My car got hit on the passenger side rear to a conrete pole in a tight parking lot. I guess wife was not paying too much attention to how close she is cutting.

What do people think - how bad is this? Do I need to get insurance involved? Or can a body shop just fix the dent and paint it for less than $1000. Any recommendations in the Chicago area are also welcome.

 

I have not done body work since highschool but I am going to say you will need a new door skin, completely painting the door and blending on the 1/4 panel and front door. You will be looking at door dis-assembly (1.5hr) skin $250, prep and paint... $700-900

 

Hey thanks a lot. I really hope to get this without involving my insurance, so those estimates do look reassuring.
BTW, I have been in chicago area for less than a year and don't know much around here - any shops that you would recommend?

 

Check craigslist for any mobile Autobody.

 

That's not a job for a mobile repair business. This is going to be much more paintless dent repair. I suggest you also contact a local BMW Collision Center and get an estimate from them. You might be surprised to find they may not be more expensive than an independent body shop.

Without seeing this damage up front and personal the door may be able to get straightened out and not need a new skin. It's hard to tell if the metal has been stretched beyond fixing. That said, I suspect you're looking in the neighborhood of $2000-$2500 for the right kind of repair.

What is your Insurance comprehensive deductible? If you are claim free one repair (esp this sort) shouldn't impact your rating and premium.

 

Hi, I do body work and paint often on weekends..usually following stressful weeks. I will be painting this weekend and probably being doing some minor fills with body filler.
This job can be tackled but I would not call a "mobile repair" guy...unless he's fully equipped to do the job..which is really a close call and you probably are not in a position ask and probe because you lack the knowledge to know how in depth this fix is.
From these pictures it does not look like you need new door skins at all.
I would suggest that you find a reputable shop to fix but I can tell you right now the cost will be over $1000 almost guaranteed. I would do it for $1000 but no less than that to be quite honest and I consider myself to be very reasonable. But I am about 1500 miles away from you. You have a lot of feathering that needs to happen on this project. You will have to paint most of the side of the vehicle to blend it correctly and you will have to clearcoat the ENTIRE side of the car.
Good luck with repair.

 

i guess my fiance will not be driving my car im sorry that happened.

 

Just on CNN lastnight they had a study of how many things a woman is better than a man at. One of them was driving.
We all know this from real life experience to be wrong. Now are there great women drivers? Of course but we're talking realtime/reallife statistics.
Just goes to show how statistics can skew in any direction and how the people chosen to calculate and poll these stats should be of good moral and trustworthy individuals.
From the root to the fruit. Most people are rotten in nature and thus anything they touch will also have the stench of their rotten habits.

 

no way. it will cost more than that. the door skins are aluminum, right? might require whole new door, unless it can be popped out ok.

 

If my wife did this I would file for divorce and sell the car!