Name names to help us avoid another disaster!

 

Congrats on the car. I'm sure you'll get this fixed.

 

Sadly this very common these days.... Even so called GM trained technicians cough cough ... find the beautiful easy to assemble a real bastard to disassemble and repair.
From the pathetic service instructions with lack of detail to the knack and sometimes requirement of special tools including masking tape so the door won't get damaged etc.
Sadly GM aren't alone on this. So if you wish to change brands or models, local panel beater - I mean a panel swapper says they are ALL very much crap to work on these days. Nothing like lack of choice in this area of new cars.

On the Volt I had a scratch on the trim on delivery - did myself as sourced part from US as locally they were changing p/n's and the warranty part took months !
It needed a number of hours to tackle the stupidity of assembly so exactly what happened to you didn't happen. I had a few head scratching tool trying moments for sure - oh and forget ever tracking off a chrome trim piece for perfect reuse - it isn't going to happen. If you save the chrome bit by re straightening all the plastic clips are stuffed.
I'll say it again - who designs these bastard assembly once in a life time parts? ought to have some body part cut off me thinks.
(Look at all the grief it causes - techs, customers and eventually insurance premiums - all caused by poor modern parts design).
I truly believe same money or less if it's designed with repair in mind in the first place.

Locally here and it appears the US as well Panel beaters and service techs are struggling with the "new" age methods of assembly where common-sense need an extra trick.
Hope you chewed them out and get lucky with someone who can fix it for you after oil filter guy has tried his hand at modern pieces.

 

Sadly this very common these days.... Even so called GM trained technicians cough cough ... find the beautiful easy to assemble a real bastard to disassemble and repair.
From the pathetic service instructions with lack of detail to the knack and sometimes requirement of special tools .

Actually I don't believe "pathetic service instructions" could ever pertain when it comes to GM vehicles. Everything that can be serviced on the car is clearly detailed in a step-by-step process in the electronic service information. Any special tools required are clearly outlined at the onset. One of the biggest issues however is the tech not bothering to look up these procedures and instead "winging it" which can often result in problems and even damage.

For instance it would take someone ~30 seconds to locate and bring up the document below (using either a search engine or direct navigation) for replacing the drivers side door latch on an ELR. All of the blue-colored text listed in "Preliminary Procedures" are hyperlinks to disassembly procedures that need to be performed BEFORE removing the latch assembly.
Pretty straight forward if you ask me...
WOT

 

I think GM needs to hire the Ikea designers and Ikea box makers. Those guys have it going on! They are amazing at designing ways to connect parts and pieces and also the way they pack them. I have not been disappointed yet in an Ikea purchase.

If Ikea can do it, why can't GM do it? Just saying...

 

Cadillac service techs are inept?
I think you're painting some people with a pretty broad brush.
FYI typically a "GM trained service tech" isn't used for cosmetic work. (as in "I don't do windows")

Instead "trimmers" are usually experienced (often older) bodymen or in some cases younger "audio installer" types, that like to handle detailed cosmetic trim work, wind/water/dust leaks, rattles and noises, even minor small part body patchwork and paint finessing.

Unlike the actual "techs" they usually work on a straight time (per hour) basis and the good ones are worth their weight in gold.
Finding someone that "likes" to do this type of work for low pay can be difficult (relative to the more skilled/trained positions)
There isn't a lot of training available on that sort of thing, so it's mostly an experience based position.

So from what I hear of your cosmetic troubles = inexperienced trimmer (as opposed to simply untrained, or even "inept")
Hope you get it fixed up to your satisfaction
Welcome to gm-volt.com

WOT

 

Instead "trimmers" are usually experienced (often older) bodymen or in some cases younger "audio installer" types, that like to handle detailed cosmetic trim work, wind/water/dust leaks, rattles and noises, even minor small part body patchwork and paint finessing.

Unlike the actual "techs" they usually work on a straight time (per hour) basis and the good ones are worth their weight in gold.
Finding someone that "likes" to do this type of work for low pay can be difficult (relative to the more skilled/trained positions)
There isn't a lot of training available on that sort of thing, so it's mostly an experience based position.

So from what I hear of your cosmetic troubles = inexperienced trimmer (as opposed to simply untrained, or even "inept")
Hope you get it fixed up to your satisfaction
WOT

From my experience as a young man doing stretch limousenes and van conversions, this is mostly true. But "trimmer" isn't really a marketable trade. I started in the custom car business green, and most of the people we hired were just as green. It comes down to one or two experienced guys or girls who lead and train the tenderfoots. At a dealer I wouldn't expect any real mentorship in this area. The retention rate for this type of work is low. The work is fun and interesting but the pay just didn't cut it and I got out. I like doing my own work here and there, but just don't find the time like I used to.

 

Sorry, I've never had a good trim experience, be it at a Chevy dealer or wherever. Years ago I had a 1990 Plymouth Voyager with a rattle (didn't they all?), so I took it in to get fixed. They ended up breaking a plastic panel and scratching up a bunch of others. My 2003 Accord had a recall done, and the dash panels were lose, overlapping, and rattling. My red Volt had a rattle in the passenger A pillar; they got it fixed, but gouged up the "SRS" cover over the screw hole. I also had my red Volt radio replaced on another occasion, and the cover trim was not properly installed (I fixed it myself).

Mind you, this experience was from different dealers. I hate when interior or body work has to be done; it just seems to always come back worse than when it went in.

 

Fully understand, one needs care and a knack with plastic modern cars, some tech just don't have it.

 

If you are talking about the aluminum trim arpund the windows and side doors of the car the trim is really flimsy, my first ELR that GM swapped out had them replaced ,3x, each time they came damaged or scratched. They are held on basically by 1 rivet on the aluminum and clips to the rubber bonded to the aluminum. On my replacement ELR both sides were replaced because the aluminum unbonded from the rubber and one of the replacements the aluminum was bent so they ordered another, now all good. If your aluminum is stained cant be polished out, my original dealer who I did not get the replacement from all their cars have stained aluminum due to their lawn water system, chemicals in the water.

 

Pretty sad for an $80K car.....

 

So I took the car to a paintless dent repair shop. They got most of the two dents in the top out. The dealer has agreed to pay the body shop of my choice to install the new trim that will replace the replacement trim. I know the shop I will use. They are meticulous.
My mistake for even allowing them a chance to work on the car in the first place. They kinked both rocker panels on my volt two years ago by being too stupid to raise the feet on the lift which allowed the lift arms to contact the plastic of the rocker panel.
Hopefully the new trim piece comes in unblemished.