Would you recommend a bodyshop in Essex please?
Discussion
My fiancée, despite all her redeeming qualities, seems to have problems with judging distances and the width of our little Yaris. As such I'm in need a bodyshop to sort out scrapes on the rear passenger door, and rear arch.
My previous place in North West London is just too impractical to get to, and also too expensive for me now with a wedding on the horizon, so I was hoping my fellow PH'ers could kindly recommend a bodyshop that is reliable and affordable.
I'm in Loughton on the M11, but am open to travelling out into Essex 10-15 miles.
Thanks in advance!
My previous place in North West London is just too impractical to get to, and also too expensive for me now with a wedding on the horizon, so I was hoping my fellow PH'ers could kindly recommend a bodyshop that is reliable and affordable.
I'm in Loughton on the M11, but am open to travelling out into Essex 10-15 miles.
Thanks in advance!
If it's just minor scrapes have you considered a time established smart repairer?
I can recommend www.londonbumper.repair from Romford
I can recommend www.londonbumper.repair from Romford
Squiggs said:
If it's just minor scrapes have you considered a time established smart repairer?
I can recommend www.londonbumper.repair from Romford
thanks Squiggs, i'll give him a try!I can recommend www.londonbumper.repair from Romford
I actually contacted Gary after your recommendation Glenn, as I was impressed with his website and portfolio. He gave an extremely competitive quote too, so I've booked him for mid-Feb when I've got some time off work.
I see you're a SMART repairer too, so it's reassuring that you'd recommend someone else for the job. SMART wasn't something I really considered for a job this size, as I presumed it was more suited to smaller scratches and dents. But judging by his site, it seems techniques and tools for 'roadside repair' have come a long way recently!
Although the idea of spending the day on the playstation while he's outside working is tempting, I'm actually excited to watch him perform magic (if he doesn't mind me staring over his shoulder)!
I see you're a SMART repairer too, so it's reassuring that you'd recommend someone else for the job. SMART wasn't something I really considered for a job this size, as I presumed it was more suited to smaller scratches and dents. But judging by his site, it seems techniques and tools for 'roadside repair' have come a long way recently!
Although the idea of spending the day on the playstation while he's outside working is tempting, I'm actually excited to watch him perform magic (if he doesn't mind me staring over his shoulder)!
InsolentMinx said:
I'm actually excited to watch him perform magic (if he doesn't mind me staring over his shoulder)!
Hahaha - I think we get used to people watching - but a lot of it is like watching paint dry 
What is weirder are the people who just offer to pay without even considering putting a foot outside the house to inspect the work
????????????I know where you're coming from, but paint repairs are paint repairs - in the main it doesn't really matter whether it's a high end or low end car. The repair process is exactly the same
I recently worked on a new 'bespoke' Range Rover - a company up North buys them new, sticks on their own wheels, seats, body kit, beefs up the engine etc, etc.
It was damaged on delivery to their customer and it cost £150k - but the paint was still the same as that on a basic Range Rover costing less than half of that - and the paint on a basic Range Rover is no different to the paint on elderly Mrs Browns entry level Micra
I recently worked on a new 'bespoke' Range Rover - a company up North buys them new, sticks on their own wheels, seats, body kit, beefs up the engine etc, etc.
It was damaged on delivery to their customer and it cost £150k - but the paint was still the same as that on a basic Range Rover costing less than half of that - and the paint on a basic Range Rover is no different to the paint on elderly Mrs Browns entry level Micra
Squiggs said:
I know where you're coming from, but paint repairs are paint repairs - in the main it doesn't really matter whether it's a high end or low end car. The repair process is exactly the same
I recently worked on a new 'bespoke' Range Rover - a company up North buys them new, sticks on their own wheels, seats, body kit, beefs up the engine etc, etc.
It was damaged on delivery to their customer and it cost £150k - but the paint was still the same as that on a basic Range Rover costing less than half of that - and the paint on a basic Range Rover is no different to the paint on elderly Mrs Browns entry level Micra
Yeah, you are certainly not wrong. However (I would like to think) that the owner of a bespoke £150k Range Rover would be much more critical about the quality of a repair job on his overpriced car, than Mrs Brown may be on her granny-spec Micra.I recently worked on a new 'bespoke' Range Rover - a company up North buys them new, sticks on their own wheels, seats, body kit, beefs up the engine etc, etc.
It was damaged on delivery to their customer and it cost £150k - but the paint was still the same as that on a basic Range Rover costing less than half of that - and the paint on a basic Range Rover is no different to the paint on elderly Mrs Browns entry level Micra
Obviously Mrs Brown is equally within her rights to expect the same level of quality, care and attention on her repair, as on the Range Rover; however a shoddy repair on the RR will look much more offensive than it would on the little Nissan.
I was just being silly, but it is reassuring to know that he is trusted to work on eye-catching 'dream' cars 20x the value of mine, as I am wanting a factory quality (or better) repair on my lil baby.
One local garage I was suggested to get a quote from looked like somewhere I would be hesitant to even take my car to, even for just a brake fluid change, let alone a top quality repair and respray!
Obviously looks can be deceiving, but I can't help but judge on first impressions.
Edited by InsolentMinx on Thursday 15th January 12:52
Further to Squiggs' recommendation, yesterday Gary who owns/runs GRD SMART Repairs paid me a visit.
http://londonbumper.repair/
It seems driveway bodyworks have come a long way since I last saw someone from ChipsAway at work!!
He's been doing bodywork for over 10 years, and was very confident in his ability to work on damage to the extent that I had; rather than just dealing with a small chip, scuff or scratch.
He took a little longer than the 4-5 hours he estimated, but I'm chuffed with the results. Especially considering there was a bit of rain too!
And for just £255 he beat any quote that I was given from bodyshops, not to mention I didn't have to leave the car at a shop for a few days!
If you need scratches or dents dealing with, and you're in East London/Essex area, I would highly recommend him.
Some pics:
http://londonbumper.repair/
It seems driveway bodyworks have come a long way since I last saw someone from ChipsAway at work!!
He's been doing bodywork for over 10 years, and was very confident in his ability to work on damage to the extent that I had; rather than just dealing with a small chip, scuff or scratch.
He took a little longer than the 4-5 hours he estimated, but I'm chuffed with the results. Especially considering there was a bit of rain too!
And for just £255 he beat any quote that I was given from bodyshops, not to mention I didn't have to leave the car at a shop for a few days!
If you need scratches or dents dealing with, and you're in East London/Essex area, I would highly recommend him.
Some pics:
glad the pics are working now 
He stuck plastic sheeting up to cover the side of the car and protect from rain.
Infra-red lamps to keep the panels warm and cure the paint.
It only spat with rain for a few mins, but the finish looks great. No orangepeel or blemishes, which is more than I can say for some fully fitted out coachworks and bodyshops I've used before!
He stuck plastic sheeting up to cover the side of the car and protect from rain.
Infra-red lamps to keep the panels warm and cure the paint.
It only spat with rain for a few mins, but the finish looks great. No orangepeel or blemishes, which is more than I can say for some fully fitted out coachworks and bodyshops I've used before!
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