So Cal Body Shop?

lkevinl · 12-14-2007, 06:04 PM

Hey... I got hit in valet in Seal Beach. The restaurant is taking care of it.

I usually take my car to Long Beach BMW. There body shop did a fantastic job on my 330i when I got rear ended. I was very impressed with their work. But it turns out that they sold out and opened up their own shop in Signal Hill, Sunset Collision Center. I took my car there and got a quote. Admittedly, it was kind of high.. $1100 for two ding/dents in the drivers side door. Not sure if any painting will be required, but maybe.

The restaurant owner of course thinks the quote is high too. He wants me to take my car to Signal Hill Auto Body. He knows the owner so will likely get himself a deal.

Does anyone have any experience with Signal Hill Auto Body? Would you take your car there? My car was hit, so I should be able to take my car any where I want. I really just want it fixed perfectly, so if this shop is good, I'll take it there.

Any experience with that Signal Hill Auto Body?

Thanks!

bartman32 · 12-14-2007, 06:11 PM

I'd take it to another body shop and see just how in-line Sunset is. I take mine to Spectrum Auto body but that's all the way down in Irvine.

lkevinl · 12-14-2007, 07:50 PM

Well, I'm not worried about the price since I'm not paying and I know Sunset does good work. I'm just wondering about how good Signal Hill Auto Body is.

lkn · 12-14-2007, 08:45 PM

i wouldn't go to the restaurant owner's recommended body shop since the shop may cut corners in fixing your car.

bily · 12-14-2007, 10:45 PM

Go where you feel most comfortable. Fixing cars is not easy and you will be more skeptical the whole time the car is being fixed and when you get it back. And usually they don't do perfect work. A good eye can pick out paint and body work on any car.

Green-Eggs · 12-15-2007, 03:33 AM

Can the dents be pulled out by a paintless dent repair guy? Some are more capable than others.

Contact EF1 in Signal Hill, they might have a suggestion (562) 424-3378

lvlolvlo · 12-15-2007, 04:21 PM

Signal Hill.... well I would drive the 35 minutes and have Spectrum Collision do it.

lkevinl · 12-17-2007, 11:15 AM

Hmmm... I took the car for an estimate to the Signal Hill Auto Body, recommended by the restaurant owner. I noticed that the damage was a bit worse than I thought. There are the two large dings but also a subtle crease that descends down towards the bottom of the door. So the work will be more extensive, maybe Sunset had noticed that already and that was why the $1100.

So Signal Hill Auto Body estimated $828. Funny because the restaurant guy was saying things like "Sunset is going to pocket $700 of that, blah blah blah..." and then it turns out his shop is only $270 lower.

Anyway, I think both of these shops are good. I know that Signal Hill Auto Body has been around a long time and if they are really friends with him, they'll probably want to make sure the work is done right as a favor to him and to keep me happy. They said they'd get it done in 3 days too where Sunset said 5 or 6 days.

Sucks either way!!

12-14-2007, 06:04 PM	#1
lkevinl Lieutenant 35 Rep 521 Posts Drives: '07 335i 4dr Sport+Premium+Nav Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: So. Cal. iTrader: (0)	So Cal Body Shop? Hey... I got hit in valet in Seal Beach. The restaurant is taking care of it. I usually take my car to Long Beach BMW. There body shop did a fantastic job on my 330i when I got rear ended. I was very impressed with their work. But it turns out that they sold out and opened up their own shop in Signal Hill, Sunset Collision Center. I took my car there and got a quote. Admittedly, it was kind of high.. $1100 for two ding/dents in the drivers side door. Not sure if any painting will be required, but maybe. The restaurant owner of course thinks the quote is high too. He wants me to take my car to Signal Hill Auto Body. He knows the owner so will likely get himself a deal. Does anyone have any experience with Signal Hill Auto Body? Would you take your car there? My car was hit, so I should be able to take my car any where I want. I really just want it fixed perfectly, so if this shop is good, I'll take it there. Any experience with that Signal Hill Auto Body? Thanks!
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12-14-2007, 06:11 PM	#2
bartman32 Colonel 105 Rep 2,317 Posts Drives: F87 M2 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The OC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 M2 [0.00]	I'd take it to another body shop and see just how in-line Sunset is. I take mine to Spectrum Auto body but that's all the way down in Irvine.
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12-14-2007, 07:50 PM	#3
lkevinl Lieutenant 35 Rep 521 Posts Drives: '07 335i 4dr Sport+Premium+Nav Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: So. Cal. iTrader: (0)	Well, I'm not worried about the price since I'm not paying and I know Sunset does good work. I'm just wondering about how good Signal Hill Auto Body is.
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12-14-2007, 08:45 PM	#4
lkn Lieutenant Colonel 23 Rep 1,549 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orange County iTrader: (4)	i wouldn't go to the restaurant owner's recommended body shop since the shop may cut corners in fixing your car.
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12-14-2007, 10:45 PM	#5
bily Lieutenant 84 Rep 540 Posts Drives: 22 G05, 22 G26 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 i4 [10.00] 2022 BMW X5 [0.00] 2015 BMW 428 Cabriolet [0.00]	Go where you feel most comfortable. Fixing cars is not easy and you will be more skeptical the whole time the car is being fixed and when you get it back. And usually they don't do perfect work. A good eye can pick out paint and body work on any car.
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12-15-2007, 03:33 AM	#6
Green-Eggs Lieutenant Colonel 1446 Rep 1,614 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (3)	Can the dents be pulled out by a paintless dent repair guy? Some are more capable than others. Contact EF1 in Signal Hill, they might have a suggestion (562) 424-3378
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12-15-2007, 04:21 PM	#7
lvlolvlo Brigadier General 63 Rep 3,784 Posts Drives: eeeee nein-tee-two Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: So Cal (past), c-atul (present) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	Signal Hill.... well I would drive the 35 minutes and have Spectrum Collision do it.
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12-17-2007, 11:15 AM	#8
lkevinl Lieutenant 35 Rep 521 Posts Drives: '07 335i 4dr Sport+Premium+Nav Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: So. Cal. iTrader: (0)	Hmmm... I took the car for an estimate to the Signal Hill Auto Body, recommended by the restaurant owner. I noticed that the damage was a bit worse than I thought. There are the two large dings but also a subtle crease that descends down towards the bottom of the door. So the work will be more extensive, maybe Sunset had noticed that already and that was why the $1100. So Signal Hill Auto Body estimated $828. Funny because the restaurant guy was saying things like "Sunset is going to pocket $700 of that, blah blah blah..." and then it turns out his shop is only $270 lower. Anyway, I think both of these shops are good. I know that Signal Hill Auto Body has been around a long time and if they are really friends with him, they'll probably want to make sure the work is done right as a favor to him and to keep me happy. They said they'd get it done in 3 days too where Sunset said 5 or 6 days. Sucks either way!!
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