Land Rover Updates and Scope Creep

[AkioOhtori]

Well... things have not gone well for the old Rover.

Disclaimer

I realize nothing I say here will prevent the ire of Oppo when I reveal the facts, but I want to say first that I do think this is a good body shop and they intended to do good work but, as with all things involving me or my vehicles, things did not go to plan. (Not being melodramatic, well observed in my friend group. It is just a thing. Apparently I pissed off a gypsy or two.)

The shop is owned and run by a really nice elderly couple and I do actually believe they're good at what they do but sounds like they're having troubles with getting actually skilled painters and body people.

I also haven't given them a chance to fix things yet but expect they will.

So anyway... paint.

It looks great but isn't perfect, simply put. The passenger side has a couple flecks of dirt in it that marred the finish which like... wouldn't be acceptable if I'd done it myself and isn't great with the shop having done it. Also they screwed up the masking on the windshield and so a portion of the rubber got painted in a way that I am not comfortable attempting to fix myself. For an oddly particular shop (refused to not removed the windows, etc) I'm surprised to see they left a whole bunch of stuff on the car but heh. So yeah... I suspect they're either going to have to sand and respray that or buy me off. I'm going in on Monday to discuss.

Oh and there is overspray on one of the windows

They also gave it a sort of half-assed wash and detail... which I sincerely wish they hadn't. They sort of slopped some tire shine on the tires and bumpers, but it felt perfunctory at best and is patchy as hell. No idea what that was all about but it makes the car look like crap.

Speaking of looking like crap.

While inspecting it looks like my cowl- excuse me, my "plenum air intake extension moulding" it appears to have gotton worse. The bit marked 1 here:

When I bought the car it had a crack right down the middle (lol) but it has really started to crumble now, apparently. Unclear if it was unrealized hail damage or the painter was crawling around on my car and broke it. Either way, against all odds the part is (A) still available and (B) not hard to replace so.... $350 later that is happening. Honestly not bad for a big OEM body part, even if it is a plastic one.

While I'm at it I think I'll take a stab at the fenders. They look gross, but I think a little paint will bring them back to "acceptable". Just need to find the paint. Honestly considering going with outdoor house paint, that way I get get a perfect match to the bumper. Should also make any touchups easy. They can't really be removed so I'm going to have to do it in place and I'm sure that will go well with no errors or overspray.

PDR

Is in question. Now that the car is clean, I'm remembering that I had some etched in bird dirt on the hood. I think I'm going to try wet sanding it as polishing didn't work, but if I can't get it out then I think PDRing the hood is off the table, though I'll still have the doors done (which should be like.... $200).

Other minor troubles

The clips that Amazon assured me would work to reattach the tail door door card won't, so a new batch will be here Sunday.

Going to schedule to borrow the lift at my shop next weekend to do the propshaft, oil change, brake fluid flush, parking brake replacement, and tire rotation. It is... going to be a long weekend.

This is fine

Every time I get into one of these big projects I know it is going to be "an thing" but it feels a little oppressive at the moment. Ok maybe not that... maybe just like I'm trying to get somewhere and I keep walking through spiderwebs. I'll get there eventually, but it isn't going to be pleasant.

[Qaaaaa]

@akioohtori Scope creep is all I do with cars

[sn4cktimes]

@akioohtori hopefully they make the few issues right… if not I guess take the buyout and move it a different shop. Which sucks. I tried to get my rampage painted for the cheap (little grey market trade bike for paint) and the entire thing is a shit job. I swear he must actually be legally blind. I could’ve and have done better with spray bombs in the past. So I get the frustration.

[Bloody-the-resident-LandRover-apologist]

@akioohtori That sucks, hopefully the shop makes you whole and doesn't buy you off.

Are you replacing the whole parking brake assembly, cable or just the pads? Cable isn't too bad to replace.

[ClassicDatsunDebate]

@akioohtori said in Land Rover Updates and Scope Creep:

I'm trying to get somewhere and I keep walking through spiderwebs.

Ah yes, the Gwen Stefani paradox.

[sony1492]

@akioohtori The thing with shops is its much more about the tech you get and work environment they have then shop reputation or owners.

Some techs do halfassed insurance jobs all day and treat customers who are paying their own cash the same way, others are meticulous. Dirt in the paint should've been buffed out before leaving and taping around parts instead of removing suggests it was rushed (not removing windshield makes sense, but all the trim, and door windows come out just fine)

[Huzer]

@akioohtori I'm afraid of scope creep with the GX. The hood is mega-chipped, so I will get that painted at some point. If I'm going to do that, I may as well get the dents taken care of. While that's going on, the rear spoiler needs paint, too (common issue on the GX is paint fade on the spoiler). There are a few chips along the door edges....and, anD, aND, AND....

[Chariotoflove]

@akioohtori
Scope creep is an inevitable thing for all of us with any kind of OCD. Still, look at it this way; you've graduated to the point where you're able to concentrate on cosmetic issues instead of the basic mechanical stuff needed to keep it driving. That's progress, right?

[AkioOhtori]

@bloody-the-resident-shitposting-saffer said in Land Rover Updates and Scope Creep:

Are you replacing the whole parking brake assembly, cable or just the pads? Cable isn't too bad to replace.

Just the cable. Pads and other hardware are new enough. I don't believe you that the cable is easy, but with the driveshaft off I figure I kinda have to do it. It would be nice to have a working parking brake.

[EssExTee]

@akioohtori when my family ran a shop we always had trouble finding qualified body guys. There's just a shortage everywhere, I guess.

[AkioOhtori]

@essextee It is almost like we've been saying learning a trade is for losers and everyone has to go to college for the last XX years and now we have a shortage of tradespeople....

[Bloody-the-resident-LandRover-apologist]

@akioohtori Didn't say it was easy, I said it wasn't too bad lol.

[RamblinRover]

@akioohtori

trades not worth anything

Possibly related.

[frinesi2]

@akioohtori who are you Mike Rowe or something?