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YACT: I got an estimate for paint and minor body work

Rumpltzer

Rumpltzer

Diamond Member
Cliff's note:
I've been quoted $575 to repair this. Fair or not?

Detailed version:
2004 Accord coup (two door) with damage to the rear, passenger-side quarter panel shown here and here.

The dealership reccomended a shop. The guy looked at it and said they'd need to loosen or remove adjacent body parts (rear bumper, rear spoiler, tail light assembly, remove the rear window) to get the paint/clear coat into the seams. He said they'd repair the topographic damage, paint the damaged area, and then clear coat the entire panel.

The panel runs from the rear bumper, under the rear window, and then over the passenger-side door. It's shaped sort of like a garden watering can with a long spout.

The quote (in hour units):
Loosen rear bumper - 0.5 hours
Remove/install tail light assembly - 0.4 hours
Remove/install trunk lid spoiler - 0.7 hours
Remove/install rear window - 1.0 hours
Replacement glass kit - 0.3
Remove/install roof molding - 0.5 hours
Remove/install lower trim - 0.3
Repair quarter panel - 3.0 hours
Cover for overspray - 0.3 hours
Color tint/sand & rub - 1.0 hours
subtotal = $304

Paint & clearcoat work - 3.6 hours
subtotal = $137

Paint supplies - 3.6 hours
subtotal = $94

TOTAL = $575 (after tax and parts)

I like that they're doing the job right. I'm sure the hours are being overcharged, though. For instance, I installed the spoiler myself. It was the first time I'd ever done it, I had to measure and drill the holes in the drunk, install the spring system, and thread the wiring for the light. It took two hours. It's held on by six bolts, and I don't think it should take 0.7 hours to remove it. I don't even know why it need to be removed when it's not in the way at all if you just open the trunk.

Anyway, it comes down to $575 to make the repair. Fair or not?

Oh, and if anyone knows of a good body shop in Ventura County, CA, I wouldn't mind taking it in for another estimate.
 
Is it dented anywhere? I can't tell by pics

If it isn't, just do it yourself, may not look brand new but it'll be fine

Sand, bondo if needed, prime, paint, clear coat

Just get spray cans or buy paint that matches online

I don't want to explain entire process in detail if it has a dent or something, even if it does, try popping it out or something
 
Dealer shops are expensive but they do good work. Did you tell them you were paying for it yourself? They'll give you different prices based on whether you or insurance is paying for it. Also, all the labor numbers are computer generated. Most all shops run off the same system so the times are predifined.
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Uh ... I got this repaired for $500. Canadian.

- M4H
Click to expand...
Hm? That suggests to me that I should look into the price of a painted quarter panel replacement and install it myself. I'll look into it. Thanks.

 
Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Uh ... I got this repaired for $500. Canadian.

- M4H
Click to expand...
Hm? That suggests to me that I should look into the price of a painted quarter panel replacement and install it myself. I'll look into it. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Uh, if it runs as you descibe it's going to A LOT of work to replace and pre-painted means it probably won't match quite right.
 
Well, it doesn't say what he's refinishing, but the usual reason for R&I (remove and install) on jobs like these is to refinish. Removing all the moldings, taillights, glass, etc. is the way to do it without leaving a paint edge which is what you would get after masking. The better shops always want to remove all attaching parts from a panel when painting. They are removing the spoiler theoretically to respray clearcoat on the trunklid. I'm assuming he's allowing to refinish the entire quarter panel, then blend color into adjacent panels to get a color match, but 3.6 hours isn't enough to do that. I'd ask why he can't blend the color in on the quarter panel and re-clear the quarter. Other than that, it's the proper way to do it. The estimate looks reasonable to me, or at least not unreasonable.

.7 of an hour is 42 minutes, and that is to remove it, set it aside on a workbench or somewhere while the work is being done, then reinstall when complete.

You most certainly could get it done cheaper, but do you want it done right or do you want it cheap, you can't have both.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Uh ... I got this repaired for $500. Canadian.

- M4H
Click to expand...
Hm? That suggests to me that I should look into the price of a painted quarter panel replacement and install it myself. I'll look into it. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Uh, if it runs as you descibe it's going to A LOT of work to replace and pre-painted means it probably won't match quite right.
Click to expand...

No such thing as a prepainted quarter panel, and the quarter is spot welded on. Unless you want to drill out several dozen spotwelds and get your mig welder out to replace it, don't bother. Even if you did do that, you don't want to bother the factory corrosion protection. When you go welding and drilling, the corrosion protection inside a panel is damaged and it again takes proper equipment to restore the corrosion protection.

The question really is, do you want it cheap or do you want quality? I'm assuming on a 2004 car you do want quality.
 
Originally posted by: jemcam
Well, it doesn't say what he's refinishing, but the usual reason for R&I (remove and install) on jobs like these is to refinish. Removing all the moldings, taillights, glass, etc. is the way to do it without leaving a paint edge which is what you would get after masking. The better shops always want to remove all attaching parts from a panel when painting. They are removing the spoiler theoretically to respray clearcoat on the trunklid. I'm assuming he's allowing to refinish the entire quarter panel, then blend color into adjacent panels to get a color match, but 3.6 hours isn't enough to do that. I'd ask why he can't blend the color in on the quarter panel and re-clear the quarter. Other than that, it's the proper way to do it. The estimate looks reasonable to me, or at least not unreasonable.

.7 of an hour is 42 minutes, and that is to remove it, set it aside on a workbench or somewhere while the work is being done, then reinstall when complete.

You most certainly could get it done cheaper, but do you want it done right or do you want it cheap, you can't have both.
Click to expand...
It's my impression that he'll be painting and blending on the quarter panel.

He said they'd repair the topographic damage, paint the damaged area, and then clear coat the entire panel.

It still makes me wonder why he needs to remove the spoiler. He points out that it overlaps the quarter panel... but it's attached to the trunk. Wouldn't opening the trunk move it out of the way?


If $575 is fair, then I'll pay it. I'd certainly get the job done right rather than pay less to get it half-assed.


 
Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Originally posted by: jemcam
Well, it doesn't say what he's refinishing, but the usual reason for R&I (remove and install) on jobs like these is to refinish. Removing all the moldings, taillights, glass, etc. is the way to do it without leaving a paint edge which is what you would get after masking. The better shops always want to remove all attaching parts from a panel when painting. They are removing the spoiler theoretically to respray clearcoat on the trunklid. I'm assuming he's allowing to refinish the entire quarter panel, then blend color into adjacent panels to get a color match, but 3.6 hours isn't enough to do that. I'd ask why he can't blend the color in on the quarter panel and re-clear the quarter. Other than that, it's the proper way to do it. The estimate looks reasonable to me, or at least not unreasonable.

.7 of an hour is 42 minutes, and that is to remove it, set it aside on a workbench or somewhere while the work is being done, then reinstall when complete.

You most certainly could get it done cheaper, but do you want it done right or do you want it cheap, you can't have both.
Click to expand...
It's my impression that he'll be painting and blending on the quarter panel.

He said they'd repair the topographic damage, paint the damaged area, and then clear coat the entire panel.

It still makes me wonder why he needs to remove the spoiler. He points out that it overlaps the quarter panel... but it's attached to the trunk. Wouldn't opening the trunk move it out of the way?


If $575 is fair, then I'll pay it. I'd certainly get the job done right rather than pay less to get it half-assed.
Click to expand...

Because if you open the trunk then it'll expose the interior of the trunk to paint. Removing the spoiler is easier then masking the open trunk.
 
You said no dent, I wouldn't spend that much on it.

Personally, I would just sand it nicely and paint that portion myself. If you do it slowly taking your time it can turn out nicely.

Contact me if you're interested in more info, I can send a link or two that might help
 
Take it to Earl Scheibs. I believe its $50 a panel. Heck, something like your scratches I would just use the colored polish they sell on TV for $9.
 
Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Originally posted by: jemcam
Well, it doesn't say what he's refinishing, but the usual reason for R&I (remove and install) on jobs like these is to refinish. Removing all the moldings, taillights, glass, etc. is the way to do it without leaving a paint edge which is what you would get after masking. The better shops always want to remove all attaching parts from a panel when painting. They are removing the spoiler theoretically to respray clearcoat on the trunklid. I'm assuming he's allowing to refinish the entire quarter panel, then blend color into adjacent panels to get a color match, but 3.6 hours isn't enough to do that. I'd ask why he can't blend the color in on the quarter panel and re-clear the quarter. Other than that, it's the proper way to do it. The estimate looks reasonable to me, or at least not unreasonable.

.7 of an hour is 42 minutes, and that is to remove it, set it aside on a workbench or somewhere while the work is being done, then reinstall when complete.

You most certainly could get it done cheaper, but do you want it done right or do you want it cheap, you can't have both.
Click to expand...
It's my impression that he'll be painting and blending on the quarter panel.

He said they'd repair the topographic damage, paint the damaged area, and then clear coat the entire panel.

It still makes me wonder why he needs to remove the spoiler. He points out that it overlaps the quarter panel... but it's attached to the trunk. Wouldn't opening the trunk move it out of the way?


If $575 is fair, then I'll pay it. I'd certainly get the job done right rather than pay less to get it half-assed.
Click to expand...

You're absolutely right about the spoiler, then. Well, if he he's going to spray the quarter, if he opens up the trunklid, then he'll have to worry about overspray in the trunk. Too much of a hassle so it is easier to R&I it then. Without seeing all the pictures, it's really hard to tell.
 
Originally posted by: Childs
Take it to Earl Scheibs. I believe its $50 a panel. Heck, something like your scratches I would just use the colored polish they sell on TV for $9.
Click to expand...

You get what you pay for. I sure as hell wouldn't take a 2004 car into Earl Scheibs. Besides, the $50 per panel deal is usually paintless dent repair, and you couldn't get away with paintless dent repair with your kind of damage.

Don't listen to the people that are saying you can do it yourself. It's fine to do your own bodywork on a 10 year old car, but not the current model year. You WILL be able to tell and it will affect your resale value if you can tell it's been repaired. You'll be better off leaving it damaged than buying bondo and spray paint at Wal Mart. Don't attempt this repair yourself, you will regret it I guarantee it.

If it's so easy to do, then why does it take a such a long time to really learn the trade? Use your heads people, this is not your bathroom wall you're painting and repairing, it's a vehicle worth a lot of money.
 
Originally posted by: AgaBooga
You said no dent, I wouldn't spend that much on it.

Personally, I would just sand it nicely and paint that portion myself. If you do it slowly taking your time it can turn out nicely.

Contact me if you're interested in more info, I can send a link or two that might help
Click to expand...

You wouldn't bother, even with a new car?😕
 
You liv in Santa Barbara. You will not get rates that compare to Canada or Ohio or anywhere else. $575 is a good price for that in California.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: AgaBooga
You said no dent, I wouldn't spend that much on it.

Personally, I would just sand it nicely and paint that portion myself. If you do it slowly taking your time it can turn out nicely.

Contact me if you're interested in more info, I can send a link or two that might help
Click to expand...

You wouldn't bother, even with a new car?😕
Click to expand...

see my previous post, please.
 
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