Benz_nut

hey folks,

I scratched my ML over the weekend...it's on the right fender flare, about 2-3 grooves on it, and a dent about the size of a quarter...visible but not ugly or eyesore...anyways took it to currie motors body shop out here and they gave me a quote of $900!!! Does that sound right? I mean the grooves on the flare are not deep...just under a foot long....

Reason why I'm questioning it cos hubby had his 67 chevelle painted (whole car, sanded, primed, painted then coated) all for $2k!!!! and it looks gorgeous!

So am I being taken for a ride here? I'll post the pic of damage if it helps...

cyeung65

900 smackers may be in line - but it depends on what they have to do to repair. A pic would help. Also - what color is your ML? Red colors are hard to match and require quite a bit of blending - which means a wider area of stripping paint and repainting. Whereas the base colors like black and white are much easier to color match and less blending is needed. I would say they are estimating a replacement of the fender flare. Another thing to note is whether they are including the cost of a new fender flare. Most shops will not attempt to repair plasitc/fiberglass components if the damage is more than cosmetic, sounds like the fender flare is damaged.

Also - are you seeking reimbursement from your insurance co? If so, shops tend to estimate higher if they know it is an insurance claim. If you plan to pay out of pocket, let them know and they should work with you on the price.

55fanatic

if your car is silver... it is the hardest color to blend... so it would then go back to what Cyeung said... he is pretty much right on

Benz_nut

The quote he gave me was for my own out of pocket cost, of course I could go thru insurance agency, but I don't want to have them bump up my insurance payments...

The color of the 430 is gold...fender flares not to be replaced, only repaired...but then again, the old guy quoted me some miscellaneous items like coating my mirror, door etc when I only need the fender done...

labor is $40...$4 discount from $44, done overnight, with loaner free of charge...

See pics attached...

BOERNE ML320

Benz_nut,
I have been in the bodyshop business for the better part of 21 years fixing high dollar cars. For the damage I see $900 is a little high. And $40 is way too cheap.
Gold is much like silver in color matching and to get a perfect match you would have to blend the adjacent panels. The mirror would not be one of them. Also, all the tight fitting mouldings, door handle and trim would need to come off to do the job right. The quality of the paint supplies used also comes into play. I use nothing but Glasurit which is the highest price paint out there but you get what you pay for. I would have charged you about $650, it would have taken me a week and you would not have been able to tell it was damaged. Overnight body reairs can lead to trouble as fillers, primers and paint all need some time to cure. Sure you can pile them on one right after another but it always leads to a repair that turns out to look like... well .... a repair. The ole saying that your car will never be the same after it has been to a body shop never took thier car to a shop that cares about the customer and thier car.... just my 2cents.

cyeung65

Without any disrespect, would you estimate $650 regardless of whether it was an insurance claim or not? In my experience, body shops tend to be more flexible on the price if you are not making an insurance claim. Even a visit to the dentist involves some price adjustments whether you have insurance or not.

Benz_nut

I think I'm very lucky...my husband has a buddy who owns a autobody supply business...thru his friend there is another guy that works for him who specialises in restoration and repairs of collision...so I thank my lucky stars that he will be taking care of it for me, FREE! Now all I gotta do is take it down there to him...

And for stats only, my own estimate to fix the damage was around $500...BUT not a week...the guy that will take care of it for me can do it over night...the pics may make the damage look bigger than it really is but it's not that bad when u see it in reality.

BOERNE ML320

cyeung65, That would have been my price regardless of the use of insurance. I charge a fair price for the type and quality work I do. I give free estimates and the price is never based on insurance or if the repair is out of pocket. The customer is free to choose who they want to fix thier car. Lord knows there are 8 shops in my area. I can't compete with the average shop on speed and price, that is why I specialize. Sure i could do a job overnight but I choose not to. Benz_nut is probably getting a great deal, no doubt. You can't beat free and fast... Althogh I do have a reputation as a slow poke.... ;-)

Cheers to all!!

cyeung65

Thanks for the open response.

I am by no means a professional, but I have done some bodywork myself on some older cars - anything from dent repairs/spot painting, reapplying clearcoats, to total strip down and repainting of the entire car. I know it is VERY labor/time intensive to do the job right. Sometimes it amazes me how relatively "little" a shop charges and how soon they can get it done. Makes you wonder about the quality of the work.

BOERNE ML320

I choose to do quality over over quantity. If you do work relativly cheap then you need to do more of it. Nothing wrong with that. I just can't bring myself to whip out a job when I feel that I haven't given it my best. All the products needed to do a good lasting repair need to have cure time. Sure it may be dry but "cure" is a different animal. Some shops are able to cure these products more rapidly by force drying with heat such as IR lamps or a heated booth. I don't have these luxuries so I let these product cure with time and if the weather is right the sun works just as good. At times even too good...

BOERNE ML320

Benz_nut, I'm curious.... How did the repair turn out?

Benz_nut

I've been **** dragging...haven't taken it in yet...BUT I will post pics of the repair when it's taken care off...

BOERNE ML320

Benz_nut; I'm still curious.... how did it turn out?

Benz_nut

still procastinating...amazing how when it's free we just drag and drag...on a serious note...the husband will be taking it down to the guy this week...so I should be "cosmetically perfect" again before the week is out...

Benz_nut

Pics are here! Sorry if they are crappy, it started to rain...Guy did an EXCELLENT JOB, took him 9 Hrs, dropped it off in morning, got it early evening...

I did end up paying him, it was only right...$150 for the paint...and that was it!