help! Can anyone give a cost-estimate on a dent/scratches

[Deena]

I am a first time poster - not sure if this is the right place to submit this question..

Can anyone "guesstimate" how much it would cost to get a dent fixed (dent located at the wheelwell and bumper, probably 2-3inches in diameter) and some scuff marks. I am only considering going to the local dealership as I want a really good job done, but they're already closed for the day and I most likely wont get an appointment til Monday. My main concern is that I'm afraid the paint wont match. It's an '06 330i btw...err hopefully this is a good enough description...what do you guys think?

ANY advice or estimate or best guess would be appreciated
Thanks

[rpbarlow]

Probably a photo would best help describe the severity of the scratch.

[Deena]

mind you that the car is dirty.. it's crazy winter where I'm from.. so it's really hard to keep the car clean. But i think you'll be able to tell the marks from the dirt..
http://flickr.com/photos/35610311@N03/3296405592/

thanks again

[mryakan]

it is tough to say from this photo, but it seems more than a scratch, the bumper is off and as it is plastic, I am not sure if it can be repaired to look right. A replacement may be costly. Hit and run?

[Deena]

Yeah, it was a hit and run. Ugh.

It's not so much the bumper that has a scratch, and its too bad i dont have better picture, but the wheelwell is "pushed in" and bent......im so upset!

[UFOGUY]

$500 for repair and $2,500 for a wash job. :stickoutt

only joking. like mryakan said, the scratch/dent on the upper metal portion shouldn't be too expensive (in the hundreds) but there is a good chance that the lower plastic portion will have to be replaced. i realize i am not much help but i don't know if repairs can be made to the plastic portion or not (doubtful).

i have had best luck with "local" low volume repair shops. the "good old boys" tend to give a better deal and not go replacement crazy. just because it is a bimmer doesn't mean you have to take it to a high end shop.

sorry about your hit and run bad luck.

[Deena]

LOL..ok..wash the car, i get the hint:rasp....but cars get so dirty during the winter, its so hard to keep up:bawling. I blame the canadian weather.heh..

You think the local shops will do a good job, I just dont want to get charged x amount and then not have a good job done....I'm most paranoid about the paint not matching too.. gulp.

[UFOGUY]

ask around about a local repair shop and see if you can get some references. i had great luck with my local guy. reasonable prices and excellent work. heck, it's the same kinda guys working in local and high end shops. it doesn't involve rocket science to match your paint.

[Beer Goggles]

Nobody here is a body shop. Take it to a shop and get an estimate. Dealers don't usually do their own body work, so just call them and ask them where they send their cars. If you're paying for it out of pocket you don't need to pay the dealer to send it somewhere for you.

[Deena]

Good idea, thanks for the suggestion. I'll call the dealer and ask where they get their work done.. you're right, they most likely dont get the work done there itself.
Thanks again!

[mryakan]

My dealer has an in house body shop, but others sometimes outsource their work. Make sure to ask to see a sample of their work, esp. the paint job, and esp. if their outsource it since they may not have the best shops picked.

[NotEntirelyJack]

My Z4 got keyed on the passenger door. They had to repaint the fron quarter panel as well as the door in order to match the color. It cost me $850. That was at a private shop and not the stealership. The stealership wanted $1300. Dont take it to the dealer, try Angies list or something and get the same work at a better price.

[Deena]

OMG.. $1300 at the dealership. OMG! Thanks for the heads up guys, I realy appreciate it!

sorry to hear about your car getting keyed...but glad to hear it's all fixed..

[TeaRoy]

Mine got hit and run a couple months ago - large dent in the rear bumper. The dealership said to replace the bumper cover which costs $1000. Two other shops said don't bother replacing, they'd fix it and repaint the whole bumper. They order the paint same as the dealership orders the paint so it will match. I got two quotes for repairs...one for $650, one for $275. I paid $275 cash to have it repaired and I can absolutely NOT tell that anything ever happened to it. Looks great. Got home...washed and waxed...looks great.

[Deena]

wow.. 275 - erf. well i went to the shop that the dealer sends its cars. hes telling me 1700.. !! and thats after bargaining.original was 2000. what do i do..anyone know of a good place in Toronto?

[mryakan]

wow.. 275 - erf. well i went to the shop that the dealer sends its cars. hes telling me 1700.. !! and thats after bargaining.original was 2000. what do i do..anyone know of a good place in Toronto?
Isn't insurance covering it? Why are you doing the bargaining, let them worry about that and find yourself a quality shop.

[atc1949]

The repairs may be more than you think. This bit of work is $9,500.00Cdn.

[kindtree]

Ouch that really sucks. Unfortunately, shops will tend to try to screw you over just because you do have a nice car, but that could be a very costly repair. That's the rear quarter right? Or am I stupid? Or both?

[TeaRoy]

Isn't insurance covering it? Why are you doing the bargaining, let them worry about that and find yourself a quality shop.

My best man is also my insurance agent, and I was told any repair at $1000 or less should not be claimed to insurance. A hit and run (here in Ohio anyway) is considered the same as an accident and goes against you on your insurance claim record. If you have another ticket or any other 'issue' then your rates get hiked and you'll pay more than the $1000 over the long run. Once the cost to fix it gets over that $1000...then claim it to insurance.

Just what I was told.

[mryakan]

My best man is also my insurance agent, and I was told any repair at $1000 or less should not be claimed to insurance. A hit and run (here in Ohio anyway) is considered the same as an accident and goes against you on your insurance claim record. If you have another ticket or any other 'issue' then your rates get hiked and you'll pay more than the $1000 over the long run. Once the cost to fix it gets over that $1000...then claim it to insurance.

Just what I was told.
That really sucks, good luck then getting a good deal.

[BMWs4Ever]

Alot of dealers don't have their own body shop and farm it out. I took my Passat to 427 collison. They are at QEW and Kipling on Evans avenue if I remember correctly. They are a fairly large body shop so the work should be decent since they are always working on alot of cars at any given moment. They did a decent job on my Passat. Some ahole 18 year old kid hit my bumper and trashed it. I had a new bumper put on and they matched the paint to the point I could not tell. If it's your car and you want to keep it I would have them put a new quater pannel on so that you don't have to worry about them trying to fix the dent. This will cost more then trying to fix the dent although the dent does not look to bad so they may be able to make it look good witout too much trouble.

[kindtree]

Getting the rear quarter replaced would be $$$$$$$$$.

By the looks of it, I don't know if that dent would necessitate that. It does look a bit deformed, but from what I can see, I wouldn't think they would replace that. That's a lot of work and a lot of money.

[Beer Goggles]

It doesn't need a replaced quarter, and hit and run is the same as getting hit by somebody with no insurance and does NOT count against you.

That's why we have insurance, and why you have COMP/Collision and a set deductible. The reason why an insurance company tells you not to claim it is because they have to pay. They NEVER want to pay and the reason why insurance is such a lucrative business.

[Deena]

Regardless of informing my insurance company or not, it's too late. Blah.. I can only get it fixed.. but I'll try the 427 Collison for an estimate... replacing the rear quarter panel ..will most def. cost me some serious $$ .. i'll bring it in and see what they say. ..gah, I'm so pissed. IT WASNT even my fault. this world is full of jerks. ::insert pout face.::

Thanks for your advice/help - any other suggestions are welcomed!