Benji
Well-known member
Keeping the stock colour, just looks frankenstein now as the original bonnet and bumper needed too much work. They say it will take 2 weeks, I am not holding my breath...
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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
E39 540i Manual project
- Thread starter Benji
- Start date
Who is doing the paintwork?
Benji
Well-known member
Auto Lounge in Centurion who previously did the work in the M5, however I am a bit apprehensive as they have had a change in owners in the meanwhile
FISAACS
Member
Hi Benji, how's the paint work coming along?
Benji
Well-known member
Frustrating update. I decided to collect my car from The Auto Lounge as it was becoming very clear that they were not going to meet my expectations. There are not enough rude words in the English dictionary to describe their horrendous service, dismal attention to detail, non-existent courtesy and general apathy to life. I am disappointed and heartbroken to see my baby in this state.
What should have been a quick 10k repaint for the front of the car has now become a full body repaint - god only knows why they decided to sand my rear quarters. F_ckwads. It also looks like one of their staff has a particular hatred for gearknobs for which they obviously refused to take any responsibility for.
So the car will now be going in to someone else to fix this shitshow at 3 x the initial budgeted cost! Luckily its Januworry.
Anyway, I do have this little pile of sunshine to sooth the pain and keep me distracted for the foreseeable future
Country of origin for the top mounts is a little concerning tho...
What should have been a quick 10k repaint for the front of the car has now become a full body repaint - god only knows why they decided to sand my rear quarters. F_ckwads. It also looks like one of their staff has a particular hatred for gearknobs for which they obviously refused to take any responsibility for.
So the car will now be going in to someone else to fix this shitshow at 3 x the initial budgeted cost! Luckily its Januworry.
Anyway, I do have this little pile of sunshine to sooth the pain and keep me distracted for the foreseeable future
Country of origin for the top mounts is a little concerning tho...
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Sabretooth tiger
///Member
Sorry to hear Benji. It seems there are almost no reputable panelbeaters left. All the best with the journey ahead.
gordanfreeman509
Member
Oh no! Is that the same gear knob that was brand new in December? ðŸ˜
FISAACS
Member
Sorry bro, that's really expensively disappointing.Frustrating update. I decided to collect my car from The Auto Lounge as it was becoming very clear that they were not going to meet my expectations. There are not enough rude works in the English dictionary to describe their horrendous service, dismal attention to detail, non-existent courtesy and general apathy to life. I am disappointed and heartbroken to see my baby in this state.
View attachment 20272View attachment 20273View attachment 20274View attachment 20275
What should have been a quick 10k repaint for the front of the car has now become a full body repaint - god only knows why they decided to sand my rear quarters. Fuckwads. It also looks like one of their staff has a particular hatred for gearknobs for which they obviously refused to take any responsibility for.
View attachment 20276
So the car will now be going in to someone else to fix this shitshow at 3 x the initial budgeted cost! Luckily its Januworry.
Anyway, I do have this little pile of sunshine to sooth the pain and keep me distracted for the foreseeable future
View attachment 20277
Country of origin for the top mounts is a little concerning tho...
View attachment 20278
My e39s suspension components I ordered from BMW and those Lemforder parts are still manufactured in Germany.
For my e92s respray I'm considering going with a BMW ARC and biting the bullet as far as the costs are concerned. Does mean that I do have to postpone for a while as to save for the charges.... To respray a primed just a front bumper, both front fenders and a boot spoiler I was quoted R15k. That's just to respray parts that will be handed to the ARC directly from the parts department.
I have no idea what they'll (ARC) charge for a complete respray but that's the way that I'm thinking of going as I don't trust any other panel beating shop.
Maybe the fanatics should all club together for a proper shop. We then employ the right people and are assured of excellent work when we need work done on our own cars.
Benji
Well-known member
No I have that in my garage, this one was a bit tired, but definitely serviceable and worth something to the right person as they are R3500 from BMW...
Yes all the parts were made in Germany except for the strut mounts...no prize for guessing which one will fail first
It seems there are one or 2 good shops out in Vereeniging, but its just such a schlep to trek all the way out there to inspect the car, drop it off, collect etc etcI have found a small shop down the road from me, owned by a petrolhead who is directly involved in the daily running of the shop and who has a crystal clear understanding of the level of quality I require. Here is to hoping...
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Benji
Well-known member
Actually the first time I noticed it, the leather was hanging off the knob. I confronted them and they immediately denied any wrong doing. When I went back there, the leather was gone and there was that cable tie on the knob saying thats how they found it and they refused to take any responsibility for it. Im pretty sure my face was the colour of a tomato at that point and I was probably looking like a bit of a fool to a casual observer...That sucks man.... How on earth do fkup a gear knop like that? Mf probably wanted to steal it and couldn't figure out how to take it off?
Anyway at least we know now that frozen ruby is a hot colour!
Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk
gordanfreeman509
Member
Atleast it wasn't the new one! That doesn't change the fact of how unacceptable it is for them to treat it like that
That's a lot of money's worth of damage done to the gearknob alone. Sorry man let's hope the new shop is amazing to make up for how terrible this one was.
That's like 3 times the price of a ZHP knob, granted I haven't bought one in about 7 years so who knows what they go for now. I'm sure you do though
Demontec
Well-known member
Auto Lounge is under new ownership since last year sometime, workmanship and service has been on a steady decline since.
Had my vehicle there over November/December last year and had to inspect and rectify on 4 occasions!
Wasn't another car (E34) of yours there previously which you weren't happy with?
Had my vehicle there over November/December last year and had to inspect and rectify on 4 occasions!
Wasn't another car (E34) of yours there previously which you weren't happy with?
Benji
Well-known member
Yes, they did the E34 M5 and while there was some back and forth, failed inspections and had to return the car to repaint the bonnet as there was some weird reaction a few months later; they ALWAYS owned their mistakes, tried to be better and provide a job that was to my admittedly high expectations. Their workshop manager was also very communicative, friendly and sent frequent updates. He has since left due to "incompatible work ethics"
The lady customers have to deal with now - Cindy - is an utter cow. She will not send you pictures of your own car. Once, after incessant begging, she sent pictures taken on a rubbish device, showing absolutely nothing. So about as useless as she is TBF.
Benji
Well-known member
Went to inspect my baby yesterday...we are getting close. What was supposed to be a front end respray has become a full body repaint, excluding the roof. I am quietly optimistic. It has been 5 months without this car; I have forgotten what makes an E39 special, but have really been enjoying the extra parking space at home
FISAACS
Member
Excitingly looking forward to seeing this car in person once complete.Went to inspect my baby yesterday...we are getting close. What was supposed to be a front end respray has become a full body repaint, excluding the roof. I am quietly optimistic. It has been 5 months without this car; I have forgotten what makes an E39 special, but have really been enjoying the extra parking space at home
View attachment 21229
Still to do the suspension after the respray, Benji?
How many sleeps until the job is fully complete bro?
I feel you on missing the e39 , it really gets into your soul. Been without mine since June last year and still no definite date of completion 😔
Benji
Well-known member
Finally collected the 540 from the paint shop. Fair to say, things went a bit south. The owner was in process of selling the paint shop and my car was his last project there with predictable loss of interest from him. He gave up on the car halfway and asked me to come fetch it at no charge. I insisted he at least try finish the car to which he said "manage your expectations". Sleepless nights ensued. Eventually on collection day, the owner said "I dont care if you are happy or not, you are taking the car today. I dont care if you pay me or not." We agreed on a reduced price and the car is back home after a 6 month absence!
I did decide to paint the roof of the car as this had weirdly been painted before and it was showing its age against the rest of the car. Overall I am about 80% happy with the job done, I have a lot of work ahead of me trying to fix some imperfections (dust nibs, overspray etc) and trying to find acceptance in my soul for some ripples and color imperfections. In fairness, this is a hard color to paint (it shows every imperfection) and the paintshop have righted their wrongs where they could.
I am being unnecessarily meticulous as usual, restoring/cleaning everything that can be cleaned, or replacing with new
After a weekends graft:
My SO has been notified of my limited availability over the next couple of weeks...
I did decide to paint the roof of the car as this had weirdly been painted before and it was showing its age against the rest of the car. Overall I am about 80% happy with the job done, I have a lot of work ahead of me trying to fix some imperfections (dust nibs, overspray etc) and trying to find acceptance in my soul for some ripples and color imperfections. In fairness, this is a hard color to paint (it shows every imperfection) and the paintshop have righted their wrongs where they could.
I am being unnecessarily meticulous as usual, restoring/cleaning everything that can be cleaned, or replacing with new
After a weekends graft:
My SO has been notified of my limited availability over the next couple of weeks...
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