California Environmental Engineering

efdiesel3s · 05-23-2013, 09:11 PM

So I get this letter in the mail about participating in a emissions research program for my 335d. I would lend them my car for 7-10 business days, they provide me with a f10 528i as a rental, and I'd get my car back the car with a full tank and a $500 check for participating. The offer sounded so good to me that I had to participate. Someone from their company, California Environmental Engineering, calls me and sets up an appointment to pick up the car from my house. We exchange cars doing the necessary paper work and I drive the 5 series around for 2 weeks. They bring the car back and initially I just do a quick look around if there are any damages but none that I could see at that point in time. Sign the paper work and get my car and the $500 check. The next day as I am washing the car I find some horrible scratches underneath my bumper like they drove it into a parking block. I immediately call and email California Environmental Engineering to tell them the situation. They reply with "were looking into it." I have kept emailing and calling them every day for updates but still nothing as of yet. I am pretty frustrated and annoyed that they damaged my car. I really hope that they pay to get this fixed. Worst case scenario I'm going to take them to a small claims court.

Saigon · 05-23-2013, 09:39 PM

Sorry to hear. Hope they fixed things.

Eagle1oh7 · 05-23-2013, 10:35 PM

YMB_F80 · 05-24-2013, 07:12 AM

hmm from the looks of it, its from a parking block and or dips... you should really see the bottom of my 1M though... wayyyyy worst than this haha GL tho!

SeanS54 · 05-24-2013, 11:28 AM

mines is way worst than this from daily driving... it's bound to happen... it's just the way our bumpers sit low... I wouldn't go through the hassle of seeking a claim or court... use that $500 and buy a lip and you'll never see it...

jyeah · 05-24-2013, 11:50 AM

$500 should be more than enough for the repair of that bumper. :P

caliguy562 · 05-24-2013, 11:52 AM

You don't want to see the bottom of my bumper either. Being lowered doesn't help. It's a shame, you didn't put does scratches on it, but those are bound to happen.

While I think they should compensate you for the damage, I wouldn't lose any sleep if they didn't.

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 05-24-2013, 11:53 AM

I can definetely understand the frustration. Bringing them to court is entirely up to you but you may find it not to be worth the hassle.

I would just throw a nice lip on the front and call it a day. As others mentioned this is bound to happen.

I've been driving lowered cars for the better part of the decade and no matter how hard I try this is inevitable.

Eagle1oh7 · 05-24-2013, 03:07 PM

Yes it's bound to happen, but the main issue here is that he didn't cause it.

1chanc3 · 05-24-2013, 05:33 PM

In the court of law, it is the burden of the plaintiff to provide proof that they did it. Unless you have pictures of the car right before you lent it to them, it's going to be a very tough case for you to win. It's going to be a here-say case between them and you, and they'll argue that it was there before. If it comes down to that, you'll lose.

C9A1L1L · 05-24-2013, 07:12 PM

Also you signed off on the car. That will hold up in court all day long.

VTECaddict · 05-24-2013, 10:24 PM

Like has already been said, sucks that it happened but its really no big deal. If you look under the bumper of any lowered car on the forum you will see MUCH MUCH worse than what you have there.

It sucks, and it sucks even more that it was someone else that did it. But it really was bound to happen sooner or later. Just get a lip and think of it as you got a free lip out of participating.

manutdas11 · 05-25-2013, 02:44 AM

They just broke it in for you, that's all. Put a lip on it with the money they gave you and you're as good as golden!

C9A1L1L · 05-25-2013, 01:11 PM

In all reality, unless the OP was on his hands and knees the days before he gave them the car not even he can be sure he's not the one who did it. It happens quite easily and all it takes is one single time brushing over something to get like yours is. Most guys have no paint in that area at all..

CE didn't necessarily even do this..

efdiesel3s · 05-25-2013, 05:26 PM

This is actually my 2nd bumper since the original one was backed into. I took my car to ltbmw and was quoted $400 + $100 refinishing for that bumper. So it will take all that $500 to fix it. I was not satisfied with their quality 2 times through (flaking and imperfections) that they just gave me a new bumper without holes in it. So this one on my car now was put on brand new about one and a half years ago and 10k miles on it. I just changed the oil less than a 1000 miles ago so I can tell you it was definitely not there. What annoys me most is that my car is stock height. Don't want to come off as a sexist but a woman picked up and dropped off the car.

SeanS54 · 05-25-2013, 05:28 PM

At stock height I scraped up my bumper and I've been driving lowered cars for years.

If you can't see it standing up I wouldn't worry about it.

efdiesel3s · 05-26-2013, 02:49 PM

most likely going to go with the suggestions and slap a lip on it. think i'm leaning towards the 3d design one. any other lips that look legit?

andydna15 · 05-30-2013, 12:01 AM

I used to work there.

Good luck

05-23-2013, 09:11 PM	#1
efdiesel3s Halle Berry or Hallelujah 1 Rep 57 Posts Drives: '11 335d, '93 fd3s, '90 e30 m3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	California Environmental Engineering So I get this letter in the mail about participating in a emissions research program for my 335d. I would lend them my car for 7-10 business days, they provide me with a f10 528i as a rental, and I'd get my car back the car with a full tank and a $500 check for participating. The offer sounded so good to me that I had to participate. Someone from their company, California Environmental Engineering, calls me and sets up an appointment to pick up the car from my house. We exchange cars doing the necessary paper work and I drive the 5 series around for 2 weeks. They bring the car back and initially I just do a quick look around if there are any damages but none that I could see at that point in time. Sign the paper work and get my car and the $500 check. The next day as I am washing the car I find some horrible scratches underneath my bumper like they drove it into a parking block. I immediately call and email California Environmental Engineering to tell them the situation. They reply with "were looking into it." I have kept emailing and calling them every day for updates but still nothing as of yet. I am pretty frustrated and annoyed that they damaged my car. I really hope that they pay to get this fixed. Worst case scenario I'm going to take them to a small claims court.
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05-23-2013, 09:39 PM	#2
Saigon Brigadier General 237 Rep 3,525 Posts Drives: BSM E92 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (47)	Sorry to hear. Hope they fixed things. __________________ 07' Alpine White E93 335i M-Sport \| BMW Performance \| Beige l Piano Black l Sport l Premium l Heated l Navi \| Steptronic l Comfort Access l Logic7 l iPod & USB \|
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05-23-2013, 10:35 PM	#3
Eagle1oh7 Lieutenant Colonel 288 Rep 1,710 Posts Drives: '11 328i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Chula Vista CA iTrader: (0)	__________________ DONE: Seibon CF Hood, M3 Rep, MSport rear w/DD CF Diffuser, M3 Rep Skirts, Seibon CSL trunklid, Forgestar F14 18s w/Michelin PSS, Eisenmann catback, AA Headers, BPC Stage 2, Charcoal Delete+revMotor+AFE Drop In filter FUTURE MODS: LED headlights, CF rooftop, M3 Suspension Conversion, Dinan CAI Mod
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05-24-2013, 07:12 AM	#4
YMB_F80 Lieutenant Colonel 445 Rep 1,529 Posts Drives: YMB F80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Socal/ SGV 626 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2009 335i [7.00] 2015 BMW M3 [10.00]	hmm from the looks of it, its from a parking block and or dips... you should really see the bottom of my 1M though... wayyyyy worst than this haha GL tho! __________________ 2015 BMW M3 (Yas Marina Blue)\| Toyo Tires \| Moton Suspension \| Instagram: YMB_F80
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05-24-2013, 11:28 AM	#5
SeanS54 Captain 168 Rep 842 Posts Drives: F82 M4 ZCP Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (20)	mines is way worst than this from daily driving... it's bound to happen... it's just the way our bumpers sit low... I wouldn't go through the hassle of seeking a claim or court... use that $500 and buy a lip and you'll never see it... __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/SeanS54/videos
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05-24-2013, 11:50 AM	#6
jyeah Second Lieutenant 30 Rep 216 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 335i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (3)	$500 should be more than enough for the repair of that bumper. :P
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05-24-2013, 11:52 AM	#7
caliguy562 Lieutenant 8 Rep 476 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: garaged somewhere in soCal iTrader: (3)	You don't want to see the bottom of my bumper either. Being lowered doesn't help. It's a shame, you didn't put does scratches on it, but those are bound to happen. While I think they should compensate you for the damage, I wouldn't lose any sleep if they didn't.
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05-24-2013, 11:53 AM	#8
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3442 Rep 79,211 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	I can definetely understand the frustration. Bringing them to court is entirely up to you but you may find it not to be worth the hassle. I would just throw a nice lip on the front and call it a day. As others mentioned this is bound to happen. I've been driving lowered cars for the better part of the decade and no matter how hard I try this is inevitable.
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05-24-2013, 03:07 PM	#9
Eagle1oh7 Lieutenant Colonel 288 Rep 1,710 Posts Drives: '11 328i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Chula Vista CA iTrader: (0)	Yes it's bound to happen, but the main issue here is that he didn't cause it. __________________ DONE: Seibon CF Hood, M3 Rep, MSport rear w/DD CF Diffuser, M3 Rep Skirts, Seibon CSL trunklid, Forgestar F14 18s w/Michelin PSS, Eisenmann catback, AA Headers, BPC Stage 2, Charcoal Delete+revMotor+AFE Drop In filter FUTURE MODS: LED headlights, CF rooftop, M3 Suspension Conversion, Dinan CAI Mod
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05-24-2013, 05:33 PM	#10
1chanc3 Major 150 Rep 1,100 Posts Drives: 2010 e92 335i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	In the court of law, it is the burden of the plaintiff to provide proof that they did it. Unless you have pictures of the car right before you lent it to them, it's going to be a very tough case for you to win. It's going to be a here-say case between them and you, and they'll argue that it was there before. If it comes down to that, you'll lose. __________________ 2010 335i Coupe- Monaco Blue Metallic
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05-24-2013, 07:12 PM	#11
C9A1L1L Private 4 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Also you signed off on the car. That will hold up in court all day long.
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05-24-2013, 10:24 PM	#12
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Like has already been said, sucks that it happened but its really no big deal. If you look under the bumper of any lowered car on the forum you will see MUCH MUCH worse than what you have there. It sucks, and it sucks even more that it was someone else that did it. But it really was bound to happen sooner or later. Just get a lip and think of it as you got a free lip out of participating. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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05-25-2013, 02:44 AM	#13
manutdas11 EL JIMMY NEURON 44 Rep 1,180 Posts Drives: Jet Black E90 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: in the Napa Valley/SJ... iTrader: (0)	They just broke it in for you, that's all. Put a lip on it with the money they gave you and you're as good as golden! __________________ 2007 Jet Black E90 328i Thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825249 Instagram: manutd_as
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05-25-2013, 01:11 PM	#14
C9A1L1L Private 4 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	In all reality, unless the OP was on his hands and knees the days before he gave them the car not even he can be sure he's not the one who did it. It happens quite easily and all it takes is one single time brushing over something to get like yours is. Most guys have no paint in that area at all.. CE didn't necessarily even do this..
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05-25-2013, 05:26 PM	#15
efdiesel3s Halle Berry or Hallelujah 1 Rep 57 Posts Drives: '11 335d, '93 fd3s, '90 e30 m3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	This is actually my 2nd bumper since the original one was backed into. I took my car to ltbmw and was quoted $400 + $100 refinishing for that bumper. So it will take all that $500 to fix it. I was not satisfied with their quality 2 times through (flaking and imperfections) that they just gave me a new bumper without holes in it. So this one on my car now was put on brand new about one and a half years ago and 10k miles on it. I just changed the oil less than a 1000 miles ago so I can tell you it was definitely not there. What annoys me most is that my car is stock height. Don't want to come off as a sexist but a woman picked up and dropped off the car.
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05-25-2013, 05:28 PM	#16
SeanS54 Captain 168 Rep 842 Posts Drives: F82 M4 ZCP Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (20)	At stock height I scraped up my bumper and I've been driving lowered cars for years. If you can't see it standing up I wouldn't worry about it.
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05-26-2013, 02:49 PM	#17
efdiesel3s Halle Berry or Hallelujah 1 Rep 57 Posts Drives: '11 335d, '93 fd3s, '90 e30 m3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	most likely going to go with the suggestions and slap a lip on it. think i'm leaning towards the 3d design one. any other lips that look legit?
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05-30-2013, 12:01 AM	#18
andydna15 Second Lieutenant 57 Rep 254 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: oc iTrader: (4)	I used to work there. Good luck
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