I've searched the eleventy-brazillion posts on this site but I haven't found (exactly)what I'm looking for and was hoping for some "local" advice.

I've had the box for a month and a half (I think) and I have fallen victim to the "rock missles" of I-5 near Federal Way. I have two "dings" where paint has been chipped off (just paint missing no dent or anything) and three 2"-3" scratches (deep) from a baseball sized chunk of asphalt that was kicked up by a truck.

My question is...should I make the repairs myself, or should I take it to a body shop and have someone else do it? I've read some how-to's on using touch-up paint and wetsanding and would like to know if any of you have tried this. Also if some of you have had things like this professionally repaired, what was the cost? Any reccomedations on body shops in/near Seattle?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

hmm... your gonna get those... just the nature/shape of our rides.....
for the dings.... it depends on how comfortable you feel painting your car... you can get touch up paint and do it yourself and probably wont be able to notice unless right up close...

the deep scratches you may want a pro to look at.... i dont know any seattle body shops.... i have had the burien toyota shop to repair a door dent in my car and looks great... had cracked the paint and stuff... cant tell now

if the dings took it down to the metal.... you may at least want to get some automotive clear touch up and dab it over to protect it from rust/weather till you get it fixed may be a good idea for the scratches too

 

About how much did something like this run you (if you don't mind me asking)...just a ballpark figure...$50, $100, $500???

 

i believe it was just under $400..... it was an insurance claim for mine... but $400 sounds about right.... i think they repainted the whole door to help blend the color better, and had to smooth out a dent (softball size.. not deep but about that much area)

i'll dig out the paper work and PM ya the amount... i'm sure if it was just airbrushing out a couple chips.. it wouldnt be to much... shouldnt take much prep time or actual time... only letting the paint cure correctly i'd say...

 

Awesome, thanks for the info/quick response.

 

Hmmmm.....I think I remember when that happened......do you still feel the pain from the old wound like a soldier shot in battle?

We all cringed when we saw/heard it.

 

Worst sound I've ever heard...I saw the big rock coming too, I was able to move out enough so it wouldn't hit my grill, but I didn't move far enough cause it nailed the door. Long drive home before I could inspect the damage.

 

lol@sheep... yeah my wrist still hurts from that.... ok not really more so from when i broke it and the plate they installed... but i did learn that no matter how strong u think you are... you cant stop a slow moving xB with your hand while sitting in the driver seat of a parked xB

 

I may be missing something...inside joke?

 

lol... sorta.. i'll PM ya

 

Yeah, there is a bit of a joke but I will leave the limp wristed comment alone.........

 

Can you post pics of the damage? I write body estimates every day and might be able to give you an idea of what needs to be done.

 

Here are the pics, any ballpark pricing you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Also if you know of any shops in the Seattle area that would be great. I really appreciate your time.

 

bump for the pics....