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Thread: Need Auto Body Shop Recommendation, Norther Virginia

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Herndon, VA
    Posts
    696

    Question Need Auto Body Shop Recommendation, Norther Virginia

    Folks,

    Last weekend my MM received minor scratch/crease damage in a parking lot. There is a scratch/crease on the bottom panels of both driver side doors. Can anyone recommend a reputable auto body shop or some to stay away from in the Northern Virginia area?

    Thanks.

    Jon
    2004 Mercury Marauder, dark toreador red/dark charcoal interior
    Born On Tuesday, May 18, 2004
    Sequence Nos.: 2,991 of 3,214 ('04), 10,829 of 11,052 (total) & 926 of 980 (DTRs) & 1 of 2,000 '04s without moonroof
    Purchased On Friday, October 22, 2004
    Sold On Wednesday, February 29, 2012
    Final Miles = 099871
    6 CD Trunk Changer, Heated Seats, Alternative Auto Performance Tune, Borla mufflers (#40652),
    "Powered By Ford" 2005 Ford GT Coil Covers, Aeroforce OBD2 Scan Gauge, Replacement Autometer Oil Pressure Gauge,
    McGard Wheel Locks (#24130), 2005 oil filter drip deflector

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Southern Maryland
    Age
    40
    Posts
    3,507
    LOL. I am in Springfield. There are tons of body shops around here (I think all of the van dorn street area is body shops, and they're all pretty sketchy).

    I have been told that Precision Collision does great work, but their prices are so outrageous for walk-in customers that I could not see using them. For insurance work, maybe. They wanted $600 to touch up a quarter sized buff thru the clear on a fender and to re clear it. That was double the nearest other quotes I got. They quoted me to completely remove the front bumper cover to re-clear the fender. I was like, whaaaat? Most shops would only loosen the bolts and drop the cover on that side and mask it. I would actually prefer that, because more damage could be incurred removing the cover entirely than just loosening it. The hours they quoted for labor were also very high. A MM fender has about 1 ft square surface area, tops! It's a sliver of metal...

    I have seen some of the work out of Best Auto Body. They seem to do an okay job "for the price". They are on the lower end price-wise, and offer a good value. But not top notch work.

    Excel Auto Body in Springfield also does "okay" work for the price. He is priced lower, around what Best charges. He's a 1 painter, 1 downdraft booth operation. The job I saw from him had typical dirt nibs in the clear here and there. Not terrible but not great either. The owner seems like a nice enough guy.

    The type of damage you got is by no means minor, because both of your doors are going to have to be repainted, and blended into adjacent panels. If the paint texture is not good enough it's going to make that whole side of the car look like crap. There is a maroon MM that I have seen around Springfield mall, where I live, a couple times. He has a repainted right front fender that you can tell is a respray, from probably 50 feet away. It's a horrible repair.
    Last edited by Stranger in the Black Sedan; 02-21-2008 at 05:14 PM.
    Steve H., Charles County, MD www.carfap.com
    1994 Lincoln Town Car. 98-02 front brakes, P71 steering and sway bars, Eaton swap build underway using TorkTech 4.6 2v intake kit.
    2011 Infiniti M37x
    2004 F250, v10 6 speed manual. ex-US Forest Service truck
    2000 BMW M5
    1976 Jeep DJ5 (postal)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Herndon, VA
    Posts
    696
    Thanks for the info. I'm in western Fairfax and am looking in this area. The local Ford dealer where I go for warranty work uses Craftsman Auto Body in Chantilly but they are expensive. My local mechanic (who helps me with all non-warranty work) recommended Moe's Collision in Manassas.

    I'm also thinking of getting the hood re-sprayed as there have always been two noticeable spiderweb flaws in the hood and I just didn't have the patience to try to work that through warranty. Jon
    2004 Mercury Marauder, dark toreador red/dark charcoal interior
    Born On Tuesday, May 18, 2004
    Sequence Nos.: 2,991 of 3,214 ('04), 10,829 of 11,052 (total) & 926 of 980 (DTRs) & 1 of 2,000 '04s without moonroof
    Purchased On Friday, October 22, 2004
    Sold On Wednesday, February 29, 2012
    Final Miles = 099871
    6 CD Trunk Changer, Heated Seats, Alternative Auto Performance Tune, Borla mufflers (#40652),
    "Powered By Ford" 2005 Ford GT Coil Covers, Aeroforce OBD2 Scan Gauge, Replacement Autometer Oil Pressure Gauge,
    McGard Wheel Locks (#24130), 2005 oil filter drip deflector

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Amissville VA
    Posts
    3,827
    I'd recommend Precision Auto Body they are a sponsor of our local Mustang club, they are in Manassas. I will send a PM with their address.
    Trilogy #112 (self installed)

    - Trilogy S/C (Stock pulley/tune) - 4.10's - JLT - SS Inserts - 4" Megs -

    12.99@106.2mph (for now)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Southern Maryland
    Age
    40
    Posts
    3,507
    It sounds like I would do an all over respray on your car. There is no reason to respray only 3 major panels at that point. Even the best respray will not quite match in texture, so I wouldn't want a car that is 35% resprayed and 65% original paint w/ wear and tear on it
    Steve H., Charles County, MD www.carfap.com
    1994 Lincoln Town Car. 98-02 front brakes, P71 steering and sway bars, Eaton swap build underway using TorkTech 4.6 2v intake kit.
    2011 Infiniti M37x
    2004 F250, v10 6 speed manual. ex-US Forest Service truck
    2000 BMW M5
    1976 Jeep DJ5 (postal)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Chantilly VA
    Posts
    306
    I have used Craftsman Auto Body with good results. You get what you pay for.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Southern Maryland
    Age
    40
    Posts
    3,507
    Not always. I have had some very expensive collision paint work done that was pretty terrible before. You'd hope that more $ = better work.
    Steve H., Charles County, MD www.carfap.com
    1994 Lincoln Town Car. 98-02 front brakes, P71 steering and sway bars, Eaton swap build underway using TorkTech 4.6 2v intake kit.
    2011 Infiniti M37x
    2004 F250, v10 6 speed manual. ex-US Forest Service truck
    2000 BMW M5
    1976 Jeep DJ5 (postal)

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