Help! I can't remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

[Socrates]

Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

Hi All,

Well, the saga continues....

The tow truck arrived this morning to pick up the snake. The guy was nervous to trying to get the car on the flatbad. My ACR is very, very low (coilovers adjusted all the way down), and it took him about an hour (with my help) to get the car on the flatbed. The bad news is that at some point when I was on the other side of the car, the car scraped against a piece of the wood, or slipped off and hit it, putting a small dent/indentation in the front fascia. To make a very long story quite short, he admitted fault and the towing company will be paying the repair bill. According to the body shop at the dealer, they will be repairing and repainting the lower half of the bumper to the black stripe (with the assurance that it will match perfectly). Does this sound acceptable, and will I be pleased with the outcome? All in all, I was relieved that it wasn't worse, but I'm still quite bummed about it, as I'm very anal with the car. Here are a few pictures (not the best, as my camera stinks):

As for the oil filter, it took them about 5 minutes to get it off, so it was definitely a challenge. Basically they blamed me and said that I must have turned it the opposite direction to begin with, tightening the gasket and causing it to bunch up, blah blah blah. Whatever..

 

[AJT]

Re: Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

MAKE SURE THEY KNOW NOT TO START IT!

 

[PSilverGTS]

Re: Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

It a shame you had so much trouble with something so basic. My first car had a filter stuck too, but the long screwdriver method worked. As far as the damage, I consider any reasonable damage to the front lower fascia as life owner a Viper. I made that decision when I realized how often the front scrapes. I would not get to concerned about the body work, because it is a rather simple repair that will never be notice and would do nothing to lower the value of your Viper. Cars will get damage from time to time, its just a fact. You will never really enjoy your Viper if your too worried about miner damage that is easy to fix. My lower front has scrapes, some spider webs and some flaking paint. Nobody has ever noticed it. I'm going to touch it up myself with silver spray paint that I tested and matched well. When I go to sell the car, I'll probably have it painted professionally.

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

Re: Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

Socrates.....my 2 cents is to relax, and just make sure they do a good job. In the end, and this will not sit well with some....it is a car. Now, I can say that because I just visited my car. It is getting holes on the rear deck lid repaired (where I removed the GT2 wing), and it had fresh NEW holes where the H EM S wing is going. A little dust all over the place, and it should get primered tomorrow. The fact that it is on the front fascia is somewhat of a blessing, as stated. There is NO doubt that you'll have the facia oof again in a year or two to spruce it up. Glad you got the oil filter sorted out...bet you do your own changes from here on out, huh?

 

[Socrates]

Re: Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

Thanks for the comments, guys:

I agree with both of you, it's just a car. That's why I'm not too concerned about the minor body work needed, especially since it is the lower front. But yet, I can't help but be a little saddened, as I try to take the very best care of things that I own, regardless of the value. Hopefully it will be repaired to tip-top shape and no one will ever be the wiser (but me).

I did feel better after I washed it though..

 

[acrdakota]

Re: Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

I wouldn't even give the body shop the keys to the car, some numb nuts is gonna start it and end up blowing the motor. Bummer about the dent, this is gonna be one expensive oil change Good luck, and sweet looking car. lowered bumble bee is awesome.

 

[Socrates]

Re: Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

The oil filter and change has been fixed, I got it back last night. No one started the car, as I was with the car the entire time.

 

[Rocket65C]

Re: Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

I got sick of scraping on everything every time I drove the car. It started making me avoid driving my pride and joy. I finally had the Viper shop raise it as much as possible on the shocks that were there. It had been lowered to racing height on Penske Adjustable Racing Shocks (8100's). I haven't scraped since.

 

[PDCjonny]

Re: Help! I can\'t remove my oil filter, Part II - Outcome...

As far as the damage, I consider any reasonable damage to the front lower fascia as life owner a Viper. I made that decision when I realized how often the front scrapes. I would not get to concerned about the body work, because it is a rather simple repair that will never be notice and would do nothing to lower the value of your Viper. Cars will get damage from time to time, its just a fact. You will never really enjoy your Viper if your too worried about miner damage that is easy to fix.

Absolutely. When I bought my car it had some paint sandblasted off off behind the rear wheels as well as some other real minor cosmetic paint chips. I drove it around all winter when dry and didn't sweat the sand etc. Then I had a body shop fix the paint here and there, add some 3M clear tape and it looks like showroom. Cheap fix really considering the investment we all have in our cars. I am as anal as the rest of us, but still want to drive it every chance I get.