Well they say bad things happen in 3's! No3 - the touchless carwash story!

[metalmickey]

Hi Katie
As a licensed operator of equipment of this type with a potential for causing damage for whatever reason, the franchisee (Graham) will have public liability insurance. I would present him with an estimate of repairs from a BMW dealership and insist that he makes a claim on the policy covering accidental damage or you will take the matter up on your with your own insurer. It seems to me that he is already 'wriggling' and you may find that progress does not proceed at the pace you might like. I wouldn't do him any favours by agreeing to get the repair done by a non BMW approved workshop at this stage. From the facts you have presented he hasn't got a chance of proving that you were negligent.
If it was me I would be spitting blood and on the case without a break.
In my experience a firm, polite and pleasant, formal approach is more likely to get you what you want without wasted time.
Good luck. You sound as if you could use some.
MM

 

[Little Lady Katie]

Hi

Hi Katie
As a licensed operator of equipment of this type with a potential for causing damage for whatever reason, the franchisee (Graham) will have public liability insurance. I would present him with an estimate of repairs from a BMW dealership and insist that he makes a claim on the policy covering accidental damage or you will take the matter up on your with your own insurer. It seems to me that he is already 'wriggling' and you may find that progress does not proceed at the pace you might like. I wouldn't do him any favours by agreeing to get the repair done by a non BMW approved workshop at this stage. From the facts you have presented he hasn't got a chance of proving that you were negligent.
If it was me I would be spitting blood and on the case without a break.
In my experience a firm, polite and pleasant, formal approach is more likely to get you what you want without wasted time.
Good luck. You sound as if you could use some.
MM

Thank you so much for your reply MM!

I think you are absolutely right re. graham and what he's trying to do (or not do, as the case may be!). I felt he really was trying to dissuade me from going down the insurance route and was trying to suggest that if I did, Id be getting myself in for a long and lengthy battle as the insurers would more than likely deny responsibility. Though I don't see how they can do given the facts of the case?!

I certainly don't want a 'second best' repair. I don't want them trying to polish the scratching out which will just take off more lacquer and paint and ruin the finish. I have just been to the BMW bodyshop here in york and have been given a very good quote - the bmw panel beating ex I referred to used to work there, so I know the manager and a couple of the guys quite well. So they've reduced cost of the labour and offered to fix my bumper as a little extra (It was reversed into by some lovely person while parked up last month!) for me while they're there they've quoted about 975 and that's pretty good I think given it needs two panels and two doors respraying. There's also a touch of paint taken off the front wheel arch which ive just noticed (from the brush I am convinced) but no other damage apparent around the front wheels thankfully.
The bodyshop manager kept trying to push for me to let them sort it all out for me - he spoke about their customer care team that handle it all inc contacting their insurers. I'm a bit anxious about giving any go ahead to go anything before ive spoken to Graham and given him the chance to put this right outside of insurance involvement.
I'm a pretty strong-willed soul, and im pretty firey most the time! I don't know why I back down in these sorts of situations because I'm not wanting to put people out or cause more hassle than I need to :/

 

[Little Lady Katie]

And yes I really could use a little luck right now!

 

[oldcarman]

Hi, being a sweetie in this case will not get you far, I'm afraid. This guy is already putting out excuses for just about everything but has not agreed to fix your car, period!! Time to pull out the firey you and get this A$$ to fix your car to your satisfaction. Nobody but someone you trust should put it back to the condition it was when you drove into his hellhole. I'd try to find out why they're shut down and if there are others with a same problem contact them and go enmasse to this guy and shut him down. JMHO JIM

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Get a BMW Garage to Quote for the repair of your car, and get a Quotation in writing. Then send a copy to the MD of the car wash. Don't bend over backwards for these guys they will only try and rip you off

Mike

 

[Little Lady Katie]

Evening guys!! i've got some brilliant news!!

So I took the good advice you all gave me and put it in writing to him (by way of an email reply), saying how much distress the whole experience and caused me and how at this point I just wanted to see the damage repaired PROPERLY and my car restored to it's previous condition. I sent him the quotes I'd received - 916 for BMW and about 860 for Car Clinic, and said that I would only really feel happy with it being repaired at the BMW authorised bodyshop, because here was the only place where I was guaranteed a repair to the BMW standard. I stood my ground! I also sent him all the photos of my car so he could see just how much damage his car wash had done!

Well... he rang me yesterday evening and spent about 15 minutes telling me how much of a favour he was doing me by paying out of his pocket rather than 'seeing me go down the insurance route and knowing that they wouldn't pay out'. Well, I humoured him! I think he wanted to avoid insurance because he knew it would be a much more costly route. Anyway that's by the by now, because he's agreed to sort this mess out!!! He's agreed to pay the bmws quote for my car to be properly repaired! and what's more, i received an email from the bodyshop this afternoon to say he's paid them and they just want to know when I want to bring my car in!!!! It's going in on monday

 

[Chipper3]

Evening guys!! i've got some brilliant news!!

That REALLY is great news - well done you for standing your ground and getting the right result.

Now let's hope good things happen in three's also and that you have two more bits of good fortune.

 

[Mint]

Brilliant news Katie, he obviously realised you would not stop until your Zed was repaired properly. Well done.

 

[Little Lady Katie]

hehe!! thank you Chipper!! thank you Mint! I needed a bit of good luck after all this! I am just so pleased!!!!

Well dare I say it but some good has come out of it... the bodyshop manager who I know said he'd fix my bumper (that someone kindly reversed into a month ago with their towbar by the looks of it) at the same time as a freebie!!

Now i've just got to hope that I avoid dramas for a while! There's a lot to be said for a quiet life!

 

[Chipper3]

hehe!! thank you Chipper!! thank you Mint! I needed a bit of good luck after all this! I am just so pleased!!!!

Well dare I say it but some good has come out of it... the bodyshop manager who I know said he'd fix my bumper (that someone kindly reversed into a month ago with their towbar by the looks of it) at the same time as a freebie!!

Now i've just got to hope that I avoid dramas for a while! There's a lot to be said for a quiet life!

Karma

 

[t-tony]

Absolutely Colin, what goes around, comes around. Very happy that you've got the right result Katie. Well done you.

Tony.

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

Just read the whole thread, great result and very rare to end happily, a new BMW body shop paint correction on a car of this age is going to be stunning and vastly better than even the best preserved car could possibly be in after years in the elements.

You must be chuffed

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Great News, we're glad it's worked out right for you, Katie. It's a shame that you have to put yourself out to pursue people to get the result that should be come automatically. It pay to be cynical these days and fight for your rights.

Can't wait now to see the finished result and possibly see it in the flesh one day!

Mike & Sandy

 

[oldcarman]

When your right, fight! That was the advise my parents gave me as a kid. Glad for the happy ending. Now I need to figure out how to get someone to pay for the repairs to my front end and bumper caused by a hit and run. JIM

 

[Shelly]

That's great news Katie
I'm pleased its all sorted for you
Your Z will be like new

 

[metalmickey]

. That's great news Katie and it must be a huge relief to know that the incident is resolved and already paid for.
Jim's anecdote is spot on and you are going to end up with a new paint job and the bonus of a correction to the rear bumper.
Looking forward to seeing the 'before and after' album.
Kind regards
MM

 

[Little Lady Katie]

Yes I'm very chuffed indeed! He's booked in first thing monday morning for his beauty treatment! And photos shall follow

I'm very much hoping to meet some
Of you in the flesh before long! I'll keep an eye out for the meets

 

[Aceman]

York aint too far from me although mine is still tucked up in bed. Newby Hall isn't far away with a big meet there in May organised through Cars in the Park. There is usually one later in the year too at Lotherton Hall.

Good news on the repair will be looking like new again for you.

 

[Little Lady Katie]

Newby and lotherton hall are both places I know well (commonly visited for days out when I was little! ) so hopefully ill be seeing you and others there

It's brilliant news and nice to have some good news at last

 

[Little Lady Katie]

Felix went into bmw for his repairs today!

Bmw had run out of the little 1 series cars they loan out as courtesy cars

...so I got given this bad-ass from Enterprise!


Why do they build such God awful ugly cars?!

It's an experience to drive around hehe!

Looking forward to getting Felix back