Hi all,

Looking for some advice as I'm clueless as to 'fair' costs for bodyshops.

Mrs had an argument with the corner of our garage which has left her with a cracked bumper, fog and bent OS wing. She's been to one bodyshop and had a quote for just over £1200. To me, this seems high, but it may actually be good value. The problem is, we've only recently moved to Ascot, Berkshire and have no idea who to use, let alone trying to find a bodyshop for a quote.

I'm hoping you kind folks can advise if:

A) This is the ballpark figure or not

If anyone lives local, can you recommend anyone?

I attach the quote and some photos of the damage (including hideous eye lashes…)

£1200 is probably about where you are at for it.

 

george

^ What he said.

I had a numpty put their car into my back bumper last year. Looked less damage than yours & it came in at £1200 aswell.

You may get a cheaper quote but look at the quality of their work / who they do work for. Always ask if they contract for any insurance / main dealer companies.

Best of getting 3 quotes and weighing it up from there.

Be aware of places that are Quoting on Private work,

some may give you a Verbal Estimate Quote Free, but will want like £35 for Written Quotes/estimates,

obviously refunded where they do the work.

Fair Enough.

 

Private Quotes for just a repair, without Courtesy Car etc, are not always going to be Cheaper than Body shops where they are quoting an Insurance Repair.

I'd double it, because of the silly eye lashes!

Have you tried your local friendly Fiat dealer..assuming that is a 500..

Thanks all to have posted.  Useful to know that £1200 is a fair quote.

 

I've not got involved yet, the mrs had someone recommended to her at work (the only quote obtained so far).  I'll be giving Fiat a call and hopefully a couple of independents.  But since we're talking 1K+, I'm thinking it would be easier to go through the insurance and take the hit on premiums over the next few years.  It'll probably balance out for her.

Buy some panels + bumper + light from a scrappy and swap em out?

 

Looking at the state of it, and the silly eye lashes I'd be fine if the colour was ever so slightly a different shade :P

Buy some panels + bumper + light from a scrappy and swap em out?

 

Looking at the state of it, and the silly eye lashes I'd be fine if the colour was ever so slightly a different shade :p

 

Bumper cracks can probably be plastic welded, if she's not that bothered about how the car looks (it's got feckin eyelashes after all) I'd not bother fixing the paint on the plastics other than touching up yourself.

 

I'd also be tempted just to get a wing from the scrappy, shouldn't be much if the colour can be matched. Might want to speak to a mechanic to check the state of the lights since they might need new mounts and realigned.

 

She'll probably hit something else just after you fix it anyway

Edited 15 January, 201412 yr by Aspman

The parts are all supplied at Manufacturers Recommended Retail Price and if they do any sort of volume of work, they'll get much better pricing than that.

 

You should get at least 10% off.

 

I'd also be looking at a bumper weld and chips away or getting one from a scrappy (along with the other parts).

 

As for the eye lashes.......

I'm surprised he left them on for the pictures :P

 

I'd not let the gf have them, they'd keep falling off or getting damaged

I'd be more worried about my man cave, was the garage damaged?