Horrible San Jose Body Shop

[mbf]

Just a word of caution to anyone out there needing body work.
One humble opinion... AUTO WEST COLLISION is the last place you should go. I brought my '01 325i to them after a minor rear end collision. They replaced the trunk lid, rear bumper and rear panel. During the 18 days they had my car, it was virtually impossible to talk to anyone who knew anything about the status. Waiting on hold for voice mails with no call backs. Twice they were caught asking me for payment of work that the insurance company deemed unneccesary and it really was unneccesary.

They told me to pick it up at 4 one day, I got there at 4:30 and they said it would be another hour before the car would be ready. Finally, I got my car back and the paint job looked like I spray painted it in my garage. The texture was gritty, like chunks of paint dried uneven. And they had polished through to the metal on the corner of the lid.

When I brought the car into them for rework this morning, they acted as though they were doing me some great favor and would set me up with a rental. They cover $20 a day. The place they sent me to didn't have any cars for that price there and said they could bring in a 3 cylinder Chevy Metro from another location for that price, but I'd be responsible for the tax which would bring the total over the Auto West's generous offering. I opted for an Altima at a $18/day cost to me. Of course the paint job that would take 6 days when they weren't paying for the rental will only take 2 when they are. So I won't be out too long hopefully.

The worst part is that Stevens Creek BMW is recommending them. Must be some huge kick-backs involved. Sorry for the long post...I guess I needed a good venting.