Curious about cost$ for putting my Q on a frame machine to fix this damage.....

[redmanfx]

......



and you can see the quarter panel is shoved against the back door, not allowing it to even open:

The reason I'm asking is that there are no frame puller's down here that use the proper gauges and measurements to fix your Unibody and frame damge to proper manufacturer specifications, save for 1. Most eyeball it or simply use a tape measure. One place does it properly, but I don't know what a fair price is to pull this damage. I don't want them to try to rip me off because of the "your car looks nice and cared for therefor you must be rich" syndrome. Any help or pointers would be muchly welcomed!!

One place said I needed a new quarter panel and I know I don't! The trunk floor is crumpled in a coulple spots but the pic is just one of them.

p.s. I was hit very hard and took quite a jolt. To have only this damage is remarkable and it speaks volumes for my Q's safety features.

[Beancooker]

I am not sure as to the costs of that. Insurance should cover all repairs though. Contact the insuranse adjuster assigned to your case, and explain that the unibody is damaged, and it can lead to alignment and other issues. If he/she is not willing to listen, contact your insurance company, and explain it to them.

[redmanfx]

I've got estimates from places that can do it. I just want to know how much it should really cost to pull this out by someone who does it properly. An example being: One place said $900 just to pull it, another said $300. There is just to huge a gap there for me to feel comfortable with. I was hoping someone here would know or be able to tell me about what it should really cost because they either have a frame machine and can do this or know someone who does that could give them a proper "real truthfull" cost.

Again I'm talking about using the proper gauges for correct measurements and the proper manufacturers specs not like down here where folks just eyeball stuff and say it's done right. 5 out of 6 places here don't do it correctly.

I hope someone will know. Thanks

[Jesda]

When this happened to my Sentra (I hope it went to car hell), I was quoted at the dealer $800 for the full repair, with frame pulling at $250.

That was 1997. Fast forward to now and adjust for inflation, whatever that number is.

[bmwkiller]

I think most reputable shops are going to charge you a flat fee to prep the car and set it up on the frame machine. That alone could be several hundred bucks. From there, probably $80-100/hr to straighten it out. I had a friend who worked in a body shop a few years ago, and as I recall that's how they based their rates. Others may be different though, obviously, and the rates are probably higher these days.Avoid the three hundred dollar guys with a tape measure. You gotta get the frame straight, not "almost straight". You want it done cheap, hook one end of a chain to a tree and the other end to your bumper and then.....you get the idea.