Body shop estimate
06-10-2012, 04:01 AM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 417
Body shop estimate
So I'm putting my body work at the top of my list of things to do.
I have: A front bumper that is cracked in a few places. Previous owner was bumping a wall in her garage to tell when she was in all the way.
A scratch/dent through the paint on the left fender, two dents and a crease on the left rear quarter panel that have been buffed but not pulled out for some reason. A dent on the right rear quarter panel. Scuff marks on the right fender (looks like from getting the battery changed or something.) And a blemish of some kind on the hood by one of the washer fluid sprayers.
For all of this I have been quoted $1350 by MasterCraft
I've seen the work these guys do and know some people that have dealt with them and have been very impressed with their work. I'm just not familiar with getting body work done. Most of these things no one notices on the car except me (excluding the bumper and left fender scratch.) I know they're there and I want them gone, so I'm willing to pay to get it done.
However, what do you guys think? $1350 sound fair?
Honestly, I expected more, but the owner seemed to think it would take about 3 days and would be no problem to finish. Not even charging for the right fender/hood buffing.
I have: A front bumper that is cracked in a few places. Previous owner was bumping a wall in her garage to tell when she was in all the way.
A scratch/dent through the paint on the left fender, two dents and a crease on the left rear quarter panel that have been buffed but not pulled out for some reason. A dent on the right rear quarter panel. Scuff marks on the right fender (looks like from getting the battery changed or something.) And a blemish of some kind on the hood by one of the washer fluid sprayers.
For all of this I have been quoted $1350 by MasterCraft
I've seen the work these guys do and know some people that have dealt with them and have been very impressed with their work. I'm just not familiar with getting body work done. Most of these things no one notices on the car except me (excluding the bumper and left fender scratch.) I know they're there and I want them gone, so I'm willing to pay to get it done.
However, what do you guys think? $1350 sound fair?
Honestly, I expected more, but the owner seemed to think it would take about 3 days and would be no problem to finish. Not even charging for the right fender/hood buffing.
06-10-2012, 11:56 AM
#3
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
Run!Run!
It's a $3000 job at best and a new front bumper.
How they can make a living at that price is beyond me, even if they pay their bodymen $5 an hour (which they prolly do, lol).
I can assure you that they use the schittiest materials known to man for that price as well.
Guaranteed to fade within a year.
Do yourself a favor: Get a few quotes from professionals.
It's a $3000 job at best and a new front bumper.
How they can make a living at that price is beyond me, even if they pay their bodymen $5 an hour (which they prolly do, lol).
I can assure you that they use the schittiest materials known to man for that price as well.
Guaranteed to fade within a year.
Do yourself a favor: Get a few quotes from professionals.
06-10-2012, 12:58 PM
#4
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: California
Posts: 1,495
A guy hit my front bumper cover while I was parked, and the cost to repair (not replace) the cover was $760.03. That was the insurance company adjuster's amount, not some ripoff body shop's inflated amount.
The amount quoted to you seems awfully low if you're expecting a good job for all that work.
The amount quoted to you seems awfully low if you're expecting a good job for all that work.
06-10-2012, 03:24 PM
#5
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 417
It seemed a bit cheap for all of that, but who am I to complain about that?
I don't want to put myself in the poorhouse just to feel better about my paint but I don't want to have paintwork that will need to be done again in 2 years.
Glad I checked with you guys.
I don't want to put myself in the poorhouse just to feel better about my paint but I don't want to have paintwork that will need to be done again in 2 years.
Glad I checked with you guys.
06-10-2012, 03:59 PM
#6
Does the front bumper have through cracks in the base material or just the paint? This will make a huge difference in cost.
Also, how big are these dents you are referring to? Can some of them be rubbed out from behind? Can they be rubbed out without requiring paint work? This will make a huge difference is costs.
You need more info and pics before you can determine how much body work should cost.
Also, how big are these dents you are referring to? Can some of them be rubbed out from behind? Can they be rubbed out without requiring paint work? This will make a huge difference is costs.
You need more info and pics before you can determine how much body work should cost.
06-10-2012, 06:23 PM
#7
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 417
The bumper is cracked all the way through the plastic in several places. It needs to be replaced. As for the dents, most are about the size of a nickel or smaller. Except for a weird line dent. It's a crease in the metal. Dunno how it was done.
Like I said, most of them no one notices except me. The scratch on the fender will require of bit of body work since the metal is dented slightly around the scratch.
The only paint required should be the new bumper and the left fender. Everything else will be paintless. I'll take some pics on lunch and see if I can get a good shot of some of it.
Like I said, most of them no one notices except me. The scratch on the fender will require of bit of body work since the metal is dented slightly around the scratch.
The only paint required should be the new bumper and the left fender. Everything else will be paintless. I'll take some pics on lunch and see if I can get a good shot of some of it.
Last edited by JFitz; 06-10-2012 at 06:27 PM.
06-10-2012, 07:02 PM
#8
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 417
Pics.
Bumper first. It is popped around the blinkers and cracked in the center.
This is the line on the left rear fender. You can barely see it.
Another angle. Very hard to see. I think it's been buffed, but not pulled out.
Scratch/dent on left front fender.
The other dents are small enough that you can't see them in the current light outside.
Bumper first. It is popped around the blinkers and cracked in the center.
This is the line on the left rear fender. You can barely see it.
Another angle. Very hard to see. I think it's been buffed, but not pulled out.
Scratch/dent on left front fender.
The other dents are small enough that you can't see them in the current light outside.
Last edited by JFitz; 06-10-2012 at 07:04 PM.
06-11-2012, 11:03 AM
#9
You obviously need competitive quotes, that is always a good rule to follow.
But your price might not be a "bad" one.
It looks/sounds like several of your dents may be able to be rubbed out from behind and not require any paint work. These types of repairs are quite inexpensive.
Did they quote repairing the bumper cover or replacing it?
The Urethane (RIM) bumper covers are repairable.
I had a Ford Escort and hit a sizable wild animal and broke the bumper cover (pieces were dragging on the ground) in 3 places. It was repaired and I drove the car another 100k miles over several years and the repairs never failed.
You will know a lot more after you get competitive quotes.
But your price might not be a "bad" one.
It looks/sounds like several of your dents may be able to be rubbed out from behind and not require any paint work. These types of repairs are quite inexpensive.
Did they quote repairing the bumper cover or replacing it?
The Urethane (RIM) bumper covers are repairable.
I had a Ford Escort and hit a sizable wild animal and broke the bumper cover (pieces were dragging on the ground) in 3 places. It was repaired and I drove the car another 100k miles over several years and the repairs never failed.
You will know a lot more after you get competitive quotes.