Cost of bodywork repair

melbury

I am so !!!!!! at myself.

Turned too soon coming out of a parking space in an underground car park and caught a metal bollard. I just thought it had caught the mirror causing it to spring inwards, but no, when I got out to see it has pushed in part of the lower door and sill which causes the door to catch when opening it - quite a dent:(

I have never done anything like this before and am just so cross with myself.

I don't want to claim on my insurance, but just wondered if anyone knows is it very expensive to get this kind of thing fixed?

AdrianC

Yes...

Door skin, possibly a complete door, bit of work to the sill. Fitting, paint.

What car, what age? Metallic or solid paint?

Ebe_Scrooge

As above, to repair it "properly" is likely to be fairly pricey.

But, depending on the car, the age, how good a repair you want - it *might* be possible to attempt a repair yourself, potentially with a door from a scrappy and a few cans of spray paint. You'll never get it as good as a professional job, and the very fact that you're asking would kind of indicate that you want it doing properly.

It may be worth asking for a quote at your local body shop (privately, not through your insurer) - which may well be the same place an insurance company would use. Or you could ask one of these "chips-away" type repairers, though it may be beyond the scope of their ability.

motorguy

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

As above, to repair it "properly" is likely to be fairly pricey.

But, depending on the car, the age, how good a repair you want - it *might* be possible to attempt a repair yourself, potentially with a door from a scrappy and a few cans of spray paint. You'll never get it as good as a professional job, and the very fact that you're asking would kind of indicate that you want it doing properly.

It may be worth asking for a quote at your local body shop (privately, not through your insurer) - which may well be the same place an insurance company would use. Or you could ask one of these "chips-away" type repairers, though it may be beyond the scope of their ability.

Unless the car is worth only a couple of hundred, please please dont do this. It will look !!!!.

Ebe_Scrooge

motorguy wrote: »

Unless the car is worth only a couple of hundred, please please dont do this. It will look !!!!.

Which is why I did kind of qualify my advice :-)

I did exactly this myself many, many years ago on an old Astra. The door was a doddle to remove and replace, and - yes, it wasn't an exact colour match, but it weren't half bad if I do say so myself. But the car was worth, as you rightly say, only worth a few hundred so it was an acceptable bodge :-)

Yes, doing the job properly takes a lot of time and skill, which is why a proper body shop will charge so much.

motorguy

As per Adrians post - more info about the car will help greatly, but the most cost effective way is likely a second hand door and a local bodyshop.

I'd be surprised if the sill isnt repairable so it'll be a labour and materials cost rather than a cut out and replace cost.

One thing to bear in mind is that the panels either side of the damaged one will need feathered in / lacquered out so that adds to the cost.

Based on the very limited information and including the cost of a second hand door it feels like between £500 (unlikely) to £1000. Probably £750 ish +/- £100

melbury

Thanks for all of your replies.

Car is just over 5 years old VW Up, metallic paint.

Will get some quotes; don't really want to claim on insurance.

AdrianC

Shouldn't be too hard to find a used door in the right colour - definitely worth doing properly, rather than any old door and rattlecan.

melbury

I was hoping that they could just pop the dents out, didn't realize it would be so major:(

motorguy

melbury wrote: »

Thanks for all of your replies.

Car is just over 5 years old VW Up, metallic paint.

Will get some quotes; don't really want to claim on insurance.

They may offer to get a second hand door for you (or the current one might be repairable) but theres no world shortage of Up! doors out there which is good news

AdrianC

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