Bodyshops are so difficult to deal with and find a good one!!

D&V has just been giving me a ridiculous run around..professional autobody apparently no longer does aftermarket stuff, and then somebody posts on here and got an appointment to do aftermarket stuff. Called Century, but for some reason I just have a bad vibe about them doing the work??

It's so hard to find a good shop that does anything but insurance work

There are so many people with kits, where the hell are all you getting your stuff painted at???

 

I agree

 

My kit is just chilling in my garage taking up a whole ****ton of room. What makes you uneasy about Century? I was going to go get a quote from them later in the week. (because they are the only one left ) I don't mind driving a bit if it gets done right, does anyone know any shops in MD or WVA even.

 

I'll be taking my stuff to the guys at Frederick Nissan. It's a bit of a haul for NoVA folks, but I've seen some of their work and it looks top notch. Ask for Arthur (I think the guys at AAM have used them, too...)

 

Do they actually paint there? If so, do they have a booth? I've seen their cars, and the look great, but I assume they didn't do the painting (usually dealers get somebody else to do it).

At least yours is in the garage, mine has been sitting in a huge box blocking my hallway for a month lol.

 

I'm curious to hear what you didn't like about Century as well, especially since I recommended them. The owner is Armenian, I think, (Iranian, or something like that), and has a very good work ethic.

 

They do installs, paint and fabrication there. I saw several cars they've worked on including a very slick Silvia and a Skyline that both look great. They had a DB Coupe with a widebody kit that looked very nice and they allege that the only widebody G35 in the country was done at their shop.

BTW, the owner of that dealership seems to be "our" kind of guy (the Skyline is his).

 

I might warn you the owner of one of their 350 widebody kits told me the whole thing w/paint cost him over well over $12k at Frederick Nissan (kit, install/body molding and paint). I mean it was stunning and you would not be able to tell it was not factory, but the cost was just way out of my league.

 

Have no idea...is definitely worth checking them out. Just had a vibe is all. The price seemed good though, but it also seemed like they don't have a lot of experience with aftermarket work. A bodyshop can do 30 years of insurance work, and suck with aftermarket stuff.

She said they did a Civic "last month" for $725 so they were rough estimating me based on that.....Doesn't sound like a shop with experience doing body kits?

 

I would really ask to speak with the owner (damn, I wish I knew his name) and tell him that Kelly with the Red 350Z referred you. You will have a better experience with him than with the woman (who may be his wife) because he's more of a "car guy", and will give you more accurate pricing. Not saying anything negative about her at all, I just don't think she is aware of how the aftermarket side of the business is done.

 

Ok did some more research online. A lot of the BMW guys recommended Wagonwork Collission http://www.wagonworkcollision.com/pu..._us/index.html

I spoke with them, and so far they sound the most professional....so I'm leaning towards them now. They are selective with the parts they will work on though...so just a warning on that.

 

Crap, try and remember his name! I'll give them a call back.

Could you tell me what they did for you? I think I remember you mentioning they did some aligning on the hood?

 

Ughh more venting.

Got off the phone with D&V FINALLY got a hold of them. Glad I am not going with them...guy was being a dick on the phone. I have my reasons for thinking so that I don't want to get into. Owning a business myself, I can't believe how people run theirs sometimes. Side story, they said they were doing a VS Version 3 for $2,600 and that it would cost $2,000 for my kit. I stated that a widebody veilside is a shitload more work, and could not understand why mine would only be $600 less. He snapped back at me saying it's not a widebody. I said ok, well the VS Version 3 is a widebody kit. He said its the same one as blah blah (that guy with the flowers on his car) which is a widebody...so I said, yup, that's a widebody. Anyways, some smart *** comment later, and the convo was over with.

Called Century one more time and got the wife again. I think the husbands name is Hameed or something. Anyways I was asking to speak to him and got the vibe that she didn't want me to for some odd reason. In the end she said all he's gonna do is ask the body guy...so umm...yeah. Maybe I should just forget about the kit and do the big brake kit instead of dealing with all this stuff.

 

Wagonwerks is a good shop, I've seen a lot of their work on local Audis. Also try European Bodyworks 3164 Campbell Drive Fairfax, Va. 22031 (703)352-9334

 

Thanks! Called European, they sound like they know what they're talking about too. Did you get something done there? They said they had a guy with a blue 350Z and an Audi do some aftermarket work there...

 

i brought my car in for an estimate once but never had work done... however, they have done work on several of my friend's cars. The work they did on my friend Molly's A4 avant was absolutely perfect - her car was almost totalled and when they were done with it you couldn't tell it was ever touched. Even the new quarter panel seams were perfect. Recently they also did my buddy Rob's Allroad and the work was equally perfect.

 

Any idea if they are generally considered expensive or not? What did you get an estimate for? How come you didn't go with them? Where did you go?

 

i wouldnt go with guys that cant tell if something's widebody or not. i mean...do they even look at the cars they paint? and was that the owner? if it was..that place must suck nuts. we should go egg their building/ ^_^d

 

Lol you should read more carefully! It was not the widebody...basically it was the V3 kit but wihtout the fenders....making it non widebody.

How's the system working out for you?

 

I usually haven't said anything about a great body shop in Springfield since it seems to be farther away for you guys out in the dulles/ chantilly area, but Precision Collision is awesome. They usually only work on high end cars and they also do repair/ restoration work on older cars. Their work is extremely high quality and their customer service is subperb. If anyone is interested check them out www.pcirepair.com