Is anyone else's front grille surround looking like it's been pebble dashed? Mine must have 50 specs of chrome showing and I've only done 3000 miles. At this rate it will be chrome by the time the year is out.

Is anyone else's front grille surround looking like it's been pebble dashed? Mine must have 50 specs of chrome showing and I've only done 3000 miles. At this rate it will be chrome by the time the year is out.

 

Chrome? Is yours a dodgy painted over chrome by the dealer one?

 

A proper factory one won't have chrome under it....

Is anyone else's front grille surround looking like it's been pebble dashed? Mine must have 50 specs of chrome showing and I've only done 3000 miles. At this rate it will be chrome by the time the year is out.

 

Yours must attract them! Mine has done 9k and still looks new. No doubt I'll have jinxed that now.

Chrome? Is yours a dodgy painted over chrome by the dealer one?

A proper factory one won't have chrome under it....

You know what that's just reminded me about it not coming fitted when I went to view it!

The mirrors they fitted are fine and definitely the genuine article and not a mark on them. How would I tell? Is there a product code stamp somewhere?

Edited 18 June, 201411 yr by JamesVRSmk3

You know what that's just reminded me about it not coming fitted when I went to view it!

The mirrors they fitted are fine and definitely the genuine article and not a mark on them. How would I tell? Is there a product code stamp somewhere?

 

That answers your question, they've painted the grille surround black over the chrome and it will all come off eventually as it's not easy for the paint to adhere to chrome.  Have they even painted it the correct colour?  It should be black magic pearlescent like the wing mirrors.

They told me they were fitting the new grille and mirrors (I did ask if they were genuine and was told they were) so I didn't question them further as they looked like they matched when I picked the car up a week later. I will have a proper look tonight but I need something to compare it to really.

 

Looks like ANOTHER call to the dealers might be in order.

Edited 18 June, 201411 yr by JamesVRSmk3

Just opened the bonnet and looking at the top of the grill it does look like it's been spray painted - bobbly effect. You can see it clearly at the bottom of the photo. There are 4 or 5 bits of chrome showing in this photo aswell.

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Edited 18 June, 201411 yr by JamesVRSmk3

Can't really tell from the photo but if you're seeing chrome through it then it's been painted over.

Definitely chrome or shiny metal underneath but what would be under the genuine article?

Looking at it again just now I really can't tell but the photos above should be a bit clearer in showing all the chips

Definitely chrome or shiny metal underneath but what would be under the genuine article?

A proper factory black pack one is painted black magic over black plastic, there'll be a dark grey/black primer under the basecoat. I've a chip on mine and it's just black.

What you're seeing is the paint chipping off the chrome as it's not adhered properly.

If they have just painted over the chrome which it looks like they have that's a right bodge really seeing as you paid for the proper parts. Bugger all will stick to chrome for very long

A proper factory black pack one is painted black magic over black plastic, there'll be a dark grey/black primer under the basecoat. I've a chip on mine and it's just black.

Thanks. It's definitely going back now. It's not what I paid for or agreed to.

Thanks. It's definitely going back now. It's not what I paid for or agreed to.

 

Black Pack surrounds come already painted so they just need to order a proper one.

You know what that's just reminded me about it not coming fitted when I went to view it!

IIRC you mentioned that on here in a post at the time. I thought it odd (i.e. someone forgot to order/fit your black pack)

Well after asking the dealership about this on the 20th July and them promising to phone me back with an answer straight away I decided yesterday I wasn't waiting any longer for that call back and went down there as it seems being stood in front of them is the only way of getting an answer. I even phoned them again 2 days ago to chase them up and they said they'd call back in the morning, which never happened.

They confirmed they had just painted the chrome surround when I got down there. No apology they just said it shouldn't have happened. They've ordered the correct kit and it will be fitted as soon as it arrives.

I'd be tempted to write to them and explain that if they have not rectified the issue as agreed by <insert appropriate date here> then you will be contacting your local Trading Standards Officer, as they have committed a blatant act of fraud for which you have photographic evidence.

 

It might just be smoke and mirrors, but at least then something is in writing and it might just kick them enough to actually sort it out quickly.  If you email them, cc SUK as well.

 

One thing that we all forget is that arguments between customers and dealers (or any supplier) that have only taken place verbally are extremely difficult to pursue as there is usually no evidence.  Putting your complaint in writing is always a good thing, even if it is just confirming everything that has been said verbally.

I wrote the letter last week in anticipation of the events as from what everyone said above it was quite obvious what had happened. I'll tweak it with the events from yesterday and it will be posted by the end of today. Thanks for everyone's help/advice.

Not only should you demand it's rectified immediately, I'd be demanding compensation.... 

 

I would be livid - this is blatent deception.

I wrote the letter last week in anticipation of the events as from what everyone said above it was quite obvious what had happened. I'll tweak it with the events from yesterday and it will be posted by the end of today. Thanks for everyone's help/advice.

 

Not sure why they even bothered for the sake of a £40 part.

They probably in fairness were not over keen on pulling the chrome part off the existing grille and putting the black part on....arguably they couls have risked damaging the grille.....if they did they'd have been in to replacing the entire bumper as the grille is part of the bumper and not separate.

Was a bit deceptive of them but can understand perhaps why they took that approach as one of their techs could have got it v wrong and would have been costly.

Edited 10 July, 201411 yr by pipsyp

They probably in fairness were not over keen on pulling the chrome part off the existing grille and putting the black part on....arguably they couls have risked damaging the grille.....if they did they'd have been in to replacing the entire bumper as the grille is part of the bumper and not separate.

Was a bit deceptive of them but can understand perhaps why they took that approach as one of their techs could have got it v wrong and would have been costly.

But wouldn't they had to have removed it to paint it?

But wouldn't they had to have removed it to paint it?

 

Looking at the extrememly bad orange peel effect on the top of the grille I wouldn't be suprised if it was just masked off and sprayed while still on the car. Post 7 sort of shows it where the flash hits it right at the bottom of the photo - It's 10 times worse if you were to see it for yourself. I haven't shined a torch in the gap between the grille and the bumper to see if its painted underneath.

Oh dear. :(

But wouldn't they had to have removed it to paint it?

They'd have almost certainly destroyed the chrome strip in the process of removing. Usual way is to do this whilst avoiding damage to the grille itself then snap the black pack strip back into the grille...this however carried the risk of grille damage and a replacement bumper being required.

They'd have almost certainly destroyed the chrome strip in the process of removing. Usual way is to do this whilst avoiding damage to the grille itself then snap the black pack strip back into the grille...this however carried the risk of grille damage and a replacement bumper being required.

If they had done it properly they wouldn't have destroyed the chrome grill at all as it's easy to pop out when the bumper has been removed. They should do it this way so there is less risk of damaging the clips in the grill and they can supply you with the original surround after the new one is fitted :-)