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Disaster!!! Side walls/sill collapsed in - corrosion + bodge job

Yep another vote for the garages incorrect jacking as the primary cause of all that regardless of the state of the sills - Am not surprised they suggested that you should be furious with the dealer as a smokescreen because equally you should be furious with them too. Good luck, hope you can resolve it amicably with the garage without having to resort to more draconian means.
 
Its pretty clear to see something has pushed up into sill and pushed out beneath door which is not how it should be jacked

Perhaps a suggestion to garage owner to take a trolley jack to his car and jack his up by sills may prove interesting

Is garage member of any trade bodies?

Get a second opinion as to how from another garage?
 
Yep shouldn't collapse like that, I drove mine around and jacked mine up with 'load bearing gaffer tape' covering a large part of missing sill in that area.
Incorrect jacking.
 
Yikes. Thanks guys. Wasn't expecting that really... I think it's a good idea to take it somewhere to get a 2nd opinion - on both .......

(1) a bodge job underneath with fibre glass filling which would mean the dealership I bought it from has been negligable as this could be 'dangerous'. Under the Sale Of Goods act, I'm sure there's precedent for not selling something that is unsafe to drive and they have that responsibility!

(2) The nasty damage we see now was caused by incorrect lifting/jacking, and the garage has been negligent.

Honestly, I'm shocked by the latter if that's the case. The garage in question .... I've used for years, has always been spot-on identifying every issue that other garages have incorrectly diagnosed, never overcharged me and have probably saved me thousands over the years. It's so flipping hard finding an honest and decent garage and mechanic that you can trust to go back to again and again. The main guy himself drives Porsche's including owning 944's back in the day who was doing the work for me, so I'm very surprised if he has been so negligent considering that and years of fantastic service.

I'll have to be very careful how I broach this with them, as a long standing customer and mate I'm 99% certain that they would do the job properly but a lot less than anywhere else I took it to regardless if they were at fault or not.

[&o]
 
OK guys ... I have some news .... most definitely very bad... just back from a Porsche authorised body and accident repair place and we got it up on the lift.

Before I say anything else .... take a look at these pics and let me know what you think .......................


damage8.jpg


damage6.jpg


damage2.jpg


damage1.jpg


damage12.jpg


damage9.jpg


damage7.jpg



 
The words weldathon spring to mind. I am sorry to say that those sills are well past their best, the back jacking points would be a challenge and a half to repair. It looks like they have been fibreglassed over on one side as there is no return edge and it is very smooth.
Alasdair
 
Whoa.... I'm surprised they even put it on the lift, looks really rotten. How long ago did you purchase the car and was it private or trade?

Dave
 
ORIGINAL: dlknight
Whoa.... I'm surprised they even put it on the lift, looks really rotten. How long ago did you purchase the car and was it private or trade?

A little over 2 months ago ... from a dealer/trade......
 
Yes, I don't think the garage (whom you trust) is culpable; I'm afraid it looks like a total rot box. Hopefully you can get somewhere with the seller if it's a trader.
 
Yes sticking by your garage was a good move. It looks like the jacking point has totally collapsed causing it to fall onto the sill and damage it. Not the garage's fault at all. That really does look pretty serious and will cost probably the value of the car to sort properly. I've just had very similar looking rust removed and its took more than 50 hours labour plus parts. Put that on a calculator. I would absolutely be going back to the chap you bought it from.

Don't assume the worst and ask nicely to start with. Send him the pictures and a report and he may be reasonable to preserve his reputation but if not I think you have a pretty clear case of not fit for purpose.
 
Well my day just keeps getting ****** worse.

Just fired up my Mazda (my previous car ... I held back from selling after having a lot niggles and issues with the Porsche... probably a wise move)... about to put her back on the road when I move off slowly, hear a nasty clunk, then scraping noises putting on the brakes [:eek:] engine oil seems to have vanished somewhere and all!

[:eek:][:eek:][:eek:]

More on the Porsche in a short while...
 

ORIGINAL: Outrun944

Well my day just keeps getting ****** worse.

Just fired up my Mazda (my previous car ... I held back from selling after having a lot niggles and issues with the Porsche... probably a wise move)... about to put her back on the road when I move off slowly, hear a nasty clunk, then scraping noises putting on the brakes [:eek:] engine oil seems to have vanished somewhere and all!

[:eek:][:eek:][:eek:]

More on the Porsche in a short while...

I don't think your Mazda is as big a problem as you're suggesting - I know that's easy for me to say as I'm not in your situation, but... if the Mazda hasn't been driven for a while I'd guess the handbrake shoes were rusted-on and the clunk was them releasing themselves? Same with the brakes scraping - just needs a good drive to clean and rust off the discs and pads.

How much oil was in it when you last drove it? Is there a big puddle where the car was sitting? If no obvious massive leak, I'd just top it up again and check levels and underneath the car regularly.

Hopefully your dealer will be honorable with the 944. If not Trading Standards and/or a well written letter from a solicitor will work wonders.

Check with your home/contents or motor legal insurance - they'll sometimes cover you for reasonable solicitors fees in legal disputes - but hopefully it won't come to that.
 
Sorry, yes Gulp, you're probably exactly correct.

Just very frustrated, fed up and strung out right now.
Perhaps I should go and get some kip and tackle things fresh tomorrow.
 
OK last post today from me ....

#1 the Porsche approved body/accident repair centre I went to this morning has this to say in a nutshell (paraphrasing) from their official and signed report -

'in my opinion this vehicle should not be used as the corrosion (and body filler used to hide the corrosion) on sills, 1/4 panels, doors, wings and floor pan would make the car too weak in an impact to offer enough protection to its occupants'
'this car should not have passed a recent MOT in the last few months and any MOT centre that has passed it should be reported to VOSA' (!!!!)
'the car is beyond economic repair'
etc etc

Basically, they're completely astounded by the state of it, and the extent of the 'cover up'. I'm not sure they've seen anything like this in quite some time.


#2 my 'trusted garage' seems to think it's repairable ... well anything is depends on how far you want to go ... but is looking into parts and costs for me tonight and tomorrow.

I guess I'll be pursuing legal avenues with the dealer, we'll see what they say tomorrow when I call. Just had some interesting stuff sent through to me by trading standards.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone that has had a similar situation and pursued things....

I've really got to think whether any kind of attempt at repair is worth it. Even if say ... the total repair came to under £2k .... what major failings could I expect from the car? There's very little service history ... and I've seen a few topics about engine rebuilds on mileage much less than mine....blah blah

Your advice and words of wisdom greatly appreciated as always guys [:)]

 
ORIGINAL: Outrun944
I've really got to think whether any kind of attempt at repair is worth it. Even if say ... the total repair came to under £2k

Your doing the right thing so far. Your in a strong position and you'll come out just fine. I bought a car from a dodgy dealer turned out to have a crack in the engine block. He had 3 CCJ's against him and a false address. I still managed to track him down and pester him for enough money to cover the repairs on the car he'd sold me because it was within the first 3 months and he knew it was a lost cause to fight it. Less hassle to pay me to shut up! You'll be fine.

Secondly if you really know these guys and there good then 'maybe' you'll get it done for under that figure but don't kid yourself too much because this job really grows once you get into it. It could EASILY end up costing more than double that even with the garage being reasonable and you have to ask yourself if its worth getting into? On a car worth £2k max?
 
I've really got to think whether any kind of attempt at repair is worth it. Even if say ... the total repair came to under £2k .... what major failings could I expect from the car? There's very little service history ... and I've seen a few topics about engine rebuilds on mileage much less than mine....blah blah

If a trader has sold you a car with that amount of corrosion, and an MOT ( a miracle, or possibly not an honest MOT ) and no proper history, just get your money back and move on. I'd not hesitate to get trading standards in if that car had an MOT.

There are good cars out there, my pretty decent oval-dash lux sold for not much more than half what you've earmarked for repairs, with full history. And I'd say there is closer to double what you're thinking of in repairs if you do a half-proper job of it.

I'd consider it if the rest of the car was mint, i.e. immaculate history, perfect interior, great engine, recent clutch, head gasket, brake overhaul, fuel lines etc.
 
I will be having a S2 for sale quite soon, 1991 on a J plate. 167,000 miles on it but had a fresh engine 20,000 miles ago. I am just putting a new (genuine!) water pump, full set of belts and rollers on it at the moment. Also just fitted 968 caster mounts, there is slight bubbling on the underseal on the sills but they are solid underneath. Interior is leather sports seat and it has a bridge spoiler too with both side trims intact! Will be getting new front disks as there is a slight warp in them and a few other wee bits and pieces. Also fitted a stainless back exhaust section. Car is on 17 inch Cup 3 alloys in reasonable nick. MOTed to September, tax is up next month. Lots of history with the car. £3500.00
Also have a red 1990 S2 with just over 100K on it. Had top end of engine and clutch done. Needs some welding and I am fitting sills to this, it is Guards Red but a bit pink. Bit of lacquer peeling but should come up with a cut and polish. Black pin stripe interior in good fettle! £4,500 with new sill and paint and a years MOT.
Alasdair


 

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