long,deep scratch. need BodyShop recommendation

desmond_001 · 10-14-01, 10:58

Hi,
This is my first post to this board. Hello all..

Someone keyed my 2000 BMW sedan, almost 8 inches long on left passenger door . I have visited a bodyshop and the guy said the door has to be repainted.
I am very upset coz i would like to keep the factory finish on my car. it has only 13,000 miles on it. Question: Is it better to keep the factory finish? not sure if i can touch up that scaratch myself.

I would like to visit a couple more shops and get more opinions.
Anyone on this board has recommendation on any bodyShop or touchup place in Los Angeles area, Pasadena,CA?
thanks for any info.

-Des

Cybercowboy · 10-15-01, 08:04

Same thing happened to me a few years ago on my then brand-new 1994 Mazda B3000. Had it one week when it happened. Very nice deep scratch down the entire passenger side.

I sold the truck without fixing the scratch when it had 11,000 miles. It cost me about 20% in resale value. The place I sold the truck to repainted it. Not a great job either, as I saw it driving around later and then learned I knew the guy who bought it. He had no idea it had been repainted. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, though.

You are probably stuck with getting it repainted. Have it done by the best shop you can find. Good luck!

waxman · 10-15-01, 09:23

I don't think they would be able to paint only the section of the scratch and have it match the clearcoat or paint and have it look even.

Cybercowboy · 10-15-01, 09:29

will be able to paint just the door and feather into the surrounding body panels. I've had this done to a 1-year-old T-Bird about 10 years ago. New front fender, then feathered in to the door and hood. The only way you could tell it was repainted there was that the paint job from the shop was better than the factory's.

bigboyhf · 10-15-01, 09:59

I tried to repair a 4 inch scratch on a rear view mirror. It looked better before the repair

I would definitely recommend a pro. If they say it needs to be repainted rather than repaired, I would think that is your best option. I had paint done by a good shops and you can tell that it was repainted, but only on very very close examination. It sucks, but thats the way it is...

H

desmond_001 · 10-15-01, 11:01

thanks for reply.. thanks
any recommendation on bodyShop in LA?

waxman · 10-15-01, 11:19

It's funny how doctors can do complex plastic surgery and make someone look perfect but a paint shop has a hard time painting part of a car correctly.

colinc · 10-15-01, 03:56

This is why, from now on, I am going to buy only solid color cars. My Acura is plain red (no metallics) and has been painted in areas for cosmetic flaws. It is nearly impossible to tell where the car has been painted. THe match is very close. The only thing that gives it away is the light sanding marks left from the sanding of the color coat prior to the application of the clear.
The only reason you really want to keep your factory finish is for durability. An aftermarket finish will never be as durable as the original baked finish. My hood has been repainted, and it chips and scratches much easier than the original finish did. If you have a metallic color, you may have to have the entire side of the car painted and blended. Ask around and see which shops do the nicest work.

TTSUPRA · 10-15-01, 07:11

I'm not sure about the durability problems of a repaint in fact I have had good luck with my 97 GTP. 2yr's ago I hit a deer and had to get the hood painted. The new paint has held up much better then the original paint. Hardly any chips at all. Also if you get it painted be sure to paint the whole panel, it will be less noticeable and virtually undetectable if you have a good color. Remember finding a good painter is key. They’re usually backed up and have nice car's there working on (like yours). Ask around work, chances are someone there had bodywork done and ask to see their car. If it looks good take yours there.

Scottwax · 10-15-01, 07:39

Too bad you are not in the Dallas area. I know the owner of an excellent body shop. I occaisionally detail cars for his customers while they are in his shop (usually on rainy days-always nice to have work on wet days!). I detailed a 95 BMW 525i (black) while he wetsanded and buffed the left front fender. After I had finished the interior and polished and waxed the exterior, I looked at the fender. He had wet sanded and buffed it to almost perfectly match the factory orange peel, so the texture was so similar, only someone with paint experience would be able to tell the difference. He could have wet sanded and buffed the area perfectly flat, but then the repair would have been obvious. He has a downdraft paint booth and used Spies-Hecker paints exclusively. For anyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the name of the shop is Mister Collision.

BTW, he is restoring a 69 GTO, hopefully I can get pictures of it when it is finished.

carguy · 10-15-01, 08:35

Find out who the local BMW dealers use. The body shop up here (Northern CA) used by my BMW dealer has BMW factory trained painters, and they use ONLY Sikkens paint (which is what is used on BMWs).

As said, they will feather into surrounding panels and the job should be indistinguishable from the original when they're done. I had a repair done to my left front fender - they blended it into my hood and door. Nobody but me can tell, and the only thing I can see is that the size of the metal flake is slightly different between the repair and the factory paint. But it is a PERFECT color match, and I'm both picky and satisifed.