WTF have they done??!!? - updated

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:20 pm

Got my car back from John Martin Group in Perth yesterday, it got a new front clam, new front tyres, wheels powder coated and the Geo done (not all under the insurance claim by the way). I was about to post what a great juob they'd done but on the way home noticed a much louder than normal tizz. I thought a couple of undertray bolts just needed tightening but when I looked under the car I saw this!

Those two bolts are now at an angle (same direction at the arrows) and the undertray buckles up between them.

This used to be perfectly flush with the undertray, it's worse than it looks in the picture cause the bolt head is at an angle

There's a scratch like this at each side of the undertray, in about the middle of the car?!

This is at the front of the car

Have they put this on a ramp or something with too little clearance? Looks like something has hit those bolts pretty hard to put them at an angle like that. Any ideas??!

I know SimonA has had undertray troubles with JMG in the past.

scott

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:31 pm

Difficult to prove now...but get Maggs on the case!

Post by **Shug** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:32 pm

Front has been driven over something. Couldn't help with what - but get screaming immediately

FWIW, if you know a tame lawyer who won't charge you for the privilege, send the pics to him on email, today. If JM are at all sniffy about it, be sure and tell them that you've sent pics to your lawyer straight away and this might cut any fannying about time.

Looks like the bolt mounts have been cross threaded, TBH. Or the mounts are bent - one of mine is (bent) and it causes the tray to be curved like yours if you do it up wrong. If they positioned a lift on them badly, it might do that (can't remember the exact layout off the top of my head, but the frontmost bolts go into the subframe and shouldn't be used to lift it.

The scratches in the middle are on a bonded bit of the chassis, from what I can see, not a tray. This is major, as it looks like they could be witness marks from a slipping jack... If they are, the jack's been out of place. Major faux pas.

It's a fu*kup of a job and get it back to them ASAP - Fu*k all can be done about the big scratch in the middle, but they might be able to straighten out that tray bolt and you need a new front tray.

IDIOTS!

jj · Post by jj » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:41 pm

Thats a joke.

As for lawyer, get GregR on the case, I am confident he could provide some long words and advice on the matter.

Or do what G suggested

ninja · Post by **ninja** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:18 pm

i'd be over there now with a large sign telling everyone what useless wnakers they are!!

ninja

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:22 pm

Cheers for the comments, fook it is serious then innit

sadly I don't know any lawyers :-/

Here's a pic of the dent on the other side of the chassis part

Both these scratches are dented in a bit more than the photo show

Shug I had a quick look and I think the bolt mounts are bent. Your theory about them being pressed in by the lift sounds about right.

buggr

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:23 pm

I should call em now then really eh? Thing is I know the manager isn't there today, I called them this morning trying to blag my old front clam off them for a mate.

scott

Post by **Shug** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:25 pm

Those scratches - are they parallel to each other? Ramp damage would be the obvious cause then - maybe a 2 poster with insufficient clearance.

See what GregR has to say - may be able to at least point you in the right direction on your legal position.

But get back on to JM immediately - the longer you leave it (even hours) the more opportunity they have to wriggle out.

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:42 pm

Shug wrote:Those scratches - are they parallel to each other?

Yea kinda, like a mirror image if you know what I mean, so probably done at the same time.

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:45 pm

Scott, PM me your phone number and I'll call to discuss.

Cheers,

Greg

Post by **Shug** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:46 pm

Scottd wrote:
Shug wrote:Those scratches - are they parallel to each other?
Yea kinda, like a mirror image if you know what I mean, so probably done at the same time.

Well there's a good chance that a 2 post lift was used and farked up your undertray bolts at the same time. The front tray is still a mystery though.

f*ck em, f*ck em good.......

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:51 pm

Agree with getting round there ASAP manager present or not. Print out the photos and take them round and get some punter there to sign and date them there and then.
Might come across as wanky to the mechanic there but come Monday morning the Manager will be in and will say sorry son you fcked that over a rock at the weekend hooning about not my problem.

If they refuse to sign it tell them to get the manager on the phone and try to get him down there. Need to get somone to witness the damage and get it time stamped.

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:30 pm

if you CBA getting to their garage to date stamp - print copies and mail them to yourself. the postage mark will speak to when they were sent

/pikey copywriter

Post by **simon** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:30 pm

Feel free to include my name on this. This is the exact same thing that happened to me and they completely denied it but eventually offered to straighten out the undertray.

DDtB · Post by **DDtB** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:21 pm

I'd be straight back down there demanding it get sorted pronto with me getting a courtesy car whilst it gets done..... slam keys on counter and refuse to leave until they agree to sort it etc. type attitude

sitting outside telling everyone browsing the cars / bringing theirs in for service etc. what had just happened to you may help also..... a big sign may help too.....

DDtB.

(angry faction fed up with piss poor service in general in this sodding country)