Would have considered them if it was closer, but Stockport is a good 45-60 minute bus ride from me as it is, and they need to keep the car over night. So any further would have caused a real head ache.

Will buy a weekly bus pass, as I can use it at the weekend too.

I will really miss the Panda when it goes for one entire day, but at least I have access to the death trap (the fiesta)

we picked up a dent to the front wing, a cracked headlamp and distorted front bumper with a small crack. Bodyshop took wing and bumper off, plastic welded and straightened the plastic bumper, sorted out the dent and resprayed. The only sign is one of the wing fixing bolts is in a slightly different position otherwise you really wouldn't know. That was an insurance job and cost a bit over £700 but very well done so sure yours will be too.

trackdayqueen said:

There was me thinking, you get receipt from bodyshop, file it and no stamps in the back of the book would make me think that Fiat would be none the wiser in the event of a corrosion claim that is never going to happen.

Didn't bother when I got mine fixed.

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Know a member on here who has been refused warranty work on perforation rust as Fiat body shop, They went out with a Paint thickness gauge and said it had been repaired out of the dealership/ approved Body repair chain as not on the system.... therefore no chance of getting a repair..

SurreyAlan said:

we picked up a dent to the front wing, a cracked headlamp and distorted front bumper with a small crack. Bodyshop took wing and bumper off, plastic welded and straightened the plastic bumper, sorted out the dent and resprayed. The only sign is one of the wing fixing bolts is in a slightly different position otherwise you really wouldn't know. That was an insurance job and cost a bit over £700 but very well done so sure yours will be too.

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I wouldn't have been accepting that as an insurance repair myself, should have been new parts rather than a bodge really.

Andy Monty said:

Know a member on here who has been refused warranty work on perforation rust as Fiat body shop, They went out with a Paint thickness gauge and said it had been repaired out of the dealership/ approved Body repair chain as not on the system.... therefore no chance of getting a repair..

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Fair point, must admit never even considered it. I thought Fiat's didn't rust as much anymore.

I guess when it came to warranty I forgot all about the perforation warranty. Sold the car on back in May.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

I wouldn't have been accepting that as an insurance repair myself, should have been new parts rather than a bodge really.

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I think the body shop would take some offence at you describing their work as a bodge.

SurreyAlan said:

I think the body shop would take some offence at you describing their work as a bodge.

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Well it is, plastic welding is far from a repair IMO! A plastic weld of a bumper is a bodge, if done properly the bumper would have been replaced for a new one and repainted.

Got the car back now, they have done a very good job but it was raining when I inspected it so its tricky to tell but in that those conditions it looks like its not been touched.

Apart from the other minor dent on another wing (which I am leaving its the size of a penny) the car looks brand new again. Its all been polished with Auto Glym too so it looks nice.

I will know in better light if there are any issues. They had it in the workshop for a total of around 30 hours, so I assume they use dyers to dry the paint?

Only minor thing there seems to be less grease round the bonnet area but that could be my imagination.