Body Shop Thought I Wouldn't Notice

[BMWX5CHI]

So as some of you already know I was rear ended a couple of weeks ago. I decided to go with State Farm's Select Choice Repair Shop. I went with Guy and Sons Auto Repair. Turns out they ''Repaired" my back bumper and repainted it which is fine, but they didn't repair my muffler(s) properly.

So now I'm a little upset with the repair. I don't know which muffler is making the noise but it sounds like it's leaking as if it was cracked or has a hole or was incorrectly installed. Here is the picture of the ''Repair'' they did on the muffler(s). I called up State Farm and explained to them what I found. So before I go tomorrow and confront them guns blazing, what do you guy suggest? and does anybody know what is that grey crap they put on my muffler ? Look how crooked one of the bolts are.

[upallnight]

Since you used State Farm approved shop any repairs is grantee for life, although hopefully it's better then the life BMW trans fluid.

The crinkle paint is just bad prep on the shop part. The grey stuff is probably some muffler sealant that people use to patch old muffler or pipes instead of replacing them. You should have an invoice as to what they replaced, if it list a muffler, then this is out right fraud.

[LVP]

Looks like JB Weld. I've used that in a pinch, but not like spackle. . It will crack and leak in a matter of time. The flanges need to be replaced if they are cracked. I've used heavy duty hose clamps around the cracked flanges and then tightened, but that was for my track car and i didn't care as much. But it held.

[BMWX5CHI]

It looks like cement to me. I wasn't to angry about the back bumper but that just shows me they didn't take the repair too serious since they ''glued'' the flanges together so now I'm going let them know about the bumper as well. The flanges must of cracked or bent when I was hit. I'm going first thing in the morning to see what they have to say about the ''glued flanges''.

[Kristophe]

That's a ceramic-based "muffler patch" that's the equivalent of Bar's Leaks for a cheap radiator repair. As Upallnight mentioned, the alligatoring paint is a result of poor prep. Ugh, this is Sunday afternoon shade tree variety workmanship.

If I was the shop owner I'd be embarrassed.

[Joshdub]

Ouch. That is a seriously poor exhaust repair.

As far as the black plastic goes, I don't see how you can repair that, so they should just replace the bumper. It isn't paint down there, at least there wasn't stock.

[upallnight]

http://www.amazon.com/Yale-Automotiv...er+cement+grey

[BMWX5CHI]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

Ouch. That is a seriously poor exhaust repair.

As far as the black plastic goes, I don't see how you can repair that, so they should just replace the bumper. It isn't paint down there, at least there wasn't stock.

That's what I told State Farm. I don't mind a used bumper if that the route there trying to go as long as it's in great shape and they repaint it.

[BMWX5CHI]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Amazon.com: MUFFLER SEALER-6 OZ.: Automotive

Wow only $9.99 + Free Shipping. Very cheap repair. I would think someone would use this for a temp. fix. Looks like they changed some of the bolts also. Those look too clean to be stock ones. I guess they thought I wouldn't notice.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by BMWX5CHI

That's what I told State Farm. I don't mind a used bumper if that the route there trying to go as long as it's in great shape and they repaint it.

At issue will be the difference (if any) the shop *billed* State Farm for the repair and what you can prove they actually *delivered* to you as State Farm's customer.

If, for instance, you have a repair bill that shows 'replace bumper' or similar with a BMW part, you'll have a pretty solid indication that they billed State Farm for a new part and gave you (at best) a used one. There's serious money to be made by a dishonest shop in this practice. That's fraud as far as State Farm is concerned and could (should) seriously affect this repair shop's future certification.

In fact, seeing this craptastic work and knowing what they're capable of, the very last thing I would do is let these yahoo's touch my car. I'd tell State Farm to send me to a second shop to get the repair done correctly. Let State Farm and the sh!tty body shop figure out the rest.

However, if State Farm authorized an exhaust 'repair', that could mean anything, including cement. If State Farm authorized only a bumper 'repair,' that, too could mean anything including the sh!tty work done. If this is true, then you have work to do with State Farm in gaining your satisfaction- again- with a new shop.

Edit:

From your other thread, it appears as though you believed at one time or another that you were at least getting a *different* bumper. You either did not get a new one or they seriously tweaked it upon install. The original repair estimate is the gold standard here. Find it.

Originally Posted by BMWX5CHI

Just got off the phone with Guy and Sons. Looks like there going to fix her up nicely. My upper tail gate wasn't damaged but they fixed a few dents on it, lower tail gate is getting replaced, they replaced the tail gate switch, bumper was replaced, needs a new muffler and some pipes, and needs a new battery which they said they would replace. So far so good. Will post pictures after I get her back.