Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

MOT passed second time.

It's possible our cars have met, mine lived in Bolton for a couple of years and was serviced by Hartech (including something fairly major to the top end that included new cam shafts).

At last my car is finally finished and ready for me to collect. I would post a pic but the forum won't let me (not a size issue I don't think, it just says I can't).

I was so tempted to get the car this weekend but the Yorkshire got the better of me and I couldn't face paying a months tax for only a few days. Hopefully I'll be collecting it on Wednesday then it'll be in for a service and a few other bits. As such I think this bodywork thread has come to an end

looks absolutely fantastic. out of interest, and i know its cheeky, but what did the work cost inc respray?( you can pm me instead of putting it on the forum)
the reason i ask is that mine is going to have something similar and ive talked to a bodyshop, but i have a feeling in my water that i dont trust them. they are asking for the car, a 50% deposit up front and then the remainder on collection. ive told them i want it done by april, but me being the cautious type, if they have my car, a grand or so upfront then they can take as long as they want. ive heard of bodyshops doing this with taking deposits and the cars, not doing the work at all and then the business folding.

many thanks,
Al.

Hi Al. For all the bodywork repairs and glass out respray it was £4K (inc. vat). On top of that I bought new decals and stone guards, new 944S2 badge and some new seals. I also paid extra for the bodyshop to remove and replace the brakes, and also £35 for the MOT (though he didn't charge me for repairs to the indicator).

I've no idea if this is a good price or not, it was on the top end of what I was expecting for the work but not more. I saw someone else on here say they paid £800 for four corners and paint, so it's clear there can be a wide range of possible prices. I'm hoping I've paid for a quality job and not been ripped off, time will tell I suppose. At least the car is now the right shape (a previous repair to the sill/arch area left the trim not fitting - now it fits perfectly) and all one colour, with (to my eyes at least) a lovely finish, with a nice shine from three coats of clear coat. I'm no expert though, having never had anything like this done before, but it looks good to me, certainly better than it did and hopefully it will be good now for at least ten years maybe more.

Regarding the deposit, I also had to pay one (although only 25%). It went against my better judgement to pay this but I had struggled to find anyone else willing to take on the work and with the experience to do it. I felt that it was probably quite common that people book their cars in for a lot of bodywork and then decide when it's done that they don't want to pay anymore. But really I don't agree with this, I didn't have much choice but to accept it. I did end up in the situation that you don't want, the car was supposed to be ready last Easter but instead I'm getting it now. The problem was that he just took on too many other jobs and I just didn't kick up enough of a fuss. It is a problem that once they have your car there's not at lot you can do to get them to finish it more quickly. This issue with the time it took to finish would be my only criticism, the workmanship itself seems to be good.

If it's possible I'd suggest you try and find someone else that has used the same bodyshop you're looking at and find out if the work was finished on time. Good luck with it, and thanks for your nice comment about the car. It's good to know the thread has been of interest and that you appreciate the final pics.

thanks for that, much appreciated.

i just have a feeling with the one i visited, he did have some cars in and i asked to see the work on them. they did look very good, but i dont want them to book loads in and just fitting mine around other jobs when a timescale is agreed. its already booked in for a new hood at a trimmers that is well regarded, so i'm throwing a good few pennies at it to get it the way i want it. with the belts, water pump etc at the tail end of last year, and the hood and body, its costing in excess of 6.5k, thats with me supplying the repair panels. on top of that it'll need new badges and stone guards. there are quite a lot of bodyshops/retoration places around my neck of the woods, and the price variations are huge.

Could be worth posting up details in a new thread and asking if anyone here has used them and if the worked to the planned timeframe. I wonder if you could get them to agree to a crontract that penalised them if they finish the car late.

i was thinking about the contract re the time frame. i'll pop down tomorrow and have a word. as i mentioned before, i have seen examples of their work and it does look very good.
i'll also put a post up and see if anyone has used them.

Hi Al,

ive been thinking about a new hood so id be interested to hear how the hood replacement went, where done, how long it took, how much etc

Many thanks

hi Ian,

i've been to see these guys:-

http://carandmarineconnection.co.uk/home/3603763

they looked at the car and have quoted me £1200 fitted inc V.A.T for a complete new hood and screen in burgundy mohair. (complete change from the standard black) they are very highly regarded and come well recommended. ive seen their work and spoke to their customers.

Al,

thanks for that. Id be interested to hear what you think when its done.

I'm going to get mine sorted early summer as things stand.

Woo hoo I have my car back! I'm very pleased but unfortunately it's not perfect. The windscreen seal trim doesn't seem to be on properly at one corner and the stone guards are not on right. So it will be going back, hopefully these bits won't take long to sort.

Looks very nice, not a bad price for the amount of quality work in my opinion.
The problem with most body shops is that other general work turns up which pays regular and keeps up the cash flow, and if you turn customers away they won't hang about you just loose the jobs.

Thanks Greg.

Got the car back for the second time this evening. The windscreen trim is now sorted and the front stone guards are in the right place.

The car will be going into the garage at the weekend for a service and for some mechanical bits, including fixing a rattling heat shield and sorting the gear shift. No more bodywork, hurray!