General LSX Automobile Discussion - Mature thoughts/suggestions on bad paint work

Ok, to put it simple an old woman backed into my car at the Bank in June of 05, damaging the driver side front fender and door. The guy that fixed it was really nice, car looked good at the time, he did it in only a few days for a fair price. He guaranteed his work for as long as I owned the car.

Fast forward one year, or somewhere around that time, which was this past summer. The clear started pealing around the lock, and right below the weather stripping :bang: It was now obvious that he didnt do the job right, and just painted around everything :ripped:

So I went to his shop one day after work and showed him the problems. He was really cool and told me when to bring it back. I went there on that day and he wasnt there, so I didnt leave it. From then on out everytime I called him he just told me to call back on X day, and he would know something then. After a few weeks went by, he no longer answered or returned my calls even though I left a message, which he was doing at first. After a while I gave up...which is obviously what he wanted me to do, but only for the meantime.

Now it's winter and I am really wanting to get this shit fixed. To top it off I wanted to remove the sidemolding, and he just painted around it so now it looks like shit beneath it. Luckily I only removed the short piece on the front fender to check, so I can easily put it back, and there's even a recess to line it back up with :eyes:

The kicker is this though...my car was stock then, but now its heads/cam etc, and I NEVER leave it with anyone, let alone a shop. I just don't trust people with my car. Even if noone drove it, they could still start it up and rev the piss outta it while it's cold. I want to have him do it right, cause he should have in the first place, but I also am worried about leaving it there as well. I know some good guys that I can trust to fix it and not abuse my car during the process, but then I will have to pay twice. I wish I could take it where I want and send him the bill :(

Well if you have paperwork/warranty for for the paintwork then there is no problem. But if he just did it on the side then he could be a dick and say screw you or he could realize he fuked up and fix it for you. But in another year it could happen again, so if it were me I would suck it up and go to a reputable shop. My .02

Pay again and be happy with it

Yeah there is no paper work. He is the coronor of our county, and is well known. I had heard he was good, but I guess not huh? I am sure if I show back up he won't turn me down in person like that. I was thinking what you suggested, as in go to one of the guys I know and be done with it. IF I had him redo it, I would tell him that the only way its "right" is to remove the lock, the trim, and the weather stripping......

I feel ya man, I had a favor paint job on my integra and it looked awesome for the first 3 months, then as I pressure washed it, paint started disappearing. Looks like ass now.

When I got rearended in the Trans Am, I went ahead and got it fixed by one of the better shops in the area and at the same time got the entire front end repainted and paid out of pocket, couldn't be happier. I personally would get it done right by a reputable shop this time, atleast that way you never have to worry again, that and you get an iron clad warranty. I just took my car back to them earlier this week because they didn't adjust one of my headlamp doors correctly and it was chipping the paint off on a corner of it by rubbing on either the hood or a bolt or something, fixed it in a day no questions asked. It's worth the peace of mind.

Skip the BS and just take it somewhere reputable. You'll take the money hit but that's better than going through this again next year.

Thanks for the replies fellas. I'm definately gonna let someone good do it. Sucks he got away with one here. I'll be sure to warn anyone that is tempted to go to him. People like this don't deserve to touch an LS1 car....

if ya had time or the desire id say to it yourself im repainting the fender on my 04 elantra this week (DD i'm selling)

but if you don't go ahead and fork over the money or bring it back one more time.. take the plugs out or do something make sure to remove the molding before he does it though because if he did it once he'll do it again hell even going to the more $$ shop id still do it myself I know the owner of one of the big shops here in town and can tell ya alot about this crap

What I have learned is that good-ol boys normally dont live up to their claims. Suck it up, go to your local dealership, ask them who THEY contract paint-work out to and go see them. You WILL PAY! but it will be the last time.

Well I know where the quality shops are, and what guys to go to. I just went to this guy cause someone I know said he would cut me a good deal and do a good job too. But he didnt know he did the halfass shit like he does like painting around shit, not removing locks or weatherstripping, etc. I would do it myself if I had the proper place and equipment, but I don't. So I'll take to one of the reputable places and be done with it. I'll also have the molding off before I take it.

Yeah there is no paper work. He is the coronor of our county, and is well known. I had heard he was good, but I guess not huh?

A Coroner/body guy, not a very common combination. But you would think they would be thorough.

I'd just pay again and get it done right. He's obviously not too happy about you bringing it back so who knows what he could do to your car. Karma has a way of catching up to people like that who don't honor their word.

I learned a similar lesson the hard way as well. For a beater type car those "I know a guy types" will work fine but on something you won't be happy unless it's perfect you have to go to the dealer or a very reputable shop and get a warranty in writing.

you shouldnt be having to tell a body person how to paint a car....i think you need to find someone else...

you said you paid a fair price if you dont mind how much was the work??? the guy might have given you a bragin lets get it fixed and save the deductible kind of price.... in which case he wouldnt worry about spending the time to take apart the door to remove the handle and deal with taking the molding and emblems off..... so just make sure when you do bring it to another shop I would make sure to specify so you dont get that run of the mill paint work..... btw sorry to hear that you got a shiitty paint job

you said you paid a fair price if you dont mind how much was the work??? the guy might have given you a bragin lets get it fixed and save the deductible kind of price.... in which case he wouldnt worry about spending the time to take apart the door to remove the handle and deal with taking the molding and emblems off..... so just make sure when you do bring it to another shop I would make sure to specify so you dont get that run of the mill paint work..... btw sorry to hear that you got a shiitty paint job
I wish I could remember exactly, but I don't, that was back in June of 05. I didnt have to pay a deductible, it wasnt my fault. My insurance company was never contacted, it went on the lady's insurance, since it was 100% her fault. Basically the adjuster came to my house, did the estimate, and wrote me a check. If it was going to be more, I would have to call back.

I know some people that do great work, and a shop that I usually went to, but they are about the highest around. The old saying "You get what you pay for" rings true more times than not....

The peeling is barely noticable, in fact, noone has noticed it but me. It hasnt gotten any worse since I first noticed it back this past summer. I am not in a huge rush to get it fixed, but I hope to do it sometime this summer if I can. The main thing is I was really wanting to remove the sidemolding asap, but I can't til its ready to hit the shop. I just like to hear others thoughts on things sometimes.

damn man sorry to hear that! I can vouch that the car look like it had never been backed into when he got it back from the guy! but when me and brian was bleeding the clutch after reinstalling the tranny(feb/march 06 i think) i found some where in the door jam a fiberglass piece that was still cracked. Brian was to happy about that either but i never think he contacted the guy. Hope everything goes well!!! Now we know not to go to the coroner of the county for body work/paint!!!!!

damn man sorry to hear that! I can vouch that the car look like it had never been backed into when he got it back from the guy! but when me and brian was bleeding the clutch after reinstalling the tranny(feb/march 06 i think) i found some where in the door jam a fiberglass piece that was still cracked. Brian was to happy about that either but i never think he contacted the guy. Hope everything goes well!!! Now we know not to go to the coroner of the county for body work/paint!!!!!

I have decided to fix it myself. I do everything else so why not :judge:

I have decided to fix it myself. I do everything else so why not :judge:
so damn true, u do a hell of a job also!!

As far as leaving at a shop, you have some type of tuning software don't you? Set the limiter at 1500. They could rev the shit out of it all day long and do her no harm.

I know what you mean about leaving cars with people. I sat at sears for 3hrs waiting on my alignment so I didnt have to leave my car. Even then with me watching the guy just had to give it some gas pullin around the building.

so damn true, u do a hell of a job also!!
I appreciate it man, I do my best.

As far as leaving at a shop, you have some type of tuning software don't you? Set the limiter at 1500. They could rev the shit out of it all day long and do her no harm.
Thats one HELL of an idea, but at the moment I dont own my own software. For $150 for a complete dyno tune including dyno time, I couldn't pass it up :) I plan to get my own sometime in the future though, and I will definately remember that if I got stuck having to leave it somewhere.

I know what you mean about leaving cars with people. I sat at sears for 3hrs waiting on my alignment so I didnt have to leave my car. Even then with me watching the guy just had to give it some gas pullin around the building.
Yeah, people just love messing with other peoples cars. I am about to get some new front tires, and I will make the appointment for the alignment on a sat so I can set there while it's done, I'm not leaving it. I can see it now....some guy takes it for the test drive, going along in 2nd gear, and decides to see if the power is there to match the sound, stabs it to the floor, and swaps ends with it into a ditch or another vehicle on the road!