Help & advice desperately needed! - Bristol area

[Fluffenzepupple]

I'm a damsel in distress looking for a kind soul who can help me deal with a garage that may have ripped me off!

The problem is don't really know what i'm talking about, i need someone who's clued up on old dubs that can look at what's been done and tell me what's what and if its what I should expect for the money i've paid (which was no small amount)!

I've totally cleaned myself out and made myself flat broke right before xmas to have this work done by a so called VW restoration and bodywork specialist, but i feel really disappointed with the quality of work and I don't know if I was expecting too much! I've already taken it back once so far and had them re-do the B posts as they'd covered them in this thick bumpy layer of stone chip guard and it looked awful, even the re-do over isn't the best, I just keep thinking if this is the quality of work of a 'specialist' then what the hell would an amateur be like?! Its even right down to little things like they've detached my rock n roll bed for some reason and not re-attached it back again, so its completely loose and unstable, What the blithering heck?? Theres even sealant in the bolt holes where it used to be attached where they've sprayed the underside and its leaked through!! It just seems like such a half assed unprofessional job to me and i'm now questioning the integrity of all the work they've done. I even suspect they've fillered some bits that were supposed to have new panels, i feel so let down and it's made me miserable.

I was hoping that maybe someone in or around the Bristol area with the know-how would be willing to have a look at my van and tell me if i've been ripped off or not, and pushing my luck maybe even come to the garage with me to talk it out?

The list of work they've done (as per the breakdown they gave me):

Remove locking wheel nuts / Broken locking nut
Repairs to N/S Front floor pan
Repairs to N/S B-Post fabricate new sections
Repairs to O/S B-Post fabricate new sections
Repairs to N/S rear inner arch
Repairs to O/S rear inner arch
Repairs to O/S rear arch
Repairs to O/S rear wing
Repairs to O/S front and rear sill
Underseal underside of vehicle
Fit new steering coupling
Fit new anti roll bar bushes
Fit new O/S & N/S Handbrake cables
Seal front windscreen & middle window


I would be so grateful if someone out there could help me, i would be willing to come to you if needed but please please please can anyone help me? I feel totally gutted!!

Cheers
Alex

[jimpainter]

If you can put some pickies up there are some of us on here that may be able to tell. If you think places have just been fillered try putting a magnet on the areas. Filler=wont stick.

What sort of price did you pay for the work done?

You put that the windscreen and side windows have been (sealed). Did they remove the windows and check for rot?

Jim

[billy739]

i will be in bristol tomorrow along with lots of other peeps on the bristol cruise!

are you any where near?
http://www.santa-cruz.co/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pocolow]

Tricky Alex...Which garage did you use and were they recomended? As for the things you've mentioned..the R& r bed could be a simple omission and if you've had the underserside & cavities treated then yes it could seep through any bolt holes. As for the stone chip on the B pillar ..How far up did it go? ...And the big question..Did this include a full respray? and how much did you pay?

Mark

[Fluffenzepupple]

Thanks for responding Jim I did try the magnet test on the B posts, it does stick but only weakly, as you move the magnet up the post past the area that's been done you feel it bond properly, but not on the section that's been replaced. No they didn't take the windows out, and the windscreen still leaks. He said it was better to try this first then to take them out and see what horrors lie beneath!

I paid them £1220 (£140 for parts, the rest on labour)

Heres some pics of some of the work (apologies for the quality i took them with my phone):

N/S B post before:



N/S B post after (1st time):



N/S B post after (2nd time):



Its hard to show in a picture, but the panel is quite rippled / bumpy

O/S B post before:





O/S B post after (1st time):





O/S Rear Sill before:



O/S Rear Sill after:





N/S Floorpan (which actually i think is ok):





Rust patch ups:









Thats all the pics i've got for now, i really don't know what to think!

[Fluffenzepupple]

Oh wow! When and wheres the Bristol cruise happening Billy? I'm over in Bradley Stoke way (North Bristol), I've got new brake shoes being fitted about 2.30 / 3 though..

[lloydy]

That's really crap, 99% that's all filler, and probably put on top of the rust. Look at how the sill profile as disapeared.
Did you ask for a patch/cover up? Or a proper repair? I'd be wanting my money back.
Lloyd

[windysurfer]

That's shocking

[billy739]

quick cheap mot type stuff

not good.

but depends what you asked for.

not all of it is mot stuff obviously

[fidget]

Hi

Im no expert but to me it Looks like all they have done is treated the rust and given it a coat of paint/underseal, the best example of that is the door jam picture, and the area round the filler cap. Most of what you have shown needs cutting out and new metal putting in Im afraid .

James

[Fluffenzepupple]

Thanks for replying Mark, i hadn't had them recommended to me directly, but i'd read good things about them on a few forums and the owner especially seemed to have a good reputation, and when i went down there for a chat and estimate they were very friendly and seemed very knowledgable, so i felt happy i could trust them. Now i'm not sure what to think!

The stone chip on the pillars came up to the first 'ridge' on the body (i don't know the proper term for it ) heres the link for some pics, they're also posted up individually on the technical post board. It wasn't a full respray, just on the parts they replaced / repaired.

http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll172/lexpie/Van/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I paid them £1220

[Fluffenzepupple]

Sorry Billy just realised you put the cruise details on your first post durr I didn't realise that was going on, me and the boyfriend will come along then it would be great to meet some people in the flesh!

Yeah i didn't think it was just my imagination, its a pretty crappy job isn't it! I hadn't wanted a patch up no, i wanted a proper job done of it and i was willing to pay for it, i had such high hopes when i went to pick it up thinking it would be looking all nice and fresh and smooth, but i felt very deflated upon seeing it! Was i expecting too much for the £1220 i paid?

The guy's shot himself in the foot really as there's loads i want to have done over the next 6 months and i plan to spend a bit of money on it, that money could have lined his pocket but it sure as hell won't after this.

[Doogs]

For what it's worth i think you're perfectly within your rights to ask for your money back that work is'nt just poor, it looks extremely amatuerish , hope you can get it resolved soon

[slobbo]

Are any of those after pictures? That is terrible. Best of luck sorting it out.

[BOXY]

One for Trading Standards & Watchdog I think. I reckon I could have done a better job with a can of P40, a tin of rustoleum, and a few sheets of sandpaper. And had change from £50.