RazzyBRX-8

Yesterday pulling out of school I got rearended. The ironic part is it was by my friend haha. The damage isnt bad at all...there are a few gouges in the back bumper. liscense plate is bent....and scuff marks.
That's the story, here's the question...

How long do you think it should take a body shop to take the bumper off, paint the new bumper and then put it back on?

I called them yesterday and told them exactly what was going on. They were like "uhm...you have to bring it down here and get an estimate how long it'll be."

New Yorker

I gouged the rear bumper of my VW GTI and the body shop had the car for a day or so. I think it's considered a fairly easy job. The good news is they were able to repair it so that, no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't tell there was work done—it looked perfect. (I was thinking I'd have to get a new bumper for perfection, but no. Not necessary.)

FABRO

When I got rear ended w/ my 8, it took the body shop about a week to order a new bumper, repaint it and install it back on.

DOMINION

Ahh thats not so bad. Yeah most shops will ask to see the damage so they can give you a ETA on time.

RazzyBRX-8

Well thankfully my car is COMPLETELY drivable and from a distance doesnt look that bad. I feel so bad for my friend though because his father didn't want to make the claim so hes paying for it out of his pocket. The bumber is already on its way from Mazda (ordered yesterday about 30 mins after it happenned) He was more bummed about my car than I was. All the shop will have to do is paint it and put it back on and then she'll be back to the way she was!

Thanks for the input!

RazzyBRX-8

So she went into the shop yesterday. I'm driving my mom's Mazda6 and I really really miss the RX-8.

Friday won't come soon enough!

Stavesacre21

Only 2 days away...won't be so bad! I feel bad for yur friend though...I'd imagine that wasn't cheap by any means...and painted and installed...ouch.

I'd assume you noted yur milage when you dropped it off...Sometimes those body people can be just like dealer techs...just itchin to take a joyride at the payers expense. I learned that lesson a few times over, and finally caught on with the Cobra. Don't assume that everyone is as professional as the next.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

everything will be okay.

shakRpahX8

Another question from me~~

Would it be easier to just take it to the dealer and have it fixed or the body shop??

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

Personally I would rather have a body shop since that is what they do, everyday.

If you have a really good dealership and your insurance company doesn't mind paying more then you could go there instead.

Define easier.

I don't think it would be tough either way.

Nopstnz

I had the EXACT same thing happen to me except it was my former art teacher. The license plate was bent, the rear bumper was damaged. But compared to his car, my car was nothing. The 8's rear bumper had taken out the guys radiator and his front bumber was crushed. We got the insurance to look at it and after the art teacher had apoligized and admitted it was his fault he went and told the insurance company I rolled back into him. Which was bs, my foot was on the brake and he even admitted it at the time that he ran into me. So they fixed it, did a pretty bad job too. Now both taillights flood occasionally(due to be replaced today) and it seems like the bumper is still seperated from the trunk. There is a big gap in between the trunk and bumper. I showed the head service tech at Mazda and he agreed that something was wrong with it. The next day, an insurance guy from Columbia came and looked at it and said nothing was wrong, and the head tech agreed with him! So, thats something I got to live with or pay it up myself.

As to your question, for them to do mine, it took about 2-3 weeks because they had to order new parts [(bumper, rear under body spoiler, and they will fix your license plate) even though they did a terrible job on mine] and paint them. Just have the person at fault's insurance look at the damage and get them to call the body shop and tell them. Or, go drop it off right now and wait on the insurance to go up there and look at it to get an estimate, and have them tell the body shop themselves. I would do it the other way though, because you never know just how long they will wait to see your 8.

Nopstnz

Oh, and DO note your mileage. I've had one local body shop take my 8 for a spin (there were marks inside the car and the mileage was up by about 50 miles) and I yelled at them and never gave them business again. Fortunatly, the people at this one are all too old to even care about it.

And what color is your 8? It's very strange, because I started believing the curse of the silver thing after it happened to me...

RotrDoc

That's a $688 repair (minimum, no hidden damage) (in Houston, two separate rear-end incidents, on their insurance), and it should be the same at a dealer or a body shop.

The friend's father must have very deep pockets if he's willing to shell out that kind of cash rather than use his insurance. What the heck do people think insurance is for fer Chrissake?

Jackallll

my 8 is currently at the body shop having the rear bumper replaced (some moron put a couple license plate screw holes in it). the ins company originally quoted 618 labor/parts, but the body shop (which is highly regarded) is going for more money.

also, if you have the aero package or rotary accent package make sure that they do not throw those parts away.

RazzyBRX-8

yeah it was 210 for the part only because his dad works at the dealership and then 386 for paint/labor. I feel bad for him too.
I did note my mileage...and mine is Winning Blue.
About the accents! I looked at the guy and I was like "I need to show you something" and then I told him and stuff and he was like yeah well take care of it for you and then even wrote it down. I was amazed.

His father didn't want to go through insurance so his didnt go up or something and it's not his father paying for it..it's coming straight from HIS pocket.

RazzyBRX-8

I was wondering how you get the rear accent off? It's double stick tape and i thought it would be next to impossible to get it off.
Thanks.

Jackallll

someone posted that the rear accent is stuck on....i'm sure it's a b%tch to remove in one piece. if they're cheap aftermarket, i'd just buy new ones. although OEM parts are never cheap, even if theyre $.50 pieces.

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

It is really not hard to remove the accent.

Just pull it off slowly. It is attached with double sided tape.

A little WD-40 can assist in loosening the tape as well.

Reattach with new double side automotive tape.

RazzyBRX-8

Thanks!
I actually bought them after I bought my car because I loved the look of them so maybe it wont be too hard. I guess I'll find out as soon as I get my car back.

RazzyBRX-8

So thanks for your input and stuff. I'm getting my car back tomorrow for sure. My father called them about the accent and stuff and the guy was like..."Oh, that's already back on the car." I'm pretty impressed.

Thanks again.