repair or replace quarter panel

[JoeRJGR]

Guys,

Newbie here. My neighbors daughter backed into my 2014 Mazda CX9. He is going to pay for the repair out of pocket. I have 2 shops giving me an estimate around $2,700 - $3,200. To REPAIR it...bang it out and then use bondo. I got one old school guys who would do the same but only wants $1,500. Then I have a 4th place that says no way can you repair that without putting on a new quarter panel and they want $3,700 . They say that any damage behind the outer skin compromises the repair.

I like the idea of having the quarter panel replaced as I wont have bondo in my car..but obviously cutting and piecing in a new panel has its own set of issues..

My concern with the bondo is if the vehicle gets hit again, lets say on the rear bumper or opposite side of the vehicle and there is any body flex, does the bondo crack an come out, or am I thinking about 30 years ago?

My concern with doing the quarter panel is headliner, window, etc, all have to come out and there is a lot of places that can get not done correctly. I also don't like the way the quarter panel is pulled away from the door. How do you bang that back into shape?

Any advice and opinions on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.IMG_20190701_165457758_HDR.jpgIMG_20190701_165506608_HDR.jpgIMG_20190701_165519339_HDR.jpgIMG_20190701_165529771_HDR.jpg[ATTACH=CONFIG]

[Len]

Guys,

Newbie here. My neighbors daughter backed into my 2014 Mazda CX9. He is going to pay for the repair out of pocket. I have 2 shops giving me an estimate around $2,700 - $3,200. To REPAIR it...bang it out and then use bondo. I got one old school guys who would do the same but only wants $1,500. Then I have a 4th place that says no way can you repair that without putting on a new quarter panel and they want $3,700 . They say that any damage behind the outer skin compromises the repair.

I like the idea of having the quarter panel replaced as I wont have bondo in my car..but obviously cutting and piecing in a new panel has its own set of issues..

My concern with the bondo is if the vehicle gets hit again, lets say on the rear bumper or opposite side of the vehicle and there is any body flex, does the bondo crack an come out, or am I thinking about 30 years ago?

My concern with doing the quarter panel is headliner, window, etc, all have to come out and there is a lot of places that can get not done correctly. I also don't like the way the quarter panel is pulled away from the door. How do you bang that back into shape?

Any advice and opinions on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I'd recommend putting new metal on it. Repairing it could be a crap shoot depending on the shop doing the work.

[JoeRJGR]

First 3 qoutes I got everyone said repair...next 4 everyone laughed at that and said replace...

Thanks for the advice...

[Len]

First 3 qoutes I got everyone said repair...next 4 everyone laughed at that and said replace...

Thanks for the advice...

It can be repaired and the white color is very forgiving but if you're not paying for it I'd recommend that the metal be replaced.

[Henry]

First 3 qoutes I got everyone said repair...next 4 everyone laughed at that and said replace...

Thanks for the advice...

That CX9 is a nice vehicle in general.

Anyway, the damage I see is not some crush from the rear end and to me, actually looks as if a decent metal worker could work a lot of that out. Then a minimal of filler which many cars you park next to each day have in them. That's my nickel's worth.

Henry

[baubau]

I repair that with a gusto....it’s not that bad, it has sharp strong curve edge, gentle pulling and pushing, probably few spots to shrink,some Fiberglas ,nice round shape to receive body filler...

I say repair it...

[easymoney]

i agree with henry and baubau . a good metal worker can straighten that with very little filler used. you would not have welds cut loose and there would be one seam to deal with where the quarter joins the roof.

[JoeRJGR]

i agree with henry and baubau . a good metal worker can straighten that with very little filler used. you would not have welds cut loose and there would be one seam to deal with where the quarter joins the roof.

Wow - so I guess its not so black and white. Thanks for the responses...based upon all the quotes I got yesterday I was leaning toward replacing it..

I wont be paying for it, so I guess the big question is, when all is said and done, what is the correct way ( if there is such a thing), and the one that carries a better chance of looking factory. I'm pretty particular...If i get it replaced I'll be looking at that C pillar all day long.....

Thanks again...

[Henry]

Wow - so I guess its not so black and white. Thanks for the responses...based upon all the quotes I got yesterday I was leaning toward replacing it..

I wont be paying for it, so I guess the big question is, when all is said and done, what is the correct way ( if there is such a thing), and the one that carries a better chance of looking factory. I'm pretty particular...If i get it replaced I'll be looking at that C pillar all day long.....

Thanks again...

Our vehicles and very important to us and represent the second largest investment we make so yes, I understand your concern.

Listen, a good autobody shop can replace or repair your damage worry and problem free for longer than you will own that car (SUV). Your job is to find that shop within a reasonable distance from where you are located. Where are you at anyway? Maybe one of us knows of a good shop in your area or you'll just have to choose one based on personal recommendations and that's about it. To me, your damage is not really that big of a deal but to you it sort of gets personal and I do understand that. Good luck and keep us posted on what you do.

Henry

[JoeRJGR]

Our vehicles and very important to us and represent the second largest investment we make so yes, I understand your concern.

Listen, a good autobody shop can replace or repair your damage worry and problem free for longer than you will own that car (SUV). Your job is to find that shop within a reasonable distance from where you are located. Where are you at anyway? Maybe one of us knows of a good shop in your area or you'll just have to choose one based on personal recommendations and that's about it. To me, your damage is not really that big of a deal but to you it sort of gets personal and I do understand that. Good luck and keep us posted on what you do.

Henry

Thanks Henry, I'm in Marlboro NJ...

I go back and forth...sometimes I figure the guys that want to repair it are probably more skilled at doing this kind of work and the guys that want to replace it are better at throwing parts at things....

Getting new metal makes me nervous since so much has to come out...

Anyway thanks for all your help!

[JoeRJGR]

Our vehicles and very important to us and represent the second largest investment we make so yes, I understand your concern.

Listen, a good autobody shop can replace or repair your damage worry and problem free for longer than you will own that car (SUV). Your job is to find that shop within a reasonable distance from where you are located. Where are you at anyway? Maybe one of us knows of a good shop in your area or you'll just have to choose one based on personal recommendations and that's about it. To me, your damage is not really that big of a deal but to you it sort of gets personal and I do understand that. Good luck and keep us posted on what you do.

Henry

One other question...If I do elect to have it repaired, there is a section where the quarter panel has pulled away from the door...how would they fix that?

Thanks

[Bob K]

Remember, it’s just sheet metal. A hammer makes it go anywhere he wants it. After all the guy is fixing a series of dents. What’s one more dent?

Bob K

[Henry]

Thanks Henry, I'm in Marlboro NJ...

I go back and forth...sometimes I figure the guys that want to repair it are probably more skilled at doing this kind of work and the guys that want to replace it are better at throwing parts at things....

Getting new metal makes me nervous since so much has to come out...

Anyway thanks for all your help!

Unfortunately there are hackers in this field as in any other. However, that said, you need to realize, your damage is about next to nothing compared with what a true 'autobody craftsman' sees and does everyday even on brand new vehicles that come off the truck from the factory with damage which gets repaired PRIOR to the vehicle ever being sold.

A few of our members are in NJ and 'may' chime in to offer suggestions to you. In the meantime, you need to do with this as with anything you do and that would be, do your homework. Not by flashy ads but by what others have to say that you have seen or can see. You must know someone who has had this work done in your area Network this particular.

Henry

[JoeRJGR]

Unfortunately there are hackers in this field as in any other. However, that said, you need to realize, your damage is about next to nothing compared with what a true 'autobody craftsman' sees and does everyday even on brand new vehicles that come off the truck from the factory with damage which gets repaired PRIOR to the vehicle ever being sold.

A few of our members are in NJ and 'may' chime in to offer suggestions to you. In the meantime, you need to do with this as with anything you do and that would be, do your homework. Not by flashy ads but by what others have to say that you have seen or can see. You must know someone who has had this work done in your area Network this particular.

Henry

Thanks Henry,

I'll do a bunch of research before I pull the trigger...appreciate the opinions

[Phil V]

---Repair it---. As Baubau says, "instead of looking at it as one big dent look at it as a series of smaller dents". If that were my car I would absolutely repair that damage as opposed to replacing with new metal. I see more downsides with welding in a new quarter panel. Any place that would have welds installing a new quarter panel will start to rust immediately after welding and will continue to rust unabated and not a damn thing you can do about. (not getting into a long winded explanation of why).

Your fear of "bondo" (generic term for body filler) is unfounded if applied correctly. In most cases it will outlast the metal it's attached to. Bondo falling out dates back to the 1960's when Black Magic body filler was used by people who had no clue about what they were doing and the filler itself was substandard. They would use wire mesh screen (like a screen door wire mesh) and crappy bondo to fill large rust holes. Not even grind the paint around the rust hole, then piss and moan when a chunk of bondo falls out. I think another point is most new cars have filler applied in certain areas at the new car factory.

As far as the widened door gap -- That gap will close back to a correct gap when the metal is pulled back into shape. That door/quarter gap is wide now because the metal in the quarter is pushed in pulling the gap wider. Release the dents and the gap closes to where it belongs