwash and even asked in advance if they allowed Minis in their car wash. Many car washes won't. Mini's, Fiat 500's and Smart cars are usually not allowed in automatic car washes because they are so little. They drag their belly, or the machinery will tear up the wheels. This car wash said they would accept Minis. Their ill-maintained equipment damaged my car. I didn't have a dent when I went in, but had one when I was done. To keep this from happening to someone else, a little financial discipline might help them be more careful. I didn't want paintless dent repair done. I wanted it fixed right. Not filled with Bondo and spot painted, which might have worked, especially if I was paying for it. The car is getting old enough, I probably should take full-coverage insurance off, and just have PL&PD. Incidents like that make me pay for full coverage. The body shop fixed it the right way. It looks nice. I think I'll have it detailed now and have that ceramic coating put on it.

Clay bar it then ceramic coat it...it will be like a mirror

I had that done to the Buick. Its 1997 paint job still wins trophies. I had a street rod guy tell me one time that my Buick had the nicest black paint job he had ever seen. It was too bad it was wasted on an old Buick....

The paint on the Mini is nice, but it's delicate. Bird poop is its greatest enemy. Ceramic coating will help with that.

Well... I NEVER have my cars washed in an automatic car wash. The only car that goes to a car wash is the daily driver and only after a storm where salt was put on the roads. I wash it myself with the wand. The DD is polished 2x a year with the old B&D buffer with Maguires #7, washed, dried overnight and waxed. Current whip is a 2010 lacrosse.

My babies are always hand-washed, buffed with an old B&D hand buffer with Maguires #7 OR damp pad very lightly, washed again and dried overnight then waxed by hand. This way, I know all the soft spots on the cars. My 91 cadillac is base/clear (first year from factory) but the 62 is original lacquer. That car scares me so it's done by hand. I usually go 3 years between polishing but do an annual clay bar treatment and WOW. You can get a great finish with clay bar.

I remember Brandon's automatic car wash in the early 70s in Carbondale. My aunt took the '72 SDV through it and it leaked like the Titanic! The pressure pushed water through the windows.

As for metal, newer cars are tinfoil compared to even 25 years ago. I was MORTIFIED that the fenders on that horrible 93 cadillac were fiberglass.... my Lucerne dents if you give it the stink eye.

I remember polishing the stainless trim on a friend's 67. The difference between that and the '57 was disappointing. Even my 62 is cheaper and lighter than that 57.

I got lazy, I reckon. Washing a car is more of a chore than it used to be. I thought I'd splurge, treat myself to a car wash done by somebody else. I'll wash it myself going forward, even if it takes me longer. I don't need damage to my car just so I can be lazy.....