wilchan

Hi all,

Just want to share some not-so-good experience on the
bad paint job in my 98 Accord.

I have a white 98 Accord and the rear bumper cover was
repainted at EMC body shop, Fremont, CA back in 98.
At that time, the lady there told me they would
strip out old paint, resurface, paint, cook and clearcoat.

Recently, I found that the bumper seems to be
bumped by someone. No scratch was left, just some
black plastic residue. I used car wax to clean them all
up. But then I found that paint was peeling off like onion
and some paint are cracking like an egg.

I took my car back to EMC this morning. The owner came
out and examined it. He is very polite guy. He said it was
due to impact on the bumper. He said they covered the paint
job, but not due to impact. I asked him why there was white
paint underneath while the top white paint chipped off. He
said they just painted on top of the old paint and repaint
wouldn't last as long as original factory paint. I told him that
the I wasn't told the same thing back then and he insisted
that how they did the repaint.

I am quite dissatisifed with his answer but didn't spend more
time to argue it with him.

If you are in Bay Area, CA. I would suggest you not to go
to EMC shop if you need any painting work.
They have very nice office front and I guess
BMW, Toyota dealer in Fremont contract them
for body repair work too. But I think they did
lousy paint job and don't back their word and work.

Regards,

-- william

bigman

This is why i always get everything in writing.

johnnyb_s

A bump on anything fiberglass/plastic will cause paint to spider-web and peel like an onion like you described. The only real complaint that you should have is that they lied to you initially when you had it painted the first time. Like bigman said, if you had it in writing, then you would have a much easier time proving your case and may be able to seek some compensation.

songoku

Missing something.... YEAH!! Flex additive.




That's cause!!

ArN 2000 TL

BINGO!!!

wilchan

Nope they did put them in writing and she told
me she would do the whole bumper. However, the
invoice didn't state the whole bumper and I think
I got tricked. The owner said
they only do it on the part they repaired.

Here was what on my 4.5 yrs invoice.

1.Rear Bumper
2) O/H Rear Bumper
3) Repl O/H Bumper Assy
4) Refinish Bumper Cover
5) Add for Clear Coat
6) Flex Additive-Z
7) Body Materials @ 1.5/HR


Well, the funniest things is that old paint stay
uncracked while the top one peeled away.

I just think EMC play with words in writing to avoid
any warranty issue. Again my suggestion, avoid
EMC body shop in Fremont, CA.

-- william

songoku

That's funny. Replace over haul bumper assembly???

Did they replace bumper assebmly or just bumper cover?? If they replaced the bumper, then they weren't suppose to re-use old bumper.

wilchan

Hi songoku,

No, they just re-use old bumper cover. I thought
re-surface means stripping out old paint, re-prime
the whole bumper cover for painting.
Apparently that didn't happen at least on the part that
got bumped and I couldn't even verify which part
they had primed.

For flex addictive, I thought those are added to the
white paint before spraying onto the bumper cover.
With the way it cracks after minor bump, I think they
didn't even add that substance.

Anyway, just beware of this lousy shop if you are in
that area and needs any painting work on your car.


Regards,

-- william

AcuraTL

Well, I don't think it is the body shop's fault. If another car did not bump into your bumper, non of this damage would've happened. You can never compare aftermarket paint to the factory paint. Factory paint is basically baked on. Even if they strip off all the paint after they repaired your bumper and repaint that way, you would probably still get the same result after getting hit by someone. I used to inspect car damage for an insurance company, no body shop will strip off all the paint from your bumper after repairing it. I don't even care if you go to the highest of the high end shop, they just don't do it. Well, unless you had the whole bumper replaced. That's how it is done and I don't believe it is the body shop's fault. You should blame this on whoever hit your car and did not leave a note.

If your bumper's paint was cracked without getting hit......that's another story. As for flex additive, they mix it with the paint before spraying it on the bumper. It will only prevent cracks on minor flexing, like you stepping on it or minor bumps from shopping carts and etc. So take my opinion anyway you want it, but I don't think it was right for you to call this shop lousy just because your bumper got hit by an unknown car and you are blaming the shop for it.

wilchan

Hi Acura-TL, thanks for your information.

Well, if any after paint job won't last as long as factory
paint job, then nothing is at fault with the shop. But I am
dissatisfied that they didn't do what they told me
and what they wrote in the invoice back then. They
charged premium and did only portion of it and called
it done. That's what I called them lousy. I may got tricked
by the little wording game in invoice. I don't think
that's the way to do business.

Anyway, my car is 5 yrs old now and got door dings here
and there. I don't really insist to get the bumper repainted.

Just my thought and like to share the experience with all.

Regards,

-- william