Just before my family and Ileft for Cleveland to attend a wedding, I did a VERY STUPID thing. While backing out of my driveway and turning left (driveway is L-shaped) I fail to notice that the contractor doing some work on my house had pulled in and (not looking left).............. I guess you can guess the rest. The good thing was I was backing up under idle with my foot on the brake doing about 1-2 MPH and the damage is minimal. Anyway, I caught my left fender on the rear right area of his very high bumper and dented the fender to the point where it must be replaced. Today, I got two estimates $500+ tax and $600 plus tax. Sound reasonableto anyone who knows about these things? I am so p*ssed at myself .....It was a good thing we went away so I didn't have to look at it. My excessive cabin noise doesn't sound so bad now!

 

Sorry to hear that [:'(][:'(] I'd say consider yourself very lucky and I hope this is a lesson for you to be EVEN MORE careful when driving your prized possesion. I look, look again, and look once more when I am backing up or changing lanes. As for those estimates... are they from reputable shops? I would try to take it to a body shop that specializes in Audi or German cars.

 

Yes, both are reputable. One is from the shop that handles all the Audi work for the dealer and the other is from a well established and respected shop in my town who has beenin business 50 years. The higher estimate is from the Audi sponsored shop. Genuine Audi parts will be used.

 

Sounds reasonable for what they charged on my replacement. I think the rear facade was around $370 + painting and labor. I'll look at the paperwork when I get home and tell you the actual cost and labor spent on the rear.

 

Today, I picked up my repaired A3. It looks great!! It took three days to replace the fender and paint it.
Total was $525.00 for everything including tax. I WILL be more careful backing up in the future!!!

The one thing the shop told me was not to wax it for two weeks. I should have asked why at the time but I was in a rush. Anyone know why they would caution me on this??Does it have anything to do with a "curing" period for the paint?

Thanks.

 

Absolutely do not wax the paint during the next two weeks. That "curing time" is to allow the paint to harden sufficiently to withstand the friction & rubbing that comes with a quality waxing. Pay heed to that good advice!

 

Yep, good advice. However, I was always told to wait a full month for the cure. Anyway, don't do anything to it for a while.

Cheers!

 

Thanks for advise. I don't want to do another foolish thing so I'll wait for at least a month.