: i was washing my car about 6:00 this morning and this girl comes out of her apartment looking over my '73 '02 and she asked if i had it repainted and wanted to know who repainted it.

: i was hesitant to tell her as i wasn't happy, satisfied, etc. with the body shop i had my '02 done at. there was so many things wrong with my car when it came out, from the little things to the big things. here's a SMALL list:

: 1) dried up paint drip on the left front fender
: 2) brake lights didn't work
: 3) back up lights didn't work
: 4) when they replaced the passenger door i presume they didn't sand down the door enough cuz a small crack on in front of the side view mirror reveals that the door is off a RED '02
: 5) primer on my custom rear deck speakers
: 6) the steering column is missing some screws
: 7) front bmw badge on rear and vice versa
: 8) small paint splatters on 6 month old rims
: 9) didn't replace the side markers - european look now
: 10) missing screws, only 2, on grilles
: 11) missing knurling nut that holds the grilles from inside engine compartment

: and the list goes on. some were major some weren't. but i figure if you're going to fork over some obscene amount of cash well......no wonder they have a "lifetime warranty" on their workmanship.

: i'm not sure whether to say the name of the shop but if anyone wants to know, i suppose, you can email me. i'm a consumer just like everyone else and i don't like other people experiencing what i go through. the only reason why i took it to this body shop is that he knows '02s, he works on other cars, and he's very active in the bmw circle as he's also a driving instructor. oh. by the way, i was recommended to this body shop from someone on this message board. don't know if that person actually had experience with the mechanic but it's coolio.

: anyway, back to the original thought. the girl asks where my body shop was. her car's a late model volvo and the damage, i estimate, shouldn't cost her a little more than a G. nothing bondo can't fix. plus she's leasing the thing anyway.

: so.....can anyone recommend a R-E-S-P-E-C-T-A-B-L-E body shop in the w. LA area that won't give anyone a hard time. i plan on having another '02 painted so this is killing two birds with one stone.

: thanx for listening (reading) and your advice. just venting.