workmanship surprise

[soalbundy]

I wrote a few weeks ago how my wife, having just passed her driving test, smashed into our aircon unit in the driveway. I had it provisionaly repaired by my stepdaughters husband who has a car repair business in the village for free and that was good enough for me, I have had the car for 16 years now, Honda makes superb engines and it has never let me down but has gathered a few minor dents and scratches (from chickens mostly) during its long service.

My wife however wanted the car done properly so she took it to a coachwork repair shop and asked them to do a good job on it. They took her at her word, not only was the damage repaired properly, every dent and scratch was taken out and the car completely newly resprayed, every detail was taken into consideration, even the windscreen wipers which had been bleached a dirty grey by the sun had been dismantled and resprayed black, the wheels had been power sprayed and the inside of the car had undergone a valet service. When the car came back I stood with open mouth rooted to the spot, it looked as if it had come out fresh from the factory, the man is a true artist. He charged 13,000 Baht which I considered cheap after seeing the results, so a word of praise for once for Thai workmanship.

[Denim]

Can we see the after picture too.

[pgrahmm]

Many good trades & craftsmen around Thailand....

Very seldom is a battered car to be seen, regardless of age.... That's a noticeable difference to other countries.....

[soalbundy]

Just now, Denim said:

Can we see the after picture too.

You're such a little possum. The Coachwork artist said that he wasn't satisfied with the shine because he hadn't buffed the paintwork enough, he wanted the paint work to be 'sun hardened' as he put it, I was to bring the car back in two months and he would buff the paintwork to perfection at no extra cost. I can't praise him enough.

[soalbundy]

1 minute ago, pgrahmm said:

Many good trades & craftsmen around Thailand....

Very seldom is a battered car to be seen, regardless of age.... That's a noticeable difference to other countries.....

That's true but you have to get the right one. Unlike Europe, especially Germany, where trades are protected (Meister certificate) any Tom Dick or Harry who has worked as an electricians mate on building site can call himself an electrician. When my house was built I went into the loft to inspect the electrics, it was like spaghetti junction, wires hanging loosely everywhere, I complained to the foreman who said it was 'Thai Standard'. Afterwards I found a man in my village who had all the certificates necessary, even to wire a hotel, and I asked him to have a look, he just laughed while shaking his head. I had him redo the wiring, took three days in the sweltering heat under the roof, when I looked there wasn't a wire in sight just yellow pipes secured along the roof beams or attached to the wall, he charged me 2,000 Baht (16 years ago), I gave him 3,000 which shook him somewhat, so in the evening he brought me a used fuse box which he said was was a better quality than the one I had and proceeded to install it and absolutely refused any further payment. So yes there are super tradesman about but you find them by trial and error. 

[worgeordie]

Should have blackened the tyres ....then it would have been perfect,

Good price for all the work, tell your wife to drive carefully in her

new car...

regard worgeordie

[soalbundy]

Just now, worgeordie said:

Should have blackened the tyres ....then it would have been perfect,

Good price for all the work, tell your wife to drive carefully in her

new car...

regard worgeordie

It's the first time that I have driven a car that old, at my firm in Germany I had a new BMW every year. What amazes me is that cars don't seem to rust here at least I have never seen any rust on my car although I don't really look after it as I should do, I have rarely heard the starter motor as it springs into life immediately, now I shall give it a little more love and attention. My missus is a little overawed at the new condition and despite me saying "You drive us to Tesco's (17 km away) she says I should drive it. I consider a car as a utility to be used but after so long in use it does become a sort of family member.

[Denim]

37 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

You're such a little possum. The Coachwork artist said that he wasn't satisfied with the shine because he hadn't buffed the paintwork enough, he wanted the paint work to be 'sun hardened' as he put it, I was to bring the car back in two months and he would buff the paintwork to perfection at no extra cost. I can't praise him enough.

Seriously, I think you've posted the wrong picture.

Look for yourself. Especially around the headlights. Doesn't look like a full respray.

[soalbundy]

Just now, Denim said:

Seriously, I think you've posted the wrong picture.

Look for yourself. Especially around the headlights. Doesn't look like a full respray.

I see nothing amiss, I have worked in the auto industry for 35 years at BMW Munich.

[Denim]

1 minute ago, soalbundy said:

I see nothing amiss, I have worked in the auto industry for 35 years at BMW Munich.

Look under the left headlight. There is a patch of white showing where there is no paint. Underneath the white patch ate scuffmarks also.

 

Not trying to be nasty but you said completely re sprayed

[soalbundy]

Just now, Denim said:

Look under the left headlight. There is a patch of white showing where there is no paint. Underneath the white patch ate scuffmarks also.

 

Not trying to be nasty but you said completely re sprayed

Well I have zoomed in as well as seeing the real thing and see nothing wrong, perhaps you are seeing a reflection.  Yes completely resprayed, they even did the footwells (the bottom bit of the frame when you open the doors, there are usually scuff marks, there certainly were on mine.

[HeijoshinCool]

.

 

 

Where was this done?

[soalbundy]

Just now, HeijoshinCool said:

.

 

 

Where was this done?

Prasat, Surin.

[soalbundy]

33 minutes ago, Denim said:

Look under the left headlight. There is a patch of white showing where there is no paint. Underneath the white patch ate scuffmarks also.

 

Not trying to be nasty but you said completely re sprayed

Here a front view

[1FinickyOne]

I have had many bumps and bruises restored 100% undetectable in short order and inexpensively in a back street location in a small city.. 

 

glad you had a good experience... 

[Denim]

14 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Here a front view

Looks great in this picture. The white bit I was referring too is not in this picture so you must be correct and I confess my bad. It is a strong white reflection. Since nobody else commented on it must be just how it looks on my phone. I turned on my desktop for another look , zoomed in and it is just a reflection.

 

So yes....great job.

[Rampant Rabbit]

10 hours ago, Denim said:

Can we see the after picture too.

Can we see a  picture in a few  years as I see many cars  with  peeling paint over   filler after accidents.

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

Can we see a  picture in a few  years as I see many cars  with  peeling paint over   filler after accidents.

How old do you want my car to be? it's already 16 years old, an age that in Europe would have it scrapped.by now. I'm hoping it will outlive me but that is not a given. The future is obviously electric so I wouldn't buy a new fossil fuel car now anyway. The old girl will do us for now.

[Rampant Rabbit]

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

How old do you want my car to be?

Its  not  how  old the car is its  how  long the repair  will  last

[soalbundy]

Just now, Rampant Rabbit said:

Its  not  how  old the car is its  how  long the repair  will  last

Well the guy is obviously a profi and my stepdaughters husband uses him exclusively in his car repair business if there is any bodywork repair to be done so I trust his workmanship.

[Kildonan]

13 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Prasat, Surin.

Can you pm me with his phone number? Txs. 

[seajae]

no surprise really, I have found a few  tradesmen in Thailand that do really great work, unfortunately there are many more that dont, a lot has to do with the lack of professional standards as well as proper apprenticeships/tech schools  etc to ensure they are taught by qualified professionals. Much cheaper to just get workers that lack the enthusiasm & technical knowledge for their work to do it, when you do find a good one you need to hang on to them

Edited September 18, 2021 by seajae