Side skirt/rocker panel repair work
 

So, long story short I jump a curb on the passenger side. Ended up just scraping the passenger side skirt and took it to a local body shop to get repaired (got a new side skirt, clips, etc). To me it seems like whenever you take a car to a body shop there's always something that just isn't 100% right. I was supposed to pick up the car today but ended up not taking it. I told the guy how picky I would be before dropping it off with everything and he was super cool. Anyways, why is it that it seems like factory paint seems (sorry if that's not the right term) are never adhered to when getting a car fix. For example if you look in the wheel well just between the door and tire you'll notice that the color of the car is carried in maybe about an inch or 1/2 inch on the side skirt. There's also a noticeable paint line from the factory here. Well when I went to look at the work that was done on my car that paint seem was gone and where the body color and underside paint meet was not in the factory location. I asked the guy why the two lines are different from the damage side and not damaged side. He just said we can fix that if you want. I of course said yes, I just want it to look factory. What do you guys think, am I being too anal about it and is this normal with repair work?

Also, just curious. Why is it when you get a new bumper they paint over the vin sicker? I've seen this done on multiple cars at different body shops in different states.

are you talking about the line of the mold? if so, if the bodyshop sanded it down or used more primer than factory, that line would not show up after painting it.

not very clear wat the question is. :confused:

not sure about the vin sticker being painted. often times they will remove the rivets and just re-rivet them after painting unless it is adhesive type. then i can understand they just paint over it cause it wont remove flat. i suppose they could mask it. :ugh:

Maybe post a pic of each side for comparison's sake. Otherwise, I'd vote for anal.

Yes, I believe I'm talking about the line in the mold. In that new/repainted side skirt the line was not done in the same spot as factory (and was completely smooth to the touch). They moved it closer to the outside of the panel/car and painted the area in question the black color that's further in the wheel well. Sorry, wish I could explain it better and I wish I took pics. I get what you're saying about how they may have just sanded it down or something but why do that? Why not make it look factory? I would imagine that's what their guide/instructions say to do.

Also, I totally get there was no clear question in there. Sorry, it was more of a rant than anything. Just frustrating when I get body work done it's never exactly like it was before.

With the bumper question. I've seen bumpers with vin # stickers get painted over when the number is getting fix/repainted. As I mentioned before I've seen this done in multiple shops in multiple states and was sure of there was some sort of insurance/regulation that if it's not the original bumper or it has been worked on the vin had to be taken off on that part.

Sorry, no pics. When I get the car back in Monday I'll try taking pics if everything isn't back to factory settings. I get the feeling it still won't be right...

Reported :gtfo2: