I hit a curb....

[Gottoon]

I was just told that the 23rd is the estimated completion date... That is a long time... guess they are going to be waiting on parts.

[Gottoon]

Sorry everyone... this is a little long... Needed to vent a little...

So the repair shop called me today and said I could come pickup the MINI. I stopped by knowing that I would find something wrong with their work, and sure enough they didn't even touch the mushroomed strut tower top. He even tried to show me another MINI they had in there that had looked "exactly the same" as mine. I took one look at this PS Cooper Convertible and noticed that strut tower was flat and I said that is how it is supposed to look "flat". The guy started to argue with me, here a small part of that conversation.

Repair guy: It looks like the other MINI sits up higher on that side too.
(I didn't even dignify this with a response, He was trying to tell me that a all MINI strut towers sit higher on the passenger side. I almost laughed, but held my tongue)

Me: This isn't repaired and is not acceptable.

Repair Guy: We pulled it right down to spec. I even have numbers for you.

Me: It is still damaged and it would void my warranty on my suspension.

Repair Guy: If I get a dealer to sign off on it will you accept it.

Me: If you get a written guaranty from the dealer that my warranty is not voided by the damage, yes. My advisor at the dealer ship is Justin Grey.

Repair Guy: Is he at the Chandler dealership?

Me: There is no Chandler dealership. The only one is North Scottsdale. No one else is certified on MINIs.

Repair Guy: Are you telling me that the place that sold me the parts doesn't have anyone certified on MINI

[danjmcs]

They replaced the entire strut assembly, but didn't fix the mushroomed tower? Doesn't make much sense to me. I'd make them fix it.

And if they won't, I'd get a sign off from MiniUSA, not MNS. If you had to take it somewhere else, that warranty sign off from MNS wouldn't mean jack on the initial manufacturers warranty.

[duality]

dude, a "sign off" wont mean anything, MNS doesn't control the warranty, MINI NA does.

[It Works]

What shop is it at?

[Gottoon]

What shop is it at?

Sterling Autobody...


I couldn't care less about the warranty part... I just want it fixed and I know that is one way to get them to do it. The MNS techs will not sign off on it like it is.

Also they stated that they pulled the frame in to spec based on the strut points... Not knowing much about the act of straighting a frame.. I am thinking that includes the top of the tower, correct? If it isn't flat how the hell could they have gotten it straight, unless it is now pull way out of wack....

[It Works]

I was just told that the 23rd is the estimated completion date... That is a long time... guess they are going to be waiting on parts.

Kyle is in the same boat... his GP has been in the shop for 2 weeks. We had a shop light that fell off the ceiling of the garage and landed on the right front side of the car. It was the stangest thing - that light had been up for 15 years - why it fell, I don't know. He should be getting his car back on Monday. It's ironic - the rental car is a '08 Pontiac "GP". Guess who's driving it? Not him... he hates it! I don't mind, it rides smooth and is pretty comfortable.

[danjmcs]

It's ironic - the rental car is a '08 Pontiac "GP". Guess who's driving it? Not him... he hates it! I don't mind, it rides smooth and is pretty comfortable.

Are you sure thats not a G5 or G6? Or did you get a GXP performance version?

Sucks with the light though, hopefully back soon!

[It Works]

It's ironic - the rental car is a '08 Pontiac "GP". Guess who's driving it? Not him... he hates it! I don't mind, it rides smooth and is pretty comfortable.

Are you sure thats not a G5 or G6? Or did you get a GXP performance version?

Sucks with the light though, hopefully back soon!

Ya, it's a Grand Prix - when you start it, the display says "GP."

[danjmcs]

Ya, it's a Grand Prix - when you start it, the display says "GP."

hehe, too funny... well, my mom did own one too, so I guess Kyle things it's a moms Pontiac since you like it too? hehe...

[duality]

Also they stated that they pulled the frame in to spec based on the strut points... Not knowing much about the act of straighting a frame.. I am thinking that includes the top of the tower, correct? If it isn't flat how the hell could they have gotten it straight, unless it is now pull way out of wack....

precisely. Make sure the car does not dog walk when you get it back. Thats a pretty sure sign that the frame has not been straightened properly. I have never heard of Sterling Autobody, where are they located? Do they have contract with your insurance, or a BMW dealer, or what?

[UKSUV]

You screwed up when you told them you would accept it if they had someone sign off on it. I told you what you needed to have done. I dont know what kind of bogus shop you are dealing with but as soon as I told Chapman Collision (1 of about 6 places that is certified to 100% fix BMW's) that the strut tower had a deviation in it...they ordered another tower no questions asked. Like I said...that repair along was something to the tune of 5-6K. And they cant straighten the rails as far as I know without the towers being straight. As Duality said...make sure the car doesnt dog-walk. I had my Toyota truck do that as I was driving home from a crash. The frame was in a diamond... Anyways, I would make your adjuster come out. Having them sign off on it is a safety hazard let alone...your tires and suspension is gonna wear terribly. Have fun with that.... Oh...and I had to go back to the shop several times to get things fixed. Flooded interior due to the moonroof drain not hooked up, front bumper needed to be repainted, a hub bearing replaced and now I have noticed condensation on the inside of my moonroof when I wash the car. That indicates a leak but I think the crash warped the roof a little. Not a big thing for me at this point. They also didnt replace any engine bay clips that they busted and they ripped my halo wiring out and I found one of the wires shorting out on my frame. It could have burnt my car to the ground Then, the other day I saw my dash was ripped from them installing the airbags. All these things wrong and they are like one of the best shops around. So, Im just saying watch your ass cause they are gonna you. Oh....and I still think one of my rims that they didnt replace is bent because the car hops a little at speed....

[Gottoon]

precisely. Make sure the car does not dog walk when you get it back. Thats a pretty sure sign that the frame has not been straightened properly. I have never heard of Sterling Autobody, where are they located? Do they have contract with your insurance, or a BMW dealer, or what?

They are a national body shop that is owned by Allstate.

they never called me today... So I am going to guess that they didn't get a signoff.... I am going to call first thing in the morning.

[It Works]

Ya, it's a Grand Prix - when you start it, the display says "GP."

hehe, too funny... well, my mom did own one too, so I guess Kyle things it's a moms Pontiac since you like it too? hehe...

I know I said I really want a GP, but not this kind! It's ok for awhile but I wouldn't buy one.

Sorry I hijacked your thread Andrew. What's "dog walk?"

[duality]

Ya, it's a Grand Prix - when you start it, the display says "GP."

hehe, too funny... well, my mom did own one too, so I guess Kyle things it's a moms Pontiac since you like it too? hehe...

I know I said I really want a GP, but not this kind! It's ok for awhile but I wouldn't buy one.

Sorry I hijacked your thread Andrew. What's "dog walk?"

ever watched how a dog makes its way down a sidewalk? |/| that slash there in the middle, that was the dog, he is moving forward, but his body is crooked compared to the line he is going in. That is dog walk. Cars will do that after the frame is bent and not returned exactly to spec. It's more common on trucks, where you have a higher risk of bending things just using the vehicle for what it was made to do.