cbrose

On Saturday, my wife was at a light, turning left, and the H3 in front of her decides he wanted to turn right, so he begins to back up. The wife lays on the horn but the H3 keeps coming back. Crunch!
So, now my beautiful RL, which we've had for three weeks, has a somewhat buckled/dented and scratched hood, scratched up bumper and scratched grille. His insurance will pay for the damage but I question about the procedure for fixing the hood. Because it's aluminum, is the paint procedure different than a normal steel hood? I'm insisting that the Acura dealer do the repairs so I think they'll know what's best. The dent is right at the hood's front so they may be able to work out the dents and buckling by hand and touch up the scratches by spraying only the front and blending it. I'd rather them not paint the entire hood if possible since the factory Acura job is so nice and I don't think a local shop will match the original paint as well or layer the paint and clear coats as well as the original. Comments?

neuronbob

*snif* I'm sorry to hear about that! Fracking SUV drivers.

jfarabaugh

I dont know if the acura dealers around us have their own body shops so they may be shipping it out to some 3rd party. I would take it to grand sport auto. I have used the one in Malvern (for my RL) and so has my friend who had major front end damage to his VW golf GTI and they did great work. They do not seem like most of the other body shops around here who I no longer trust. They took their time and did both jobs 100 %....and I am very picky.

OLD_HATCH

got pics of the damage?


the damage will probably be fixed like any other. If done correctly the metal will be pulled/massaged as close to its original shape followed by as little filler as possible.

If it isnt bad they will probbaly be able to just blend a base coat and clear the whole hood.

cbrose

I'll take some pictures tonight and post them. Thanks for all the suggestions.

psheu

it's that dumbass idiot's fault so don't bother with fixing, just get all brand new oem parts to replace the damaged ones....

jfarabaugh

new hood!

cbrose

Sounds good to me!!

Chas2

Here is a little treatise on working damaged aluminum body panels

http://books.google.com/books?id=zh9...esult&resnum=1

TampaRLX-SH

Also make a claim diminished value.

We have a soccer mom in our community with a bright yellow Hummer she obviously cannot manage. She always straddles lanes and traffic must make way for her. At a recent block party she was cackling how 'safe' she was in her Hummer. Simultaneously, 3 neighbors chimed in 'but no one else is!"

I have had this happen to me when the driver ahead decided they needed to reverse. Leaning on the horn, flashing lights...they remain oblivious. I am paranoid about clueless drivers (the vast majority on the road it seems) that when I pull up behind a large 'living-room-on-wheels' I tend to pull over a bit to the driver's side so I can see myself in their driver-side side view mirror in HOPE they might even see me.

Situations such as these is why I cannot own a gun. I would use it.

Ballinger

A guy in a 'vette hit our RL, and I confirmed that, since the hood, front fenders and nose piece are aluminum, replacement is the standard, rather than dent/sand/fill. I suggest you verify your insurance co is on the up and up... note that you have the right to pick your shop whether it's his company that pays, or yours and then they get the money from his.

neuronbob

fredren

+1 i would get all new oem parts, bang the hood in more if you can. matter fact get on it and jump couple times ..take the rl and slowly drive into a wall, don't crash into the wall, just crack the bumper, freaking idiot with an H3, that's not even a hummer.

cbrose

I just called the local Acura dealer and he said that it's standard to replace aluminum parts, and that they have a body shop they own that does all their work (Piazza auto group in the Philly area). Does anyone have a link to a description of the factory paint procedure? I know there's two clear coats but I'd like to have the facts in hand when I talk to these guys and make sure they sign off to applying the same quality materials and workmanship. Thanks.

Chas2

http://www.hondanews.com/categories/757/releases/2077

cbrose

Thanks!

TampaRLX-SH

The RLs finish is also a result of hand wet sanding between paint coat layers. This is what brings the mirror smooth finish to the RL without orange peel textures.