Fender bender, body work in my future, looking for body panels and help.

[BenFenner]

Crunched up the BMW pulling out of an unfamiliar parking garage spot last night.
Here's a picture.
http://i.imgur.com/SeN7v.jpg


Since I'm going to have this fixed at a body shop, I figure I might as well get some other work done that I've been putting off. I'm looking to go with the non-M gills, and probably a non-M front bumper. Keep in mind this won't be covered by insurance, and all of it will be out of pocket for me.

Parts I'm looking for in good condition:

• Front driver's side fender trailing piece (rectangle piece containing the turn signal)
• Front driver's side turn signal assembly (clear)
• Non-M gills
• Non-M front bumper (need to figure out which one I want first though)
• Hood (maybe, but I hope not)

There are a good bit of blemishes I inherited with the purchase. The roof has a ton of minor issues and one good scratch which has me thinking it should just be re-sprayed. There is a scratch on the rear hatch below the glass I'm going to have fixed. There is a dent on the passenger side rear fender from road debris that I'll have fixed as well. The hood has some very minor issues which means it'll get more work than just the dent repair. Or maybe I'm in for a replacement hood? I'd like to avoid that cost if at all possible, but I want this thing to be right.

Any help or advice would be nice including help on finding parts and help making sure it gets done properly. This is my second ever experience with body work and the last job (different car) left me with a little to be desired. I've been told this shop local to me does okay work but I'm open to better options as far as how to vet a shop. Maybe I should talk to a good detailer in town and see if he has any suggestions?

I'm trying to be calm about this, but I'm pretty worked up over it. I won't be able to think about anything else until this is fixed. I'm pretty livid.
http://youtu.be/A9gC1GiSDDA?t=10s

[dimm6]

Sucks to see and hear about the damage. From the angle of the pic, the hood definitely looks repairable. The fender does too, but I can't say for sure. From what you said about the rest of the car, you may as well go for a full respray of the car. It sucks that its out of pocket.

Also you may not need to respray the entire roof for example. Any good body shop should be able to blend the damaged areas with no one ever noticing. But in the end it's up to you money wise and the what the body shops capabilities are.

Good luck.

[brm]

First, relax; as the saying goes, nothing is as important as it seems to be at the time. Second, bite the bullet and get it done right. It sounds as if you might be in for a complete repaint, which can be spendy. As you already know, the price of poor workmanship is being reminded of it every time you get into the car. Take your time, shop around, and get the best job you can afford, even if you have to put some other things off for a bit (not counting rent and food). And I am sympathetic; that looks almost exactly like the scrape #2 son put into the side of my g-f's 2012 Subie last week as he wheeled out of the drive, forgetting her car was there. That's coming out of his college money.

[Pthurlow]

It really hurts when these little mishaps happen. Last week I went to pull my RDX into the garage to put the winters on, and I clipped the center column between my garage doors. Probably did 2k in damage in an effort to save $30. Im such and idiot!

I had some serious road rash on my Z's hood and several other little dings and minor scratches along with a chewed up lower lip on my 2.8. I was going to go the route of fixing what needed to be done, but decided to do the full respray. So happy I did as the car looks mint. Total cost was $4000 which included a new windshield and front bumper as the labor to repair it was greater than the cost of a new one.

Put forward the extra $$$ and have the entire car sprayed. You will be happy you did provided its done right.

[BenFenner]

I appreciate the replies. I've looked over the car some more and have found more tiny spots that have been touched up, which seems to give my two choices. Have the entire thing re-sprayed (or all of these little spots fixed up, which ever the shop thinks works best) or just get this dented stuff taken care of. It may come down to what I get quoted. I will shop around some.
My greatest fear is the dented area not coming out right, and with an entire re-spray I'm worried about all the trim and such that has to be removed and put back. I have visions of snapped plastic panel tabs and forgotten mounting screws and dented headliners. I've seen too many things in my day to know that no one will treat this the way I would. Maybe I'll have to do all that "prep" myself? =(

[MusicCity Coupe]

I'm looking to go with the non-M gills, and probably a non-M front bumper.

Curious why you wish to use the non-M stuff on an M? Just for aesthetics?

[BenFenner]

Yes, it would be purely for aesthetics.

For those who've expressed interest in trading for my M gills (I've had a PM, and I've had a post on my build thread from a while back). Keep in mind that my driver's side gill is damaged now. The chrome horizontal feature is scraped and the chrome paint isn't in good condition around the scrape. I will take detailed pictures soon and post them here. Obviously I am willing to put additional money with mine to make the trade even.
Thank you.

[BenFenner]

Here are the pictures of the driver's side gill. For those looking to trade, I assume the mounting stuff is still in good shape but I won't know until I remove them some time soonish.
Right now the list for trade priority is this:
Amuro Ray
DreamnZ

http://i.imgur.com/XvNZc.jpg (Emblem on the other side is in same condition. Looks to be faded some.)
http://i.imgur.com/eItFf.jpg (This is a small scratch in the gill and the only other damage aside from the chrome part.)
http://i.imgur.com/xqy78.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pVfpL.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/u5q53.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/UJrYc.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CwJCb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ntufd.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/scNJo.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/YcX1q.jpg

[BimmerBreaker]

Im not sure why you want non-M parts on the M? I understand wanting M Aerodynamic bits they are look great, but just going to the base bumper, deleting the brake ducts for fog lights, losing the aggressive design of the M that makes it what it is... I dont see any aesthetic advantage to running a non-M front (especially with an M rear)

I dont get it to each their own I guess

Cant comment on damage because pictures from imgur dont load for me here but everything is repairable

[Amuro Ray]

Non M bumper allows use of brake ducts in place of fog lights, and a splitter can be added to the bottom. Otherwise they both look proper to me.

[KBH22102]

If you're looking for non-M, I saw these...

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/3407574078.html

[Amuro Ray]

Just FYI, because Bimmerbreaker brought it up in another thread - a non M refresh rear bumper will not work on a prerefresh. Just a heads up.

[BenFenner]

Well, I've got a good list of body shops to interview this week. I'm going to see how that goes and make up my mind on how extensive I'm going with this job.

I'm having serious misgivings on changing to the non-M gills and front bumper. I had not expected or planned for this change in heart. I was so sure about it 6 months ago and this is very uncharacteristic for me. I'll have to do some soul searching.

For those of you with opinions either way, you're welcome to add in your two cents.

[BenFenner]

Part numbers for my records:

Driver's side panel: 41358398693 (can someone confirm that the "left" panel is the driver's side?)
Driver's side turn signal assembly (white - includes lens, bulb, socket, and gasket): 63132493613
Driver's side M gill assembly: 51132492949
Driver's side turn signal bulb (yellow): 63217160798
Driver's side turn signal long life bulb: 63217160797
Driver's side turn signal bulb socket: 63138360205 or maybe 63141376979
driver's side turn signal gasket: 63138400763 (not listed on realoem.com)

[Kyle Anderson]

(can someone confirm that the "left" panel is the driver's side?)

Correct.

[BladeRunner919]

Correct.

If you drive on the right.

[BenFenner]

So it is based off looking at the car from the front?

[Wertles]

No. From sitting in the drivers seat.

[BenFenner]

Thanks for clearing that up.

[BenFenner]

It looks like I'm going to stick with the M gills and front bumper cover. Apologies to those who wanted the M gills, I'll be sending out PMs to those interested.

I'm going to purchase the OEM body pieces and light fixture myself and have the body shop (still not 100% settled on one yet) do the major work. I'll be dressing down the hood myself before bringing the car in.

[BenFenner]

Can anyone confirm that if I order part #63132493613 (#1 in diagram from realoem.com below) that I will get the entire assembly including turn signal lens, bulb, socket, and gasket? Or will I just get the lens? I'm just trying to be extra sure.

[Msilvia]

Yes, you will get pieces 1-4 if you order piece 1.

[BenFenner]

Danke schön.

[BenFenner]

Silly server.

[vanne]

If your going the full paint job, anyone on here done that before? And if so, what would u have done differently if u had to do it over? Did you pre-prep the car most bits yourself or just drive in and drive out?