Chips away

[Pete]

I have a deep long scratch that needs to be repaired but have just been quoted £968 by the local BMW approved repairer - I think they are in dreamland to be honest and think that I can get an excellent repair done somewhere else for about a 1/3 of that price.

I think there will be the need to fill around the scratch as there is a slight dent to it but wondered if a company like Chips Away are capable of repairing it. Has anyone used them and what are their limitations?

Thanks

[petert]

Pete - I used them on a previous 5 series and they were fine - very happy with the work. Another mate used them on his Lexus - also good.

Peter T

[Jalf]

It depends on the franchise holder, some do a good job some will be less so, I'd expect most of them to be ok but it depends on how good a job you want.
Where is the scratch and what colour is the car?

[Turks]

Where are you in Lancashire?


Turks.

[Pete]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

The car is silver and it's quite a substantial single scratch along the upper portion of the rear passenger door with some scuffing to the handles.

Turks,

I'm from a place called Rossendale so if you aware of somewhere good around Bury, Burnley and Blackburn that would be ideal.

[Jalf]

BMW might be quoting to blow it in to the surrounding panels as silver can be a bit of a pain to match with the metallic standing out like a thumb.

[AW8]

Pete,

Impossible to comment without seeing pic of the car & even then nothing beats an expert bodyshop person seeing the car in the metal & giving honest opinion.

Obviously a user friendy paintshop will be cheaper, maybe ask local used traders selling well prepared cars who is good locally re both work & price.

Mates rates I reckon £100-£150 to paint per panel & maybe £75 per additional panel. Disassembly, reassembly, masking & oven time plus paint all contribute to costs but not much more masking involved for an extra panel hence the lower price for additional ones. Dented panels take more time prep & thus labour charges can be higher.

I would expect prices in your area to be better than down south.

Agree re matching silver issues & thus higher money may include coverage to adjacent panels.

Costliest option paint & clearcoat the whole side.

Sensible option - Blending....spraying affected panel & taking paint into adjacent panels then clearcoating as far as required.

Most cost effective option - Paint & clearcoat damaged area only & maybe area close to it......this type of work often favoured by smart repair shops & bodyshops doing a quicker job. This really can be absolutely fine if done well but do consider than silver can ba a right pain to match & work with.

Another solution might be to buy another door of a salvage car that has umarked original paintwork.

Not sure if more than one panel damaged as you talk of door handles ( i.e. in the plural).

I've seen both good and bad smart repairs & have been disappointed re what I felt was bad quality work done on a parents car in past........as prior said a lot depends on the franchise.

[Pete]

Thanks again for replies.

Just to confirm there is scuffing to both of the handles on passenger side but only one panel (rear passenger) is scratched.

I called in at a local body shop and was quoted £330 - which is more like what I estimated. They also confirmed that the new paint would need to be blended into the panels.

[AW8]

Thats a bit better