Need Advice - Someone just smashed my car!

rcglfr

New member
I recently used Klasse AIO to prep my car, then I used Klasse Super Glaze. Getting the SG off after it dries requires a lot of elbow grease! I read on a previous thread to use a QD to aid in the removal of SG. It sure works great although it just does not feel the same as when I remove the SG without the QD. I am using a miracle towel. Am I actually removing some of the SG?
 
No, you are not removing the SG. The QD acts as a lubricant between your towel and the surface of the car, so it makes it easier to wipe off the SG.
 
Agreed! You're not removing the Klasse Sealant Glaze. Make sure to let the SG sit on the car for a minimum of 20 minutes before buffing out.
 
So, my car was parked in my driveway and I had a construction guy coming over to do work on my garage and when he was backing into the driveway he hit the IS and damaged the crap out of it. Rear quarter panel, rear driver door and bumper are all going to have to be replaced.

I think he also damaged the tire and something with the rears suspension or springs... who knows.

In any event, I'm not concerned about the liability stuff as that is kind of my cup of tea, but what do I need to be looking for in a good body shop?

What types of things do I need to be asking them?

The car is white, but has what is called a "tri-coat" paint, which looks like a metallic white. Really nice factory paint IMO. In any event, I have NO idea what I should be asking at the body shop and will take any and all advice.
 
I think the best way to protect yourself is to ask the shop for referrals and then check them out. If past customers are satisfied it bodes well toward your experience. This is by no means a guarantee that your car will come back perfect but it will definitely weed out some of the lesser shops. If they can't give you any referrals....run away!
 
Why not bring it back to the body shop at the Dealership.

Of course it will cost more, but you'll know for a fact that it will be done to Manufacturers specs.

The best body shops usually charge big prices also, at least they do around here.

Just a thought.
 
I think the best way to protect yourself is to ask the shop for referrals and then check them out. If past customers are satisfied it bodes well toward your experience. This is by no means a guarantee that your car will come back perfect but it will definitely weed out some of the lesser shops. If they can't give you any referrals....run away!

:iagree:
The sign of good bodyshop is not how good it looks when it comes out of the shop but how it looks a few years down the road. You can't hide shoddy repairs as they get older.

.................. Paul S .................
 
So, my car was parked in my driveway and I had a construction guy coming over to do work on my garage and when he was backing into the driveway he hit the IS and damaged the crap out of it.

. . . that's because he doesn't like your avatar!!!:cursing:

I believe TID member RaskyR1 is familiar with the body shop industry. Perhaps he can give you some suggestions.
 
Why not bring it back to the body shop at the Dealership.


This is what I would do ^ I'm assuming your filing this through insurance

This way if the car starts lookin crappy you can take it back and raise satan

Unfortunately you got hit in the worst spot. Hard to replace qtr panels, gotta cutum out or body filler.

The main problem I have seen with repaint is not the colour match(they all seem to have that down now, compared to 15-20 years ago) It is they don't do the proper prep work and a couple years down the road it starts chipping easily. I would wanna know what kinda warranty do they offer

Man, this really sucks, sorry to here this :mad:
 
Why not bring it back to the body shop at the Dealership.
Of course it will cost more, but you'll know for a fact that it will be done to Manufacturers specs.

The best body shops usually charge big prices also, at least they do around here.

Just a thought.

Because a lot of them SUCK! In fact I have a CTS-V coming tomorrow where the owner recently went to the Caddy dealer to have the hood painted. They got overspray all over the entire car!!! For a simple hood job! :out:

I'd ask for referrals as well. Make sure they are I-CAR and ASE certifed. Maybe check out some of the local shops and see how things look. Check out some of your local forum sections.

Most shops will offer lifetime warranty on their work.

One thing I like about the shop my father works at is that the entire shop is very clean. The front office is super clean and professional looking; all work areas are also kept very clean. You don't see junk lying all over the place. In fact they actually have a clean room dedicated for working on Mercedes (something to do with the aluminum bodies I guess). All cars are pulled inside the building at night. They spray the panels not being worked on with some sort of coating to keep overspray from getting on them. I guess it washes right off when they are done. That and every time I go there to visit I see Porsches, Audi, Benz, BMW, and many other nice high end cars being worked on....to me that says something. ;)
 
The car is white, but has what is called a "tri-coat" paint, which looks like a metallic white. Really nice factory paint IMO. In any event, I have NO idea what I should be asking at the body shop and will take any and all advice.

Most body shops should have access to the paint code data base, or be able to mix and match the paint to closely match your existing paint. It is often hard for bodyshop to use exactly the prescribed factory paint mixture because whites, solid or metallic, often change color due to age.

Tri-coat metallic are a PITA to match, and repaints OFTEN will result in spotting, shadowing, and sometimes mismatching.
 
They spray the panels not being worked on with some sort of coating to keep overspray from getting on them. I guess it washes right off when they are done. That and every time I go there to visit I see Porsches, Audi, Benz, BMW, and many other nice high end cars being worked on....to me that says something. ;)

I wonder what is it that they spray on? Would like to know Rasky.
 
I believe the biggest drawback to a repaint of any kind is that you dont get it baked on like the original paint job was.

I would look for shops that are really good at and specialize in the Lexus line of cars. They will have the most experience with painting 2-3 stage paint, and of course you want to go into the shop and look at some of their work, in all stages of work.

I dont know what exactly is broken on your car, but it sounds like major panels will have to be replaced and possibly the end of the frame on that corner. This has to be done absolutely perfect or everything else wont line up and/or drive right. Ask questions, ask them if you have frame damage on that corner, how are they going to fix it? Do they use a frame rack? Is it with laser or what??

You know, when I worked in this industry years ago, we NEVER got overspray on anything else on the car we were painting and certainly any other car in the shop. I think its sad that people cram so many cars together because they are either disorganized or greedy or both, and that the poor painter and his helper have to now add another step to the process, because they might get overspray on another vehicle.

Ask the shop if they are going to check the entire car for overspray before they deliver it to you. When they call you , remind them about that, dont accept it one minute if its not perfect to your eye. run your hand all over it and check for overspray yourself, especially on all the glass.

Sorry this had to happen.
DanF
 
*Update*

Okay, so I finally picked a body shop. Private shop and I looked at their shop, prior work and talked to the guys in the shop extensively about the process. I was somewhat convinced that I picked a good place, but what do I really know?

The shop was super clean. There was no clutter, the body guy has been doing this for 17 years and the main paint guy for 14. They do a lot of custom paint work so I felt like they would be good.

I'm a bit bummed by the whole experience though as I feel like my 350 is now tainted.
 
*Update*

Okay, so I finally picked a body shop. Private shop and I looked at their shop, prior work and talked to the guys in the shop extensively about the process. I was somewhat convinced that I picked a good place, but what do I really know?

The shop was super clean. There was no clutter, the body guy has been doing this for 17 years and the main paint guy for 14. They do a lot of custom paint work so I felt like they would be good.

I'm a bit bummed by the whole experience though as I feel like my 350 is now tainted.

I know the feeling UN. My Acura has been rear ended twice now! Once the day after putting on the factory aero kit, and then again 2 weeks after getting it back from the shop! :cursing:

granted mine was minor but it still sucks!
 
Back
Top