Has anyone had any experience with those companies that claim to repair stone chips and scratches without the need for a bodyshop re-spray. Reason for my question as follows.

At work today a team of contractors were cutting the grass adjacent to the car park. I came out at lunch to find one of them had been using a ‘strimmer’ on the grass next to my car (the grass at soil level must have been contaninated with small stones swept up from the carpark when it snowed). Result, 24 stone chips along the drivers side of my car, front to back. Sizes ranging from 1mm to about 4mm diameter. Their contractors supervisor stated that he would get a full report and ‘Sort it out’. We will see over the next few days.

As you can imagine, I’m a little miffed to say the least. My FL2 is Three and a half years old and the paintwork is (was) as new, unmarked. So in case I am told to sort it myself and bill the contractor, I thought I would investigate all possible options.

Anyone have any experience of these repair companies?

Thanks,

Chris

24 Chips I'd have the whole door professionally sprayed and baked in a body shop especially if your not paying.

I’m not going to let them get away with it on the cheap. Courtesy car required as well if it goes into a body shop.

Speaking from experience, you had better justify everything expense wise or you'll end up out of pocket and I don't mean what seems reasonable to you, it has to be reasonable to everyone else including the cat.

In my line of work I have seen several cars that have used the likes of Chips Away etc & my oppinion is use a proper bodyshop as your paint won't dry properly out in the air & even if it did it would probably be contaminated with dust & that is without the rubbish finishes I have seen!!

Regarding strimmers, if I see one at the side of the road I speed up to get past as they are a b****y nuisance. I was driving a coach load of kids once up the M2 in Kent when they were strimming the central reservation & a stone flew up & smashed a large side window. (Past) Freelander 2 HSE 2010 MY In Rimini Red.
(Past) RR Evoque Dynamic Lux Si4 In Firenze Red.
(Past) RR Evouque Pure Tech in Barollo Black with bespoke Firenze Red colour coding.
(Present) Freelander Metropolis 2015 MY In Santorini Black with Ivory Premium Leather.

Executive Valeter wrote:

Regarding strimmers, if I see one at the side of the road I speed up to get past as they are a b****y nuisance. I was driving a coach load of kids once up the M2 in Kent when they were strimming the central reservation & a stone flew up & smashed a large side window.

Have you ever noticed that their vehicles are parked 300 yards away  I was only wrong once and thats when I thought I was but wasnt.

2010 Freelander 2 XS Stornaway Grey
2010 Aston DBS Morning Frost
2010 Bentley Continental Brooklands Green

if they have said they would pay then i would opt for a proper bodyshop and bake

for 24 chips you'll be looking at a repray and they sometimes don't get a great match these side of the road paint in all weather chaps Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I would agree that for 24 chips you need a respray.

you would have thought that after hearing the first few chips they would have stopped and/or asked for the car to be moved..................idiots !!

Iain

Quote:

I would agree that for 24 chips you need a respray

This is exactly how body shops can rip people off.Punters assume that cars cant be painted without an oven to 'bake' the paint . What a load of rubbish. Its all about the guy doing the repair. Ive had several repairs and scrapes done by a local 'chip' man.
The latest repair was to my daughters 2008 Polo which needed the drivers wing and door repainted. The colour is metallic black (the hardest colour to paint). The finished job is perfect and you cant tell its been done. The paint doesnt need to be baked on as these guys use infra red lights to make the paint go off. My daughters repair cost £140 In a bodyshop it would have been nearer £400
At the end of the day its down to the guy doing the job and a lot of these 'chips away' francises are regular guys who have been fast tracked to be capable of small repairs. They are not skilled - so beware and research first. You cant beat recommendations

My local bodyshop I use has a paintless dent guy go in there, an arogant sod but excellent in what he does.
Paintless dent guys are not the issue it's the smart paint repairers generally. (Past) Freelander 2 HSE 2010 MY In Rimini Red.
(Past) RR Evoque Dynamic Lux Si4 In Firenze Red.
(Past) RR Evouque Pure Tech in Barollo Black with bespoke Firenze Red colour coding.
(Present) Freelander Metropolis 2015 MY In Santorini Black with Ivory Premium Leather.

I recently had chips-away quote me almost £300 to repair a stonechip on the plastic just above the grille and a 3 inch scratch on a wheel arch. I found a local guy who has his own mobile business and he quoted me £110. Went with him and can honestly say he has done an absolutely brilliant job - you would never know the damage was ever there.

That proves my point precisely.
Its all about the man doing the job.Im sure that some 'chips away' are very good but i know the majority are fast tracked.
A good dent and scratch man is in demand and is used by all the main dealers so ask your local dealership who they use. Remember they ALL use them

My mate runs a paint repair firm from the back of his van, complete with a lap top to instruct him on how to mix up different paint colours on the spot, He is not working for a brand name franchise just independently serving many dealers in the Harrogate area. Also he has set up some ovens in his garden shed to bake wheels after paint repairs.
He has smart repaired a great number of brand new cars (some very pricey ones) without the customer ever noticing

He sprayed the bumper corner on my car expertly and cheaply  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Dead right chicken george And the guy who does my cars also does top marques as well And i mean Ferrari etc etc