Car Body Repair: Costs & Processing

The body of your car is what sometimes suffers the most. Wind and weather, sun, dust, hail and falling rocks take their toll on the outer shell of your car every day. And pretty much everyone has had one or the other bump in parking. Maybe even a real collision with another car or a garden wall. In the best-case scenario, there is "only" damage to the paintwork on the car. With bad luck, the car has to go to the workshop. But by no means all of them specialize in repairing scratches, dents or even cracks in the body. We will show you what is important when choosing the right body shop.

Body Damage: What Now?

The body is the outer shell of your car. Depending on the type of car, it sometimes consists of more, sometimes fewer parts. But these are all connected to the basic structure of the car.

Some examples:

• Vehicle frame
• Tail fairing
• Front fairing, which also includes the hood
• Fender
• Side walls including the car doors
• Bumper
• Car spoilers
• A, B and C pillars
• Car roof
• Tailgate

 

So you see: there are a lot of parts that can break or be damaged.

The bodywork is most frequently hit after a rear-end collision. Then front or rear damage can hardly be avoided.

Side damage to the body can also occur when parking and exiting in a tight parking space. This is "only" minor damage to the car, but if you don't have it repaired as quickly as possible, it can become a real problem.

However, it is also possible for the car to be damaged without it being in motion. Parking the car under a tree can be enough to cause damage to the body. Falling branches or fruits can damage the paintwork or the bodywork.

In addition, minor damage can occur, for example, on car rims, but this is usually less serious. Accordingly, they can also be repaired more easily. That happens in no time at all, for example if you hit a curb while parking.

In any case, it is important to have the car regularly inspected by qualified personnel in order to identify and repair damage in good time. In this way you prevent repairs that are much more expensive afterwards.

Workshop or DIY: where to go for body repairs?

For example, if there is accidental damage to the body, it depends on the severity of the "injury". If the doors, fenders, bonnet or bumper are only slightly damaged, you can lend a hand yourself. Slight dents can be “pulled out” quickly with a little practice. After that, the affected areas often have to be filled and repainted. Otherwise there is a risk of rust forming through the fine cracks in the paint.

It is better to have major damage repaired in a car workshop or a special body shop. It is often cheaper and, above all, faster if entire body parts are simply replaced. With a little skill and know-how, however, you can certainly carry out certain repairs on your car yourself. For one or the other you need special tools. But as a practiced mechanic you can certainly find that in the garage.

Some of the repairs that you can do yourself – not just on the bodywork – include:

Scratches in the paint: If you find small paint damage caused by stone chipping or scratches in your body, you can tackle it yourself. The easiest way is with touch-up paint, for example with special touch-up sticks. You can use it to remove rust and seal the damaged area in the right color at the same time. If you are really skilled, you can even repair larger paint damage yourself with the spray can. However, caution is called for with special paint finishes such as metallic paint.

• Tire change: With a few basic skills, you can change from summer to winter tires and vice versa yourself. The best way to do this is with a torque wrench. And if the steering wheel vibrates after the change, the tires have to be balanced in the workshop.
• Changing the oil: In theory it's child's play - in practice it's not that easy! You will need a lift to do this. You also have to be sure which special oil your car may need. Of course, the waste oil must also be disposed of professionally. And remember: Fresh engine oil also needs a fresh oil filter!
• Replacing the air filter: Clean air filters make your car more economical and environmentally friendly. If you change the air filter, also remember that depending on the model, there is a second one for the interior air. It also wants to be replaced every now and then.
• Change spark plugs: Depending on the car model, you should replace the old spark plugs with new ones after about 40,000 kilometers. With a little skill and a so-called candle key, this is not a real problem. What you absolutely must not do during this time: Switch on the ignition! The voltage that the car builds up can be life-threatening!
• Bulbs: Normal indicator or parking light bulbs can be changed relatively easily. However, it is then advisable to have the headlight setting checked again in the workshop. But if your car has a xenon light, you should stay away from it. Electrical voltages of up to 50,000 volts occur here!

You should definitely leave other work on the body or your car itself to the professionals in the garage.

These include, for example:

• Belts: Ancillary units such as generators, power steering pumps or air conditioning compressors are driven by flat belts in modern cars. These have an elaborate and complicated guide, so that it is best for specialists to get to work here. Changing the timing belt should also not be done on your own. If the camshafts are not correctly aligned in the basic setting or if you make a mistake when tensioning the belt, this can irrevocably destroy your engine.
• Exhaust: Nothing works here without a lifting platform! Stuck clamps, rust and bulky parts will still make your life unnecessarily difficult.
• Brakes, steering, wheel suspension: You should definitely leave these vital functions of your vehicle in expert hands without exception. The mechanics in the workshop are trained for this and know exactly what needs to be considered in these sensitive areas.
• Welding work: If you find spots of rust on the body of your car – it is best not to start tinkering with it yourself. In the end, you can do more damage with a welder than you can ever undo.

How much does a body repair cost?

Repairing body damage can be a complex process. The price you have to pay is influenced by many factors.

For example, the cost varies depending on which part of the vehicle is affected and how severe the damage is. But the materials from which the body is made and the quality of the paint and spare parts used also play a role.

In addition, the complexity of the repair method affects the price. Every garage has its own approach to repairing bodywork damage, and there are different methods depending on the type of vehicle.

Ultimately, it is important to find a workshop that will do quality work at a reasonable price. If you are unsure, get a cost estimate in advance.