Ouch, I can relate; we all probably can. But here's a different take on the issue: You chose this shop for its reputation and the recommendation of someone you apparently trust. If they earned that reputation by turning out good work for lots of previous customers, why assume that you're going to have a fight on your hands, or that they wouldn't want the opportunity to make any defect right by you. I know too many people who have not been totally satisfied with paintwork, despite spending a lot of money, to think your experience is unique. Even at "reputable" high-end shops, it's all production work to them, and it often turns out to have small blemishes that the less finicky owner would tolerate, and the rest of us don't. We might wish that weren't the case, but it is. So take it back with a specific list of what needs further attention. If they put up an argument, you can still resort to lawyer talk. When it comes right down to it, the possible joy ride is a distraction from the business you need to take care of, IMO.

__________________
1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't

the joy ride might have been to another paint/body shop who was a sub-contractor. The sub may have done the job for say, $2K which is now padded up to $3K. The original body shop makes $1,000 for acting as a middle man.

Sadly, nowadays, it has come to the point where you need to post a private investigator (or yourself) across the street from the body shop with a video camera to make sure they don't pull a fast one.

Prior to hiring a body shop, pull a BBB report and ask to see photographs of mercedes they have painted.

Not if he didn't pay for it. seems like everyone who brings a car to a body shop expects every little issue to be taken care of. If he didn't pay to have the quarter blended, then why should the bodyshop blend it??? Y'all go to Pizza hut and expect free wings because they go so well with pizza? Blending a panel requires damn near as much work as painting the panel, as well as some actual skill. The entire panel needs to be cleared, which means the entire panel needs to be prepped. Lot of work, and it doen't get done for nothing.

As likely as not, the body shop owner has no idea that the miles were put on the car (if they even were, all we have is vague recollections) Throwing the business under the bus when you really don't know is chicken****. I would mention that you believe there are more miles on the car than when you left it, might not help you, but might help the shop owner or the next customer. Your boat has already sailed.

If you negotiated a price for a job that you were happy with, then by all means investigate to make sure the job was done the way you wanted, but pissing and moaning that you're going to "get a lawyer", based on speculation and half remembrances will preclude you from having the privilege of that shop being willing to work on your car faster than you can decide not to bring it back.

It really is incumbent upon the vehicle owner to look the car over well when picking up, as well as insuring that the authorization to repair form is correctly filled out when dropping off.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Get a shop contract stating all the details --unless you know the shop and trust them like tyler does.

I feel you might have been ripped off. :/

90% of the shops in our area will not go all the way back down to sheet metal. Too much time required to strip it down and reprep it for paint. Especially at $3000.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I think this is on the right track.

For the odometer, I think either the manager used it as his daily driver, or they gave it to another customer as a loaner for a week or so, then rushed it at the last minute.

I am sorry to suggest that, but I saw exactly that done when I used to rent a bay alongside low-life repair and body shops.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Nothing a body shop can put on bare metal will ever adhere as well as factory primer. Going to bare steel is not a good idea.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

huh?i've stripped many a car to bare steel and never had an issue with the primer.if not prep'ed correctly then you might have issues.