Car damaged significantly by garage-help pretty pls

imi1978

Hi

am a little stressed or more to the point livid. I have only recently purchased a BMW 2008 after saving up alot. but 6 weeks after it developed a problem with the diesel particle filter. This costs £1500 to replace, after alot of research and going on forums for advice i decided to get this part removed all together which is also feasible at the cost of £600. Anyway to cut a long story short the nearest "reputable" company was in London. I contacted them and they were quite helpful and said they would come and collect my car from the midlands and return it back to me the next day. Anyway they came approx 7pm collected car and delivered it back 10pm next day. The odd thing was i thought they would pick it up in a big truck but they just came down in an extra car and someone got out, they gave me a bit of paper about collection. Anyway i paid the guy who came to deliver the car at 10pm in the night the day after
The drama started when in the morning when it was daylight, i thought the cars dirty because it has been driven to london and back so i took it for a wash. After which i thought the car wash ppl did a bad job as alot of the white bits were still on the front of the car. So i took it home to clean it myself only to realise: the white bits were chips all over the bonnet on my black car along with

1-smashed front number plate
2-chips to bodywork esp thoughout the entire front car bonnet/bumper/side panel
3-scratches over bonnet and car wing
4-Numerous chips all over windscreen
5-unlocked bonnett-this was noted the night when the car was delivered and i had to shut this properly myself.
6-smoking in car-ash all over ashtray, notable tobbaco odour in car

Ive contacted these ppl but due to the bank holiday ive had no response, ive also emailed them with 26 pics of the damage to the car

I really am quite livid about the entire thing
I am pretty certain that the damage has been done by "boy racer" style driving either when the car was driven to or from London.
Am concerned that there gonna deny all knowledgeand its gonna be my word against theres. But if thats the case i will take it to small claims court.
I have had mates look at the car who categorically state that this kinda damage cannot be done by driving at 30mph. Since ive had the car for 2 months i have never taken in on the motorway yet.Im a female driver that has never taken it beyond 40mph

Everytime i see the state of my car i physically feel sick. Its come back in a "wrecked" state, Im disguisted that some one can have very little respect for someone elses property esp when there offering a repair service
I am adamant that i will certainly not allow the car out of the midlands for repairs, considering my experience so far

Any input or similar experience appreciated.

Strider590

imi1978 wrote: »

I am pretty certain that the damage has been done by "boy racer" style driving either when the car was driven to or from London.

I would agree with this, tis why nobody drives my cars but me.... And my Westfield had a rev limiter fitted for when it was left at MOT stations.... Try thrashing a car that's limited to 1000 rpm

Keep an eye out for your post, if you get a NIP for speeding in/near London, then you've got these morons by the balls.

I'm not sure what else to say, it's going to be hard to prove

Hammyman

Even boy racer style driving wouldn't put lots of chips like that on the bumper. My car DOES have lots of chips like that on the front end - FROM 152,000 miles of motoring.

Are you sure you got the same car back you sent? I'd be checking chassis and engine numbers personally.

imi1978

Hammyman wrote: »

Even boy racer style driving wouldn't put lots of chips like that on the bumper. My car DOES have lots of chips like that on the front end - FROM 152,000 miles of motoring.

Are you sure you got the same car back you sent? I'd be checking chassis and engine numbers personally.

i genuinely didnt even consider that for a split second????
the chips are over the front bonnet and front bumper. the back is fine

Thanks for the heads up i shall check or get someone who knows more than me!

imi1978

Is it worth reporting to the police or would i just be told its not a criminal offence as i gave them my car?

spiro

Normally you and the garage should have collected the car and agreed any damage (chips etc). You should then have done the same when it was returned to ensure there was no new damage. Its the same process as when you hire a car. By the sound of it you didnt do this so unfortunately you legally dont have a leg to stand on becauise you cant prove (in a court of law) when the damage occured.

If you didnt see any damage before you had it washed it could have been damaged in the car wash.