Auto-Body Repair

You’ll need an auto-body repairman sooner or later.

Say, you’re a 19-year-old surfer dude, zooming along the snaky Pacific Coast Highway in dad’s BMW. You’re suddenly overtaken by a stone beach bunny in a topless Mustang, and you shout out your favorite pick-up line - “Hi!” When she smiles back, you’re so smitten, you plow straight through the roadside fence, across the golden Malibu sand, and slam into a stainless steel picnic table anchored in cement.

Or, you’re a wildlife photographer, driving through the wilds of northern Maine. You’re arguing with your boyfriend whether to set up a blind deep in the forest to photograph a Moose, or wander through the bush lugging a bunch of heavy telephoto lenses, when a 980-pound beast with the monster antlers is standing in the middle of the road.

And anyone pulling out of a driveway, hearing a weather forecast calling for snow, knows down at the neighborhood auto-body repair shop, everybody’s grinning sheepishly. Driving through snow might not make you happy - nor for that matter, does driving through rain, sleet, or any other kind of inclement weather. But that’s when business triples at the auto-body shop. Your misery is their gain.

What Is It?

Among the services provided by top-tier auto body repair shops are the restoration of an automobile’s panels, fenders, frame, or drive shafts - whether your car’s been damaged only cosmetically, or, more likely, collided with some heavy-duty inanimate object. Sometimes all that’s involved is a smooth coat of body filler, a Dixie cup of paint, and a good eye. Auto body shops are also masters of dents-’n-dings and nip-’n-tucks. Then, of course, there’s the occasional encounter with a stonewall, Bull Moose, or Mac truck.

Who Needs It?

If you read Dennis Parks’ The Complete Guide to Auto Body Repair, have an awesomely outfitted garage, and a killer set of tools, you can do your own bodywork. You’ll feel sublime and save a fortune. But for most people who’ve just trashed their cherry set of wheels, an excellent alchemist of auto painting and collision repair is the way to go. Remember, too, auto body shops are not populated by mechanics. For concomitant problems relating to engine repair, brakes, radiators, oil leaks, exhaust problems, etc. - consult a talented auto mechanic.

Benefits

Getting your car back to looking and performing as spectacularly as it did before requiring a17′ Galaxy ultra liner frame machine.

Friendly and informed auto body services guide you through the entire repair process. The Man with the Golden Wrench will make sure all repairs follow vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. They make it clear to you what is being repaired, what is being replaced, and what type parts are being used. (For instance, you’ll want “OEM” parts – made by the car’s original manufacturer.) Stay away from auto body shops recommending after-market substitutes, and using terms like “righty, tighty,” or “lefty loosey.”

The best auto body shops guarantee their work. You want your beat-up and broken-down hunk of junk the tow truck hauled in to again look and perform at its prime. And you want things to stay that way.

Risks

Get estimates. For the exact same job, auto body repair prices fluctuate wildly. Also, select a shop with communicative, technologically savvy people, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, (Sunlight downdraft spray booths, Curtis rotary screw compressors, and resistance spot welders), and feels like a doctor’s office. Finally, you want a shop manager who plays the consummate diplomat in dealing with insurance companies often contesting prices.

Your insurance company may refer you to a shop that’s formed a strategic alliance with them. (This is commonly known as a Direct Repair Programs or DRP.) The shop meets the insurance company’s criteria and the shop agrees to do business in that manner. The insurance company’s ostensible purpose is to streamline the claims settlement process, and they work closely with a select repair facility to accomplish that. Whether this alliance serves your own best automotive interests is for you to decide.

There’s also the question of franchise. That is, many car manufacturers imply that only certain franchised dealers can repair your car. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has recently protested, correctly claiming every auto manufacturer makes the same service and repair information available to independent repair shops as it does to dealers. Moreover, the National Automotive Task Force (NASTF) helps all independent auto body shops to identify and rectify all repair-related problems. The Man with the Golden Wrench may well be found in an independent auto-body shop.

Finally, some cars that have suffered significant crash damage just aren’t worth repairing. Especially, ones with “uni-body” construction where you have to stretch and bend the uni-body back into shape. Chances are, the vehicle’s structure is not as solid as it was before it was bent and straightened. And who knows how well it’ll hold up if it gets hit again? If you want to play it safe, buy yourself a new car.