Dealer cracked the paint on the bumper during PDI

[ayau]

Dealer "A" took delivery of the BRZ tS. They installed the front lip but ended up messing up the install and cracked the paint on the front bumper. Pretty certain the tech drilled too deep for the pilot hole, causing the bumper to flex and crack the paint.

Dealer "B" did a dealer trade and to get the BRZ tS and sold the car to me.

I drove 5.5 hours to Dealer B to purchase the BRZ. Drove it back and noticed the paint crack.

Dealer B wants me to drive back to their dealer to get this repaired. This isn't a 1 hour repair job. It would realistically take days; inspection, order parts, etc.

I contacted Subaru of America and they said this is an issue between dealer and customer but they're willing to pay $500 towards the repair cost or give me a $500 Subaru coupon.

What would you do?

Pics:
https://imgur.com/a/OSmtKRv

[tehShirt]

Take the $500 coupon from Subaru AND have the dealer replace/repaint the bumper on their own dollar.


Have you sent the dealer the pictures you showed here?

[Sapphireho]

I guess it comes down to what your time is worth, and what it cost to repair. Will dealer give you a car during repairs? Or maybe S of A pay for loaner car? Or can you live with it and pocket $500? I would get a quick estimate from a local body shop so I know what kind of $$ you are talking.

[Impureclient]

If they are playing hardball, why not call your insurance company to go after their insurance and get it fixed where you want and they pay like any other person would if they damage your car.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by tehShirt

Take the $500 coupon from Subaru AND have the dealer replace/repaint the bumper on their own dollar.


Have you sent the dealer the pictures you showed here?

I showed it to the sales person. I'm not sure who he talked to but their initial suggestion was to have me drive back to get it repaired. It's not worth my time to drive back and wait a couple days.

I spoke with the sales manager and he's going to check with their dealer body shop to get an estimated cost. He believes it should be the original dealer's fault because they created the damage. I spoke with the original dealer and he said he's not responsible for the car after the dealer trade is complete.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

I guess it comes down to what your time is worth, and what it cost to repair. Will dealer give you a car during repairs? Or maybe S of A pay for loaner car? Or can you live with it and pocket $500? I would get a quick estimate from a local body shop so I know what kind of $$ you are talking.

I had one estimate done and they quoted about $1,000. Bumper removal, respray, etc.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

If they are playing hardball, why not call your insurance company to go after their insurance and get it fixed where you want and they pay like any other person would if they damage your car.

I actually haven't considered that, but that's something I'll keep in mind if they decide not to help. Is it just like any other insurance claim?

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by ayau

I had one estimate done and they quoted about $1,000. Bumper removal, respray, etc.

So again, it is what 11+ hours of your time, and no car for a couple days is worth.


Sounds like from what you said the dealer is willing to fix it, the big issue is 5.5 hours away.


I don't think I would get my insurance involved, unless things turned real sour with the dealer.


Also, white is the worst color to match.


What a bummer.


Tough call.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

So again, it is what 11+ hours of your time, and no car for a couple days is worth.


Sounds like from what you said the dealer is willing to fix it, the big issue is 5.5 hours away.


I don't think I would get my insurance involved, unless things turned real sour with the dealer.


Also, white is the worst color to match.


What a bummer.


Tough call.

It doesn't make sense to drive there to get it done at their body shop when a local one can do it. The dealer just has to pay for the bill. The only difference is cost. Dealer owned body shop can fudge with the numbers. They can't when it's an outside body shop.

Agreed white is the worst to match. In fact, a lot of white bumpers don't even match from the factory under certain lighting conditions.

[Sapphireho]

Tell dealer if you bring to them you want a loaner car, or they can pay for local repair.

[Tcoat]

Make sure that they didn't use screws that were too long or the first time you bounce that lip off a steep incline (and you WILL) the repair will look like that again.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Make sure that they didn't use screws that were too long or the first time you bounce that lip off a steep incline (and you WILL) the repair will look like that again.

The factory lip bolts are very short. I verified by removing one of them. The paint crack was definitely caused by the drill bit being too long. You would think that drilling the bumper with the proper bit length is pretty common sense.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ayau

The factory lip bolts are very short. I verified by removing one of them. The paint crack was definitely caused by the drill bit being too long. You would think that drilling the bumper with the proper bit length is pretty common sense.

Worth checking. If they will drill without using a proper bit god only knows what bolts they may have used. At least you know it was the factory ones.

[krayzie]

There is an instruction sheet that comes with the lip specifying where and how deep to drill. Even comes with card templates. SMFH!