fotofreddy

So my new Racing Beat Spoiler arrived today - Since it comes unpainted, I need some advice-

I am new to the area I live in and don't know area body shops at all - I have had service work done at the local Mazda dealer- and have been happy - They have a body shop, would it be in my best intrest to have them do the painting and installation?

I know this is a very broad question, but to be honest I don't have a clue what I should do -

I also got the OEM front air dam - has anyone tried this installation themselves?

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks

LucasET

I would ask to see some of their work. The piece you have to be painted isn't very large, so the level of consistency is going to be greater. Most dealerships with a body shop do a pretty good job with painting. AND, you know they will be able to match the color
As for the front air dam, it should be an easy install if you have the instructions that should have come with it. Generally speaking, any of the OEM body parts are a pretty easy install.
Make sure you post pics when you get it done. I am thinking about this spoiler.
Where in Iowa are you??

fotofreddy

LucasET -

Thanks for the input- I'm in West Des Moines - Bought the car from Ramsey at the end of April- no issues with service- Just wasn't sure if they would be the best to paint and install- But you are right on color matching- When I started buying mods, I asked them about installing the front airdam- they quoted me $80, I think- I was looking at the OEM wing- they were going to charge $150 for that( installation)- but I really liked the RB spoiler, and I wanted somehing a little different - Thanks again- and I will post pics when it is done.

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

Done yet? :D

We need some pics!

LucasET

At first, my eyes nearly jumped out of my head when I saw how much they were charging for the installation of the spoiler. But, I suppose if your car didn't come with a spoiler, they'd have to drill the holes in your trunk lid=more labor. The good thing about the RB spoiler is that it mounts using the same holes as the oem spoiler. Again, with the front air dam, I would do that yourself. It isn't that hard, and there has to be a DIY somewhere on this site.

Good to know there are some other RX8s out here in Iowa. I've seen several here in Iowa City, but I don't think any of the owners are members of RX8Club, and there certainly aren't any yellows. If I'm ever in Des Moines and see a yellow RX8, I'll be sure to flag you down (you're probably the only one).

fotofreddy

Hope to get the spoiler painted and installed the first part of next week - they are charging $150.00 - to paint and install - which I found odd since they were going to charge me $150 to install an OEM wing which comes painted--....hmmmm. I'll post pics when it is finished.


Lucas- Actually, there are three yellows in DSM - I'll be the one with the RB spoiler. :D

mikeb

150.00 for paint and install is not too bad
I had a mazda dealer paint my mintnblue spoiler for 100

LucasET

That's amazing. I haven't seen a single one in I.C.

fotofreddy

Took my car in this morning - told it should be done tomorrow- will post pics on Wednesday!

Having them paint and install the RB spoiler, install OEM front air dam- and since they have the nose off - having them install the RB Oil Screens, and A/C screen. Everything for $300.

Costing me a little money- but to me it's worth the money, to cut down on any frustrations I might have dropping the nose off and getting it back on correctly by myself.

fotofreddy

Delayed- Just got a phone call from the dealer- won't be done until tomorrow afternoon- so I wonder what is taking so long- they told mee it should only take a day and a half...

RX-GR8

most dealers suck when it comes to time estimates. i can't wait to see it.

fotofreddy

just got it my car back- I think the RB spoiler looks great! ... I am back at work- I'll try and post pics when I get home tonight.

*edit -- I just looked a little closer - the spoiler is mounted slightly off center - I opened the trunk to look at how it was mounted- it appears they screwed up- mounted it once and moved it- I have an extra set of holes, that they tried to paint over... looking at it from the back, you can see it's about an 1/8 inch or less off center, it has a very slight overhang on the passenger side- I'll post pics soon, but in the meantime, what the heck should I do? Take it back and have them move it? Give me some of my money back - both? *****PISSED***

fotofreddy

So here are the pics- I love the overall look, but as you can tell it is not centered. Pic #1 is self explanatory - #2 - is on the driver side of the car - it is not flush with the trunk edge- #3- passanger side- slight over hang -- #4 - drilled holes in the wrong place and tried to cover it with some paint! So any suggestions? Do I demand a hole new trunk? My money back?

It isn't really noticable, when you drive by the car, walk around the car, etc. unless you are looking for it- but my issue- I paid good money for the spoiler, then paid good money to have it painted and installed by a body shop, and they had it for 2 and and half days! - I expected a better job.

RX-GR8

they screwed up. take it back and try to get a whole new lid. if not have them center it at least. the first try wasn't even close.

fotofreddy

RX-GR8 - Thanks for suggestion.. Anyone else? I am getting more pissed the more I think about it...

LucasET

You should go back and demand a new trunk lid and an explanation as to why they didn't tell you about the f-up in the first place. Won't those extra holes allow water to get into the trunk? They should be held accountable for their actions. If the spoiler came with instructions and they said they could paint and install it for you, then they are, from that point on, acccountable for the quality of the work. If it is sub-par, then you shouldn't have to pay for it. An 1/8th of an inch is enough for someone with a discerning eye to notice in a heartbeat, especially if he is looking seriously at buying that spoiler for his own car. If I saw a car with a spoiler mounted like that I'd thnk, "That guy/girl must be a tool, and clearly didn't take time mounting it." Not only does it reflect on the owner, it also reflects on Racing Beat. They are known for producing quality products, and I'm sure they wouldn't be too happy to see their product misrepresented. Hopefully the spoiler isn't messed up.
I'm sorry this happened. I'm actually pissed off on your behalf.

fotofreddy

OK - I just got back from the dealer... I walked in an asked the person who I had been dealing with if anybody did a quality check before my car was returned to me.. He said "Oh, you must be talking about the rear spoiler problem."

Here is their explanation: They took the mounting template that came with the spoiler, placed it on the trunk and drilled the holes. When they went to mount the spoiler it did not match. So they drilled new holes and got it as close as they could. They place the blame entirely on the faulty template from Racing Beat. "It is after all an after-maket part." I could not believe he said that.

He went on to tell me that the OEM Mazda wing template is made different, it goes from one side of the trunk to the other, and the Racing Beat template is laid out from the front of the trunk to the back, then flipped over and used on the other side.. He says they followed the directions to the letter, and it is not their fault.

As for the holes, he said they covered them with zinc oxide paint and then used normal body paint, so rust will not be a problem, and since the holes line up with the rain trough on the sides of the trunk, no water will get into the trunk.

He told me they can not move the spoiler over because of the way the holes are currently drilled. There is nothing really they can do, beecause it is an aftermarket part!

I do not blame Racing Beat at all, others have mounted this spoiler with no problems...

I AM REALLY PISSED! Any more thoughts what I can do now?

RX-GR8

yea tell him to take the trunk lid that he screwed up and shove it up his @ss! and demand a new one! and if he doesn't like that tell him you'll see him in court!

LucasET

After looking at your pics again, I'd say that's more than an 1/8th of an inch. WTF? Go higher up than the guy you talked to. Ask the service person if he has any clue who Racing Beat is. "It is, after all, an after-market part" is a complete cop out. Even if the template is off, the holes and spoiler could still be centered. I could have done that with a yard stick, a Sharpie, and some duct tape. Demand to know why you weren't made aware of their mistake when you picked up your car. He obviously knew about it. Bringing up the fact that you would recommend friends and family steer clear of that dealership in the future might help. One bad comment = ten good ones. They obviously didn't get it as close as they could...or it would have been in the right place. It always pisses me off when people say **** like that. My guess is that they didn't want to take more than the alloted time specified (for billing) and rushed things. "Measure twice, cut once" must not be something they follow. It's too bad there aren't more people with this spoiler (mounted correctly). You could just print out pictures of their cars and ask how they all got it right when the template is so messed up. If they were having problems, Racing Beat has a customer service #.
I guess what I would say is to keep asking to speak to somone higher up until the job gets taken care of properly. This is YOUR car. Some people might just blow it off as a lesson learned. But, if you're anything like me, your RX8 isn't just a car. To quote Jesse James, "A car isn't a means of getting from point A to point B. It IS the point." It's shitty when the people working on your car don't get that.
Those people are there to serve YOU. It's their job to make you happy so that you keep coming back. They have to be held accountable. I'd be persistent as Hell untill you're content.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I would definitely go back and have them re-do it.

Like you said: You paid good money and expected it done right.

Good luck.

fotofreddy

I just sent off an email to RB to see if they have any suggestions. I don't balme them at all, i am hoping they may have some suggestions.

All the blame goes to the incompetent service person who installed it on my car.

The Body Shop manager is out until next week, so I do not belive I will get any satisfaction until then.

I have the feeling that I am going to get screwed.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Why would you wait for the body shop manager? Surely someone is 'covering' for him while he is out of town. Talk to that person.
If not, find out who the body shop manager reports to, and speak with that person.

RX-GR8

the body shop manager reports to the body shop owner unless he is the owner. thats the person you want to talk to.

LucasET

The only way you'll get screwed is if you let them. That sounded wrong.

What I mean is, if you make a big enough stink and don't "let it go", they'll eventually do the job they were supposed to do. Try getting someone from Racing Beat to email or call the service guy and determine where they went wrong.

fotofreddy

Exchanged a number of emails with Jim at Racing Beat over the last couple of hours- he was helpful- I am headed back to the body shop this afternoon - I will not leave until they agree to fix the problem. I don't think they'll spring for a new trunk lid- but that is where I am going to start. It all boils down to incompetence- they should have pre-fitted before drilling like it said in the directions - I think my 13 year old would have enough sense to check and double check everything before drilling.