[kelvin2010]

Hey guys,

I just purchased a AW painted front lip from a vendor on the forum and got it two weeks ago.
After I installed it, I found that the fitment was not very good and the paint color doesn't match, their paint is kind of darker/a little bit blue than my AW body. But I think, I am not buying an OEM product and for $450 with painted, I should not expect too much. So, I just forget it.
3 days after installation. The first spot on the lip started to peel off.

But I am a really easy-go guy, I thought this spot was not obvious. So, I just put some touch up paint on it and hope it would not keep peeling off again. Unluckily, the paint keeps peeling off and like what is in the picture now.

And few days later, I found that there are two more spots have paint started to peel off.

I was like....In two weeks, three spots paint have been peeling off.


In this spot, MAYBE it is caused by rock chipped, but I think it is related to the quality of the paint more or less. For instance, my hood and bumper get rock chipped every day, but the paint on them won't keep peeling off.
I really didn't expect that I have to spend few hundred dollars more for repainting in two weeks after I got my new lip.


I contacted with the vendor and complained about the quality. They offered me a $100 refund.
And now, the question is....should I take the refund?
First, I am afraid that I took the $100, but the paint cannot be repaired and still keep peeling off. Then I gotta spend another few hundred dollar for repaint or get another new lip.
Second, I don't know what I can do for that $100. For a repaint, way not enough. For a touch up paint job, enough...But in two weeks after I got a new lip, I have to put touch up paint to maintain, it makes me feel so badly.
And what if it still peels off after I put touch up paint? I don't want to see my lip be bald that soon...

I did a easy calculation. I purchased this lip at $450, and repaint job quoted by my body shop is $250. Now, $450+$250-$100=$600 (deduct $100 if I take their $100 refund). For $600, I could get an OEM lip and get a paint job locally.

Guys! Please give me some advices!!!

[DeepD.Fast.Rider]

Ok Their paint job is crap, if its peeling, that looks like an ABS lip, there is no Primer. No Primer = No Paint Bonding to Lip. Thus crap. You should ask for $250 Refund and get it redone by a professional, who will scrape it down to the ABS, then Prime it, Then Paint it, Lacquer it, and bake it.
Touch Up will worsen it. So dont bother. Out of Curiousity, you have done official purchase with invoice etc? In that case I would push for repaint and refit.

[qclik]

Ask for more, if its not primer prior painting, tons of peeling would happen easily just like mine, 1/3 of the lip peel off in just 2 weeks.

[kelvin2010]

Originally Posted by deepak.j

Ok Their paint job is crap, if its peeling, that looks like an ABS lip, there is no Primer. No Primer = No Paint Bonding to Lip. Thus crap. You should ask for $250 Refund and get it redone by a professional, who will scrape it down to the ABS, then Prime it, Then Paint it, Lacquer it, and bake it.
Touch Up will worsen it. So dont bother. Out of Curiousity, you have done official purchase with invoice etc? In that case I would push for repaint and refit.

I hope they would get me $250 refund. They stated that they are well known on this forum, and all of the customers love the quality. But I think even 99% of customers are satisfied on the quality, it doesn't mean they produce every single piece of product without mistake.
Anyway, I will go to my body shop to see what they can do and get a quote from them because $250 is for paint job from nothing to painted. I don't know if they will charge more for prime it.

[kelvin2010]

Originally Posted by qclik

Ask for more, if its not primer prior painting, tons of peeling would happen easily just like mine, 1/3 of the lip peel off in just 2 weeks.

damn...then what did you do??

[B-737]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533134

you purchased a discount product, installed it, and are now reaping the 'benefits'...
I think $100 is a very GENEROUS offer.

that thing looks awful, paint color is way off too, its going to bring down the aesthetics of your whole car the longer you leave it on. chalk it up as a lesson learned and buy OEM.

[fenixxishot]

Or you could have got an oem one painted from tischer for just under 500

[bimmertt]

Don't take the 100.

If you search around, others have had this same problem. I saw pics where the whole lip was pitted like that. I think they got a refund for the cost of a repaint. I would either want a full refund or cost of repaint. This shouldn't be your problem and any good vendor should stand by their product.

[Edward]

Take $100 only after insisting on a full refund. Take lip off and throw it in the garbage or sell as is to someone who's willing to repaint and make that piece look semi decent. Then keep it stock or buy a new oem lip when you can afford to do it right.

[AlpinWeiss]

Just return it and get the OEM. Its not worth it. This thing has already left a bad taste in your mouth. Better to get the real deal.

[kelvin2010]

It's hard to ask for a full refund or return it.
I understand my lip is used, it is hard to return it.
At most, I just want to ask for the cost of repaint it.

Some people say buying non-OEM product, I can't expect any quality.
I can't totally agree. Like I said, after I got the lip, the paint color and fitment were not 100%. It's acceptable because I am not buying an OEM product.
But the paint just peels off in two weeks, this is hard to accept. This lip is kind of expensive one for a rep lip. Even I buy a ebay lip for $35 dollars and get the paint, I believe the paint won't peel off in two weeks. And it is even much cheaper.
From Tischer, painted lip costs $500(I didn't know that), now I am paying $450. If an OEM lip can last 10 years, then I should expect it at least can last 5 years. If I bought a piece of crap for $30, it broke 1 hour after installation, I would not even say anything. This vendor selling the lip at a price close to OEM lip, they should give me a reliable product.

[JStang]

Tischer offers the OEM lip pre-painted for under $500.00 shipped. Definitely worth the extra $50.00 to get OEM fit and finish and you are dealing with a quality proven vendor.

http://www.trademotion.com/shoppingc...D%26subcat5%3D

[kelvin2010]

Originally Posted by JStang

Tischer offers the OEM lip pre-painted for under $500.00 shipped. Definitely worth the extra $50.00 to get OEM fit and finish and you are dealing with a quality proven vendor.

http://www.trademotion.com/shoppingc...D%26subcat5%3D

Shit...I didn't know that...If I knew it, I would definitely go for Tischer...

[335m_33]

mind i ask which vendor?

[bimmertt]

Here is what your lip will eventually look like...still think $100 is enough? Refund for new paint job or bust...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=361288

[bimmertt]

another...
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379782

[B-737]

Originally Posted by bimmertt

Here is what your lip will eventually look like...still think $100 is enough?

yes... i mean the OP knowingly bought a knockoff part that's of highly suspect quality and finish. Made in Asia, its not a mystery whats going to happen. The OP installed it and used it, the retailer doesnt owe him a nickel IMHO....

caveat emptor

[kelvin2010]

Originally Posted by 335m_33

mind i ask which vendor?

Sorry. I don't want to tell the name of the vendor so far.
But if they are not gonna take the responsibility of their product quality, I will definitely telling the truth and make some "ads" for it.

[dwells]

A $100 refund is not acceptable, this is extremely shoddy quality. Tell them that you want either a full return for refund or a partial refund that covers the full cost of repainting. If they don't want to cooperate, take it up with your credit card company. Any good credit card company will be on your side in a situation life this.

Also, I wouldn't mind knowing who the vendor is so I can avoid them.

[B-737]

what are you guys not getting here???
its like buying a cardboard helmet because its cheaper. You buy it, use it, knock yourself out and ruin the helmet. you cant return it; you bought it, used it, and it sucked.

Next time get the real deal.

no doubt the OP got hosed, but I just don't feel like the vendor is on the hook for this one. They are made at that price point to hit a specific market of people, in doing that, your giving stuff up like quality... If the OP never installed the product, then he should get a full refund. But this thing is used!

i must be crazy if im the only one who see this...

[Analog]

The lip is going to have LOTS of rock chip down the road. You will definitely need to properly REPAINT the lip.
$100 refund might seem reasonable to the seller since the paint job in ASIA most likely cost less than $100. But it's impossible to have someone paint the lip for $100 in the US.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by B-737

what are you guys not getting here???
its like buying a cardboard helmet because its cheaper. You buy it, use it, knock yourself out and ruin the helmet. you cant return it, you bought it, used it, and it sucked.

Next time get the real deal.

no doubt the OP got hosed, but I just don't feel like the vendor is on the hook for this one. They are made at that price point to hit a specific market of people, in doing that, your giving stuff up like quality... If the OP never installed the product, then he should get a full refund. But this thing is used!

i must be crazy if im the only one who see this...

Nope, I'm with you bro. But at the time of my OEM rant, I was "justifying throwing my money away." The cardboard helmet reference had me ROTF Kev, but it's a great analogy!