Devil's advocate here, but you said you would really like an A4. Why not sell your car for $1500+ and put that w/ the $5k and buy and A4? Otherwise, do as everyone else recommends and let a shop handle it. I have a sneaky feeling you have some tweaked steel under there. The bumper supports are held on by 3 bolts and they stick out about 8" (which would aid in leverage), so it's possible that section around the bolts is slightly twisted.

 

The part that you should be concerned is not the exterior body stuff. You should really pay attention to the interior components. Radiator bracket, AC condenser hoses, front bumper absorbers, and etc... And all the other electronic stuff that Audis are notorious about. Usually when an approved bodyshop works on the car, the insurance will adjust the claim once additional damage is found inside. If you take cash and try to do it yourself, that will be it.

 

She is now partly nude. As I suspected there is some bent things...but nothing an hour on a frame puller can't re-align. Both bumper shock mounting points are bent toward th drivers side, the passenger side being the more worse off one. No damage to the ac mechanicals, the plug for the pressure sensor is busted up so gotta get one of those. The fender bracket will be replaced (so much easier than trying to bend it back into a functional shape). The bumper and support are naturally shot, along with the radiator support (no big surprise there seeing how it is plainly visible that it is cracked). One surprise that is not so pleasant is the passenger side headlight was pushed back and the plastic piece for replacing the turn signal bulb impaled the housing resulting in a bum passenger side headlight. On a more positive note there is no damage behind the fender. I am not worried at all with the damage I have uncovered and am willing to put in the hours to get her good to go again. If I had found something that would have made me look incompetent I would have put it back together and taken it to a shop. Guess tonight could be called exploratory surgery. I will post up pics of the carnage tomorrow.

 

I can't see how having someone else do the work is any different than you doing it. everything on our cars is bolted on and unless it's bent somewhere it'll all bolt up just fine the only worry is the paint not matching. I know that for the newer bumper you need the newer fenders and i believe the headlights also. I have ETKA so let me know if you need pictures of anything or part numbers just PM me.

 

Then all body shops should be equal (minus paintwork), and we all know that's not true. Body work really is just bolting things together, but it really is not that easy all the time. Bodywork is like an art.

It's like saying changing an engine is just unbolting things, and that is true, but it's far easier said than done.

If I still owned my 93 Volvo 850 with 334k miles on it sure, I would do my own bodywork. And if a few things didn't line up perfectly, oh well. But I still see my 00 A6 as a nice car, and I want it to look like a nice car.

 

If all body shops were judged on their ability to bolt on body panels I am pretty sure they would all be equel and we would all do it ourselves. The things body shops do that they are judged on is prep work and paint. If a shop is turning out cars that look like crap chances are their prep work is half assed (like not taking all the lights, panels, or trim pieces off and the excessive use of bondo). Body shops also can pull a frame so everything will line up oooor they can make all the holes oblong and use fender washers to make a panel straight. I should be picking her up today. Here are some shots before she went to get the frame pulled:

Monday night






Headlight is shot


Off to get the frame pulled




New lights


Bumper supports


Roof rack


New rad support

 

Still have your old light? Willing to sell? I Can't remember which side I have that needs the xenon bulb holder thing but if you're selling lmk how much and I'll buy it off you.

 

These car's aren't built like most. everything bolts together and is designed to be replaceable which makes this car very easy to repair yourself. It's the paintjob and ability to straighten bent parts that makes shops better than others. We can bolt the pieces together just as good as a pro shop. Just makesure the car's in spec and everything and you'll be good to go.

 

My passenger side light is shot. I am going to pul it apart and swap everything over to the non hid headlight, if my new light doesn't need the holder you are lookin for I can geit it to you. Take a pic of what you need and post it up. I'll be tearing the broken light tonight.

 

Drove her home yesterday, body shop pulled the paint codes so they will be mixing it up soon. Should be all done in a few weeks. They had to pull the front rails over about 1" to the right. Also the new bumper came with a set of fog lights, now I have 2 sets...oh what to do with the second set. I am sure I can find some use for it. Here are a few pics of the new fender, bumper, and how everything lines up.



look at that hood line!