how do you guys feel about using dealership body shops? besides their prices which isn't a concern since this is an insurance claim, what are your opinions? this would be a dealership around the st.louis area if anyone has personal experiences.

 

Most of the ones I've seen in my area are all ASE certified, which doesn't really mean anything work wise but it does mean they know wtf they are doing.

If your going through insurance why not try and use an ABRA auto body and glass shops if there are any in your area they are pretty damn good.

 

thanks i will have to look into them...

btw, does anyone know at what point they replace a panel before trying to do body work?

 

I am a Major Paint Manufacture national account manager. It doesn't matter if it is or isn't a dealership. If I were to say, the better body shops are not associated to a dealership. The insurance industry is what sets the price, not the shop itself. The mojority of panels are replaced now instead of being repaired. Ask for original parts, not aftermarket. You will probably have to fight the insurance company for that if your car is more than a year old. If they won't get you new OEM parts, ask for a used part that doesn't need body work. Its better than aftermarket.

 

hey i work in a dealership in alabama in the body shop, we stride for best work in town, since we are also a benz dealership, and if there are any parts with damage on them, we do everything we can to replace them with oem.

 

my buddy works for a nissan dealership here in N.Y. All their body work is subbed out to a local repair shop. So I skipped the dealer and dealt directly with the shop. The guy did amazing work. i had curbed two of my rims And decided to paint all four gunmetal. Came out mint. I am sure I saved close to 20% what the dealer would have tacked on.