I'm on the same page. I found another place to park that should hopefully be much safer. Not directly on the greenbelt, but not too far away. I will probably keep looking for good spots too.

 

Yeah, it's hard to see from the pictures, but some of the long scratch touches bare metal. Body shop is going to paint both driver side doors and the rear of the car stretching up over the doors next to the removable strip--basically whole panels up to whatever is the first seam. Deductible is only $100, but I have no idea what my rates are going to do. Long-term client with multiple vehicles, home coverage, auxiliary policies, etc.; so hopefully they won't jack 'em too bad. Whatever it turns out to be, I'm sure it's nothing compared to our oldest turning 16 next year and learning to drive!

 

Before you commit to the State Farm body shop (remember, they recommend the lowest bidders), go to your Lexus dealer and ask who they use for their body repairs.

 

I was going to say if you can really feel the scratch with a fingernail then its not fixable by wet sanding and buffing. But then you said it's down to metal.

 

Sorry to hear about your car, OP. Dang punks. I have front and rear dash cams and honestly don't think it would have caught the person in the act. The dash cams will not capture anything happening at the doors. The best you'll get is video of the person coming up to the car and walking away from the car. You would literally need a 4-cam system for true 360-degree protection. Wish I could integrate cameras into the B-pillar as well as some Teslas (see below). Best of luck on the repair.

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't read FunFact's post correctly. Did not catch that FunFact meant to install the rear-facing camera directly behind the front-facing camera.

 

Never use State Farm's recommended shop. I'd suggest steering clear of that particular company. Find an independent reputable shop that answers to you, not your insurer. Not sure how many miles you have but it could be a total.

 

Find and use a body shop that does it right. And by right, I mean sanding and correcting back to the proper paint depth. Read this. It matters.

http://www.elcometerusa.com/Second-H...n-Repairs.html

 

OMG now I have a whole new set of worries! I'm already worried about them taking apart my doors and such. As a longtime diy stereo installer I know how how rattles and creaks can come from not paying attention to the details in the doors. Not to mention my fears of whether the new paint truly matches the old paint after 5 years. My old Acura was rear-ended many years ago, and the repair was simply amazing. Or it was until it was 6-8 years old and the new bumper paint cracked and changed color slightly. I'm praying the BASF Glasurit posters and brochures in the lobby of the body shop are a good sign...

 

Find a good local PDR place. They will do that for around $200 per panel. Had my pax door done after being keyed - turned out great.

I ever find somebody doing that Imma go medieval on his ***!

 

Huh??? How do you get scratches out with PDR?

 

Yeah PDR won't do anything for this damage

 

A good PDR place also does paint correction, son. Ask around!

 

 

Luckily, the car is insured so the cost isn't really an issue; I just have to pay my deductible. Car is scheduled to be dropped off second week of April.

In the meantime I put a charger on the battery in my old Acura TL and she fired right up! Figure I'll drive that instead of a rental when the LS is in the shop.