New OBC reads PPPPPPP..?

[Moto-Mucci]

Any idea what they did to kill the heat? It worked before, even after the break in with the controls hanging.

I was thinking maybe the installation of a crap temp knob not sending the correct temp information??

[hendrixvodu]

Quoted me $1200 for a stock radio. Fuck that. Like I've got a briefcase full of cassettes I can't wait to jam out to.

hahahhahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AHAHAH


clearly they want you to keep the car period correct...tell them your cell was stolen also....they should send you a replacement

cellular telephone _-$1253.06

[Moto-Mucci]

Classic.

[Moto-Mucci]

"Hi Josh,

I picked up my car (89 BMW) yesterday from the Progressive Service Shop. In short, I'm not happy at all.

There are numerous issues with the "repairs." I'll list everything below:

1. There's no heat. I don't understand how this could have been over looked by both the repair shop and Progressive's analysis of the repairs. With the temp knob and fan at it's highest setting - the warmest it gets is comparable to someone breathing on you from a distance. The temperature knob and fan knobs worked fully, and blew hot heat even AFTER the break in, when they were hanging down.

2. The floor vent selection slider doesn't work. Again, how is this overlooked? Since there is no radio, I'm actually able to look inside and see it not working. The selector is supposed to slide over and pull a cable, opening or closing the vent - much like a bicycle brake lever. The slider slides half way, then hits a notch, and you have to force it over. Even though you are able to force it all the way over - it doesn't fully release the cable. It only half way releases the cable to the floor vent - which means there is VERY minimal air flow to the floor. Sticking your hand down there, you're only able to feel the air on the highest fan setting.

3. The dented window trim from where the thief pried the window with something, wasn't fixed. I talked to a progressive representative at the repair shop about this, and he said they "couldn't find a replacement part but it is marked as fixed so they probably heated it up and bent it back." They didn't touch it.

4. The stock temperature knob was replaced with a different knob. The previous knob didn't have a numerical read out.

5. The pieces are very ill-fitting. The over-all panel sticks out more on one side then the other. Smaller panels within the large one don't fit flush, and it even looks like they trimmed part of the original surrounding panel to get it to fit.

6. The "On Board Computer" doesn't work. This unit is supposed to read the time, Avg. MPG, Gas amount, MPH limiter, Miles left in the tank, etc etc - the only thing that works is the clock. The computer isn't getting any read outs from any of the functions that require a read from a sensor. Again, makes me wonder if anyone actually looked over the repairs.

7. Parts that didn't need to be replaced, were replaced with cheaper, poor/non functioning parts. I would question Cosmetic Auto Trim's practices if I were you. Not only are they replacing parts that were previously functioning, but they are replacing them with cheaper parts and charging ridiculously high prices for them.

Some of these issues may seem minuscule to some, but I bought the car with the intention of fully restoring it as a show car, and because the previous owner kept it in immaculate condition, being 20 years old. The lack of care in the repair job is so obvious from the outside, it makes me scared to open things up and assess the damage from within. The shop apparently removed the entire dash and center console, because they didn't put my e-brake back correctly either.

I don't want these parts in the car. And I don't want Cosmetic Auto Trim touching the car anymore. I'd like all the old parts, that were removed, back. And I'd like the money for the repairs so I can bring the car to someone who knows BMW's, and will take better care of my car. I'm going to get a quote from a BMW dealership for any additional damage assessed also. The shop had the car for 3 weeks and returned it functioning poorer then it was when I gave it to them. I'll gladly dissemble the dash and send the parts back. Having worked in an auto body shop for several years, I'm capable of doing this myself. In fact I regret not doing the repairs myself in the first place. I wasn't aware this job was going to take 3 weeks until it was already too late. The parts apparently took 2 weeks to get there - while my car was sitting in the lot, untouched, I had to pay for public transit for 2 weeks.

I'm very unhappy with how this whole event went down. You can e-mail me back any time, or call me after work hours (6pm), to discuss this.

- David Mucci"

[BrewCity11]

Very nice, I like it David. Let's hope he comes back with good news. If not, fire back again until he does.

[accident]

subscribed

[Moto-Mucci]

So I called the repairs shop manager at Progressive and left a voicemail.

I later get a call back from some guy named John...not who I left a message. This guy is clearly their dirty work go to guy. He's pulling all kinds of bullshit out his ass - saying that the car blasted heat when he looked it over, and the dented window trim cant be replaced because its a discontinued part.

He also said that hes sending me a form to fill out to write down all the things i want to have checked - and then i am to bring the car to a dealership and get them to check everything out - where they will "assess whether the non functioning parts are the fault of progressive or not" and if they are deemed not at their fault I am to pay for the tear down and analysis.

This is such bullshit. He claims that there are a number of reasons for the heat to stop working and most of the reasons have to do with parts of the car they didn't touch during the repair - thus, i am to pay for the heat repair. Even though the heat worked even when the controls were dangling from the dash when i handed it over to them.

And although the dealership is going to assess why the OBC and vent sliders don't work....by tearing down the dash, i have to pay for it if they deem anything not at progressives fault. How are non functioning BRAND NEW parts not their fault? The heat blasted red hot for the past 5 months ive owned the car, up until the day i left it with them, and within the 3 weeks they had it it suddenly stops working, AND IM TO BLAME!!??

I need some legal advice here - this guys a fucking hard ass and isn't going to sway just by me yelling at him without some sort of legal reprocussions.

Im so fucking heated right now.

[Moto-Mucci]

So I got one of those "How'd we do on your claim?" automatic e-mail surveys.

I wasn't very nice on it.

I also said I was writing a letter to the Illinois Department of Insurance. I got a call back the next day from the Enforcer I talked to previous. Being overly nice - he explained to me that they just found a donor door to source new window trim from, and that they have just decided to pay for an hour of diagnosis at a dealer. Any problems that are deemed their fault they will pay the dealer to fix then and there.

That's more like it.

Oh, and to anyone that has that OBC problem - the battery just needed to be disconnected to refresh the unit.

[BrewCity11]

Any idea what they did to kill the heat? It worked before, even after the break in with the controls hanging.

I was thinking maybe the installation of a crap temp knob not sending the correct temp information??

If you have a bentley, check out the temperature knob adjustment. I have a heat problem, and am hoping that's what it is cause i can feel the heater core is hot as hell.

[Moto-Mucci]

Oh shit, you can adjust it? That's got to be it. The heat worked fine until they replaced the knob. Thanks man, good looking out.

[UmmYeahOk]

I can see everything they did. There's no radio installed. I can see the shitty heat controls not working correctly.

You should see the parts list and how much they apparently paid for the parts.
Hazard button - $75
OBC $900+
Quoted me $1200 for a stock radio. Fuck that. Like I've got a briefcase full of cassettes I can't wait to jam out to.

Wow you got freaking ripped, I hope your insurance didn't go up, nor did you need to pay a deductible.

OBC is 40 - 60 bucks on the salvage yard market, 25 bucks on the private market, shit I have a box of Hazard buttons.

They do that for a reason. If somethings stolen or wrecked, you want the parts to be new OEM parts. Not some scrapyard findings. All insurance companies quote you that. They cant determined the value of the broken piece as they dont know what it was like before the incident.

Yea, I realize that now. I've never actually made an ins claim that didn't end up in the car being totaled (2 vws), so I got hosed.

Im actually quite surprised they didnt total your car $2175 for just those pieces you told me, not other parts or labor. How much was the deductible?

hahahhahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AHAHAH


clearly they want you to keep the car period correct...tell them your cell was stolen also....they should send you a replacement

cellular telephone _-$1253.06

Again, OEM is the way to go


The way it works is they quote you for brand new OEM parts, and they write you a check for that amount. You take it to a shop of your choice and they use used parts from a junk yard. If theyre a good shop you may come out a head and only charge you what it cost them. If theyre a bad shop, they'll charge you for new parts, and somehow the labor costs more than what the insuranc company gave you.

This is why progressive wants you to use them. Their customers avoid both scenarios. They should still know what theyre doing though. There are so many electronic dodads in vehicles now that its rare that any vehicle they fix wont have some electronic part to mess with (air bags, distance sensors, OnStar equip. etc.)

[StereoInstaller1]

To anyone reading this thread: If you have "comp" or whatever to cover theft: only accept a check from your insurance company. Do NOT let anyone fix your issues, as likely as not they will fuck you car up.

Get a check, fix it yourself, end of story.

You will likely need to get 3 estimates. Your check will likely be made out to you and the shop that made the winning bid. You will need to get them to sign off on the check so you can cash it.

Make a deal before you get the check to pay that shop for their time in writing the estimate. Expect 10% to 20% to be fair, maybe as high as 25%.

Remember, you pay the insurance bill. The ball is in your court if you want it to be, the law is on your side.

GL!

Luke

[Moto-Mucci]

To anyone reading this thread: If you have "comp" or whatever to cover theft: only accept a check from your insurance company. Do NOT let anyone fix your issues, as likely as not they will fuck you car up.

Get a check, fix it yourself, end of story.

You will likely need to get 3 estimates. Your check will likely be made out to you and the shop that made the winning bid. You will need to get them to sign off on the check so you can cash it.

Make a deal before you get the check to pay that shop for their time in writing the estimate. Expect 10% to 20% to be fair, maybe as high as 25%.

Remember, you pay the insurance bill. The ball is in your court if you want it to be, the law is on your side.

GL!

Luke

Just to reiterate that point I'll post it again.

[StereoInstaller1]

Just to reiterate that point I'll post it again.

As you have had experience in a body shop, I bet this really is not news to you, but if your life is busy...well, shit happens.

[Moto-Mucci]

Yea, I really should have known better having worked on the shop end of Ins claims before. i just wasn't thinking. When they said "we'll take the car in and get everything fixed here" I defaulted to the "ok that sounds good" answer.

It was partially because Progressive in MA is one of the easiest companies to work with from the shop side. They're understanding - and even though they try to low ball your work at first (like all of them) they're accepting to the "thats going to cost more" response. They also took european cars to our european shop and sent the J and A-specs to diff shops.

That was why I chose them here in IL, and why I trusted them with my car. Won't make that mistake again.