Let me preface this post by saying that I am not generally one of those people that freak out from every tiny scratch -- but having only had my car for less than 24 hours I noticed what looked like a bubble protruding on the back bumper. Upon closer inspection, I also noticed that the right rear reverse sensor was not flush with the bumper -- it is recessed (unlike the one on the left rear side).

I will admit that when I picked up the car I didn't do a full inspection -- honestly, I was star struck at the time. What I did do, is I took a bunch of pics with my iPhone (thank goodness in a relatively 'high resolution' mode).

So, here's where I need your help. Take a look at the damage pic attached (especially the recessed reverse sensor) and then take a look at the pic of the rear of the car taken when I picked it up. The pic is 2.5mb so you should be able to zoom in really tight to the yellow arrows I inserted.

Is this a smoking gun -- the damage looks to have been there when I picked it up, right? I just can't believe they would let me take the car with this imperfection -- did they know it was there and then just let me drive off thinking I wouldn't notice? Again, not a huge deal if they own up and fix it.

I notified the dealer as soon as I saw the damage -- on Friday (less than 24 hours after pick up). I'm going in next week for them to take a closer look at it.

Be honest/frank (but not rude please ) -- thoughts?

 

Yup, looks like it was backed into something right on the corner there, probably not that hard - just hard enough to deform the plastic bumper a little, which sprang back - leaving a defect in the paint and unseating the sensor. Person driving may not even have noticed, or thought they 'got away with it'.

No big deal, but upsetting on a brand new car. I'm sure they'll fix, no problem.

Edit:

Pretty clear theres a smudge on this corner (brightness/contrast fiddled with).



also, the parking sensor is quite visible in the pic taken at the dealer, looks to me that what you are seeing is the edge of the sensor socket due to the sensor being pushed in - don't think you'd really be able to see the sensor if it weren't pushed in).



big coincidence that the scuff and pushed in sensor are in the same area - not (IMHO)!

 

Congrats on the car, sorry to hear about this issue. I'll be honest, I don't see any smoking gun from the 1st pic. Only thing I can think of is if you can get another white coupe and try to photograph that car from the same position/angle, to see if there is a difference. But just looking at the 1st pic in isolation I would be hard pressed to say there was any damage.

Regarding the parking sensor, that could just be a quality issue from the factory...they didn't put it on securely, it came lose, etc. That would fall under the "no big deal" for me.

But the damage area in the 2nd picture is definitely not "no big deal". Looks like something definitely happened here.

 

bb_sam,

I'm the worst buyer ever and expect perfection. Tricky now obviously. Best to work with them on getting it done properly at the bodyshop. JLR don't deliver factory painted parts, but being white hopefully you'll have no issues. Ensure all the clips and rubber seals (especially for the camera) are replaced with new on installation and double check the parking sensors when you go back to collect. I have to be honest if I had this at collection, the car would be a rejection - but thats me and I must be admit to OCD tendencies.

 

Thanks for this Mshedden! This is exactly what I did and I came to the same conclusion -- while the zoomed in pics may not be 100% clear, what is 'clear' is that there's something wrong in the exact area that I've now identified as having some damage. Also, like you said, the recessed reverse sensor is way more obvious when zoomed in -- that alone means there was a defect at delivery.

I'll update this thread when I see the dealer next week -- the more I see the pics the more I am convinced this was a pre-delivery issue.

I suppose, shame on me for not being more thorough at pick up

 

Sometimes you just don't notice things...I drove off the lot, 10 minutes in, the sun was shining at the right angle and I noticed a tiny but noticeable scratch in the windshield. Went back, they offered to replace the entire windshield. I said no way, not worth it (then I might have to deal with rattles, etc.). Ended up just giving me a check for $1k. I completely forgotten about the scratch until this post.

 

sam, don't fret over it this weekend. Worse case scenario is that you have to ante up the deductible on your insurance. A new bumper skin and a good paint shop will make that every bit like new.

 

BB_Sam,

I agree that 99% of dealers would fix this without any questions asked, considering your delivery photo evidence.

It's a simple repair on the molded composite bumper, and I think it's totally unnecessary to insist upon a new panel. As someone said above, new parts come from JLR unpainted anyway, so painting will have to take place, regardless.

As an example, the bumper bar on my car (picture below) was repaired a couple of weeks ago. It took a high-end body shop less than 2 days to complete this repair, and it looked better than new. If you pursue the new option, you'll likely be waiting several weeks to get the part shipped from the UK, and it will have to be painted.

Polaris White is perhaps the easiest color to match because it's both non-metallic and white.

 

JLR doesn't deliver factory painted parts? Are you sure? My rhodium silver is in the shop and this worries me. I'm pretty sure my front panel/bumper is being replaced. Think this color will be difficult to match?

 

Yes, I think all manufacturers stock only unpainted, replacement body panels. It would be an inventory nightmare and far too costly to paint all panels in all colors and have adequate stock. They'd also be risking shipping damage due to scuffs, etc. on painted panels, which would require a repaint upon arrival.

A high-end body shop with the latest matching technology should be able to match any color on a relatively new car. However, some colors are easier than others, and a non-metallic color is usually the easiest.

 

Thanks -- assuming the dealer owns the issue, I am ok with them repairing it --totally agree that there's no need for a new panel.

 

Looks like all my worrying about getting this fixed was for nothing. I went into the dealership and they immediately said they would fix the bumper and sensor -- no questions asked.

Gotta say that I am impressed by the service I've received from the dealership since I walked in. Good to know that even after they have my money they are equally accommodating.

I'm going to bring it in after I drive it for a few more weeks. Hard to let it go into the body shop for 2 days since I've only had it for a week.

 

2 days? we'll see about that one....

 

A new bumper cover will arrive in a light gray matte finish. In a huge box.

 

That is exactly how long it took to repair and repaint my bumper bar, which is pictured above. The OPs very small damaged area is comparable, and there's absolutely no need for a new rear bumper panel.

 

I had the dreaded chip problem and the dealer took the piece off the car and had it refinished, you can't tell. Car going into same shop Mon. for rear scape and tail lite repair, repairing edge of 1/4 and refinishing rear bumper. I know they will finish the Stratus perfectly based on previous work, they are Jag, among others, approved shop.