mikeinsf

Here are pix of the key job performed on my car a couple weeks ago. I wanted to put these in a new thread rather than waking up the old thread because of a couple peoples' rather vehement issues with my viewpoint. It's unsettling for me to see pix of my new car all torn to bits. The shop that has it (Anthony's Auto Craft) now says it's not going to be ready until the 23rd! I'm not too happy about it, but I'd rather not **** off the people I'm counting on to get my car looking pristine. This paint job just better live up to their best-of-the-Bay-Area reputation if it's going to take them 11 full business days to complete the job.

Rook3300

Oh man, I'd go absolutely mental if I found my car like that.

With regards to the shop, I find that you usually have to politely stand on their heads to get anything done in a timely manner. I'm not sure what the deal is, but someone has to watch them to get work done. Hell, with the car lot I bought my SL from in December, they hadn't even filed for my license plate until I called them about it last week. It'll probably be another week or two before my plates come in. That'll put it at 3 months with temp tags.

Good luck to ya buddy.

Rook

mlandis

Oh, man, that hurts just seeing it! Yeah, whoever did it really wanted to make it hurt.

I can see it taking a while -- that's a lot of panels that need to be repainted.

Hang in there, man!

AMGTTV8

Good Lord!!

Did they get every panel?!?

Hang in there, I feel for you

mikeinsf

There are three panels (passenger door and front, rear quarters) and the roof that are not being painted. The side panels beside the rear window are being replaced. The pr*cks made sure to hit most of the car, for sure. Don't know why they spared the roof. I can see why they didn't go around the passenger side because that would take an extra pass by the car, and this was on a lit street.

I asked the shop to polish the unpainted panels so that I don't have swirls on just three panels. They asked me if I wanted to pony up an extra $1200 out-of-pocket to repaint the entire car. It seemed to me though, that this was really more a ploy to get some extra work in (that I don't really want to pay for), as they need to properly blend the new paintwork into the old paintwork anyway. We're just talking clearcoat black here. I figure as long as they polish out the swirls on the other panels I should be good to go. Kinda makes me wish I'd just "completed the job" before I dropped it off at the shop, but insurance fraud isn't my cup of tea.

The ironic thing is that I ordered a brand-spanking-new Flex orbital polisher a few days before the key job because I'd intended to blow a Saturday taking care of the swirls myself, claybar, paint seal, etc. Now as long as it's in the shop I'll let them do it, and I've got a $350 polisher and a bottle of Menzerna sitting in a box with nothing to do. I'll still get to use that new bottle of Rejex I've been wanting to try.

teeth

So sorry to see that.

Keng1

Dang...makes me scared to park on the street now...

mikeinsf

I'd strongly recommend against it anywhere in the Mission above 16th street between Guererro and Potrero. The closer you get to 24th between Mission and South Van Ness, the worse it is. The neighborhood has a rep for a reason. That's not to say it's 100% safe in other parts, but this is a hotspot. I know I've learned my lesson.

Keng1

It could have been worse I guess. I saw a mob of kids out by West Portal/St Francis Woods that started to jump on cars in the street. Thank god the cops showed up before they worked their way up to my car.

kuro243

Did they key, "rep" ?

mikeinsf

"rep" is marking the paint shop put on the car. I'm guessing it's short for "repair".

mikeinsf

Was this on Portola?

Keng1

Yup! I was going down the hill and hit the brakes when I saw the kids running amuck in the middle of the road...some *** in a volvo behind me honked, went around me...down to the mob and had a bunch of kids jump on his hood and roof.

Rook3300

Damn. Gotta love the "big city anonymity" that allow people to think they can get away with whatever they want. Of course, that's when you give them two 9mm aspirin to get rid of that headache. The police wouldn't really do anything to them anyway, so somebody should.

Rook

kuro243

Im from Texas, and down here you can use lethal force to protect your property. I love texas

mikeinsf

I'm torn on this one. On the one hand I certainly fantasize about the retribution I could seek with "9mm aspirin", on the other hand I don't think people should die over property. Lose a couple of kneecaps? Hell yes.

kuro243

I am extremely vindictive when it comes to someone messing with my things, and hold absolutely no sympathy in my heart for vandals or thieves. Why not shoot them in lower back so they can never walk again?

mlandis

Long story short, yeah, it's always good to keep our eyes open. Mike, maybe you should've gone the extra $1,200 and ask your friend who said "it's fine to park here!" to pony up?

Artyi

I'm scared 'bout such things too... Its obvious that someone jealous went near your car. Damn, *******s.

mikeinsf

Very strange thing happened last night. The tree in front of our house went and fell over on the car parked in the EXACT spot where I always park mine. My car is at the body shop getting painted, so my neighbor took the spot instead. Maybe that means my bad luck is over!

I don't even want to think about a tree falling on my car the day after I get it back from a paint job after being keyed. I think I would sell the car and never buy another if that happened.

Keng1

Golly!

And you park your car on the street? Dont you get bumper rash? I got a couple of marks on my M6 that I am so so so pissed about.

mikeinsf

Well I live on a pretty quiet street where we all wave to each other and many people know each other to some degree. There's a fair amount of respect for one another (with a few notable exceptions) so people tend to be a little more careful here when parking. Also, I have a Wolf cover that I use religiously. When I get the car, with the cover in the trunk, back from the shop I'm going to also sew a layer of felt inside the cover to overlay the front and rear bumpers when it's on the car. That said, I am always keeping my eye out for a killer deal on a garage spot.

Keng1

I was looking at bumperbully.com but am a little hesistant buying one just in case people see it and think its actually OK to bump into my bumper.

mikeinsf

I thought about one of those too, but it seems like that would really scratch up the bumper over time, like alot.

heynoel

Because then we'll end up paying for their disability for life.