Hello guys, I hardly make useless threads but I need some opinions. I live in San Diego and I am looking to commute to get some body work done. I have a strafe sl2,+ings sides, CS ver. 2 rear(all replicas, I know BUt fitment is pretty good). I searched and called all the shops in the following threads

https://my350z.com/forum/southern-ca...cal-shops.html

https://my350z.com/forum/southern-ca...nt-shop-2.html

https://my350z.com/forum/southern-ca...reddy-lip.html

https://my350z.com/forum/southern-ca...-in-socal.html


Anyways, the two shops that I am debating on are; M1 autobody and Auto explosion in gardena.

M1 wants 1300 and i have seen their work before on a dsport dvd 350z(vortech sc). Auto Explosion wants 1050. The rest of the shops wanted me to drive there first and also some were really cheap or extremely expensive. Plus these two shops actually took the time to speak to me and actually seemed interested in my car.

Does anyone suggest anybody else(I obviously don't mind driving), any opinions between both shops? Any help is appreciated, as on weds I commute to them.

Also on a last note, working a sponsor ship like deal with pacific auto body in sylmar(approx 600 for everything), anyone have opinions about them? I am still trying to get a hold of Robert but he has not contacted me back.

Thanks in advance.

 

omg dude.. youre kidding.. M1?
I literally read your title and thought
" good lord, someone finally did it.. they blew the place up.. hope no one got hurt"... swear to God.

you certainly didnt search did you..

RUN < RUN FAR FAR AWAY.

https://my350z.com/forum/search.php?searchid=14294879

Read.
Good luck.

/thread.

 

search DTM autobody as well..

its all the same guys. some quit, go elsewhere etc.. good ol El Monte CA, home of the scandalous and fly by night.

 

WOW!! Dude thanks alot, lol I just searched for shops not the actual shop names. Man dodged a bullet there

 

yes you certainly did sir.

Funny stuff.. i bought a VIS kit painted and shipped by them, and it was great.

Then i bought another and it was a total complete nightmare.

 

Either is capable of painting a body kit. Since Auto Explosion is closer to you and cheaper, that seems the best idea.

 

Yes, especially after reading the links. I also called Yossi express, and even though he prefers to not work on aftermarket parts, he offered to look at my car. Yossi's price was not the most expensive either, mid-range actually, but that is, just a quote without looking at the kit.

 

Don't bother with Yossi, I regret ever going there. I took off my rear bumper once and found they had used a coat hanger to keep something from rattling.

 

I thought this happened.
I was expecting to see pictures of a shop blown to pieces.

 

Dont waste your time with M1 ... my experience there was complete crap, i wont go into details... look for business elsewhere my friend

 

Moved to the correct forum since this is really a SoCal specific thread.

 

I would say +1 for Auto Explosion. I'm taking my car to them soon for my new setup.

Here's an FD they did a while back.





Just seeing pics don't do it full justice though! Have to see it in person.

 

stay away from M1!

I had them shave the rear wiper and holes from nismo v1 wing off the hatch and resprayed the roof couple months back. overall quality of their work was pretty crappy.

weather stripping on the side of the roof was left peeling off. weather strip in the front is wavy in certain places and has scratches in paint where the waves are. rear emblem was damaged with paint chips all over. there's clear coat overspray on front bumper, headlights, and rear bumper. scratches on A and B pillars and rear bumper.

did a crappy job on presentation when i got the car back. just a quick hose down on the car before i got the car back. the car was pretty dirty on the outside and inside. inside the car, the seats were dirty, carpet behind seats were dirty, trunk was dirty. should have took my time inspecting the car when i got it back but i was rushed on time with work. didn't notice all the small stuff until i washed my car a few weeks later.

cannot recommend their shop to anyone. hack jobs

 

Heading out


rush hour traffic most of the way


Arrival, esteban is really down to earth and even pointed out that the front "nose" is too thin and needed to be reinforced(the front portion inbetween the headlights would flex and feel soft/mushy with the heat, he said if left untreated it would warp).

 

In for results!

Oh and that FD is pure secks!

 

Auto Explosion get's down:

Here are some cars that they did






all metal custom widebody camaro




They also built JR's Need for Speed car!

 

all beautiful.

 

Nice OP, good luck!

 

Yeah, looks like Auto Explosion is the way to go!

 

I can also vouch for Auto Explosion - they painted and installed my ING's front end.