I did something stupid and cut a right hand turn to tightly and hit the rear bumper of another car. It creased my front passenger door only right above and below the door strip. No paint damage. I really doesn't look that bad, so when I went for an estimate, I was shocked?!?!? They want to replace the door skin, and repaint the right hand side of the car for an estimated cost of $2K. They said that they won't just push out the damage because on a color like mine(DEP) it will look all rippley. The damage itself doen't even look that bad so how bad could it look if they just did body work 101 and work the crease out?

I'd like some advice because it's a new leased car that has to be fixed one way or another. My poor TL-S has had two tires and rims replaced, a severe door ding/scratch to the metal, and now this in only 4 months.

Thanks

 

Get another estimate from another body shop. You could also try one of those dent wizards place and see what they say. But the best thing to do is get multiple estimates.

Good luck.

 

2K????? That's kind a lot of $$.. Do you need to replace 2 door skins, or just 1???? If it's just 1 door skin, about $900~$1,000 is right price. I have to see the damage and compare to the estimate, but what you describe here doesn't look so bad. Try to get more esitmate and compare. and still coming out huge money, make a claim through the insurance comp. You're gonna have to pay for the other car, too. Right???

 

The other car was only $300. Very minor damage. And they would only need to replace one door skin and he said that would be around $300-$500(no price yet on the 2002). The cost seems to be in the painting. I'll attach a picture so you can see the damage.

 

The damage

 

I posted in the TL-S forum also, but that doesnt look like 2k damage to me. As far as the door skin is concerned, its exactly the same from 99-now. The 2002 body changes were all aft of the A-pillar, so dont let himtry and say the 2002 costs alot more.

 

From what I can see, it is better to have the door skin replaced. Also, they will have the blend the right fender and right rear door so it will have an illusion of that the car's color is the same.

Remember, most of the $2000 is labor cost. You might be able to get an estimate for a couple hundred less but you get what you pay for.

Just to let you know, estimating car damage is part of my job for an insurance company.

 

$2000 sounds about right - I was just quoted 1200+ for my Maxima's side damage after the "rolling tire" incident, which doesn't involve any replacement sheetmetal (see earlier post).

I'd check with Dent wizard to see what they can do - from the pic it doesn't look like there's any sharp creases. They worked magic on a crease and a couple big dings on my Max, which also has the White Pearl effect paint - no ripples what-so-ever.

If dent wizard can make it work, then you won't have to paint, which means no mis-matching panels after a couple years of UV exposure.

 

The damage is too big for paint-less-dent-remover.

I've checked my estimate based on what I see on that pic, my estimate will go around $1000.00, replacing RT FRT door skin & RT FRT MLDG, blend to the fender & RR door. I am not really sure how it will go up to $2K estimate.

 

For obvious reasons, I would prefer something that didn't include repainting. I want it fixed, but between the replacement of two rims and tires, the deep door scratches I got from an idiot in a Supra, and this incident, the luster has worn off owning this car and I want the cheapest solution that won't cost me anything when I turn the car in.

This car is jinxed and it doesn't seen worth it to pay $2K so the new door can get damaged next week.

 

hrmm...that 'rolling tire' incident sounds like it would be funny...well at least up until it hit the side of your car got any video

 

The key is "creased". You have streched the metal, and it will never recover its shape. When this happens on the production line (every once in a while we would ding one), the repair was to replace the door (and then replace the skin if we could and use the old one for a service door!).

I'm sorry to hear about the accident, but it is an expensive repair. The $2k estimate sounds about right. You could check a junk yard for a matching door.