Bexx's Blog / Paint Issues

[bexx]

Hi Guys,

Some of you may know when I got my car it had a defect on the bonnet. This had been fixed but since then I have found more. Some at our 500 meet in Harrogate with Miss Bentley and Littalia.

Here goes-

1/ a chip on the underiside if the bonnet that has been touched in (Not by me)
2/ 1 peice of sand on the front bumper above the fiat badge
3/ 1 peice of sand on the passenger door nr wing mirror, very tiny
4/ sand and hairs in the paint all along where the kick trims go (passenger side) and visible on the outside just under ther door, too many bits of sand to count.
5/ A Hair about 1/2 cm long in paint above wheel arch
6/ Same problem as Miss Bentley but not as bad as hers, a small peice of paint peeling off the bumper between where it joins the body.

Other problems I have had-

Dodgy Blue and Me (waiting to be fixed)
Flashing milage (waiting to be fixed)
Big Stitch Holes in the seat covers (waiting for new ones)

I went into the garage to get it put on the diagnosics but the machine wasnt working so came away without that being done, i am now going to get that done at the same time as the seat covers.

Since I have noticed all of these paint defects I phoned Fiat Customer Care to complain about the standard of the paintwork and other problems I hve had. I was advised to take my car into the garage today tp get the paint defects looked at by the body shop manager. Which I did, but when he saw it he suggested getting fiat's area manager out to see it, as there was quite a few defects and I am not happy about getting my car resprayed on so many pannels. Aparently he would look at it and deem it satisfactory or unsatisfactory and decide what action to take.

PS, I still love my car even though it is poorly!

[Tino]

Would be intersting to see if your paint defects were "fresh from the factory" or has your car been meddled with in the meantime? Most modern paint systems are very good and orange peel is less prevalent with modern cars. Hair in the paint is extremely unusual!?

I think your treatment has been discourteous to say the least, but keep having a go at them and Fiat customer care and you may get some priority treatment and compensation.

[yoshi]

Bexx,

Sorry to hear about your problems, this is where Fiat really has to sharpen up it's act and try & learn to try & look after its clientele.

I would suggest the softly softly approach until Wednesday then if still getting know where then I would have a word with Mark Elvin and get a few pointers in who at FIAT HQ you need to be sending email's too.

keep us updated

Good Luck

Yoshi

[bexx]

Thanks Guys,

Tino- Is the orange peel appearence normal or acceptable then?

I will wait and see if the Area Manager is going to meet me anytime soon and if not I wll give fiat Customer Care another ring.

[Paul]

Orange peel effect is neither normal or acceptable, but used to be a more common problem than it seems to be nowadays with modern paint applications.

[bexx]

Thanks Paul, if thats not normal it could be more of an issue than any of the other problems.

It would be interesting to know if anyone elses car has this orange peel effect. After all they were all sprayed in the same place so it would be stange if it was an isolated case. x

[yoshi]

Bexx,

our car is the same colour as yours and as far as I can see, we have no orange peel type effect on our paint work .

Where is at its worst on the car - the roof, bonnet??

Let me know & I'll have a good study of "Tiddler"

Yoshi

[bexx]

The Rear C Post is quite bad (that goes from the rear quater pannel to the roof), its all over the car really but I havent noticed it on the bonnet. As it covers most of the car I just though it was normal until this guy said about it. He should have kept his gob shut.lol!

Its like this pic but not quite as bad,

http://www.carcareadvice.co.uk/asset...peel-paint.jpg

its very much like this

http://affectiontodetail.co.uk/image...62-800x600.jpg

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by bexx

The Rear C Post is quite bad (that goes from the rear quater pannel to the roof), its all over the car really but I havent noticed it on the bonnet. As it covers most of the car I just though it was normal until this guy said about it. He should have kept his gob shut.lol!

Its like this pic but not quite as bad,

http://www.carcareadvice.co.uk/asset...peel-paint.jpg

its very much like this

http://affectiontodetail.co.uk/image...62-800x600.jpg

I'll have a good look at "tiddler" tomorrow & let you know

Yoshi

[bexx]

Thanks let me know what you see, hopefully nothing awful.lol!. I might try and get some pics that show it. x