Not sure if this is the right spot to ask, but recently both our cars took some minor paint/dent damage. I've never dealt with getting a car repaired for cosmetic damage before and I want to make sure we're not getting ripped off as I generally have no idea how much shit like this costs other than paint is $$$. Is it better to go through a dealer or to find an independent shop? Will most independent shops be able to paint match stuff like the sparkly paint shit on my CRV or acquire replacement stickers for his Challenger? Are you generally allowed to just pay out of pocket for this and avoid going through insurance so our rates don't go up?
Pics for reference:
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Not sure if this is the right spot to ask, but recently both our cars took some minor paint/dent damage. I've never dealt with getting a car repaired for cosmetic damage before and I want to make sure we're not getting ripped off as I generally have no idea how much shit like this costs other than paint is $$$. Is it better to go through a dealer or to find an independent shop? Will most independent shops be able to paint match stuff like the sparkly paint shit on my CRV or acquire replacement stickers for his Challenger? Are you generally allowed to just pay out of pocket for this and avoid going through insurance so our rates don't go up?
Pics for reference:
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I've had great luck finding independent shops for both body and mechanic work. You will have to shop/ask around but it's worth the time. As long as the paint is factory paint and not custom, most places can match the factory paint code and respray. Looking at the bumper, maybe a couple hundred dollars for bondo, sand and respray, cash. The red stripe may cost you more, though. Can't tell by the pics but the stripe has to be touched up or restriped. Is it vinyl? And the black has to be touched up. So, get quotes and ask for pictures of the shops work on similar projects. Some of those guys take a shit load of pictures of their work like tattoo artists.Not sure if this is the right spot to ask, but recently both our cars took some minor paint/dent damage. I've never dealt with getting a car repaired for cosmetic damage before and I want to make sure we're not getting ripped off as I generally have no idea how much shit like this costs other than paint is $$$. Is it better to go through a dealer or to find an independent shop? Will most independent shops be able to paint match stuff like the sparkly paint shit on my CRV or acquire replacement stickers for his Challenger? Are you generally allowed to just pay out of pocket for this and avoid going through insurance so our rates don't go up?
Pics for reference:
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If it's steel underneath, than it maybe rust under the paint. If it's not steel, its over spray from shooting too much paint in one area. The paint will "wrinkle". (Red Pic, rust. Green Pic, wrinkle)Can anyone identify what in the hell is going on with my car's paint? The image I attached is from the rear bumper. I know for a fact that these spots were NOT there two weeks ago when I last washed the car. At first I thought it was some kind of gunk on the paint but it appears to be the paint itself has been either damaged or is defective somehow? What is weird is that these spots are kind of in a diagonal line as if something splashed on it. But I have no idea what it could have possibly been since the car is literally driven from work to home and nowhere in between.
I did a quick search on paint defects for my model car, but turned up nothing like this.
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This is on the bumper so it's plastic. It definitely looks very similar to the green pic, but why would this suddenly appear nearly two years after purchasing the vehicle? It absolutely was not there before. I'm VERY particular about my vehicles and would notice something like that.If it's steel underneath, than it maybe rust under the paint. If it's not steel, its over spray from shooting too much paint in one area. The paint will "wrinkle". (Red Pic, rust. Green Pic, wrinkle)
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maybe you might want to hit it w/ more abrasion w/ rubbing compound then?This is on the bumper so it's plastic. It definitely looks very similar to the green pic, but why would this suddenly appear nearly two years after purchasing the vehicle? It absolutely was not there before. I'm VERY particular about my vehicles and would notice something like that.
Since asking the question, I've tried using a polishing compound with a random-orbit buffer but made zero impact on it.
Quick question, rear brake light isn't coming on while driving. It does flash when I hit my keyless entry. Because it works that way, should I take that meaning it's not a simple bulb or fuse?
This is on the bumper so it's plastic. It definitely looks very similar to the green pic, but why would this suddenly appear nearly two years after purchasing the vehicle? It absolutely was not there before. I'm VERY particular about my vehicles and would notice something like that.
Since asking the question, I've tried using a polishing compound with a random-orbit buffer but made zero impact on it.
Quick question, rear brake light isn't coming on while driving. It does flash when I hit my keyless entry. Because it works that way, should I take that meaning it's not a simple bulb or fuse?
It's the rear, duh.Is it both brake lights or just one?
Now that you mention it, this seems the most probable.It could be a dual filament bulb that serves as both brake light and turn signal. My wife's car uses those and the brake light worked, but the turn signal filament was burned out. Is it possible your keyless entry flashes your turn signals which might still work, and the brake filament is burned out?
Is it both brake lights or just one?
It's the rear, duh.
Last I checked, brake lights have always been at the rear of the vehicle. The reason I asked if it's just the one brake light that doesn't light up when you press the brake pedal, replace the bulb and check. If it was both brake lights that didn't light up, after checking/replacing both bulb's, than I'd check the connection at the tail lights for continuity, then follow that back to the brake switch.