They had no choice but to fess up - couldn't return the car that day with a hole in the door. W.C. Fields once had a character named "Honest John" who got his name because he found and returned a man's lost glass eyeball - but that was comedy. Integrity is something higher than that.

Good luck with that one. Lawyers rarely get excited small claims.

The damage may indeed be expensive in the owners eye, but in the lawyers eyes....it's chump change

Mike, I recommended contacting an attorney to show the dealer that you're upset with the way they handled the situation, not necessarily that you intend to sue them. Hopefully EAL has an attorney friend who can put some heat on the dealer with a letter on law firm stationery. In situations like this it's all about perception.

I think this is only true for those with a salvage title. Otherwise; how is anyone to know if a car was repaired?

Carfax if insurance pays, or just a buyer's inspection.

sounds like they are hiding something....

All good info!

1) Loaner car.
2) Pay nothing for the original repair.
3) Squak about not being consulted beforehand....having the bodyshop involved without being told is shady and sneaky.
4) Tell 'em you want a NEW 100K Benz for free for their screw up! (Won't happen though but it costs' nothing to ask!)
5) I be willing to say that the frame has be compromised. The shear weight of these cars alone would cause some bending of the chassis falling off the lift even if it was just a foot.

I would certainly be looking for some kind of compensation above and beyond the repair. The car will not be as good as it was, unless they were able to replace panels with new MB stuff, and even then, I doubt it would be as good as new. Perhaps you can get them to give you some number of "free" labor hours to use in the future.

Except free labor means taking it back to the same shop. Vote with your wallet, pick a new shop from now on.

Sure like to see some followup on this.

Something that has not already been suggested: Post the name of this dealership so we can all avoid it if and when we are ever in the NC area.

I'm sorry to hear about this incident.

Did your car look like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvNKBe6DZhk&feature=related