Do you take pics of your car before leaving it for service?

Zeroday · 08-14-2007, 08:00 PM

I wrecked my car about a week ago and when I brought it in to get fixed something told me I should take high resolution pics of it in the parking lot of the auto body shop. Well it paid off today. When I picked up my car it looked great but there was a new scratch/gouge in the fender.When I mentioned it to the guy at the body shop he said it must have been there already. I told him I had pics of the car in their lot from the day i dropped it off and I can assure him it wasn't like that already. Long story short, I emailed the the 'before' pics I took showing the damage wasn't there, and they are now going to fix the scratch.

Anyone else do this when they drop their car off somewhere?

FotiosF90M5 · 08-14-2007, 08:02 PM

no but its a good idea. nice pull.

UCANDO1T · 08-14-2007, 08:24 PM

i do the exact same thing. last time i picked up my car from the dealership i found a door ding right along the crease. i was furious, so i went back to my photos. Low and behold, when i used the zoom function on my camera i found the ding. i couldn't see it because the car was dirty. i think it's a good idea, protects you and the dealership.

dmboone25 · 08-14-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotios330i

no but its a good idea. nice pull.

+1

I will from now on--very prudent thing to do.

ejazbmw · 08-14-2007, 08:52 PM

most of the time if you bitch enough they'll come up and take the blame well at least in my case they did...

hool97 · 08-14-2007, 09:35 PM

Extremely good idea. I think I will do this even for service visits.

Sniz · 08-14-2007, 10:20 PM

service appt friday..........i'm gonna do it!

Spool · 08-14-2007, 10:27 PM

Way to stick it to the man....

good job

shadowcoder · 08-14-2007, 10:34 PM

Nice one. I've only done it myself once. To be honest the service dept should
be doing this on their own. It would still piss me off a lot to find a scratch or
ding in my car even if they own up to it.

ward · 08-14-2007, 10:41 PM

do you have to put a picture of the days newspaper in there or something?

how do they know you didn't take the picture upon delivery of the car?

JSpira · 08-14-2007, 10:48 PM

My dealership takes pictures of all incoming cars - I think it´s smart on their part.

dmboone25 · 08-15-2007, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

do you have to put a picture of the days newspaper in there or something?

how do they know you didn't take the picture upon delivery of the car?

Well, if it was a digital camera, which I would assume it was, then the date would be on the screen wouldn't it?

GreddyBoy858 · 08-15-2007, 12:17 AM

Cunningham BMW in El Cajon, CA takes pics of all the cars right when you check your car in...

Tag · 08-15-2007, 12:56 AM

I always do what's called a "Walk Around" wherever I am dropping my car off for any type of service. They should have a sheet of paper with a general outline of a car with one view from the top and one for both left and right side of the car. You can then walk around the car with them and they can mark off the areas that already have damage on them if there are any. I then have them date and sign it and I keep a copy for myself.

If you have pictures that is good too, but a singed and dated document is better than just pictures unless you can get them to sign and date the pictures.

The OP got lucky in a way, his car was in an accident and in their lot so they couldn't say he took those pictures before there was any damage to the car.

If they are not willing to do this go somewhere else.

JmanE55 · 08-15-2007, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotios330i

no but its a good idea. nice pull.

+1. Good idea.

Ty Vil · 08-15-2007, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tag824

I always do what's called a "Walk Around" wherever I am dropping my car off for any type of service. They should have a sheet of paper with a general outline of a car with one view from the top and one for both left and right side of the car. You can then walk around the car with them and they can mark off the areas that already have damage on them if there are any. I then have them date and sign it and I keep a copy for myself.

If you have pictures that is good too, but a singed and dated document is better than just pictures unless you can get them to sign and date the pictures.

The OP got lucky in a way, his car was in an accident and in their lot so they couldn't say he took those pictures before there was any damage to the car.

If they are not willing to do this go somewhere else.

This is actually my job at my work place. I document all the damage on every car that comes in. I have a check in sheet just like the one you described and do my very best to note every miniscule detail that isn't perfect.

Cars do get damaged and we fix them (I also oversee proper repair of lot damage) with hopefully no hassle to the client.

The sheet also protects us the Center from liability, just last week I had a client (if you could call him that) trying to claim we damaged his car and was FURIOUS. I kindly walked him into our records area and had him WATCH ME (no hidden magic here) pull his file and his last RO including that check in sheet. Suddenly he went from angry to friendly and admitted that well maybe his rear bumper had been damaged in a few other incidents.

Leesi · 08-15-2007, 03:27 AM

Do you take pictures right before check-in? or at home before go to dealership?

John 070 · 08-15-2007, 04:36 AM

I think taking pics is ok, but only for one's own knowledge, that is we as the owner would truly know what the condition was before. The pics wouldn't prove anything, were they taken at home? At the convenience store on the way? Maybe taking a pic while the tech were getting in the car could substantiate that the pic was taken at the DMARC, the point at which the dealership took possession. imho things have to be reasonable. My dealership inspects all vehicles for dings/damage prior to driving it. Imagine if it got dinged while waiting for service at the BMW dealer, it could turn into a he said/she said. In a reasonable society, actions have to be reasonable. As we all have seen, the internet/WWW is not always such.

Again, it's not a bad idea, but more so in a way where we can be certain what condition our vehicle was in prior to turning it over. The pics imho don't prove anything to anyone else. How do I know? I watch a lot of CSI.

John 070 · 08-15-2007, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leesi

Do you take pictures right before check-in? or at home before go to dealership?

Exactly. If I'm the service mgr., I'd be reasonable. If I have my techs inspecting each and every BMW before we get in and drive it, and it's proven over time that every time we find a ding we point it out to the customer, and if they don't acknowledge we dont' service them, I can feel pretty confident dings/damage didn't take place in our dealership. Someone showing me a pic isn't going to make me doubt my own system. We're not going to start dusting for prints and looking for DNA just because customers are now snapping pics!

JackMac · 08-15-2007, 06:29 AM

My dealership does a walkaround of the car with you when you arrive. They note any issues, and you sign off on it.

roadkillrob · 08-15-2007, 06:41 AM

My dealer also does a walk around when you drop your car off - I got a scape ealier in the year and mentioned it to them after I picked up the car and asked them to pull the walk around they had a hard time finding it and said they wouldn't have noticed it anyway, that they only note major damage. They came good on it and fixed it up though!

Zeroday · 08-15-2007, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

do you have to put a picture of the days newspaper in there or something?

how do they know you didn't take the picture upon delivery of the car?

Multiple pics of wrecked my car sitting in their parking lot time stamped with the date that I dropped it off seemed to work well.

08-14-2007, 08:00 PM	#1
Zeroday Colonel 46 Rep 2,350 Posts Drives: Plymouth Volare Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: your nerves iTrader: (0)	Do you take pics of your car before leaving it for service? I wrecked my car about a week ago and when I brought it in to get fixed something told me I should take high resolution pics of it in the parking lot of the auto body shop. Well it paid off today. When I picked up my car it looked great but there was a new scratch/gouge in the fender.When I mentioned it to the guy at the body shop he said it must have been there already. I told him I had pics of the car in their lot from the day i dropped it off and I can assure him it wasn't like that already. Long story short, I emailed the the 'before' pics I took showing the damage wasn't there, and they are now going to fix the scratch. Anyone else do this when they drop their car off somewhere?
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08-14-2007, 08:02 PM	#2
FotiosF90M5 ///M Specialist South Shore BMW 770 Rep 7,108 Posts Drives: 2021 M5 Comp BHG/Silverstone Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Shore, MA iTrader: (62)	no but its a good idea. nice pull. __________________ 2021 M5 COMPETITION LCI Brands Hatch Gray on SIlverstone, carbon roof, comp wheels, Mperf splitter, carbon pro spoiler, carbon diffuser , carbon paddles, executive pkg. Dinan HAS, RaceChip, dinan spacers, FC stud kit, etc
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08-14-2007, 08:24 PM	#3
UCANDO1T Enlisted Member 4 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 335i Sedan Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	i do the exact same thing. last time i picked up my car from the dealership i found a door ding right along the crease. i was furious, so i went back to my photos. Low and behold, when i used the zoom function on my camera i found the ding. i couldn't see it because the car was dirty. i think it's a good idea, protects you and the dealership.
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08-14-2007, 08:52 PM	#5
ejazbmw blahhh 302 Rep 6,355 Posts Drives: 2014 M235I Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (7)	most of the time if you bitch enough they'll come up and take the blame well at least in my case they did...
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08-14-2007, 09:35 PM	#6
hool97 Private First Class 2 Rep 110 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Extremely good idea. I think I will do this even for service visits.
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08-14-2007, 10:20 PM	#7
Sniz Lieutenant General 654 Rep 10,587 Posts Drives: e92 335 - gone // e36 M3 turbo Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ellicott City, MD iTrader: (1)	service appt friday..........i'm gonna do it! __________________
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08-14-2007, 10:27 PM	#8
Spool ****** 558 Rep 6,169 Posts Drives: A few Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (24)	Way to stick it to the man.... good job __________________ MKIV 6spd 1000hp Club
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08-14-2007, 10:34 PM	#9
shadowcoder Captain 51 Rep 921 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Jose, CA / Orland Park, IL iTrader: (1)	Nice one. I've only done it myself once. To be honest the service dept should be doing this on their own. It would still piss me off a lot to find a scratch or ding in my car even if they own up to it.
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08-14-2007, 10:41 PM	#10
ward Major General 155 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	do you have to put a picture of the days newspaper in there or something? how do they know you didn't take the picture upon delivery of the car?
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08-14-2007, 10:48 PM	#11
JSpira Freude am Fahren 336 Rep 5,254 Posts Drives: Fünfer, Dreier, + Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New York, München, Wien iTrader: (1)	My dealership takes pictures of all incoming cars - I think it´s smart on their part. __________________ Freude am Fahren. Jonathan E90 2006 330xi E90 2006 325i E39 2003 530i Sport* E46 2000 328Ci* E36 1996 328iS* E36 1992 325i* E30 1991 318is E21 1982 320iS* E21 1979 320 (6-Zyl)* *retired Nominated: Most Contributing Member
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08-15-2007, 12:17 AM	#13
GreddyBoy858 Mack 28 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Cunningham BMW in El Cajon, CA takes pics of all the cars right when you check your car in... __________________ 2006 BMW 325i / Jet Black / Black Dakota / Step / Nav w/ iDrive/ Premium / Sport / Sat Radio/ Adaptive Xenon Headlights / Debadged / Chrome Exhaust Tips / Rear Foglight Mod. / Rear DC Power Outlet Mod. / 20% Tint
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08-15-2007, 12:56 AM	#14
Tag this is the way 18149 Rep 8,527 Posts Drives: N-1 starfighter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)	I always do what's called a "Walk Around" wherever I am dropping my car off for any type of service. They should have a sheet of paper with a general outline of a car with one view from the top and one for both left and right side of the car. You can then walk around the car with them and they can mark off the areas that already have damage on them if there are any. I then have them date and sign it and I keep a copy for myself. If you have pictures that is good too, but a singed and dated document is better than just pictures unless you can get them to sign and date the pictures. The OP got lucky in a way, his car was in an accident and in their lot so they couldn't say he took those pictures before there was any damage to the car. If they are not willing to do this go somewhere else.
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08-15-2007, 03:27 AM	#17
Leesi Good Student Driver 11 Rep 589 Posts Drives: Black BMW Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	Do you take pictures right before check-in? or at home before go to dealership? __________________ Right E92 sideskirt for sale $50 Jet Black color with minor scratches PM ME!
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08-15-2007, 04:36 AM	#18
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	I think taking pics is ok, but only for one's own knowledge, that is we as the owner would truly know what the condition was before. The pics wouldn't prove anything, were they taken at home? At the convenience store on the way? Maybe taking a pic while the tech were getting in the car could substantiate that the pic was taken at the DMARC, the point at which the dealership took possession. imho things have to be reasonable. My dealership inspects all vehicles for dings/damage prior to driving it. Imagine if it got dinged while waiting for service at the BMW dealer, it could turn into a he said/she said. In a reasonable society, actions have to be reasonable. As we all have seen, the internet/WWW is not always such. Again, it's not a bad idea, but more so in a way where we can be certain what condition our vehicle was in prior to turning it over. The pics imho don't prove anything to anyone else. How do I know? I watch a lot of CSI.
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08-15-2007, 06:29 AM	#20
JackMac Recovering BMW Addict 151 Rep 1,914 Posts Drives: <OO (\|\|\|)(\|\|\|) OO> Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Southeast PA iTrader: (7) Garage List 2010 MINI John Coop ... [9.66]	My dealership does a walkaround of the car with you when you arrive. They note any issues, and you sign off on it.
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08-15-2007, 06:41 AM	#21
roadkillrob Major General 863 Rep 5,448 Posts Drives: 08 335i,22 X3M, 2012 C63 Black Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (15)	My dealer also does a walk around when you drop your car off - I got a scape ealier in the year and mentioned it to them after I picked up the car and asked them to pull the walk around they had a hard time finding it and said they wouldn't have noticed it anyway, that they only note major damage. They came good on it and fixed it up though!
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