Not sure where to start ... I did a little research and called about 3 or 4 body shops. All but 1 gave me quotes of $ 7-800 for painting/fitting. The last shop I called quoted me $1800. I asked why and he told me not many other shops sand/prime and paint with multiple coats of clear, he said they just use sealer.
He also said he has lots of experience with kit installs. I went and checked out the shop and it looked busy (this is good-i thought).

I wont name the shop right now but I ended up going with the $1800, you get what you pay for, right?

I dropped off my car and a 4 piece body kit, picked it up about 12 days later. Let me say that I was out of town and never got a chance to look at the ongoing work, but I was ensured that it looked good and everything was going well.

Well, for what I paid, I didn't get what I expected. The paint looked good except for a lump on the front bumper, looks like the guy forgot to sand the bondo he put on. . . .

Where the back bumper meets the rear fender well - it bulges a bit and i can push it in. The side skirts.......First off they were drilled in with some kind of screws, right into the chassis - they didnt ask me about this. Also where they meet the body there are huge gaps, my finger slides right in. The front bumper is the worst. Where the side marker clips under the headlight theres a 1/4 inch gap, I can look in and see that the fiberglass is cracked. Huge gap between hood and bumper but I think thats just how the kit was made.

I didnt notice some of that until I had already paid and gotten back to the house. I have not called them back to report any of this, I did just send an email though.

My question is - Should I go back to them and ask them to fix it? Or just find someone else.

I'm not sure if I'd feel good about that place even if they offered to fix it. I'll talk to them tomorrow and update the thread.

I wish I could post pictures for you guys - Sorry i'm out of town again. Ill try to get my bro to go over and email me some.

 

Sorry, man I have heard this story far too many times. never use a body shop unless you have seen their work or unless they come highly recommended by a trustworthy source. Also, you have to make sure they have experience with custom work.

Reminds me of this................

http://my350z.com/forum/the-lounge-o...0z-ruined.html

 

i would already be in jail........

 

pics?

and im sorry to hear that. definitely go back and have them fix it. be nice and civil.

and if that doesnt work, man, thats a tough road.

 

Definitely go back and tell them to fix it. Take pictures and date them. You spent your good hard earned money with them. They should make good on their work. The guy even said he would be doing a top quality job. Talk to him directly. Chances are he may not have even seen your car and will rip his team a new one for the crappy quality.

 

Yea that Z story kills me.

Mines not nearly that bad though, theres only 3 screws in each of the skirts, shouldnt be too hard to fix the gaps. But you guys probably know what a pita area it is where the side marker fits in. From what I hear thats the worst are for most bumpers.

The only place I could find recommendations for shops in my area was on a honda forum, maybe that was my mistake lol

 

Ah Im glad you brought that up, On the phone he was telling me he was going back to the paint booth while his guys were installing it. He walked me out to my car and I showed him a bunch of tape residue still on my car. I was so excited to have it back I guess I didnt notice the shoddy work. It's a full Vertex kit btw.

Ill try to get some pics up tomorrow

 

omfg

 

But after much more money, the Z was fixed

 

is that the same z?

 

I learned my lesson.. Next time DONT pay until you go over the work with a fine tooth comb. If they don't have the cash they have much more pressure to fix the work. Go back there tommorrow and flip out on them.. They promised you a result and it turned out like crap. 1800 is up there for a bodykit fit and paint. I'd even consider taking them to small claims court if they say they can't fix it.

 

Yea, I messed up, I shouldnt have paid. Bad thing is I wont be home to the 25 or so.

 

Yep, same Z, but faaaawkkkk......what an ordeal!..

 

I just talked to the guy who did the work. He said you can never get an aftermarket kit to fit 100%... He also said the only way to fasten a side skirt is with screws. Also He didn't understand why I wasn't happy and i could bring it back and he could "try" to fix it. I don't think i'll be bringing it back there though...

Here are some pictures, lemme know if you think i'm being too picky.

 

 

fitment isnt that bad, especially after you scrape a bit, but those screws in the side skirt gotta be fixed...btw nice 8!

 

Wow... Yea your being a little picky I think. The paint match looks great and those corners look pretty damn flush to me. The screws in the side skirts are definitely unacceptable though. If there's runs or bubbles in the paint make them fix that for sure too. Overall looks good though

 

I don't have any complaints about the paint. I didn't think the corners looked very good. The last picture is the one that gets me, the bumper is cracked. In person it looks worse.

 

oh...my...god

 

dude it could be worse, much worse

 

^^^ yeah i could be worse

my sideskrits have bubbles

 

**** that, for $1800.00 that **** should be perfect. You guys are crazy, that is unacceptable. Any body shop worth their salt should be able to mount it perfectly, if not then they don't know what they are doing. Amazes me that you guys don think it's that bad.

There are plenty of Vertex kits that look perfect. Never, ever, pay up front.

 

Agreed. When you're paying a body shop to custom fit your kit and paint they should be bondo ing, shaving and spacing all the gaps so they are flush and consistent. It should be better than OEM at that price.

 

+1 with 9k, absolutely no reason is shouldn't look amazing for $1800!

That gap below the headlights is what bothers me the most, did you have to remove the bumper beam to install this piece?

 

I have a question. Is this an authentic Vertex kit or a replica?

I aggree that the screw is unacceptable, but alot may rest with my question.