4500 RPM
04-10-2008, 06:36 PM
I saw the car at the body shop today...it was apparently ready for me to pick up. The paint looked good (passenger fender a smidge bright under flourescent) but they insisted that the foglights didn't fit the MTech bumper. They had simply wrapped the fog light wires around the opening. :rofl
After moving my eyes from the gaping holes where the fogs should be, I saw lots of the black gasket underneath the nosepanel on the passenger side (the driver's was fine). I knew that the gasket wasn't supposed to be visible. I also saw that the fender liner wasn't even remotely close to being attached to the bumper or whatever...there was at least a centimeter of gap. Thanks for the explanation on the rail thingy, Mac...the body guy said that they were different between the two bumpers.
Following the excellent advice I got from this board, I told them that the fogs were apparently easier to put in when the cover was on. I drove the car into the shop (immediately getting the F/FOG LIGHT warning).
My front bumper was about to be tossed into the scrap heap, with the driver's projector fog and front plate delete still there!!! Damn I was not happy. I grabbed the good passenger fog and crawled under the car. Put the fog on in less than a minute! They felt pretty stupid. :stickoutt
One thing neither of us could figure out is where the temperature probe goes on the M5 bumper. It's on the driver's side next to the foglight. I'll make the shop figure that one out.
I also noticed that the Euro trim on the front was all scraped up. They had used the Euro trim (that was very beat) from the M5 bumper on the driver's side, and the piece that got scraped up from the crash on the passenger side! I told the parts guy two weeks ago that it was Euro trim; he can't give my VIN and get the right trim...he sounded surprised when the trim he got had the cutout for the light. :rolleyes
I asked him where the new OE passenger fog was...he had sent it back to Dreyer & Reinbold BMW since it wouldn't fit! So now we wait for the fog to come back, and a new Euro trim piece to get here.
I'm just a bit pissed that they were going to short me two fogs and not compensate me at all...:mad
The back bumper needed A LOT of work go get right. It was beat and had coats of different paint over the years, and heavy gouges and scratches. With that said, they charged $517 for paint and install. I'm a bit pissed that they charged for install as I had to press in the leading corners at the top in the wheel well.
Also, the bottom center of the back bumper sags a bit...it's noticeable in the towhook cover area as it's not 100% tight. There are about 6 clips (no clue of what they clip onto) and all but the one next to the tow hook cover is broken. I may have to ziptie that but hope it will hold. That one is not the bodyshop's responsibility.
I'll get pictures tomorrow. I'm going to pick up the car as it is and keep it until Tuesday, when the parts come in. Then into another Mazda 3i for a day...
Last thing: The MTech kit looks killer. :)
After moving my eyes from the gaping holes where the fogs should be, I saw lots of the black gasket underneath the nosepanel on the passenger side (the driver's was fine). I knew that the gasket wasn't supposed to be visible. I also saw that the fender liner wasn't even remotely close to being attached to the bumper or whatever...there was at least a centimeter of gap. Thanks for the explanation on the rail thingy, Mac...the body guy said that they were different between the two bumpers.
Following the excellent advice I got from this board, I told them that the fogs were apparently easier to put in when the cover was on. I drove the car into the shop (immediately getting the F/FOG LIGHT warning).
My front bumper was about to be tossed into the scrap heap, with the driver's projector fog and front plate delete still there!!! Damn I was not happy. I grabbed the good passenger fog and crawled under the car. Put the fog on in less than a minute! They felt pretty stupid. :stickoutt
One thing neither of us could figure out is where the temperature probe goes on the M5 bumper. It's on the driver's side next to the foglight. I'll make the shop figure that one out.
I also noticed that the Euro trim on the front was all scraped up. They had used the Euro trim (that was very beat) from the M5 bumper on the driver's side, and the piece that got scraped up from the crash on the passenger side! I told the parts guy two weeks ago that it was Euro trim; he can't give my VIN and get the right trim...he sounded surprised when the trim he got had the cutout for the light. :rolleyes
I asked him where the new OE passenger fog was...he had sent it back to Dreyer & Reinbold BMW since it wouldn't fit! So now we wait for the fog to come back, and a new Euro trim piece to get here.
I'm just a bit pissed that they were going to short me two fogs and not compensate me at all...:mad
The back bumper needed A LOT of work go get right. It was beat and had coats of different paint over the years, and heavy gouges and scratches. With that said, they charged $517 for paint and install. I'm a bit pissed that they charged for install as I had to press in the leading corners at the top in the wheel well.
Also, the bottom center of the back bumper sags a bit...it's noticeable in the towhook cover area as it's not 100% tight. There are about 6 clips (no clue of what they clip onto) and all but the one next to the tow hook cover is broken. I may have to ziptie that but hope it will hold. That one is not the bodyshop's responsibility.
I'll get pictures tomorrow. I'm going to pick up the car as it is and keep it until Tuesday, when the parts come in. Then into another Mazda 3i for a day...
Last thing: The MTech kit looks killer. :)