I need bodyshop advice, Please!

[Jamesnel]

Hello,

So, after what seems like a millenia of saving I now have enough money (I hope!) to get the bodywork of my Cossie restored to new! It's going to involve a few new panels, some rust treatment here and there, and maybe even some new pieces of bodykit.... all topped off by a complete respray!

I just wondered if anybody could advise me what questions I should ask of body shops when I get quotes? Are there things that I should specifically ask for? Are there things I should be looking out for? Also, how does it work, will they organise getting hold of all the replacement body parts, or should I try to source them and just take them along?

The problem lies in the fact that whereas I have a good knowledge of most things mechanical, I know nothing about bodywork! I might look at something and think it looks good, but the trained eye would think it looks awful!

Any advice would be very welcome!

Thanks

 

[996jimbo]

I would be inclined to get them to quote first of all and let them recommend whether to repair or replace. Depending on what they advise and what they quote you can then take a view as to whether you want to source any parts yourself. I suspect also that there will be no right or wrong answer and whether to repair or replace will depend upon availability and cost.

After you have had three quotes and discussed the job in some detail with 3 different garages you will be much more of an expert yourself.

Also, by the third quote you will know more of what you're talking about so don't be afraid of going back to the first garage to clarify things further - knowing that you're getting competitive quotes may encourage them to give a keener price.

Ultimately I would go by someone else's recommendation and use the other quotes to beat the price down with.