How/where to fix up car before handing back to finance

ZiggerZagger

In the course of my divorce, I was left with the 2011 BMW 530d. It still has some finance owing on it (PCP with a balloon payment - not taken out by me but all transferred into my name). I have spoken to the finance company/garage about handing it back as it only has a year left and this is an option.


The only issue is that the car has sustained a bit of damage that will need fixing first otherwise the garage will charge me for it.


When I got divorced, the car insurance was not in my name. I had to start it all over again and lost 12 years of no claims bonus and had to pay a huge premium. So there is no point claiming on insurance for any damage as the payment I will get outweighs the fact that I would have to start no claims all over again.


The damage is as follows:
1. bit of body work damage (hail stones on the roof) - I am guessing I just get a body work quote for this
2. a long scratch to the interior (sort of shiny silver bit in front of the passenger seat) - I have no clue how to get this done. Am hoping it doesn't need a new panel but not sure who to ask to look at this?
3. alloy wheels - scuffs that need fixing (I know there are places I can take it to to get this done, I see Halfords do them etc.)
4. One of the internal grates on one of the fans (that blow into the car) has collapsed so I need to get that fixed


The bloke at the BMW garage said it basically isn't worth taking it to them for body work/wheels because they will charge a fortune for it all and I might as well try and get it done independently. But I'm also concerned that I might end up with sub standard parts or a job not done great and then I'm a bit stuffed.

Given I work full time, long commute and have 2 kids at home (no new partner!), I have so so little time to shop around and get quotes and I only really have Saturdays to go and see the garage and that's the day the kids play sport so the window I have to sort this out is tiny.


Do you think it is sensible to ask the BMW garage to look at the internal bits (the scratch and the fan grate) and get a body shop/wheels quote from elsewhere? Or is it likely I'll find someone who can do all of it....

forgotmyname

Yes BMW will charge a fortune, But when they get the car and inspect it any work thats not upto standard will be spotted and they may bill you to do the job properly.

There have been a fair few posts about Mercedes being really strict on this. Although one of them claimed the work was sunstandard yet done by a main dealer.

ZiggerZagger

Thanks that's what I was concerned about. I haven't had a quote from BMW yet to fix it all (I asked for one when it was in for its last service but they didn't give one because they actually advised me to get the work done elsewhere!).

=rizla=

If the paints not been damaged then what about dent master?, I know they come to you, I've never used them so have no idea what they charge.


With the alloy wheels, I think a lot of the specialists offer loan wheels while they are doing your's.

ZiggerZagger

thanks rizla. I am not sure how easy it is to get hailstone bumps out (there are quite a lot though tbh, I didn't notice them until it was pointed out to me!)


the wheels I think I can get sorted - the rest of it I wonder if I should just get a BMW quote and then work from there. Ultimately, they are going to charge me for it if I return it undone so they might as well tell me how much they'd take off or at least quote me for it....


sigh...

tberry6686

Don't send it to a main dealer - the price will make your eyes water and will be no better than any decent garage/body shop will do.

Get the wheels refurbed - should cost around £3-400 for a good job.

What are hailstone bumps ? If these are what they sound like then how thin is the metal in the roof ? Unless you have been in a place that has had hailstones the size of golf balls then they should not have caused any damage. If it is normal hailstones then I would be strongly arguing fair wear and tear - no way should normal hailstones damage a car roof.

ZiggerZagger

Thanks. I'll try and take a picture today (I assume I can post them on here). It was a big hailstorm - but I didn't notice the damage, the garage pointed it out to me when it had its service.

maxmycardagain

Did you know all of this when agreeing to the lease transfer?

colino

Find your nearest, recommended SMART repairer who has all the packages (bodywork, interior, wheels) and get a full quote on getting the car as new. Source a replacement air vent grill from ebay and wait until you know you are handing it back before getting this all done. Then compare that tally to what BMW will want for delap. Make no mistake, if you get it done badly you will be hammered for it as they know they have to repair what they can see, but will assume more repairs are also needed from such an uncaring keeper. I'd certainly be trying to hang on to such a great car, but needs must.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Wheel refurb is easy enough, the interior damage might need the help of a specialist retrimmer though the collapsed vent shouldn't be too expensive new assuming you can buy it seperately.

The bodywork is a thorny issue and it will take a good bodyshop to sort the roof out to the satisfaction of the makers inspection team.

A good bodyshop will also sort the other issues for you too and it might be easier though slightly more expensive to let them do it all.

There is no way you'll sort all this out on a saturday, they'll probably need the car for a week but for a cash customer will probably supply you with a small courtesy car whilst the job's are being done.

Could be worth asking the BMW garage on the qt who they use for bodywork and approach them directly.

ZiggerZagger

maxmycardagain wrote: »

Did you know all of this when agreeing to the lease transfer?

Well it's a tough one. I knew about the scratch and the vent. The problem was either way, I had to have the car to ferry around the kids. Ex-h is claiming he has no money anyway so tbh, it will cost me more in legal fees to get this off him than just sort it out myself. If you see me on these boards at any stage talking about getting together with another man, slap me around the face with a wet kipper please


colino - it is a great car and I'm not ending the lease for money reasons. I have a problem with my hip and I'm really struggling to get in and out of it. The old 5 series is quite low slung and it's causing me problems. If this all turns out to be too expensive, I can hang on to it for another year but I'm just delaying a problem I have to fix in 12 months time anyway.


gilbert - this BMW garage has its own body shop (it's quite a big garage) so I could ask them and just get the wheels done elsewhere


I have a feeling this is going to end up stupidly expensive