hello!
Recently dented and scratched my friends 2004 Lexus LS430.
I went to one shop that gave me an estimate of 2k which I thought was steep for this job. (See photos)
wondering if anyone else can give me a rough estimate based on photos?
Also any advice on finding a trustworthy mechanic is helpful - I'm in the Baltimore DC area.
I'm hoping my insurance will cover some of the cost.
any advice appreciated.

 

Wow 2k is steep. I'd say anywhere from 500 to 800

 

I thought so... the dent/scratch isn't bigger than my hand

 

My 01 had scratches and faded paint on the rear bumper (no dents). Base, no parking sensors. High end shop quote was 950 (including remove).
Maaco ("ultra deluxe, something about a 30 year warranty") was 300

 

Given that it is a 14 year old car spending that much to repair bumper cover doesn't seem reasonable. I'd take it to a used car lot touch up guy and pay him $200 to touch it up. Call a large high end local used car lot and ask for the phone number of the paint and body touch up guy they use. These touch up guys are mobile, working out of a truck or van, they can use a heat gun to smooth out the bumper cover dent/crease and then airbrush the touch up paint on it. Repair won't be factory perfect but it will likely to almost invisible at 6 feet away.

Unless this is a mint condition show car spending more than $800 on a repair seems silly. I'd talk to your friend and see if he will accept an inexpensive 90% repair that you pay for plus another maybe $200-300 cash as extra compensation.

btw - if you get the car repaired with insurance claim it will likely show on carfax as an accident.

 

True on the car fax part if U pay cash no insurance no car fax. I tried to talk the adjuster out of a recent carfax on my highlander. Then I said OK now it has deminished value and I want compensation. Solid NO on both ends. I got a rear bumper shipped Greyhound for 399.00 off e bay had 6 months to pay to boot. Ya have to look at em closely this one was perfect and was wrapped up well.

 

Is that something your friend can't live with, provided there isn't any damage structurally/functionally? As mentioned, these are relatively old cars, at best, 11+ y.o. $2k doesn't seem to be worth it for something cosmetic.

Let me provide an example when I was 19. I got an Escort radar detector that fell off a truck for $10. I loaned it to a friend, and it somehow fell off a truck again. So he paid me $10. I said whoa, you gotta pay me $239 so I can get a new one. He said I'm not going to do that, you only paid $10 for it. In college, our camp was divided, 1/2 said $10, half said $239. It was like Seinfeld and that parking episode where the guy parked head first.

That friend is now a partner at one of the prestigious law firms, and I'm an ordinary Joe, and I see the logic in the $10. If you were to pay $2,000, it would be similar to me getting $239 way back when, and really doesn't make a lot of sense....my .02

 

This is all very helpful thank you so so much

 

I am an ordinary Joe also. Jesus was a carpenter but I get your point!