Repair or Replace quarter panel

[tbnguyeny3k]

I was side swap the other day on the 22W freeway in Orange County, CA.

My question is: Should I REPAIR or REPLACE the QUARTER PANEL? Rust seem to have hit the part of the panel that the paint chip off already.

Seem like I can only attach one picture w/ this post. So, let me describle the quarter panel. The damage goes back to the wheel rim part of the 1/4 panel, and the end where the bumper and 1/4 panel meets. Mostly all this damage is in the lower part of the 1/4 panel. Nothing above the half way mark of the car is damage.

Here are the picture of the car:

[Q45tech]

Depends on what you want it to look like in 10 years? Replacing the door is easy but the rear is more complicated DUPLICATING oem paint and clear coat exactly is nearly impossible.

[tbnguyeny3k]

Usually I drive the car for more then 10 years. But I like it to look good as new.

[Huy]

Sorry to see the damage. It kills me just to see a scratch. I would definitely replace and have it done properly, especially when you keep your ride for a long period. Good luck.

[joe603]

Ya, I wouldn't mess around with fixing the dent...replace it! Make sure and take it to a good body shop, our cars have very tight spaces between the panels.

[Chieftanfeces]

I had damage to nearly the same spot on my '06 g35 coupe and had the rear quarter replaced. A shop up in Union City, CA, did an excellent (though costly) repair job that looks just like new. They also matched the paint (the same color as yours) superbly.

[tbnguyeny3k]

Eventhough the damages is mostly near the door and the wheel rim, I should replace the whole 1/4 panel anyways.

I would think a repair should be better cause we don't have to cut and weld the 1/4 panel. We get to keep the original factor welding.

BTW, is welding a hard thing to do?

[C-Kwik]

Replacing the quarter panel involves cutting it out and welding a new one into place. Most cars, a 1/4 panel replacement requires 18+ hours for the 1/4 panel replacement alone. Does not include paint. And as far as painting, replacement requires repainting the entire panel and the jambs, and blending into the door and the trunklid. In your case, if the door is replaced, the blnd would go into the fender. The blend would only paint color onto a portion of each panel that blend is done on, but the entire panel would require new clear coat.

To repair the panel, they would blend the paint within the panel and only need to apply clearcoat to that panel alone. Normally the door would need blend time as well with the damage being so close to the door, but since your door needs repair, or replacement, then they would be painting that part either way (as a full paint if replaiced or blend if repaired).

In short, it's not going to matter if it's repaired or replaced as far as the paint is concerned. This is where choosing a shop with state of the art equipment and great quality control matters.

[tbnguyeny3k]

Dam... what was informative.

So, the conclusion is that it doesn't matter if its REPLACE or REPAIR. Just as long as I find a good body shop.

Anyone have any suggestion on a bodyshop in Orange County that does G35 Coupe very well? For my last accident, I went to Marcos Autobody in San Gabriel (but that was one long as drive).

Here are a list in Orange County. Can someone give input on these shops?0) Skill Craft in Huntington Beach1) Fountain Valley Bodyworks2) California Auto Collision in Fountain Valley3) Caliber Collision Centers in Fountain Valley4) Quigley's Auto Body in Lake Forest

Here is a closeup of the 1/4 panel and the door. You will see the indention easier on this picture.

[C-Kwik]

Marco's does exceptional work. Insurance companies hate their negotiation tactics though. I've heard stories of them trying to get several estimators working with the adjuster at the same time and constantly point things out to try and confuse the adjuster. A bit shady in their practices, but their work product is great.

I've passed by FV Bodyworks, but never heard anything about them. Caliber is a chain and has that as an advantage as they can back their work from any location. Their Chino Hills shop and a couple shops in TX are the state of the art model shop as their shop design allows them to keep up quality work while getting cars done much faster than usual.

I've gone to California Auto Collision with my G. The work was great, but they got something on the rear of the car. I spotted it the evening after I picked up the car. It wouldn't wash off or come off with a wax remover. Not sure what it was, but the shop tried to deny they did it and tried to claim it was treesap. It definitely wasn't and I parked nowhere near a tree. And I doubt a tree could have dropped so much sap over a wide area. in any case, while they agreed to buff it out, they made it sound like they were doing me a favor. This shop carefully documented the condition of the car before they took the veh in and I walked the car with him, so I know it wasn't there before I dropped off the car. And this is how they treat an insurance adjuster (I was working in claims at the time)? Not that I expected special treatment, but it certainly would not have been a response I would have liked a customer of mine to hear. Even as I pisked up the car, he insisted it was tree sap. I walked out without saying a word. They did good bodywork though.

[TLewisG35]

I had damage to nearly the same spot on my '06 g35 coupe and had the rear quarter replaced. A shop up in Union City, CA, did an excellent (though costly) repair job that looks just like new. They also matched the paint (the same color as yours) superbly.

How much did it cost to replace the quarter panel? Thanks