To Paint or Not To Paint?

[Andrey]

Hello gang!
Subaru dealer says my 06 Gold Opal needs total paint as it is ghosting on the hood, roof, back quarter panels etc. It is obvious that they can not paint the vehicle the same way factory does (overspray, crappy job, not buffing -the list is endless) Will you paint or leave it alone and just own a car as is?
Just wanna know your opinion! Thanks!

[snork]

I'd say it depends how bad the ghosting is:( If the car looks bad on casual observance, then have it painted. If it only looks bad to you because you know it's there, I don't think I would have it painted for the reasons you mentioned. HTH:Dunno:

Can you post a pic that captures the ghosting? I'm curious to see this problem.

[Andrey]

will take some pictures this weekend and post
finally, washed it and took pictures:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=424447699&albumID=730139&imageID=3899027
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=424447699&albumID=730139&imageID=3899399
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=424447699&albumID=730139&imageID=3899614
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=424447699&albumID=730139&imageID=3899718

I am really upset with this whole thing. I am paying for the new car which needs to be completely re-painted. I was told that it will become worse as sunlight will damage clearcoat/paint even more and this milky ghosting will increase. So far I have it on the hood, front fenders, roof, outside door arches, rear doors, rear quarter panels, rear spoiler.

[Andrey]

Did anybody have their Gold painted by Subaru? I still have till 3/36K to decide to paint or not. anybody???

[snork]

Yeah, that looks pretty obvious and it sucks that it's all over the car:( I'd think I'd definitely have them repaint it if they are going to foot the bill.

[Magic Marker]

Yeah, that looks pretty obvious and it sucks that it's all over the car:( I'd think I'd definitely have them repaint it if they are going to foot the bill.
Agreed. Let them paint it.

[DubyaSTI]

I would have them paint it. Most Subaru dealers don't have their own body shop and will send it out to a local shop for repair. If your not happy with the job they do, have them do it again. The squeeky bearing gets the grease! :lol:

[Andrey]

Subaru NA contacted me and said they will pay 4K for the paintjob. Dealer gave me the card of the bodyshop they use. I need to go check 'em out.I think I will wait till late spring as there is no point in painting it before winter.

[snork]

If SOA is gonna foot the bill, I would probably find my own bodyshop...not necessarily the one the dealer recommends. Most dealers use an avg quality shop that can get their work done cheap.

[Andrey]

I am not sure if they will allow me to find a shop. I had some minor touch up done by a friend recommended shop and it was almost perfect job (sorry, I am a discriminating consumer)

[Tribeca_06]

i have the same problem!!! grr!! Andrey what finally happened?? did the pay? b/c i have to go see my dealer and call SOA and go through with a repaint b/c i cant stand the ghosting!

[Andrey]

now my dealer claims that they have to do approval again as I did not paint it during late fall/winter. For the life of me - if the warranty work was approved once... why there is a need to do that again??? is there expiration time? if yes why nobody alerted me that there is TTL (time to live) for this ? grrrr....

[Tribeca_06]

wow thats really messed up. you think they would like treat you alot better. i mean they sold us cars with freaking DEFECTIVE PAINT. wtf. i still have to get to the dealer and see whats up, what warranty is this covered by...3year/36,000mile or the 5year one with the whole rust protection..(subaru warranty book)

[Tribeca_06]

is re-painting a car a good idea tho?? my friend said it doesnt last long and becoems crappy???

[Andrey]

Well, finally after multiple problems I got my Tribeca home 9/25/09. I've signed the bill which Subaru paying to dealership for $4,980. Can you imagine that!!!! 5K to re-paint the car - that is without full dissasemble. I will post some pictures for you people to see.
In the painting booth
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted06#5386261994235549154
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted05#5386261866267378450
All done
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_paint#5386254655531421522
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_paint#5386254659252881266
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_paint#5386254662999659906
Bumper needed re-paint
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted02#5386257931507608386
Impreza side molding fitment
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted04#5386258728650814978
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted03#5386258335001479522
It came out nice but if it would be up to me I would find a better shop. The problem is that Subaru will allow only "approved" shop (usually your local dealer chooses one). While at the shop I've swapped OEM grille with 2007 mesh grille. I've also ordered color matched J39 Gold Opal door rubber moldings from spoilerdepot.com
http://www.spoilerdepot.com/body-side-molding/2005-on-subaru-tribeca/item-32812/

[Tribeca_06]

Well, finally after multiple problems I got my Tribeca home 9/25/09. I've signed the bill which Subaru paying to dealership for $4,980. Can you imagine that!!!! 5K to re-paint the car - that is without full dissasemble. I will post some pictures for you people to see.
In the painting booth
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted06#5386261994235549154
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted05#5386261866267378450
All done
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_paint#5386254655531421522
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_paint#5386254659252881266
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_paint#5386254662999659906
Bumper needed re-paint
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted02#5386257931507608386
Impreza side molding fitment
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted04#5386258728650814978
http://picasaweb.google.com/alevenko/Tribeca_painted03#5386258335001479522
It came out nice but if it would be up to me I would find a better shop. The problem is that Subaru will allow only "approved" shop (usually your local dealer chooses one). While at the shop I've swapped OEM grille with 2007 mesh grille. I've also ordered color matched J39 Gold Opal door rubber moldings from spoilerdepot.com
http://www.spoilerdepot.com/body-side-molding/2005-on-subaru-tribeca/item-32812/

nice! happy everything workout...soon im going to my dealer to have this done...ive talked to you before about this and im going to have it the dealer and such look at it and file the problem with the paint my next service..which shouldd be somewhat soon..any advice?? and you were under 36,000 mile or above?

[Tribeca_06]

did they take the class out????? wow.

[Andrey]

No, they did not take glass out as it is PIA for them. The windshield is impossible to remove as it is "glued" into the body. they've removed moldings, bumpers, doorhandles, taillights, headlights etc and masked the whole car. It came out nice - better then it was with that milky ghosting

[Tribeca_06]

looks good! So they clovered the glass? How was the interior of the car, they didnt damage it?

[sge377]

Subaru has agreed to paint my vehicle for $500 out of pocket and they will throw in a rental car. I went to a local dealer that has a bodyshop. I have tried to get them to pay for the whole thing ( I know its only $500). My point being the car is less then 3 1/2 years old, paint is perfect (except for ghosting) and only has 24000 miles. The issue is that the car is out of warrenty and I am the second owner, thats their excuse. I really don't want to get it painted, but I also don't want drive around in a newer vehicle that has the paint condition of a 1985 buick !!!

[Tribeca_06]

thats not a bad deal but you shouldnt have to pay anything, what you could do is try a differnt dealer, or did you buy it from a dealer? where are you located? they dont treat second owners well but you still shoudlt have to pay anything, you can also call Subaru Of America and file a complaint and such and talk to a supervisor but it depends how much you want to fight it, and you can also play the loyal customer bull card too, good luck! Oh and also you can fight and remind them how many people (for example on this site) have had this problem and such..good luck! Ive yet to get mine done yet either and plan on in about 500miles about my next service so im right behind ya.

[sge377]

The problem is that the dealer I bought it from is over 2 hours away and the closest dealer is over 30 miles away. I'm located in northeast PA. I decided to go with this dealer because their bodyshop is known to do great work.
I already been on the phone with Subaru at least 4 times and the dealer 6 times and thats the best they can do. I guess we all have to remember the auto industry is really hurting and not just in sales but also service. The dealer also is going to program my extra set of keys (for no extra cost). Actual its going to cost $500...LOL

[Tribeca_06]

hmm its not a bad deal, but the dealer you bought it from would be better,or where you service the B9T..but thats really not a bad deal and they do good work thats great..the cost is about $5,000 so if you look at it that way its a really good deal. Im in Rockland N.Y btw, but also with the body shop be careful b/c things car wrong..what they do is take apart the hole car..lights, dorr handles..and such ( they leave the class.so i heard, i also think there are some pics of someone who did it in the To paint or not to paint..dicussion..) and depending on body shop but if its known to be a good shop then you should be fine and if something goes wrong they will settle it, and also if you dont like the results let SOA know

[Magnet]

I'm comming in late on this thread. I leased my 2006 Tribeca and then bought out the lease. I started having the same problem with the paint after i purchased it of course. I is getting progressively worse. about 4 wks ago i went in for service and asked them to check with subaru about the paint problem. they finally got back to me this week and said subaru will pay $5,100.00 to repaint the car if i will pay $1,000.00. I don't think i should need to pay anything.

Andrey, may i ask if you had to pay a portion of your repaint job? by the way i like the new grill you had put on.

Tribeca 06, did you ever have yours repainted and did you have any out of pocket costs?

thanks

[Tribeca_06]

wow not a bad deal..they have been a pain about the situation i heard, your right you shouldnt have to pay anything..you could call Subaru Of America and complain or argue that your not paying anything with the dealer..check this site you can gather alot of evidence about this paint defect and confront them with that? I havent gone to my dealer about it still, i plan on doing it in the spring or alittle before so i can have it repainted during the spring, when i confront them about it i will have all these forums as back up but recently it seems the dealers have been paying for the repaints. Your out of warranty or did you get the extended?

[Magnet]

I'm out of warranty. The dealership claims that my out of pocket costs covers removing all the trim pieces. they said that subaru's price covers the painting without removal of the trim (just taping it off). the dealership says that they will remove all the trim and sometimes these pieces are damaged in the process and need replacement, so they will charge me for the replacements.

[Magic Marker]

I'm out of warranty. The dealership claims that my out of pocket costs covers removing all the trim pieces. they said that subaru's price covers the painting without removal of the trim (just taping it off). the dealership says that they will remove all the trim and sometimes these pieces are damaged in the process and need replacement, so they will charge me for the replacements.
Give SOA a call and have paper back up of all the forum issues you can dig up here. I haven't come across a thread with anyone paying for trim pieces etc.

[Tribeca_06]

yeah i talked to a guy who said that during his process some door panel pieces were damaged but SOA covered the costs so i would contact SOA before you gave them any money

[Magnet]

thank you for the heads up on that one!

[Tribeca_06]

goood luck and let me know what happens!

[annie61]

this is just to let ppl know that this is problem has been known by Subaru for a long time. The clear coat did not adhear to the primer, it will eventually come completely OFF! Meaning you will lose your paint. I took my car to the Subaru Dealer having paid over 30,000 dollars for a vehicle this was unacceptable, I bought mine at the end of 2006 and the car had been in the shop in 2007 for an update and in 2008 for another issue, they knew...and never said a word. The paint has nothing to do with mileage on your car or the warranty, this was done during manufacturing and was covered up. I am hoping that the dealer SOA makes this right or I am going to the media. There are Lemon Laws against the mechanics for a car and I think there are laws against this. On a level to me it seems to be fraudulent. I took mine today, they took pics and said they were sending it to SOA. Keeping my fingers crossed that SOA does the RIght thing! Ford had a problem with the Crown Victoria and they re-painted at no cost to the consumer..Let's all stand together on this one! It was A lot of money and the car has no resale value if the paint comes off!

[Tribeca_06]

this is just to let ppl know that this is problem has been known by Subaru for a long time. The clear coat did not adhear to the primer, it will eventually come completely OFF! Meaning you will lose your paint. I took my car to the Subaru Dealer having paid over 30,000 dollars for a vehicle this was unacceptable, I bought mine at the end of 2006 and the car had been in the shop in 2007 for an update and in 2008 for another issue, they knew...and never said a word. The paint has nothing to do with mileage on your car or the warranty, this was done during manufacturing and was covered up. I am hoping that the dealer SOA makes this right or I am going to the media. There are Lemon Laws against the mechanics for a car and I think there are laws against this. On a level to me it seems to be fraudulent. I took mine today, they took pics and said they were sending it to SOA. Keeping my fingers crossed that SOA does the RIght thing! Ford had a problem with the Crown Victoria and they re-painted at no cost to the consumer..Let's all stand together on this one! It was A lot of money and the car has no resale value if the paint comes off!


Any luck on your Subaru?

[sge377]

I had my Tribeca painted about a year ago. They did a really nice job.
I had to pay the $500 deductable to the dealer, but Subura paid the rest of the $5800 bill. If the dealer is giving you a hard time you need to go straight to Subaru !

[Tribeca_06]

not horrible! let us know how it comes out annie