Advice Needed...

th30d0r3

Member
 Uxbridge
My Coupe got damaged (yet again) by one of my neighbours who got too close and scraped down the NSR wing and bumper.
Accident Exchange did their usual superb service; gave me a 330D convertible loan car and took Ruby to Berry Heathrow for me.
Car was in there for the repair, Service & MOT. however when I got it back 3 out of the 4 rims (new mind you) were scuffed quite badly.
I refused to take the car back and kept the courtesy car, but they (BMW) are claiming when they checked it the scuffs were there according to their paper work; however the accident exchange guy and I went round the car and he noted the smallest of things, we specifically checked the rims, they were mint and he made not comments on them.

I'm waiting for the manager from Berry Heathrow to get back to me; just need some advice on the best way to address this situation.
 
Stick absolutely to your guns. Especially since it was an accident claim/repair, if they didn't note any issues with them then they don't have much of a leg to stand on. The threat of Small Claims Court (cheap and cheerful and very user-friendly) usually gets the desired result in the event of resistance.....sorry to hear about this.
 
Likewise, really sorry to hear this - it spoils good service...

Also likewise to lacroupade - stick to your guns.

If you can get a formal statement from the Accident Exchange (AE) guys getting them on side it will help big time - they may want to distance themselves from BMW, pushing the problem onto them. However, BMW will argue that if it wasn't you, then THEY must have done it.

Either way, you have two potential accused...

Collect all your paperwork re the AE check, and the dated paperwork re your new wheels - AE will be your allies here.

If BMW don't back down, demand to see their security tapes - they shouldn't have a problem if they didn't cause the damage. If they won't share the tapes, ask them what they are hiding. Find out who was working when your car was in the shop, find out who was in charge.

If they STILL won't budge, inform them that you have taken advice on this, but would rather BMW offer to fix the problem first than go straight to small claims. :x

Remember - a respectable shop/dealership would want to preserve their reputation. If they are being arsey about it, why? Remind them of that.

NB - see if you can work out how the scrapes occured. Where the wheels taken off? How? Are there any edges that could have scraped the rims? There shouldn't be pavement in a workshop... Think if there is any way YOU could have done it - last thing you want to do is be proven wrong... :?

Remember to be firm, but polite. Cross, but not aggressive. If they talk, don't say anything - listen. Let them talk until they give something away.

Hope that helps and best of luck :thumbsup:
Si
 
Sound advice all around gents thank you. I got a call from the Service Manager (who I happen to know, since they've always done my repairs and service so I'm a well known customer) and he is trying to contact accident exchange to get a statement from them regarding the checks they did.
Either way I hav ea signed sheet with no reference to any wheel damage. the level of scuff I saw would have been spotted a mile away and they are all fresh.
 
th30d0r3 said:
Sound advice all around gents thank you. I got a call from the Service Manager (who I happen to know, since they've always done my repairs and service so I'm a well known customer) and he is trying to contact accident exchange to get a statement from them regarding the checks they did.
Either way I hav ea signed sheet with no reference to any wheel damage. the level of scuff I saw would have been spotted a mile away and they are all fresh.

If you have this and the guy did note the smallest of marks then I think they will not have a leg to stand on if as you say the wheels stick out like a sore thumb.

Fingers crossed.
 
srhutch said:
th30d0r3 said:
Sound advice all around gents thank you. I got a call from the Service Manager (who I happen to know, since they've always done my repairs and service so I'm a well known customer) and he is trying to contact accident exchange to get a statement from them regarding the checks they did.
Either way I hav ea signed sheet with no reference to any wheel damage. the level of scuff I saw would have been spotted a mile away and they are all fresh.

If you have this and the guy did note the smallest of marks then I think they will not have a leg to stand on if as you say the wheels stick out like a sore thumb.

Fingers crossed.
+1
 
May sound daft ... are they YOUR wheels? may have been swapped... quite outragoues suggestion I know :oops: but never know ??? Your wheels could be on there forecourt! :o
 
The other thing is mileage... Did you note the mileage when you put it in for repair, and was it recorded ? If so, is it significantly - actually ANY - different ? That may prove it's been driven an inappropriate distance by someone, not sure if that helps though :?
 
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