Sigh...parking scrape. Any hints on cost?

[Munter]

So the OH comes home and says "someone scratched the car with a Jeep..." (They did leave their details, and it'll get paid out of their pocket/insurance)

So it's not as bad as I thought from that description. I cant with my eyes actually spot significant dents in the panels, but the paint is definitely scratched.

We'll wheel it around some bodyshops and get a quote. But any thoughts on if this is just sand it down and spray it (possibly out of pocket for them), or a job in the £1000s (definitely insurance)

[ian332isport]

It’s hard to say for sure, but I think the vast majority of that will polish off.

[finlo]

There's visible deformation on that rear door skin so a proper repair won't be cheap!

[Munter]

Thanks for your thoughts guys.

[anonymous-user]

You have the other party’s details? Looking at the damage there I’d just be calling my insurance co and report that. Maybe I’m a selfish bd, but I’m not wasting my own time getting quotes so that someone else can avoid an insurance claim for damaging my car.

That said, I think that repair is under £1000.

Edited by F20CN16 on Thursday 10th June 07:12

[aka_kerrly]

ian332isport said:

It’s hard to say for sure, but I think the vast majority of that will polish off.

As the OP has already taken pictures of the damage should the other person decide to do the right thing I would still go ahead and compound the areas to at least remove the black stains which are likely plastic transfer from the other car. After seeing how much of the marks can be removed you ought to get a better idea of any impressions/dents.

If the paint is reasonably ok, you could then get a dent repair chappy to have a look - it is absolutely astonishing what can be repaired with the right combination of pushing/pulling/heat application, usual rate is around £100 per panel.

[Munter]

There was an element of direct to insurance in my mind. But the OH actually has to work with these people. The Jeep (Suzuki Vitara I suspect), owner just didn't know who's car it was and security refused to say...helpful.

Anyway looks like the OH want's to get a chipsaway type guy to look at it, give a quote today hopefully, (least effort), If I have the car tomorrow there's a bodyshop 2 streets over I'll get a quote from as well. Then decide on claim or not.

OH is reluctant to go insurance route as she had her pants pulled down when someone totalled her Nova (tells you how long ago that was). They gave her £50 for the car and her insurance went from £200, to £1000. For a no fault claim.

I don't think the same would happen...but...easiest way forward is let her play it her way!

[V8covin]

Looks like the door is creased to me so you're looking at painting at least the 3 panels in the pictures, possibly the whole side depending on the colour.
Not really a job for a man in a van at the kerbside if you want it to last

[InitialDave]

Yes, I think that will need doing properly, and through insurance is going to be most straightforward.

I wouldn't let your OH get it done on the cheap unless it's specifically her car, paid for by her, and nothing to do with you.

[aka_kerrly]

InitialDave said:

Yes, I think that will need doing properly, and through insurance is going to be most straightforward.

I wouldn't let your OH get it done on the cheap unless it's specifically her car, paid for by her, and nothing to do with you.

I'd have thought it perhaps depends more on if the car is owned or if it needs returning at some point in the future at which stage a dodgy repair could be an issue.

If the car is owned and you're expecting to keep it long term then a proper 3 panel paint job (if it really needs it) would be preferred to getting ChipsAway to polish/pull the panel an make it maybe 90% perfect. The other extreme being if a quick polish for free gets 50% of the marks off this may make the damage subtle enough that the non trained eye wouldn't notice it which might be enough to keep wife happy an insurance unaware.

[thebraketester]

It wouldn't surprise me if the insurance quote for that is £2000-2500

[Munter]

aka_kerrly said:

I'd have thought it perhaps depends more on if the car is owned or if it needs returning at some point in the future at which stage a dodgy repair could be an issue.

If the car is owned and you're expecting to keep it long term then a proper 3 panel paint job (if it really needs it) would be preferred to getting ChipsAway to polish/pull the panel an make it maybe 90% perfect.

Well...the lacquer was already peeling off the front door when we got the car a few months ago. The car it replaced was a patchwork of similar issues. If it can get to a point where it's not obvious in passing, we'll probably live with it. Because it didn't start perfect I won't feel too bad about it.

On the other hand a bodyshop job would leave the car in better condition than it was to start with. Which is tempting....

Thanks for the opinions all. It's all in the region I thought we were.

[steveo3002]

dont bother a smart repair place with that , will end up needing the whole side painting , trims off , repair work to at least that rear door

will be into the the thousands if done right

[aka_kerrly]

Munter said:

Well...the lacquer was already peeling off the front door when we got the car a few months ago. The car it replaced was a patchwork of similar issues. If it can get to a point where it's not obvious in passing, we'll probably live with it. Because it didn't start perfect I won't feel too bad about it.

On the other hand a bodyshop job would leave the car in better condition than it was to start with. Which is tempting....

Thanks for the opinions all. It's all in the region I thought we were.

As there was existing damage which could sneakily be included in repairs that are covered by the insurance then I can see the appeal. Getting £2k of paintwork done for the equivalent of £50 year on a insurance premier is a bargain isn't it.

I did similar when someone took out the front wing/bumper. Insurance only wanted to cover painting the wing + half the bumper which on a 24 year old car with 200k worth of stone chips/dings would have looked terrible. The bodyshop did a quote including the cost of a replacement wing @£600 which was approved so when I supplied a replacement wing myself there was sufficiently money in the job that I then chipped in an extra £1k cash and had the entire car painted!!!!!

[Munter]

Well. To round off a thread. Local body shop says they'd do it for £450-600. Depends on the work on the rear door, but (deceptive picture aside) we can't see or feel a dent, but wait until the rubber is polished off. (It turns out it's where our trusted indy garage sends bodywork, so hoping that's a good sign for the work).

Smart repair didn't get back to the OH. Business must be very good.

Fingers crossed the OHs colleague doesn't balk at that quote. I'd go for it in their position but...people can be weird.

[paintman]

Give them the choice of paying the local bodyshop or putting it through their insurance.
May help to focus their attention.

[V8covin]

Munter said:

Well. To round off a thread. Local body shop says they'd do it for £450-600. Depends on the work on the rear door, but (deceptive picture aside) we can't see or feel a dent, but wait until the rubber is polished off. (It turns out it's where our trusted indy garage sends bodywork, so hoping that's a good sign for the work).

Smart repair didn't get back to the OH. Business must be very good.

Fingers crossed the OHs colleague doesn't balk at that quote. I'd go for it in their position but...people can be weird.

If all they end up doing is polishing it off then it shouldn't cost anything like £450.But I think they will have to paint it

[Munter]

V8covin said:

Munter said:

Well. To round off a thread. Local body shop says they'd do it for £450-600. Depends on the work on the rear door, but (deceptive picture aside) we can't see or feel a dent, but wait until the rubber is polished off. (It turns out it's where our trusted indy garage sends bodywork, so hoping that's a good sign for the work).

Smart repair didn't get back to the OH. Business must be very good.

Fingers crossed the OHs colleague doesn't balk at that quote. I'd go for it in their position but...people can be weird.

If all they end up doing is polishing it off then it shouldn't cost anything like £450.But I think they will have to paint it

No it's definitely a paint job, the question is around how much of a dent there is in the panel, which might take a bit more buggering about with (or not).