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MG MGB Technical - fitting a new hood

Hi

Can anyone recommend a garage to fit a hood in or near Southampton - (not AMV 3000 who just ripped the one I supplied to them to fit and don't seem interested in helping me out with a reduced price replacement or cheaper fitting!

Darren
D Lewis

Why are AMV 3000 not supplying you with a new one free of charge.

Have you reported them to your local Trading Standards, or threatened them with action in the Small Claims Court.

Tom

Because they say it was a substandard hood and so not their problem - I'm not too impressed hence my wish to find somewhere else. However, I'm not sure there's much to gain from me saying the hood was fine and them saying no it wasn't - it would just be a face off.

Incidently, it was an AMCO vinyl hood imported from the USA. The garage said they'd never heard of AMCO and it was obviously a cheap copy - hence the rip. Is the view in the US?

Cheers
Darren
Darren Lewis

I can't see how you could rip a hood unless you were grossly careless. Amatures like me fit them all the time. You trial fit it (hold it in place), mark it around the header rail and then glue it to the header rail. There should be no streatching (or anything like that)involved, just pick a warm day to do it on.

If the hood was substandard why did they not tell you, why did they take the job?. Are they not expert enough to tell the difference and if so why are they claiming they are expert hood fitters? Why did they attempt to fit it? If they gave you warning fair enough, if not they are lible. Don't knuckel under, Ring your local legal assistance, those guys sound like bastards.

Midland sports and classics (somewhere in England)sold me my hood and they say they will fit them for a fee, and there can be no arguements about quality, as they are the ones who make them.
Peter

For what it's worth, I had an Amco hood that I bought in 1978 for my MGA. The quality was very good.

Tom
Tom Custer

Amco has been around for years. If it is new someone ought to give you relief. From what I understand ...and I have read an immense amount about it as I am going to fit one this weekend.....you aren't supposed to fit them too tight...the vinyl shrinks slightly over time making them hard to close later....so it's hard to understand how they ripped it unless it was old and the fabric detoriated.
J.T. Bamford

I am almost completely clueless about cars and I fitted a hood 2 w ago with the help of advice on this forum. I can't see how the hood was ripped, except for carelessness. FWIW, I ordered the hood from prestigeautotrim.com
Bob Meyer

They should have examined it beforehand and rejected it if it was substandard. By going ahead and fitting it they accept responsibility. Pursue it.

Hood fitting is not difficult and is explained step-by-step in Lyndsay Porter's 'Guide to Purchase and DIY Restoration of the MGB', republished as 'The mgb restoration Manual', essential reading.
Paul Hunt

Amco makes fine replacement tops. Robbins tops are the ones to get here in the states if you want a "deluxe" unit.

Mike!
mike!

Paul Hunt is quite correct, by going ahead and fitting it, they accepted responsibility and are liable in law.

As others have said, report them to Southampton Trading Standards and pursue them not only for the cost of the hood but also for damages for the amount of time and effort you are going to have to put into re-sourcing.

A letter outlining your claim should also be sent to these charlatans, I have such a copy you can modify and send if you so wish, but Trading Standards will undoubtedly advise you, and probably get in touch with the miscreants direct to determine fault.

AMCO is a first class hood vendor, and if there is any doubt about the condition of the hood, it may have to go back to them for an opinion.

But first call Southampton Trading Standards, your new hood is just a call away.

Report back soonest.
Tom

This thread was discussed between 13/09/2004 and 17/09/2004

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