If you paid $4500 for a paint job what would you expect?

[that1mexguy]

heck man, i paid $3K for mine (custom job too) and it came out perfect! no dents, no nada!! i'd be b*tchin at them ALL day long, every day til it gets fixed.

[PXLpainter]

I've had several cars repaired over the years and have worked for/with several body & paint shops.

You have every right to have the car look showroom new. Even if that means they have to buff out the entire car to match the higher-quality paint on the repaired spot(s). That's what they're paid for - that's what you should expect in return.

Keep going back until its right - or threaten to report them for insurance fraud - that'll get their attention!

[JAYDEE23]

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=915802

[MCOjerry]

OK...read a lot of those posts. Sounds like the guy has a new car with bumpy paint. I don't get it??? Take it back to the dealership and make them fix it.

I don't have anything like that on my car, and never have on any new car I have owned. One shouldn't settle for crap like that, especially when cars cost so much.

[ProRally Codriver]

file insurance claim

take it to top shop in area (supposedly)

Insurance pays out $4500 for repairs ??

OK, I work as manager at 'the' top collision repair in DC area.
$4500 isn't out of line for the repair you list. Wondering which insurance company you filed with and were you referred to one of their direct repair shops or did you choose the shop yourself? Was there any supplemental estimates requested by the shop or approved by your insurance?

You'd know if you took to the 'supposedly top shop in area' by what makes of cars were prevelant on their lot, all high-end cars or a mix of high-end and econo cars.

get my car yesterday..orange peel everywhere..im friggin pissed..
drop it off again..wet sanded for 8+ hrs more supposedly
still minor to moderate orange in places

Never had a comeback for refinish that involved 8 hours wet-sanding. Only job I can think of in recent history with that many hours wetsanding was Aston Martin that got totally spooged on by tree sap.

so its going back again monday..here is my question...do i make keep wetsanding till i get factory finish over the whole car? i would assume so but i would like anyone that works in a body shop to chime in please

Without seeing in person or decent photos, difficult to say but you don't want to keep wet-sanding till you have no more clear-coat or buffing tillyou get squirls either.

car loks good no doubt but in bright sunlight from an angle my car does not have that smooth factory shine..

Now you are mentioning shine. You sure you have any clear-coat left? My guess is that first you had orange-peel, now you need more clear-coat.

Regarding have a 'factory finish', yes any shop with decent painters is no different than the painters who painted you car at the factory. Just like, with very few exceptions, there is no such thing as factory paint.

You have every right to have the car look showroom new. Even if that means they have to buff out the entire car to match the higher-quality paint on the repaired spot(s). That's what they're paid for - that's what you should expect in return.

BS. You filed an insurance claim, the insurance company wrote an estimate authorizing the shop to provide the repairs listed, nothing more. Never has an insurance company paid to buff an entire car because you have an existing crappy finish on your car. Instead, if its obvious your finish is going to be better due to non-related scatches or prior damage, they will add betterment for you to pay in addition to your deductable. In rare instances when something cannot be fixed properly, an insurance company may pay a 'beauty allowance'.

Keep going back until its right - or threaten to report them for insurance fraud - that'll get their attention!

Keep going back till you are satisfied but obvously there is no insurance fraud and mentioning such would make you look like an idiot. Just state and point out your concerns and ask for them to address them. Most shops and insurance companies have both guarantee and warranties (except rust) on their work and most parts. Bring it to your insurance companies attention if you aren't satisfied and they may send you to another shop and provide a supplemental estimate. We re-repair other shop's work for insurance companies a couple times every month.