Online body work estimators?

[doylna]

I'm looking at buying a car that needs a new front fender from a 5-10 mph accident. The dent can't be pulled and I'm not interested in doing the work myself. There are also a couple of other PDR dings as well. Since I don't own the car yet I can't take it to an auto body shop.

I've poked around and found some estimators but nothing great.

Anyone have a good tool online for estimating repair costs?

[crazymikey]

Hmm, not that I've ever come across. Estimators are just that. Estimates.

So what's the deal with the car? You need a new fender. Ok. Go buy an aftermarket one. Now you have to get it painted and installed. $$$$. Plus all the other PDR dings, mostly at $50 to $100 per dent.

Bodywork is not cheap.

Cheap work is not good, and good work is not cheap.

If you don't want to do this yourself, be prepared to pay up. Or get a shitty job done for cheap and complain about it every day after.

[cuate01221]

Typically each panel that has to be replaced or repaired you can just say $250, then for each panel you would blend into add $100. That is the simplest estimate I can give you. So lets say you have damage on your fender and front door. It would cost $500 to get the damage repaired and have the fender and door painted, if the damage is close enough to the hood you would want to blend the hood for a paint match. That's another $100. Now you are looking at around $600 just for those three panels. Bumpers usually don't get blended because they never match to begin with so insurance companies do anything to not blend bumpers and save the money.

[doylna]

Typically each panel that has to be replaced or repaired you can just say $250, then for each panel you would blend into add $100. That is the simplest estimate I can give you. So lets say you have damage on your fender and front door. It would cost $500 to get the damage repaired and have the fender and door painted, if the damage is close enough to the hood you would want to blend the hood for a paint match. That's another $100. Now you are looking at around $600 just for those three panels. Bumpers usually don't get blended because they never match to begin with so insurance companies do anything to not blend bumpers and save the money.

Nice - thanks man. Do you do body work?

[Joey GT-R]

I'm looking at buying a car that needs a new front fender from a 5-10 mph accident. The dent can't be pulled and I'm not interested in doing the work myself. There are also a couple of other PDR dings as well. Since I don't own the car yet I can't take it to an auto body shop.

I've poked around and found some estimators but nothing great.

Anyone have a good tool online for estimating repair costs?

What state do you live in? I'm not sure if it is a federal law, but in most states the law is that if you are buying a used car it is your legal right to have the car inspected by a mechanic/specialist of your choice at your own expense. Depending on what the laws are in your state will determine what guidelines and other additional rights you may have in that process. Is the dealer/seller not allowing you to have the car inspected? Most likely that's illegal.

[Fleetw00d]

I have gotten written PDR estimates by sending pictures of the dents. If you have a relationship with a body shop, a few good pictures may allow them to give you a bit better estimate than cuate01221 provided.