Hey guys, I had my bumper repainted/repaired in August 2014. With the road salt finally being washed of my car, I've noticed many many rock chips in the paint. My pervious bumper had over 20x the milage with only a few chips. This bumper looks terrible for being so new. The place I went to has a warranty for the repair. Do I have grounds to go and get it fixed or is this just something I will have to deal with myself?
I had the same problem with a previous vehicle that needed a new bumper. The surface preparation or paint quality wasn't on par with the factory paint job when it came to durability. The key to durability against rock chips is good preparation of the bumper surface, flex agent added to paint and a thin paint coat since thick paint tends to crack rather than flex. I would discuss this with the shop that did the work and if that doesn't get you any where bring it to the attention of the insurance company that paid the claim (if it was an insurance claim)
Thanks! It was an insurance claim after a road sign flew up and lodged into my bumper. I will contact the shop first and see what they say.
I'd call and talk with the owner first about it. See what they say, are willing to consider, and at least start out on a good note by setting up a visit for them to look at it. Do they warrant their work at all? What's their policy on paint work? Good luck.
Bring your dissatisfaction up with the body shop that did the work. Calmly, rationally. Then hope they honor their guarantee. I would say, without seeing any pictures, that if it "looks terrible" after less than one year from being painted and repaired then you DO have a case. Unless of course you spent the winter going on long road trips following a gravel and salt truck. I think you have the right to expect at least average durability from the repainted bumper. If the deterioration is significantly ahead of the curve with just normal usage? Then it's a symptom of the repair. Unfortunately you end up being in the situation where the people you are counting on for remedy, are the same people that did as shoddy job to start with. If they won't stand behind their work, and honor their guarantee? Then at least you've found one body shop you can avoid in the future.
