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Choosing a Repair Shop
7 Things You Should Know Before Having Your Car Repaired
Proper Restoration of Your Vehicle
Factory-Like Paint
Understanding Frame Repair
NEW! Computerized Wheel Alignment
NEW! Virtual Plane Wheel Balancer
Down Draft Spray Booth
The Small Damage Repair System
Paintless Dent Removal (PDR)
Advanced Business System
CSI (Customer Satisfaction Indexing)
Choosing a Repair Shop
Choosing a collision repair shop can be a stressful ordeal, especially when the decision has to be made after you've been involved in an accident. We therefore suggest that you become familiar with your options as the vehicle owner before requiring the services of a body shop or your insurance company.
Please compare what we at Automotive Excellence can offer. We have a professional office staff, familiar with the insurance claims process. We help you through the repair process, using the latest computer estimating and digital imaging technology. Our customers benefit from having a hassle free insurance claims process due to competitive pricing and efficient repair procedures resulting in shortened repair times. Besides taking advantage of our specialized collision and paint technicians, you benefit by having all accident-related mechanical repairs performed right here, on site, by our award winning service department, trained and certified in every aspect of steering and suspension, alignments, air bags, anti-lock brakes, air conditioning and wiring, just to name a few. From start to finish, our goal is to restore your vehicle to a safe and proper condition, all in a timely fashion.
Finally, if that is not enough, we include a written warranty on all repairs done. We set the standard of excellence that is indicative of a quality shop deserving your trust.
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7 Things You Should Know Before Having Your Car Repaired
1. Your car is the second largest investment you're likely to make. Preserve its value and your safety by having it repaired professionally.
2. Never drive a car that could be unsafe because of damages.
3. Make and Appointment to visit your nearest MPI Claim Centre
4. You have the right to go to the repair shop of your choice.
5. Choose a shop that has uni-body repair equipment and certified (by I-CAR or ASE, for example) Technicians.
6. Ask if the shop will be using genuine manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts.
7. Ask if the shop offers a repair warranty.
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Proper Restoration of Your Vehicle
The words "body shop" bring to mind a visual image of dark, dingy and dirty. Upon a tour of our collision repair department, these images will be dispelled. We respect our technicians and your vehicle more than that. Enough to provide a bright, clean and well equipped shop that allow our craftsmen to quickly and efficiently begin the restoration of your vehicle. But before they can begin, we thoroughly wash, dry and inspect every vehicle. A teardown is performed in order to check for any hidden damage or additional parts that will be required. Our parts manager works closely with each collision technician to assure minimum delays due to parts availability. Our collision technicians have been here at WAM an average of 12 years. More important than the proper tools and support to restore your investment to its pre-loss condition is their commitment to ongoing education and training. This commitment to their profession combined with their I-CAR certifications and manufacturers' training is assuring when one considers the importance of their job ... the safe and proper restoration of your vehicle.
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Factory-Like Paint
Although every aspect of the repair process is important, the most frequently asked question is "will my paint match"? The question is understandable, since color match is what is visible once the repairs are complete. Steps are taken prior to your vehicle entering the paint department to assure this is accomplished. The formula is referenced with our database. At this time, we can determine what variation of the color is on your vehicle. You may be asking what is a variant. Simply stated, most of today's colors have more than one and in some cases several formulas for the same color. This can be caused by many reasons; such as what month your vehicle was built, at what plant it was assembled, just to name a few. The needed paint is then mixed on site and a test sprayout is performed to assure the best possible match. Prior to painting, the preparation is painstaking and time consuming.
The painting, or refinishing process, is very similar to building a house. The foundation, although not readily visible, is paramount to a quality outcome. Every step is taken to assure factory-like procedures are adhered to ... from the corrosion protection, through priming, topcoats and clearcoats. All vehicles are painted in our downdraft, heated spray booth, prior to the baking cycle. Vehicles are then baked at the prescribed temperatures and the times set forth by the vehicle manufacturer. Quality is never compromised. Procedures never skipped. The objective is clear: reproducing, as best as possible, the techniques and methods used at today's sophisticated assembly plants. You, and your investment deserve no less.
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Understanding Frame Repair
In order to understand "frame straightening" it is important to understand a few concepts of how the car manufacturers build vehicles and how they are meant to be repaired. This is the most maligned and misunderstood aspect of the collision repair process. The majority of today's cars are front wheel drive and frameless! The frames on such cars have been replaced with an all welded unitized construction, commonly referred to as a unibody. Rest assured, pound for pound, unibody construction provides unparalleled protection to the occupants of the vehicle. They accomplish this through energy management resulting in terrible looking wrecks. On the other hand, many SUV's, pick-ups and full size vans still have a conventional frame. In either case, our journeymen, using modem computer assisted equipment readily identify and correct frame or unibody damage. In this way, we are sure that vehicles are restored to their build specifications. Unibody parts that must be replaced can be fixtured in place for the welding process. Of course, any high-tech equipment is only as good as the person operating it. That is why our technicians are I-CAR and factory trained in collision theory and repair methods.
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NEW! Computerized Wheel Alignment
The new alignment system features the latest in alignment system technology. We can optimize your car's alignment, bringing it back to within factory specifications. This computer-based process uses sophisticated sensors, precision measurements, and digital feedback to get your vehicle running smoothly and trouble-free.
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NEW! Virtual Plane Wheel Balancer
Because many of today' vehicles are equipped with aluminum suspension systems, lighter wheels, and low-profile tires, it is essential to have ultra-precise wheel balancing. Our new John Bean wheel balancing system allows our service technicians to provide faster and more accurate wheel alignments.
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Down Draft Spray Booth
The Blowtherm Ultra 2000 Cabin provides a high tech, dust-free environment to optimize your vehicle's refinishing. You're assured of a superior finish that will not only look professional, but will also hold up to the harshest conditions.
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The Small Damage Repair System
A high-quality repair, done quickly and at an affordable price, is exactly what you get with the Sikkens Paint System, one of the most trusted names in automotive paint.
We use Sikkens paint products, known and respected among automotive professionals for their exceptional quality, appearance and durability.
It's Fast...
The biggest headache with getting your car repaired is usually just finding the time to get it done. The Small Damage Repair System makes it extremely convenient to have minor paint damage, up to 1.5 inches on vertical areas, repaired. In fact, unless you're having other work done at the same time, you probably won't even have to leave your car at the shop overnight. You can drop off your car in the morning and pick it up after lunch.
It's Affordable...
This new technology from Sikkens uses a unique "spot blender" which makes it possible to blend the paint in the area surrounding the damage without having to refinish the entire panel. That means less time and material is needed to repair the small damage-and it means you pay less for the job.
And It's High Quality...
In addition to saving you time and money, all repairs are backed by the WAM, which is backed by BASF, one of the world's largest and most respected companies. Our professional painters have completed extensive training to become certified in using the Small-Damage Repair System. This certification, combined with the world's finest automotive paint, assures you of a quality finish that is quick, affordable and permanent.
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Paintless Dent Removal (PDR)
PDR History
In the 1940's Automobile Manufacturers developed a Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) system to repair small dents created during the manufacturing process. Repairmen known as "dingmen" would use their knowledge of metal and specialized tools to access and massage out minor dings and dents working from the inside of the damaged panel.
Although PDR disappeared in the factories with manufacturing improvements, it has made a strong comeback due to dealership demand. The paintless dent removal system was introduced to Canada by U.S. firms running sorties into hail stricken areas. These "hail chasers" introduced their methods to interested individuals who set up companies of their own to offer Canadians PDR services. Although well established in the United States, PDR is just starting to blossom in the Canadian market.
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Advanced Business System
Mitchell's Advanced Business System (ABS) is the collision repair industry's leading computer-based business management system. ABS benefits our customers by automating and streamlining many of our business functions, helping us become more efficient and better able to serve our customers.
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CSI (customer Service Indexing)
CSI is a systematic performance monitoring system designed to gain important feedback from our Customers. After both the Purchase and Service of your vehicle, a CSI Representative will call or email you. CSI is a third-party monitoring agency that will ask a brief list of questions concerning the Sales and Delivery process, the Repair work, and Your Satisfaction with the Purchase and Service experience. We monitor the daily, weekly and monthly reports detailing how well we have served Our Customers. This process allows us to get frank, unbiased feedback and helps us to maintain our unsurpassed level of service. Our professionals are committed to your total satisfaction.
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