[fine69]

My parked swift (white) was hit in the office parking today. (This isn't even the right emoticon, I feel like crying). The right fender has bent inside and the bumper has a long scratch and dent (somewhat, not sure). Paint has come out from both the areas. The bumper also seems to have more gap now from the fender because of the hit.




1. Would it be wise to claim insurance and get the bumper repainted and fender repaired/replaced or should I get the repair and paintjob done without reporting in order to save on No Claim Bonus?

2. I think I can go to Pandit & Co. for the repair/repaint job but still if one can share an estimate percentage of how much more they charge than the dealer's paintjob? As in, 20%, 30% or 40% more?

3. What is the approx cost for such a repair and paintjob if done by M.A.S.S.?

4. Since the bumper also has a dent (slightly) is it repairable or do I have to get it replaced?

5. Is it possible to just get bumper repaired and painted partially? I know it'd look odd but maybe after a few days (with all the tar and road dirt sticking on it) it might look in line with the rest of the color? Same question for fender, would it be repainting for the damaged area only or the entire fender?

Mods: I couldn't really figure out which section to post it in so request you to please move it if its not appropriate here.

[theMAG]

For body work, a professional body shop is always a better idea than the MASS.

[bhp_maniac]

Originally Posted by fine69

My parked swift (white) was hit in the office parking today. (This isn't even the right emoticon, I feel like crying). The right fender has bent inside and the bumper has a long scratch and dent (somewhat, not sure). Paint has come out from both the areas. The bumper also seems to have more gap now from the fender because of the hit.

Attachment 461141
Attachment 461142

1. Would it be wise to claim insurance and get the bumper repainted and fender repaired/replaced or should I get the repair and paintjob done without reporting in order to save on No Claim Bonus?

2. I think I can go to Pandit & Co. for the repair/repaint job but still if one can share an estimate percentage of how much more they charge than the dealer's paintjob? As in, 20%, 30% or 40% more?

3. What is the approx cost for such a repair and paintjob if done by M.A.S.S.?

4. Since the bumper also has a dent (slightly) is it repairable or do I have to get it replaced?

5. Is it possible to just get bumper repaired and painted partially? I know it'd look odd but maybe after a few days (with all the tar and road dirt sticking on it) it might look in line with the rest of the color? Same question for fender, would it be repainting for the damaged area only or the entire fender?

Mods: I couldn't really figure out which section to post it in so request you to please move it if its not appropriate here.

Very sad to see such a thing happening to your baby. Don't worry about color matching. Most A.S.S body shops does it in a very professional way. Bumper damage is not too much IMHO. But the fender needs a complete restoration. My opinion is to go for A.S.S and go for a claim if the total amount comes around 8K or more.

[fine69]

Originally Posted by bhp_maniac

My opinion is to go for A.S.S and go for a claim if the total amount comes around 8K or more.

8k???!!!!!!!!!!! Really? Is it just the repair and repaint cost or replacing fender/bumper?

[tsk13]

Vikram, going by the pics the damage isn't worth taking the car to someone like Pandit & Co. for paintwork. Try Dry Denting, many people there in Sujan Singh Park (Khan Market) who can get the job done.

[nirmaljusdoit]

1. Would it be wise to claim insurance and get the bumper repainted and fender repaired/replaced or should I get the repair and paintjob done without reporting in order to save on No Claim Bonus?

A) Entirely your choice. The dent is quite shallow, can be easily repaired to new.

2. I think I can go to Pandit & Co. for the repair/repaint job but still if one can share an estimate percentage of how much more they charge than the dealer's paintjob? As in, 20%, 30% or 40% more?

A) Not aware of the quality of Pandit & Co. Why should they charge more than the dealer ? IMO, totally unjustified, considering their lower overheads. They should be atleast 20% lower than the A.S.S.

3. What is the approx cost for such a repair and paintjob if done by M.A.S.S.?

A) Approximately 3,500 ~ 4,000 for the whole fender. Bumper similar price range. Around 1,000 for the spot repair.

4. Since the bumper also has a dent (slightly) is it repairable or do I have to get it replaced?

A) Can be very easily heated & repaired, clips can be easily fixed back as long as they arent broken.

5. Is it possible to just get bumper repaired and painted partially? I know it'd look odd but maybe after a few days (with all the tar and road dirt sticking on it) it might look in line with the rest of the color? Same question for fender, would it be repainting for the damaged area only or the entire fender?

A) You are lucky with white. its a color which hides imperfections beautifully. You can get away with just doing a spot painting as the are dented is small. However, get it done at the A.S. S where you get your car serviced. If you know the service head, speak to him personally.

I would stay far away from local paint booths, they will give you all types of assurances & most probably end up doing a shoddy job. They will make you run around & the price difference will not be worth it.

In my experience, penny wise pound foolish is the paint job at local paint booths.

You have Maruti's excellent customer service, in case of any issues, you can turn to them for assistance too !

[SS-Traveller]

LOL... my Swift is collecting dents and scratches until I can find the time to dump it with my mechanic for a few days and let him do up everything (maybe over the Christmas-New Year period). The balloon mudguards are suckers for picking up scratches and dents, and the rear bumper got hit again today, by an idiot Indica cab-driver. Also got gently scraped by overflowing sugarcane on a bullock cart last week. A disintegrating tyre bit off a little of the rear bumper and mudguard core too.







Mercifully the Scorpio's tow ball on the rear bumper keeps some of the crazy cab drivers away, though I picked up a dab of white paint on it over the weekend when a radio cab kissed me right there! NH58 teaches one with live examples about driving safely, one dent at a time.

Edit: Hope the state of my Swift makes you feel better... And no, I don't bother going to the dealer's workshop for denting/painting - I get an admirable quality of work from my FNG at less than half the price.

[tsk13]

Fine69, I just noticed that your Rims need a proper paint-job since Paint Chipping is visible. Who did the paint-job on rims?

[pramodkumar]

This can be buffed, take it to mass during your routine service and ask them to apply rubbing compound and buff it up, they will charge you 1 rupee. Getting the whole bumper/fendor painted for these small things will make you literally live with the paint shop guys especially in delhi. Just ignore small dings. BTW my paint shop guy charges me 1500(i am a regular) per pannel, he does all this in dupont.


Pramod

[khoj]

My white Swift zxi had a similar dent (no scratch) on almost the same spot. Got it done from SST's recommended mechanic for 500 bucks, there were few scratches on the front and rear bumper too which were touched up (kalam / hand job) gratis by Maruti Service Masters at Okhla when the car was left with them for two days for rectification of a problem with the rack and pinion motor.

Pandit and company do an excellent job and so do Multan Motors. Nonetheless for such a small dent it is not worth footing their bills with or without insurance claims and bearing their usual nakhra regarding the time taken etc. Otherwise for bigger dents/scratches both of them do a far superior job than any company A.S.S. body shop across the board. Their charges are in line with what a M.A.S.S. body shop would charge for any given body panel. A cousin of mine gets his cars / SUVs bodywork done at Pandits for a fraction of the cost compared to what the body shop of an A.S.S. for the big 3 Germans would charge him.

[fine69]

@nirmaljusdoit: Thanks for the comprehensive answer, I hope I can get the paintjob done for only for the damaged parts.

Originally Posted by tsk13

Try Dry Denting, many people there in Sujan Singh Park (Khan Market) who can get the job done.

I thought of dry denting but can't really live without getting a paintjob done too.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Hope the state of my Swift makes you feel better... And no, I don't bother going to the dealer's workshop for denting/painting - I get an admirable quality of work from my FNG at less than half the price.

It actually does make me feel a little better, thanks. FNG? Can you recommend somebody I can go to?

Originally Posted by tsk13

Fine69, I just noticed that your Rims need a proper paint-job since Paint Chipping is visible. Who did the paint-job on rims?

Some guy in Kotla (near Def Col, that's where I stay). I got the ORVMs and Door handles painted white along with rims blackened but the paintjob was just not worth the money spent (2k for all).

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

BTW my paint shop guy charges me 1500(i am a regular) per pannel, he does all this in dupont.

Where at?

Originally Posted by khoj

My white Swift zxi had a similar dent (no scratch) on almost the same spot. Got it done from SST's recommended mechanic for 500 bucks, there were few scratches on the front and rear bumper too which were touched up (kalam / hand job) gratis by Maruti Service Masters at Okhla when the car was left with them for two days for rectification of a problem with the rack and pinion motor.

I usually go to Kumar Automobiles in Okhla, not sure if you've heard of them. Still I think I can get the denting part rectified from SST's recommended mechanic too (once I know who & where he is). Can the same guy do the paintjob as well?

[bhp_maniac]

Originally Posted by fine69

8k???!!!!!!!!!!! Really? Is it just the repair and repaint cost or replacing fender/bumper?

No need to scream man I was just saying a cut off threshold which will be reasonable for claiming or not. I am not saying that the repair will cost more than 8K

[khoj]

Originally Posted by fine69

I usually go to Kumar Automobiles in Okhla, not sure if you've heard of them. Still I think I can get the denting part rectified from SST's recommended mechanic too (once I know who & where he is). Can the same guy do the paintjob as well?

Yes have passed by Kumars a few times on my way to MSM but never used them. Saw your pm and while I am satisfied with the denting job done by Jayanto (actually he took the car to a denter in Sant nagar) I cannot comment on the painting bit as the job did not involve the same.

[fine69]

Originally Posted by khoj

Yes have passed by Kumars a few times on my way to MSM but never used them. Saw your pm and while I am satisfied with the denting job done by Jayanto (actually he took the car to a denter in Sant nagar) I cannot comment on the painting bit as the job did not involve the same.

The reason I go to Kumar is because he lets me be with my car during the service, allows me to tell his guys on how I want the 5 tyre rotation to be done and doesn't mind if I ask him not to wash the car (enough swirls already) but clean the underbody and engine bay. I could try MSM but not sure how they would reach to such things?

I just realized that Kumar's also has a separate place (about 30-40 mtrs ahead of his service station) dedicated to denting/painting, its a huge hall and one of the brothers supervises that. I could try them also as I have to get my car serviced this saturday so I might as well get the dent fixed.

[khoj]

Well MSM will not let you into the service area and as for getting things done your way depends on the SA you get when the job card is opened. Some of them note down the minutest of instructions and ensure that things are carried out per the same. Though for a majority of them well the less said the better. As for washing all of them are more than happy to not wash the car and touch the interiors, given the heavy rush of car that they get on a daily basis. They run 3 shifts over the weekends to cater to the large number of vehicles that come in. Anyhow even I get only the under body and the engine bay washed.

Since you are comfortable with Kumar and the repair does involve painting, getting the job done their would be better. I trust they would do spot painting instead of spraying the entire fender, as that would make the fender stand out compared to the other panels.