Hello Everyone,

I am looking for advice as my 2009 G was backed into a couple weeks ago. There is a dent behind the rear passenger tire on the seam between the rear bumper and the quarter panel. There is a little bit of paint damage but not much. I got an estimate at the my local dealership and it was around $3,200 to replace the bumper and a section of the quarter panel. The insurance adjuster (other lady's insurance, not mine) wrote pretty much the same estimate and wrote me a check for $3,500 (I think he used different labor rates or something which caused the $300 difference). I then took it to a really good body shop that I have taken my other cars to and their estimates was $1,300. They said they could repair the parts and not have to replace them. At first I was hesitant to do this until I found out that they dont replace the whole quarter panel, they cut it somewhere and weld in the replacement piece. The guy at the body shop said the other two estimates included replacing both items because that is easier to input in the estimating software and that fixing the parts requires a little more experience as to estimating how long it will take. I even told them that the other estimates were $3,000+, basically telling him I was willing to pay that much, but he still said repairing the parts was a better option. I am confident that this body shop does excellent work. Am I crazy to just have the pieces repaired and not replaced? Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

If it doesn't affect performance and would look like original. why not do it? pocket the difference and get something nice for the car.

 

If he wants to do it that way, have him guarantee your satisfaction with the work. If he guarantees that he will replace the parts instead at his expense if you are not satisfied with the repair, what do you have to lose? You stand to gain $2200 in your pocket.

And never, ever tell any shop how much the insurance settlement was. That's just foolish.

And welcome to the forum.

 

I agree with B.B. -- but also be certain that you know this body shop is reputable or at least comes recommended by people you trust. Is this the same shop you mentioned you have taken other cars to and have been satisfied with the work? If so, I'd say jump on it.

 

some shops will do you dirty for that quick $.
and I would go with the proper repair.
there is no way the insurance co would go for a new quarter,if it is repairable, not like it's a fender/hood that if it comes out not so good.
don't short change yourself.
get it fixed to pre accident condition.

 

You would be crazy to replace the entire qt panel lol... from the looks of it, the rear bumper doesn't even have to be repaired or repainted.. you got REALLY lucky.

 

Thanks for all the advice to so far. Yes, I have had a lot of work done on other cars at this shop (compliments of the many deer that flock to highways in Iowa) and have been very satisfied.

Also, I didn't tell the body shop that Insurance settlement was for $3,500. I mentioned the other estimates being $3,000+ only after I got their estimate. I agree, telling them before hand would be foolish!!

 

never said to tell the shop how the check is or how much damage.
that's what the estimate is for. A good shop will give you an estimate up front.
don't mention the other estimates.
sorry to disagree, your car is gonna cost a **** load of money protect your investment.
we all know most shops will rip you off.

 

Sorry, but I guess I'm the wet blanket here. This kind of stuff contributes to higher insurance rates. Yes, individually there is not much effect, but collectively when we pocket $s on these deals, everyone else pays for it.

 

Lol, he was responding to B.B. with that.

 

yes that is how body shops do it. They always cut a section of the quarter panel that's damage and replace it with a good piece. If u replace the entire quarter panel it will cost way too much. What the body shop advise is a correct method and not juz something he made it up. Saving money is always good also

 

^^^ sorry but that is NOT how a proper body shop does it! I went to school for collision repair before doing this as a career.

Ok listen to this...

I work as a body man at a dealership here in my city. That's realy wierd how they said they only section damaged part of the quarter panel and not the most of the thing. If a new quarter panel is needed the proper way to do is to replace the whole thing, that's according to "I-CAR" safety, there is no other right way! It might easily look good after they are done with the car, but in reality if you get in an accident and someone hammers you in that or similar area, it might be your neck, and you might end up getting hurt, cause the car was not repaired properly.
If they section it somehow (I don't know what that guy meant) but it sure didn't sound like the proper way to do the job. I guess I might say they will hack the job and take less for it.
Well by judging the pictures, it looks repairable and I personally would try and pull the dent instead of replacing the whole new quarter panel. But i can't judge, I can't see how the metal is stretched and what other sheet metal is involved in that area. Perhaps it does requires a new quarter, in pictures it usually always looks minimal.
You have to be careful in these situations, cause there are many shops that hack jobs like that and take less $$ for it, it's good to know the shop and it's reputation before giving your car away for the repair.

BTW it would be easy to tell what they did after the repair. Just open the trunk, take the inside trunk lining out and see how they fixed the quarter from the inside.

 

I'd get them replaced regardless of what he says. Cutting and welding just sounds like a cheap job. Get it done properly.