So I'm driving across 465 on the north side of Indy and this semi merges from 865 in the left lane. He cuts all the way across my lane right in front of me (I'm moving faster) and as he exits my lane he tosses up a 2-3 foot metal tube of some sort from under his left wheels. I slam on the breaks and it hits my hood, bounces off the windshield and hits my roof.

Boy was I mad. Thankfully I hammered the brakes or it would have hit my windshield first! I just bought this car used 4 months ago and I made sure there was no paintwork on it before I bought it. Now I will need the hood and roof painted since the dents and scratches are down to the primer and I have a series of scratches on my windshield.

Pictures of the damage attached.

I called the trucking company and they have agreed to pay (but they haven't seen the estimate yet). I got two estimates. One for $1500 and one for $1090. As far as I can see there is only one main difference. The Harvey's (the $1500 est.) plans to drop the bumper and front headlight on the right side before painting. Borkorkowski's ($1090) wants to mask.

Does anyone with body shop experience want to weight in and give me some advice. Which is better and why?

I will attach the estimates to a second post.

Thanks for your help!

HomeSlice

 

First quote from Borkowski

 

Quote two from Harvey's. Our Infiniti dealer recommended them. Seemed a little arrogant but so what.

 

Well, I was able to upload the first quote and the pictures of the damage again after the mySQL issues. However, I can't seem to get the second quote up.

Regardless, I need some advice from body shop veterans. It looks like I will need the hood and roof painted with blending into the front left quarter panel. Does that sound right?

Bork's wants to mask the bumper and headlight. Harveys wants to "drop" or remove them before they paint (and charge $400 more).

What is better usually? Anyone with any experience with these two shops or methods?

Thanks!

 

No real opinion either way - if it were me I'd take the 'drop' just from an overspray perspective, but I suppose a good mask job would accomplish the same thing.

I mainly wanted to say I'm glad the car took the lumps and that you're okay. That thing could have come into the car and killed somebody. It's good that you were able to maintain control and minimize damage. I know people that would have wrecked the car just from having the $hit scared out of them.

Keep us posted and let us know which you chose and how it goes. (don't paint with your toes...)(sorry - humor left over from Geobau's drunk console toe competition...)

 

Dude, that sucks. Im here in Nap town also and these trucks freaking suck. I would have them remove to repair.