Minor ding on new car - thoughts on repair

[DT1975]

Well the nearest and dearest still managed to reverse her nearly new car into a wall despite a rear camera and parking sensors.

The damage is to the bumper on a cooper S, no metal harmed. Just wondering if this could be a cash job at a bodyshop or a smart repair, the black grill is also damaged plus any thoughts on price before I get a few quotes.

[M28TTR]

I work for a national smart repair company and we would charge about £300 give or take including the dreaded vat to repair the painted silver bumper, and the black grille section.

[DT1975]

M28TTR said:

I work for a national smart repair company and we would charge about £300 give or take including the dreaded vat to repair the painted silver bumper, and the black grille section.

Thanks for that, would that be a visit the house job? Amazingly we've never had a smart repair but have have used a body shop on the odd occasion for small jobs.

[Gericho]

I would be very careful with smart repair. Unless they're using 2K paints and clear coats, it won't last.

[M28TTR]

DT1975 said:

Thanks for that, would that be a visit the house job? Amazingly we've never had a smart repair but have have used a body shop on the odd occasion for small jobs.

Yes, plug In to a power socket done in 4-5hrs ready to drive with a lifetime ownership warranty.

[M28TTR]

Gericho said:

I would be very careful with smart repair. Unless they're using 2K paints and clear coats, it won't last.

We use the latest water based paints, 2k lacquers, the same products and processes of a bodyshop but less cost due to less overheads and all the benefits of convenience having it done at home.

Our particular company have over 38,000 trust pilot reviews rated excellent 4.9/5. Smart repairs have come on a long way from the man in a van independent with aerosol lacquer and newspaper for masking.

[Lester H]

DT1975 said:

Well the nearest and dearest still managed to reverse her nearly new car into a wall despite a rear camera and parking sensors.

The damage is to the bumper on a cooper S, no metal harmed. Just wondering if this could be a cash job at a bodyshop or a smart repair, the black grill is also damaged plus any thoughts on price before I get a few quotes.

Small independent body shop all day long. The man in the ( franchised) van is as good or not as his experience determines. Friend who was , poor chap, getting old and thus prone to minor scrapes used a man in van who even left masking tape on the car’s front apron. When he, inevitably , backing out of his overgrown garden, scuffed it again, I introduced him to my local body shop man (much love of cash transactions) who painted it to new standard.

Edited by Lester H on Tuesday 12th November 19:53

[JQ]

M28TTR said:

I work for a national smart repair company and we would charge about £300 give or take including the dreaded vat to repair the painted silver bumper, and the black grille section.

Sorry, to butt in, but can I ask how much the following would cost? It’s a dent from a brick hitting the bonnet on a motorway.

It’s a company car and I’m liable for the first £500 of the claim and the lease company are refusing to show me the quote from the body shop I took it to and just trying to work out if I need to kick up a fuss and get a 2nd quote.

[M28TTR]

JQ said:

Sorry, to butt in, but can I ask how much the following would cost? It’s a dent from a brick hitting the bonnet on a motorway.

It’s a company car and I’m liable for the first £500 of the claim and the lease company are refusing to show me the quote from the body shop I took it to and just trying to work out if I need to kick up a fuss and get a 2nd quote.

No worries, a bonnet paint would be bodyshop regardless as its not something you can do mobile, but I would say most bodyshops would charge between £450-550 although it could vary a lot depending on the place. No harm in popping to a couple of local bodyshops to you and asking for a quote so you know where you stand.

[Leptons]

Lester H said:

Small independent body shop all day long. The man in the ( franchised) van is as good or not as his experience determines. Friend who was , poor chap, getting old and thus prone to minor scrapes used a man in van who even left masking tape on the car’s front apron. When he, inevitably , backing out of his overgrown garden, scuffed it again, I introduced him to my local body shop man (much love of cash transactions) who painted it to new standard.

Edited by Lester H on Tuesday 12th November 19:53

Nice story but I deal with car paint every day and I’ve seen some st jobs come out of body shops too.

[JQ]

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it. For the sake of, at best, saving £50 I’ll probably just go with letting the lease company fix it.

[M28TTR]

JQ said:

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it. For the sake of, at best, saving £50 I’ll probably just go with letting the lease company fix it.

Yes probably wouldn't save much if any to be honest. Better of letting them deal with it all and the hassle that comes with it!