Auto Body Work - A Brave New World

**Sailor** · 02-07-2016, 06:04 PM

About three weeks ago, the tire-pressure monitor on my BMW M4 showed that the right rear tire was a bit low; while airing the tires on the car the next morning, I discovered a nail in the tire. Application of a little dishwashing soap indicated a very active leak, thus I rushed to take the Bimmer to the local Michelin store to get a repair. As I hurriedly backed out of the garage, I forgot that roofers had stored piles of shingles in our driveway the previous day. The shingles would have been easy to avoid, particularly since the car's sensors and rear camera clearly indicated their presence, but I still managed to just touch the corner of one pile. The damage is small (although I cussed like . . . . . well . . . . . a sailor), but I assumed that the necessary "body work" would be trivial.

No way. The two damaged areas include a slight indentation with scratches close to the wheel well of the left rear quarter panel and a few short scratches on the bumper (photos below). Each area could be completely covered by a circle with the diameter of a Bud Light can, but . . . . . according to the appraiser from my insurance company (USAA), the bumper will have to be removed for complete repainting. Further, the rocker panel, all the window trim on the left side, the left rear tail light, and trim on the roof will have to be removed so that the damaged area can be repainted and the entire quarter panel (including contiguous portions along the left side of the roof

) will have to be sanded down for new clear coat!

Tomorrow, I'm taking the car to a body shop in Houston that specializes in performance and sport vehicles; the appraiser suggested that it'll take a working week to complete the repairs (which likely means two or three times that long). The only bright spot is that the shop is only about a half mile from the Porsche dealer that services my Boxster S, so I'm going to try to maneuver my wife into a quick visit to peruse the 911s and plant a seed . . . . . . I'm thinking long term here.

Jer

Damaged areas:

I can't believe the bumper and 40% of the left side of the car has to be painted and/or clear coated for damage that amounts to about 8 or 9 square inches!

---------- Post added 02-07-2016 at 10:25 PM ----------

Last edited by Sailor; 02-08-2016 at 12:53 PM.

**wtlwdwgn** · 02-07-2016, 08:58 PM

911? Methinks a Cayman GT4 might be better.

**monochrome** · 02-07-2016, 09:17 PM

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

911? Methinks a Cayman GT4 might be better.

Maybe. C&D says Cayman S is closest to the classic, simple Porsche sport coupe.

wibbly · 02-07-2016, 09:55 PM

tsk tsk! such carelessness. you'll have to send the car my way. my little e92 will help rehabilitate it from the obvious PTSD you've left it with. poor thing

**Just1MoreDave** · 02-08-2016, 12:12 PM

That's why I like driving my 14-year-old brown pickup. It still has yellow paint on the front fender from rubbing against a telephone pole in a parking spot. The pole was painted yellow so people would see it better.

Rupert · 02-08-2016, 12:34 PM

I hate stories like that! I once picked up a rock in one of my Jeep tires and it slung off and hit the inside of the right front fender hard enough to cause a large pimple in the paint. It was in the shop over a week. No easy job.

Mrs Rupert once had a Jeep Cherokee with a minor rear end injury from a tailgater that got too close. It was supposed to take them a week to repair.....
They tried about 5 times to match the paint and failed each time. They had no excuse because they had made a front fender repair only a few months earlier and matched it perfectly. Since the dealer repair shop was providing her a free loaner car, she hadn't hollered too much. Finally she did holler and squeal......they painted the entire car...for free!

She promptly gave it to our oldest grandson for his high school graduation. It looked like new! Sometimes it works out for the best.......I bet it does for you too...if you know what I mean?

Winners and losers......Jeffrey was a winner on this one!

Regards!

**Sailor** · 02-08-2016, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

911? Methinks a Cayman GT4 might be better.

I'll tell you, Steve - that GT4 is one cool customer, but it's heavily track oriented. It's street legal, but its use on the roads and over the speed bumps of Brazoria County would be hard on a driver - particularly one my age

.

Jer

Originally posted by monochrome

Maybe. C&D says Cayman S is closest to the classic, simple Porsche sport coupe.

A 981 Cayman S does indeed have a classic feel, as does my 981 Boxster S which is essentially the same car in roadster form. The mid-engine layout of the 981s is also a real plus, giving the cars terrific balance and quick, precise turn in.

Jer

Originally posted by wibbly

tsk tsk! such carelessness. you'll have to send the car my way. my little e92 will help rehabilitate it from the obvious PTSD you've left it with. poor thing

I took the car in this morning, and I'm feeling more comfortable. In the shop were three Lambos, an F80 M3, two air-cooled 911s, two Nissan GT-Rs and a 991 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriot. Still, I've arranged counseling for the M4 upon its return, and I've already had a stern chat with the Porsche to treat the kid from Munich right when it gets back.

Now, I have to deal with my own separation anxiety

.

Jer

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

That's why I like driving my 14-year-old brown pickup. It still has yellow paint on the front fender from rubbing against a telephone pole in a parking spot. The pole was painted yellow so people would see it better.

Yeah, but running into some shingles will break your heart!

Jer

Originally posted by Rupert

I hate stories like that! I once picked up a rock in one of my Jeep tires and it slung off and hit the inside of the right front fender hard enough to cause a large pimple in the paint. It was in the shop over a week. No easy job.

Mrs Rupert once had a Jeep Cherokee with a minor rear end injury from a tailgater that got too close. It was supposed to take them a week to repair.....
They tried about 5 times to match the paint and failed each time. They had no excuse because they had made a front fender repair only a few months earlier and matched it perfectly. Since the dealer repair shop was providing her a free loaner car, she hadn't hollered too much. Finally she did holler and squeal......they painted the entire car...for free!

She promptly gave it to our oldest grandson for his high school graduation. It looked like new! Sometimes it works out for the best.......I bet it does for you too...if you know what I mean?

Winners and losers......Jeffrey was a winner on this one!

Regards!

Thanks, my friend, for the sympathetic reply. Jeffrey looks like one outstanding grandson!

Jer

Rupert · 02-08-2016, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by Sailor

I took the car in this morning, and I'm feeling more comfortable. In the shop were three Lambos, an F80 M3, two air-cooled 911s, two Nissan GT-Rs and a 991 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriot. Still, I've arranged counseling for the M4 upon its return, and I've already had a stern chat with the Porsche to treat the kid from Munich right when it gets back.

Thank goodness there were no low life autos in the shop....can you imagine the pain and horror that would have caused your baby!

Regards!

02-07-2016, 06:04 PM	#1
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Auto Body Work - A Brave New World About three weeks ago, the tire-pressure monitor on my BMW M4 showed that the right rear tire was a bit low; while airing the tires on the car the next morning, I discovered a nail in the tire. Application of a little dishwashing soap indicated a very active leak, thus I rushed to take the Bimmer to the local Michelin store to get a repair. As I hurriedly backed out of the garage, I forgot that roofers had stored piles of shingles in our driveway the previous day. The shingles would have been easy to avoid, particularly since the car's sensors and rear camera clearly indicated their presence, but I still managed to just touch the corner of one pile. The damage is small (although I cussed like . . . . . well . . . . . a sailor), but I assumed that the necessary "body work" would be trivial. No way. The two damaged areas include a slight indentation with scratches close to the wheel well of the left rear quarter panel and a few short scratches on the bumper (photos below). Each area could be completely covered by a circle with the diameter of a Bud Light can, but . . . . . according to the appraiser from my insurance company (USAA), the bumper will have to be removed for complete repainting. Further, the rocker panel, all the window trim on the left side, the left rear tail light, and trim on the roof will have to be removed so that the damaged area can be repainted and the entire quarter panel (including contiguous portions along the left side of the roof ) will have to be sanded down for new clear coat! Tomorrow, I'm taking the car to a body shop in Houston that specializes in performance and sport vehicles; the appraiser suggested that it'll take a working week to complete the repairs (which likely means two or three times that long). The only bright spot is that the shop is only about a half mile from the Porsche dealer that services my Boxster S, so I'm going to try to maneuver my wife into a quick visit to peruse the 911s and plant a seed . . . . . . I'm thinking long term here. Jer Damaged areas: I can't believe the bumper and 40% of the left side of the car has to be painted and/or clear coated for damage that amounts to about 8 or 9 square inches! ---------- Post added 02-07-2016 at 10:25 PM ---------- Last edited by Sailor; 02-08-2016 at 12:53 PM.

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02-07-2016, 08:58 PM	#2
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,838	911? Methinks a Cayman GT4 might be better.

02-07-2016, 09:17 PM	#3
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by wtlwdwgn 911? Methinks a Cayman GT4 might be better. Maybe. C&D says Cayman S is closest to the classic, simple Porsche sport coupe.

02-07-2016, 09:55 PM	#4
wibbly Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Edmonton Posts: 600	tsk tsk! such carelessness. you'll have to send the car my way. my little e92 will help rehabilitate it from the obvious PTSD you've left it with. poor thing

02-08-2016, 12:12 PM	#5
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	That's why I like driving my 14-year-old brown pickup. It still has yellow paint on the front fender from rubbing against a telephone pole in a parking spot. The pole was painted yellow so people would see it better.

02-08-2016, 12:34 PM	#6
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	I hate stories like that! I once picked up a rock in one of my Jeep tires and it slung off and hit the inside of the right front fender hard enough to cause a large pimple in the paint. It was in the shop over a week. No easy job. Mrs Rupert once had a Jeep Cherokee with a minor rear end injury from a tailgater that got too close. It was supposed to take them a week to repair..... They tried about 5 times to match the paint and failed each time. They had no excuse because they had made a front fender repair only a few months earlier and matched it perfectly. Since the dealer repair shop was providing her a free loaner car, she hadn't hollered too much. Finally she did holler and squeal......they painted the entire car...for free! She promptly gave it to our oldest grandson for his high school graduation. It looked like new! Sometimes it works out for the best.......I bet it does for you too...if you know what I mean? Winners and losers......Jeffrey was a winner on this one! Regards!

02-08-2016, 01:15 PM	#7
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205 Original Poster	Originally posted by wtlwdwgn 911? Methinks a Cayman GT4 might be better. I'll tell you, Steve - that GT4 is one cool customer, but it's heavily track oriented. It's street legal, but its use on the roads and over the speed bumps of Brazoria County would be hard on a driver - particularly one my age . Jer Originally posted by monochrome Maybe. C&D says Cayman S is closest to the classic, simple Porsche sport coupe. A 981 Cayman S does indeed have a classic feel, as does my 981 Boxster S which is essentially the same car in roadster form. The mid-engine layout of the 981s is also a real plus, giving the cars terrific balance and quick, precise turn in. Jer Originally posted by wibbly tsk tsk! such carelessness. you'll have to send the car my way. my little e92 will help rehabilitate it from the obvious PTSD you've left it with. poor thing I took the car in this morning, and I'm feeling more comfortable. In the shop were three Lambos, an F80 M3, two air-cooled 911s, two Nissan GT-Rs and a 991 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriot. Still, I've arranged counseling for the M4 upon its return, and I've already had a stern chat with the Porsche to treat the kid from Munich right when it gets back. Now, I have to deal with my own separation anxiety . Jer Originally posted by Just1MoreDave That's why I like driving my 14-year-old brown pickup. It still has yellow paint on the front fender from rubbing against a telephone pole in a parking spot. The pole was painted yellow so people would see it better. Yeah, but running into some shingles will break your heart! Jer Originally posted by Rupert I hate stories like that! I once picked up a rock in one of my Jeep tires and it slung off and hit the inside of the right front fender hard enough to cause a large pimple in the paint. It was in the shop over a week. No easy job. Mrs Rupert once had a Jeep Cherokee with a minor rear end injury from a tailgater that got too close. It was supposed to take them a week to repair..... They tried about 5 times to match the paint and failed each time. They had no excuse because they had made a front fender repair only a few months earlier and matched it perfectly. Since the dealer repair shop was providing her a free loaner car, she hadn't hollered too much. Finally she did holler and squeal......they painted the entire car...for free! She promptly gave it to our oldest grandson for his high school graduation. It looked like new! Sometimes it works out for the best.......I bet it does for you too...if you know what I mean? Winners and losers......Jeffrey was a winner on this one! Regards! Thanks, my friend, for the sympathetic reply. Jeffrey looks like one outstanding grandson! Jer

02-08-2016, 01:25 PM	#8
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by Sailor I took the car in this morning, and I'm feeling more comfortable. In the shop were three Lambos, an F80 M3, two air-cooled 911s, two Nissan GT-Rs and a 991 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriot. Still, I've arranged counseling for the M4 upon its return, and I've already had a stern chat with the Porsche to treat the kid from Munich right when it gets back. Thank goodness there were no low life autos in the shop....can you imagine the pain and horror that would have caused your baby! Regards!