nboyd

Last week my car was hit in a minor parking episode. Today I took the car in to the body shop and they have provided me with an estimate.

So I thought I would ask the list for your more experienced opinion. There is a dent the size of an orange and a deep scratch on the fendor and large scratches on the bumper.

They are not going to replace it as they think it is better to keep the original parts. What are you thoughts?

Nathan

TimmyC230boy

in most states you can have a small accident (under 25% total cost of car) and not have to report it. I would probably try to get a new piece

patronus

I also had a small parking lot incident in my C240 (it was hit). The question really comes down to wanting original parts WITH BONDO or a new, factory piece. I took the latter ($208 for a front quarter panel...not bad).

nboyd

The body shop says they will knock the main dent out of the fendor and respray the entire fendor and bumper. they claim to work on 85% new MBs and do not use Bondo or equivalent.

This is covered under the other persons insurance so I am not concerned about the cost. The person at the shop claims it is better to have the original factory parts than replacing them. What do you guys think?

Nathan

Xeon

nboyd...how much did they quote you

in downtown LA...i had a minor accident..the side of my bumper is scratched....and theres a quarter-size dent at the fender( around the edge of the light)..they wanna change my bumper and quoted me 1548 inclusive of everything.........

toki999

$1548 for that? i also had parking lot incident where i backed up and got some deep scratch, that makes me sad whenever i see it.....HOI ppl gave me an estimate around $1500....i just wonder how much that raise up my insurance if i go thru my gracious insurance company.

NANA

If it is possible, try to get PDR (Paintless Dent Removal). It is the cheap way and try to keep the original paint as possible as you can. Any paint job will bring your resale value down quite a bit. This is my experience.

By the way, PDR worked really great for me to get rid of a big dent on the hood.

nboyd

I was quoted 1,173.95 total.

They have to respray the fendor and bumper, so I don't have a choice. Why would this reduce the value of the car?

Nathan

Jorel C320

In that case, give the highest estimate you can find to the insurance comp. and then after you get the big phat check, go to the shop you really want to go to and pocket the rest for pain and suffering. ...no, no, no... that would be unethical

preyx

But obviously he won't the first one...

nboyd

I have authorised the work so no pocketing of money to be gained for, although considering the hassle, I don't think it would be unethical. I am curently having a nightmare trying to get a rental car. Anyone seen the Seinfeld episode where Jerry says "you are good at taking the reservation but you don't know how to keep the reservation..." ?

My coupe is magma red and the body shop tell me that non metalic paints are easy to match, and impossible to tell the difference from original paint job.

What are good tips for checking the job has been done correctly, when I get the car back?

Is there a way to check the car has not been repaired with bondo when I get it back?

Cheers

Nathan

Xeon

NANA...where can i get the PDR ? and btw...what is a bondo?

trench

Use a little magnet - it can't magnetically attach to bondo.

Cheers, BT