Just a quick note to owners of the 8V to be very careful with the aluminium body panels as they dent very easily. These components are the front wings and the bonnet.
I had a stupid mishap last week with my A3. Ran out the house in a downpour, slipped on my slippery sealed block paved driveway in my trainers, was going flat on my ****, but managed to regain my composure by sticking my arm out and digging my elbow into the bonnet of my nice 8V A3 Sport. There's now a noticeable dent right on the crease in the lower bonnet. I am gutted!
I decided to take a trip to Newbury Audi who said they had a nearby body shop that they use who could give me an estimate. To my surprise they returned the car having "had a go" at removing the dent. Unfortunately they appear to have used some kind of sharp tool which has raised areas of the dent and (according to another reputable body shop I visited) has now made it very difficult to use paintless dent removal. This has doubled the cost from £80 + VAT to £150 + VAT.
Less than pleased, I contacted Newbury Audi to ask why they messed with the dent, when I was only asking for a quote. To cut a long story short, they now say they are going to fix the dent for free. They said they would be in contact, but haven't - so great customer service! Given the balls-up they made of their first attempt, I am thinking of paying the £150 and getting it sanded down, filled and professionally finished by Headley Bodyshop, who satisfactorily fixed our VW Golf after it was hit.
Just thought I would write this down to get it off my chest. Pretty hacked off by my own stupidity and by Newbury Audi. Also, may this act as a warning for all of you who keep your car in the garage under a shelf full of items that may fall on the bonnet. It doesn't take much to wreck aluminium panels as I have found out!!!
I had a stupid mishap last week with my A3. Ran out the house in a downpour, slipped on my slippery sealed block paved driveway in my trainers, was going flat on my ****, but managed to regain my composure by sticking my arm out and digging my elbow into the bonnet of my nice 8V A3 Sport. There's now a noticeable dent right on the crease in the lower bonnet. I am gutted!
I decided to take a trip to Newbury Audi who said they had a nearby body shop that they use who could give me an estimate. To my surprise they returned the car having "had a go" at removing the dent. Unfortunately they appear to have used some kind of sharp tool which has raised areas of the dent and (according to another reputable body shop I visited) has now made it very difficult to use paintless dent removal. This has doubled the cost from £80 + VAT to £150 + VAT.
Less than pleased, I contacted Newbury Audi to ask why they messed with the dent, when I was only asking for a quote. To cut a long story short, they now say they are going to fix the dent for free. They said they would be in contact, but haven't - so great customer service! Given the balls-up they made of their first attempt, I am thinking of paying the £150 and getting it sanded down, filled and professionally finished by Headley Bodyshop, who satisfactorily fixed our VW Golf after it was hit.
Just thought I would write this down to get it off my chest. Pretty hacked off by my own stupidity and by Newbury Audi. Also, may this act as a warning for all of you who keep your car in the garage under a shelf full of items that may fall on the bonnet. It doesn't take much to wreck aluminium panels as I have found out!!!
