Panel Beaters smoking CRACK

[DJ...]

I feel your pain TB - I've been quoted R55k for a new boot and rear bumper after a taxi-driver forgot which pedal initiated his braking sequence*

*the pedal is linked to the hooter which when blown (it's just the passenger farting), the occupants all slam their feet onto the tar, through the invisible floor...

 

[bdt]

Consider Avant Garde Autobody in Kya Sand; I recently [-]woman-style[/-] reverse-parked my car into a shiny new grey c-class Merc hard enough to break the light cluster AND put an unhealthy ding into my Sentra ..and yet only put some lekker scrapes into his bumper. The quote *before* talking about it was under R4k. And he's nice guy to talk to, too.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I unfortunately have to deal with Debben based places.. and also merc-approved places.. which is 2 in Debben...

 

[Picard]

Grease monkeys are usually unscrupulous bastards.

Reason ... they work with (and are tempted on a daily basis with) things they could only afford by being unscrupulous.

 

[Rouxenator]

That is out of this world overpriced! My sister did the same with her new Honda Jazz, drove it up the towbar of a bakkie and had to get a new bumper and bonnet (both had to be sprayed) and a new light cluster.

They warned us that it would be very expencive and the total bill was R22k at Stellenbosch Panel Beaters (who is also the Mercedes approved panel beaters in town). I seriously doubt they would have charged more than R40k if it had been our C180K that had to go in for the same.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Well I will be challenging them on all the work they've done when I go to fetch the vehicle.. and requesting to see the old parts....

Even though I not the one being ripped off, the prices these guys are charging is criminal and I will be writing a NICE long report to All sorts of consumer people about it....

R1800 for a new tire (195/55/r16) R150 for brake fluid... . the list goes on and on.

 

[Rouxenator]

they are in for a nasty surprise because they have no idea what kind of attitude you can put up if you want to
Guess thats a good thing sometimes.

 

[UtterNutter]

R1800 for a new tire (195/55/r16)

I just paid R2100 for 245/40 R17. Normally go for about R2500. So yours is about right methinks.

 

[UtterNutter]

But 90k for a new bumper can only mean 1 thing: they are trying to screw the insurance company. Period.

 

[xrapidx]

I just paid R2100 for 245/40 R17. Normally go for about R2500. So yours is about right methinks.

I just paid R3250 odd for 245/45 R17 Y...

 

[feo]

Seeing this thread makes me feel kinda good. Was an an accident couple of days ago and got hit from behind which caused me to hit the guy in front of me so both bumpers plus the front headlight needs to be replaced. Car is less than a year and a half old and the first quote that came through was for R55k.

Are you kidding me?

 

[Gnome]

Jeez, my car had been in a smash up (Corsa B), bent rear axle, bent rims, both on the right side when in the passenger seat. Front drive-shaft, front control arm, front and rear shocks as well as springs, 3 panels needed to be resprayed and the side panels, rear and front bumper were resprayed, wheel bearings were replaced, handbrake cable replaced, 2 new wheels to fit the new rims, rear drum brakes were replaced and the spare wheel well got bent because of the rear-axle.

All that for R20k. Kicks ass driving a cheap car

 

[feo]

Thing is...looking through the first quote, the actual bumpers and light are a few grand each but there's like a million small little items on there for 100 bucks each and that, along with the labour costs contribute a LOT. And then you have Mr. VAT..

I initially thought the damages were no more than R20k...am I just being naive or are these guys just chancing it?

 

[Gnome]

Thing is...looking through the first quote, the actual bumpers and light are a few grand each but there's like a million small little items on there for 100 bucks each and that, along with the labour costs contribute a LOT. And then you have Mr. VAT..

I initially thought the damages were no more than R20k...am I just being naive or are these guys just chancing it?

Well my mom's got a 2008 Mercedes C220 CDi and she drove into a water meter that was badly placed, they quoted her R20k just to replace the rear-bumper, insurance refuses to pay tho as the damage according to them is not enough to justify a pay-out, repair quote was around R3K.

Mercedes genuine parts are expensive.