Friend rear ended my car with his truck.. advice/info needed! (pics)

[Schniddy]

When you take away all other costs it comes out to around 250-450 for just the dents to be repaired and painted for all of the shops. I bet every shop is going to be around that price. I've never noticed this but there are easily 150-200 shops in a 5 mile radius of my house! I'm deffinetly not letting them buy parts. I took a closer look and they wanted 100 for the shock mount absorber, which isn't even the right one for the car since it has euro bumpers.

[turbo_negro69]

When you take away all other costs it comes out to around 250-450 for just the dents to be repaired and painted for all of the shops. I bet every shop is going to be around that price. I've never noticed this but there are easily 150-200 shops in a 5 mile radius of my house! I'm deffinetly not letting them buy parts. I took a closer look and they wanted 100 for the shock mount absorber, which isn't even the right one for the car since it has euro bumpers.

definately source your own parts! (ask me why) you will save money.
heres what i would do....IF i couldnt fix it myself.
1.remove the external parts that dont need paint/bodywork (lights, bumper, trim, etc)
2.order your own parts, you might wanna consider just replacing that rear bumper and having your buddy pay for it (hell he's the one who put you into this)
3.just have the bodyshop do the bodywork and paint. it'll look tits, you won't have to pay $100 for a freakin tail light, or $100 for the wrong bumper shock.
when all is said and done your e30 will be back to it's former glory, and you and your buddy wont hate each other:).......i hope

[Fanzotti]

When you take away all other costs it comes out to around 250-450 for just the dents to be repaired and painted for all of the shops. I bet every shop is going to be around that price. I've never noticed this but there are easily 150-200 shops in a 5 mile radius of my house! I'm deffinetly not letting them buy parts. I took a closer look and they wanted 100 for the shock mount absorber, which isn't even the right one for the car since it has euro bumpers.

Man...I should start doing estimates. Your buddy helped you out... Look at it this way your finally gonna get your bumper painted. I'm betting if you shopped around you could get those dents fixed and painted with quality work for like 150-200. Then find your parts and assemble it with your buddy...it'll be a sort of healing/clensing thing and you'll throw in some male to male bonding, just don't let it go to far...unless your into that kind of thing...which there's nothing wrong with that....if your into that kind of thing. Looks like you gotta get on buying a euro bumper so you can prep it and have it ready to paint by the time the cars ready...

definately source your own parts! (ask me why) you will save money.
heres what i would do....IF i couldnt fix it myself.
1.remove the external parts that dont need paint/bodywork (lights, bumper, trim, etc)
2.order your own parts, you might wanna consider just replacing that rear bumper and having your buddy pay for it (hell he's the one who put you into this)
3.just have the bodyshop do the bodywork and paint. it'll look tits, you won't have to pay $100 for a freakin tail light, or $100 for the wrong bumper shock.
when all is said and done your e30 will be back to it's former glory, and you and your buddy wont hate each other:).......i hope

^what turbo said. Do this shit, if you can save the bumper do it, it may just be the shock thats causing the alignment problem. Let the guy know the car will come to him already disassmbled and you want an estimate for just the paint and body work. They wont paint the bumper(and you dont want them to) while it's on the car so have it off when you get there. Find a decent shop that uses good product, you'll be happy when you leave.

A word on product. Most body shops including Maaco and scheib will deliver a car to you that will look awesome when finished. the difference is in how long it will last. this is usually a factor of how good of a clear coat they use. I payed extra for my clear coat so it would last. For the most part basecoat is basecoat(there are better ones but not as critical as the clear). From what I've been told nason is crap. Do a little research on their product make sure it's not bargain basement. If your gonna pay extra for anything let it be quality paint. Find out what there using and ask around at an auto sbody supply shop/google. That being said the best way to make a clearcoat last, even a shitty one, is to keep your paint waxed and moisturized. Good luck.

[ddavidv]

Clearcoat thickness is probably more important than the brand used. Too often it's not put on to the correct depth (there is a standard for this), and it will break down and fail. Usually only becomes an issue on top surfaces, since they get all the sunlight and other weather, so not as critical on the repair in question.

[Fanzotti]

Clearcoat thickness is probably more important than the brand used. Too often it's not put on to the correct depth (there is a standard for this), and it will break down and fail. Usually only becomes an issue on top surfaces, since they get all the sunlight and other weather, so not as critical on the repair in question.

Good point but I think it's a combo of both. House of color clear coats are definately better and will last longer that a generic brand.

[Schniddy]

I'm pretty much set on the 2nd shop. But I'm going to be handing my friend the estimates in paper for the $600 and $700 that two shops wanted just for fun


The reason why I want the second shop is because I really don’t want the trouble of buying a new bumper and having it striped! I'll take the bumper apart and have him work on it. It wasn't perfect in the first place; thats why I was holding back on painting, I couldn't get it perfect myself.

I'll pay the guy extra to make it perfect and if it is perfect in the end, I'll have him work on the front bumper. The driver’s side fender bumper piece isn't on because its so miss aligned with the bumper. I've tryed to figure out where the problem was, weather it was the centerpiece or fender piece and nothing worked.

So I'll give the guy a call today and ask about what paint and clear coat he uses ( I thought my car didn't have a clear coat though?). And I'll let you guys know what it is to see if its any good. If he lets me bring in my own paint, My dad works at a PPG research facility and he has some paint laying around that is an exact match. So I could bring that in.


Hopufully in the end everything will be fixed plus I can have my bumpers completly perfect and painted, front and back. :p

[Schniddy]

well I called the guy up and he said he uses PPG products for the basecoat and clearcoat. I then asked about bringing in paint and he said sure! That will save me a ton.

I think he forgot however, that he was just going to be painting the dents, and he asked if I wanted the bumper black too!!

So it looks like he will be doing that.


I'll order a new mount from BMA right now :)

[PiercedE30]

Good news! Looks like your leg work is going to pay off tremendously.

[LINUS]

well I called the guy up and he said he uses PPG produces for the basecoat and clearcoat. I then asked about bringing in paint and he said sure! That will save me a ton.

I think he forgot however, that he was just going to be painting the dents, and he asked if I wanted the bumper black too!!

So it looks like he will be doing that.


I'll order a new mount from BMA right now :)

So what kind of paint are you planning on?

[Schniddy]

So what kind of paint are you planning on?

PPG Schwarze. Of course it isn't going to be exact. That is impossible, but it its probably way better than him mixing it himself.

[Fanzotti]

Congratulations!

A few Ideas... If the rear bumper is being painted and it is not perfect you should be able (depending on what material it's made of?) To bodywork it similar to how you would fix a dented panel on a car: Hammer out the dent, put filler in what can't be pounded out, Sand,prime, paint. Now your rear bumper is perfect. So your saving even more now that you don't have to buy a new bumper.

If your plans are to also paint the rear bumper don't wait. The cost will be much higher if you piece meal your body work. Fact is that it is going to come out good, It's bodywork not brain surgery. If you found a decent shop it'll turn out nice. For him to paint it later is a big pain, for him to shoot it now is another couple of minutes. If your waiting to see if you like black Vs. Chrome? then I could see it but if your gonna eventually paint the front when you have the money, do it now it will be way cheaper and possibly free. Get it all done now, Your car looking good all donewill do wonders for your overall well being and improve yoour Karmic position in the universe (or some hippy shit like that).

Not sure if your car has a clear coat but I'll bet it does. The painter will be able to tell you that.

When Linus was asking you want kind of paint are you going to use I dont think he meant color. PPG has different types of paint. Some are better than others. If your pops getting it for you you might as well get a half gallon or a gallon of the good stuff...you'll use it some day. Thank your dad, You should be saving 50 to 75 off the original estimate.

As far as mixing goes 086 schwarz is 086 schwarz. You dont have to get this paint specially mixed to color match your car. If someone tells you they need to custom mix it there ripping you off. It is a standard gloss black. The only reason they may attempt to mix it is if your car has faded. If the paint is in decent shape it should come out unoticeable.

Make sure you get a new estimate including the subtraction of the materials you bring in. Do yourself a favor and do as much of the dissasembly as possible. Let the bodyman know what you'll be doing before he gives you the new estimate.

Buy the bodyman a twelve of his favorite sauce, Your paint job will come out better. DONT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES actually hand over the saus till he is done with your car. Let him know beforehand that you intend to pick him up a thank you twelver.

May the schwarz be with you!

[ddavidv]

Good point but I think it's a combo of both. House of color clear coats are definately better and will last longer that a generic brand.

House of Kolor?
Damn, you must be made of money. :pimp:
PPG is good. Yes, there are different grades, but most any shop I've been in uses the 'normal' quality stuff.
Me, I'm using Kirker on the race car. :grin:

[Schniddy]

Congratulations!

Buy the bodyman a twelve of his favorite sauce, Your paint job will come out better. DONT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES actually hand over the saus till he is done with your car. Let him know beforehand that you intend to pick him up a thank you twelver.

May the schwarz be with you!

You know there is a beer distributor across the street from his shop :p
I'm to young to get beer though haha.


thanks for all your advice! I'm not sure I can get the front done tho. There needs to be just as much work as the back before painting. Plus I need the euro turn signal stock connections before i can take the bumper off. right now if i take them off I wouldn't be able to get the turns working again without a lot of time using radioshack fittings and electrical tape..yuck

[blueapplesoda]

my friend rear ended me in my e30 with his e30. pushed my bumper up a few inches, nothing happened to his car. do not drive in front of mikeltang.

[Fanzotti]

House of Kolor? Damn, you must be made of money.

Not made of money but I'm trying to get a loan from DaveCN! Just using House of Kolor as an example that there are better grades of paint. The guy that shot my car is a Custom chopper painter..Sick...Twenty one years old and his paint is amazing. I'll post some pics of his work next time I go to his shop. Anyways All he uses is house of color. He said it would last the longest if I used there clear coat. He wasn't trying to get me to spend money because he's a friend and I was buying the stuff somewhere else. When it came to the base he said there wasn't that much difference in the quality brands. He said the place to spend money was in the clearcoat, cheap clearcoat will last a few years, Quality clearcoat will last forever. For my car House of Kolor woulda been like 330 bucks. Cheap woulda been like 80 bucks. I ended up getting a good one for around $150.

The other thing to know about clear coats that he told me is that longevity really comes down to keeping it waxed and moisturized. He said even a cheap clear can last forever and wont lift if you keep it moisturized and out of the sun as much as possible.

You know there is a beer distributor across the street from his shop :p I'm to young to get beer though haha.

thanks for all your advice! I'm not sure I can get the front done tho. There needs to be just as much work as the back before painting. Plus I need the euro turn signal stock connections before i can take the bumper off. right now if i take them off I wouldn't be able to get the turns working again without a lot of time using radioshack fittings and electrical tape..yuck

Just stand out side the beer store and look for a guy going in with a Led Zeppelin shirt or similar, hand him a twenty and say twelve pack. Just kidding stay away from trouble.

Do what you want but I'd get both bumps done now. The thing about body work is that it takes alot of time getting the materials ready and cleaning the guns. For him to blast through two bumps at one time isn't much more work than doing the one. It's well worth it to wait till you the parts you need. There small dents you can drive it for a week or two without killing your pimp status. Your gonna save huge and with matching bumps you may be able to score a older lady(21-22ish) that can buy that twelve pack for your body man.