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For what its worth Exclusive Auto Centre. Exclusive Auto Centre
I've had my car fixed up a few times there, some with insurance some from my own pocket. Excellent work.
Be prepared to feel like you have the cheapest car there.
I've used Shipstone too, and they are also quite good.
If you are in Brisbane I'd highly recommend Hume's Bodyworks in Albion.
Had a custom rear valance (not a tiny one but the entire bottom half of my rear bar for the Golf) sanded, filled, primed and colour matched flawlessly for $220. Got one of the guys to make exhaust cut outs where I have indicated, plus fine-tune the cutouts by taking the bar back and forth into the workshop several times, as well as to help me install the thing with screws and sikaflex, all at no extra cost.
Wouldn't know about them being any recommended repairer, they're not a huge workshop or anything but well worth checking out.
Humes Body Works - Panel Beaters & Painters - Albion, QLD - Yellow Pages®
After having my car treated by Kim (Detail Evolution) today, I need to retract what I said above.Quote:
Originally Posted by brimway
Kim put his lights on the panels that Shipstones repainted and the result of their work was evident. An absolute mess, it took Kim about an hour to correct what they had done. It looked as if the panels were washed with steelwool.
I am pi**ed off with Shipstones, especially as they assured me that I could expect a perfect result.
So my advice is to avoid Shipstones.
Further to my experience with Shipstones, I wrote a detailed letter to their manager which resulted in a half-hearted email reply which failed to address the issues I raised.
They are certainly not the quality repairer that they used to be :(
Sorry to hear mate - sadly, this is standard for the car repair trade. Even the NRMA assessor said as much when he came out to my place to see my R (after PSR's third go at it)
I wrote them a letter - no response. The assessor said I could take it elsewhere and told me of the only place he would recommend. They wouldn't touch it. They said they don't repair issues caused by other shops.
I've moved on - it aint perfect but no point putting myself through more grief
Just got my car back from BMW Body Workshop. Excellent work and clean car afterwards! haha
I was really happy with the service as well. Very impressed I must say :)
You need to look closer mate. I can guarantee there will be hologramming and swirls at best ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by JedR32
As long as you are happy though
Check for panel fit, gap eveness, matching of peel, colour blending, dry edges.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Candyman
Yeah I'd say there are swirls etc. but I think this has to be expected of all panel beaters to be honest. However fit and colour match was great! Much better than I thought they would be plus they fixed up my rear passenger side inner guard free and with new bolts and everything without me even asking them to! :)
Its probably fair to say that the majority of panel/paint repairs are covered by insurance. There in is the problem. The insurers are screwing the repairers to the point where they set the rates resulting in work that is done to a price.Quote:
Originally Posted by Candyman
Now, I am satisfied and have moved on, but my repair was a private / cash arrangement, no insurance involvement. So given that they charged like a wounded bull, I expected better. Maybe I haven't really moved on.:mad:
My view is that it is just poor workmanship
Takes the same effort and cost to spray a panel correctly versus badly. In fact, cheaper for everyone if they do it right the first time.