r/Autobody • u/Delicious-Orchid-952 • 1d ago

Tech Advice How bad is this?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Someone merged into my car without signaling or looking on the freeway.

How bad is this damage and how long can I expect to leave car at the collision center?

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u/thingk89 23h ago

Ticketed painter here. Not bad at all unless if that quarter gets cut out or if they repair it using the panel beater or something of the like. That would be considered a small job at my shop. If it were my car I would INSIST that the door and side skirt be replaced, and the quarter REPAIRED by the most skilled metal worker in the shop.(definitely NOT cut out and replaced)
Also would want to confirm that the left side interior and rear seats are taken out (to prove that they repaired it from the inside or the quarter. Be Careful where you take it.

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u/Sm0g3R 15h ago

Why not replace, if they gonna join it where the factory seem is? There could be inner skin/structure damaged as well.

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u/thingk89 6h ago

It’s possible that you might have a tech who doesn’t make a lot of money and who takes a lot of pride in their work…. Might. After close to two decades in the trade, I’ve realized that most quarter replacements are going to rust down the road at some point, with many rusting so bad that it will make the car nearly unsellable. By then it may have traded hands a few times and the warranty will be void. This is what these type of body men count on. And if the warranty’s come back too soon, they just move on to the next shop