Not a lot of people responded to my prior post because I added my update onto the end of the original thread.

So, if you guys and girls could give me some feedback, I would really appreciate it.

**UPDATE**

I got two estimates today at my work (Keyes Woodland Hills Honda). We have a paintless dent removal guy that comes a couple days of the week. I had him take a look at my cay and said that he would have to drill a hold on the inner back of my passenger door sill to get to the dent in the rear quarter panel. Since there is no other way to get to the dent. If it was on the door, then he could easily go through the top of the side windows.

I wasnt too comfortable with the idea of them drilling a hold in my car, so I went to a local body shop that my company uses. They said that they can remove the dent, but would have to repaint the whole right rear quarter panel. The plus side: no drilling.

The price of the dentless removel was $65. The estimate of the bodyshop work was $487. Usually, the regular charge for customers of the same body work is $1000, or so they say. I can vouch for their work, they do a really good job making cars look like new. Up to $500 I am sure Best Buy insurance should cover it. But, a $65 bill would be easy to process than a $487 bill. What should I do?

By the way, when I took some pictures of the dent you can only see in in direct light. And the dent isn't very deep. Just wide. Do you think Best Buy will approve the work for this small of a dent?

Please post your opinions guys.

Thanks a lot.

BTW, the Best Buy Insurance agent hasnt called me back to this day. I sent her 10 large digital pictures of the dent and faxed her the bodyshop estimate.

Twilight Blue G35 Coupe 6M/T
Premium - Navi - Aero - Trunk Mat

 

sometimes i have to laugh at the things people consider when talking about cars. i have been around cars my whole life. and have never, ever, ever, ever, ever, seen a repainted car that looked as good as the original. excuse me, unless you are talking about repainting the whole car, while before that, taking it all apart to make sure it is perfect. (overspray, doorjams, etc.) listem to me, the hole this guy will drill, if he is a decent dent removal repair man, will be the size of a dime. he them fills it, and puts a piece of tap over it. you will never think twice about it, you will never see it. if you are a fanatic like me, you can put touch up paint over the small piece of tape. if there is any paint that came off your car, then that is another story. but if not, trust me. there is nothing like getting one spot on a car to blend with the rest, especially with metallic paint. TRUST ME. IT MIGHT LOOK OK IN THE DARK, WHEN YOU FIRST GET IT BACK, BECAUSE YOU ARE SO EXCITED, BUT WHEN YOU SEE IT IN THE LIGHT, YOU WILL KICK YOURSELF! GO WITH THE DENT REMOVAL AND SEND ME THE CRAWFORD PLENUM OR SOME HIGH FLOW CATS IF YOU WANT TO THANK ME WHEN YOU SEE YOUR CAR.

 

This is an easy one:

Give the estimate to Best Buy and collect the money. Pay the paintless dent removal place to fix it. If it is acceptable then take the extra money as punitive damage. If not, have the body shop do the work.

I have to disagree with vgrani on good body shop work however. I used to purchase, restore, show, and sell classic cars. I'd turn one car around every 2 to 3 months or so, owning several at a time. I carry several insurance waivers so that I can drive cars onto otherwise restricted property for photographic purposes. In the many years I have been doing this, I have had plenty of small dents, scratches, rust spots, and other pieces of body damage repaired without issue. This includes scrutiny under fluorescent lights, natural lighting (sun and overcast), photographic floods and other types of illumination.


03.5 Coupe - Black/Willow, 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, Sat

 

LIAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT PIECE BY PIECE. MAYBE ONE SIDE OF A CAR. IF YOU DO ONE SPOT, THERE WILL BE LIGHT SPOTS DARK SPOTS. WHEN YOU KNEEL TO SEE YOU REFLECTION WHEN YOU CAR IS CLEAN, YOU IMAGE WILL BE DISTORTED UNLESS YOU PAY THOUSANDS FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO DO IT RIGHT. I HAVE BEEN WHOLESALING CARS WITH MY DAD FOREVER. EVEN WHEN I WASNT A PARTNER, I WAS LEARNING. IF THERE WAS NO PAINT REMOVED, YOU WILL NEVER EVER SEE IT AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE WORSE. YOU HAVE A TWIGHTLIGHT BLUE 2004 INFINITI, 5 STAGE METALLIC PAINT. WHEN SOMEONES ASKS YOU WHAT YOU HAVE HAD DONE TO IT. DO YOU WANT TO SAY I HAD THIS SPOT REPAINTED. ESPECIALLY ON THE SIDES OF A CAR. USE THE FORCE!!!!!!!IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME, ASK SOMEONE WHO YOU TRUST WHO KNOWS ABOUT CARS. YOU CANT ASK A BODYSHOP. THATS LIKE A LADY WALKING INTO A DEALERSHIP POINTING AT THE COUPE, SAYING I VE BEEN REALLY WANTING THE FX 45 FOR A WHILE NOW.

 

Simmer down vg.

There is a way to do it right at a body shop. When I say body shop, I don't mean Maaco. The place I use is very good, guarantees its work, and isn't cheap.

Dan, as I said, the paintless solution may be all you need; I don't know, I haven't seen the dent. If you can stand that hole in your passenger side door sill then try it. If not, go to a reputable body shop and ask them for an example of this type of repair. If you are satisified, you have a backup option.

Now, despite what vg vehemently believes (to the degree of using all caps) about localized paint/body repair, I believe otherwise. I've seen Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Lotus' (Loti?), and plenty run-of-the-mill non-exotics with spot paint repairs and there was no way to tell where the damage initially was, in any light.


03.5 Coupe - Black/Willow, 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, Sat

 

Damn, so your saying that it will never look as good as it came from the factory?

The bodyshop is going to use the same paint as the Infinity factory uses and I am sure they will put as many coats on as the factory does. I really want it to look the exact same way it was before this accident. Now I am not sure what to do anymore. I HATE BEST BUY!!!

How much would it be if I bought a pre-painter left rear quarter panel from the factory and had it installed? I'm sure it would be a lot. Now I'm thining I should go to some place that charges 3 grand for their work instead of $500 (keep in mind, I am getting an employee discount. The body shop is making no profit). Damn, what should I do?

Twilight Blue G35 Coupe 6M/T
Premium - Navi - Aero - Trunk Mat

 

i give up, why are you against getting the ding removed without repainting your car, seems like a no brainer. but people couldnt wait for the borla group buy, and got fed up, and paid an extra 150-200 for an extra week. my charity work is over. good luck and god speed!

 

I wouldn't have a new car repainted unless I had absolutely no choice. If you have to paint, go to like a Mercedes dealer and ask them who does their body work. Anybody trusted by Mercedes will most likely do excellent work.

 

Never have a car painted if you don't have to. Not only do you run the chance of the paint not matching, but when you go to sell the car you will have a repair claim on it which MAY lower the value.

granted the paint they use is factory but it hasn't been through what the paint on your car has i.e. washing -waxing-out in the sun washing-waxing- out in the sun.

Do the dent removal it will hurt your car less then repainting it will. The hole they drill will be in the door jam and after a week you'll forget all about it. Every time i've ever had to repaint a car i've felt like it was violated and no longer pristine.

G35C Blk, 6MT, Lthr, Aero, Prem

 

Vgrani obviously doesn't know his **** from a whole in the ground. His nonsensical diatribe does nothing more than pollute the forum with classic gems including"and have never, ever, ever, ever, ever, seen a repainted car that looked as good as the original", Vgrani, it is time for some new glasses my man. Also, DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO TURN YOUR CAP LOCKS KEY OFF? WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING?

I've had MANY cars painted by reputable paint shops with no problems, and I'll guarantee you that there is no way anyone could EVER tell, even "Kings of the Industry" like yourself Vagrani.

Also, you don't have to spend a fortune to get it done right.

 

i would get more details on the hole drilled for the PDR, that is a better option, if you can avoid paint,

in the auction all luxury cars with good value are checked with a paint meter and bam, that car has paint-work, the paint meter picks it up, dont need to be any expert who checks cars all your life to read the paint meter...... value is lowered so when you trade it in, same deal, you may get lower trade value. even more important in my opinion is...try to avoid the insurance company claim since that sets a carfax report off and then when you sell it, bam you have an accident indicator on the carfax report. keep good records that it was just a ding so if you sell it private party you can explain all this to the future buyer.

just as if you were buying a car.. would u pay same for a carfax reported accident car with paintwork... as a perfect one... ?

with PDR, no claim, no report, no paint, usually a better way to go.

 

The thing is that there is a tiny scratch where the dent is. It doesnt look too deep, but I am sure you can feel it when you run it over with your fingers.

I washed my car today and guess what I noticed. I noticed a tiny tiny dent further down the rear of the quarter panel. You can only see it at certain angles in direct light. It is really really small. If I went with the body shop, I am sure that they could get rid of this small dent along with the big one.

I really hate parking next to cars or cars parking next to me, because I always get dented. I am sure that a car parked next to me and when they were getting out they hit my rear quarter panel. The height and impact of the dent is what I would expect to see if a car door hit it. Damn, I wouldnt have minded if they hit my door, but why always the quarter panel!

The world is out to get my car.

Back to the topic, yes, there is a scratch in the pain, but its light. It might be able to be covered with wax? Should I still go ahead and drill a hole in my door?

Thanks guys, sorry for the long post.

Twilight Blue G35 Coupe 6M/T
Premium - Navi - Aero - Trunk Mat