Hello BHPians
My Dad owns the Toyota Innova 2011 model and it has clocked a successful 216700 km, which is just a Toyota thing. In all these years, Innova has been a wonderful companion of my family: family trips, airport pickups/drops, my solo long drive craze and Dad's work-related trips. And, Dad is planning to sell this beautiful machine: a Made-in-Indonesia car which we will neither get nor see in Indian showrooms anymore. I am planning to get the car re-painted, replace few stock parts with new ones and maintain it well till the Indian government completely disagress to renew the older diesel cars!
BUT, now, since the car is exactly 12 years old, there is a problem which has started to bother me: water seapage into the Driver/Passenger seat leg space directly from the 'A' pillar. Drop-by-drop seapage when light/heavy rains or even during a machine car wash.
The same weekend, I directly went to Viva Toyota, Nayandahalli to know what can be done. But, since the bodyshop expert was on leave that day, I left the service center with an opinion as how this can be fixed by one of the SAs: replacing the roof protective strip will solve the problem. But I was not convinced with this opinion.
As second opinion is always good, I visited a local car mechanic and asked how this can be fixed, his reply was: the windshield trim (black color glue-kind-of-material which sticks the windshield to the body frame) need to be replaced.
Now, two different opinions have confused me even more as how to proceed further!
The water presence can be clearly seen (and felt) on the cushion part!
I believe this is not a serious problem and can be fixed in few weeks time, but I need suggestion from an expert here or anyone who has gone through this situation regarding the following:
1. What might have caused this problem, which was not there till date?
2. Where to get it done: Authorised Service Center or Local Mechanic, not considering cost, but quality of work?
3. If ASC, then which one at Bengaluru (Ravindu/Viva/United/Other)?
4. If Local Mechanic, which popular paint shop/garage does the job neatly?
My current location is Bengaluru till next week, after which I will be heading to Kasaragod (hometown) for few weeks.
Also, it would be of great help if anyone knows which non-ASC does full body paint for a good deal but with top-notch quality? How much will it cost for this Innova with Light Blue Metallic color paint?
Thank you in advance.