Hi,

This post is more or less a reply to an earlier thread.

I just picked up my car from the shop today... a Bimmer bounced off of my rear quarter panel... did about $1000 to my car... $5000 to his!!

When it comes to fixing bodywork or replacing a panel, it is far better to fix it. The car's pieces are shop weleded at the factory to much higher precision than what any bodyhop can reproduce. If a panel has to be cut out and a new one welded back on, the welding weakens and stresses the metal. Also, the "scars" of a new weld will be a dead give away that your car has been in an accident if you trade it in or try to sell it, and may give the impression that the accident was much worse that just a fender bender.

I think it is better to have the original body panel worked and repainted rather than replaced. A great finishing job followed by a buffing of the entire car, you shouldn't be able to tell what is new and what was damaged.

Just my $0.02