PLmatt91

Hey H-T, I recently got into an accident and I went to a body shop for an estimate regarding the parts they were going to replace. They are buying an after market radiator, bar, a hood, fender and bumper. They told me the after market pieces are still good, they might not not align the best but I'm wondering if any one else has gone with this decision? I am told the whole fix is about two grand and I am wondering whether or not the ' cheap ' parts will be noticeable. I am paying for the whole fix out of my own pocket and I'm a college student. I love my car lol and I don't want the fix to come out like crap so I'm a little concerned. Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated, thanks H-T,

-Matt

Pothole987

alot of aftermarket pieces are identical to OEM. some gaps may be wider/smaller, but don't forget the front end may be a little missaligned for lines because of the accident. Uhh... i noticed you don't add headlights to the list?

PLmatt91

Yea I have head lights also. The shop said they would do their best (and this shop has over 40 or 50 years of experience) And since I don't have enough money to blend the paint (My car is vsm) They said that they would just paint it the factory color, but again would this be very noticeable with out a blend??

precisionsc54

Go factory for the headlights or you are going to run into probs with them leaking. It happens all the time before ppl start jumping on me about this not being true saying I had a set that didnt leak blah blah blah. Point is there junk. If you dont blend back into the doors it will be 100 noticable.

relicwelding

pay the money now or spend the next year explaining to people why your car looks weird.

swappedcx

right.....if your paying then pick whatever you want. When it comes to the insurance company and your beloved 2006, 07, 08 even 09's you will be surprised how cheap insurance companies are. Unless you specifically have a OEM policy on your insurance, if you take your "like new" damaged 07 car into a body shop the insurance company will probably opt for aftermarket or LKQ (used) parts. Nationwide being one company who loves to do this. If the part is available aftermarket or used...that's prob what your getting regardless of how new the vehicle is.

If people only knew how much insurance companies suck to "work" for they would be surprised.

edit: with panel painting, you are going to see what parts were painted and what are original

JSPECSIR

if they are aftermarket i would make sure they are capa certified parts. and i would still want the bumper and headlights to be oem honda parts.

mesach0

i agree with jspecsir, if you are paying for it out your own pocket. also ask what brand of paint the shop will be using and what kind of warranty you will get for the paint. if you don't feel comfortable with the quote, get a second opinion at another shop.

v8killaz

get oem spend more or just buy used parts from junkyard and such

DONT buy aftermarket junk

they will not fit as good as oem, if they do you may still find the parts made of some shitty plastic and crack in the cold(happened to me), will wear more

always pay more and go oem honda

precisionsc54

I know from experience. I have used all diff brands of aftermarket parts on hondas. Some fit good some fit horrible. The plastic the bumpers are made of is dif and not as flexible. The fit and finish is lacking. The headlights suck they are hard to aim, yellow fast and become brittle. The tabs snap off etc. I know OEM is considerably more but you get what u pay for. The primer that comes on these parts is so thing is rediculous. You can literally scratch it off with your nail. If a customer really want them I will do it but if not its OEM all day.

97ej6dx

http://www.hondapartsunlimited.com/i...STRUCTURE%20(1)

Check these prices show them to the shop and these are all OE parts

Spawne32

iTrader: (3)

most aftermarket parts are fine, it all depends how dedicated the shop is to their work, ive seen shops get aftermarket parts in that were all ****ed up, and they just send them back and buy the OEM parts. A reputable shop wont let your car leave looking like ****, regardless of whether they use aftermarket or OEM.

v8killaz

x2
if a place wants to keep a good rep they will do good work
the place around my house does good work, expensive but good

cherroneballs

That body shop pry is gonna have 30 in the fender 60 in the radiator 40 in the bar and 60 in the hood, 25 in a quart of paint and 25 in a quart of clear, and at most 6 hrs labor, too bad you weren't around south bend I'd gladly cut there 2000 in half for you, and still put 700 in my pocket for 6 hrs on a saturday. I know what they pay cuz I have accounts all over. Prices would vary a little, considering year, make, model and color, but thats the prices I paid for my 00 civic hatch yellow. and I don't have 40 yrs but I do have 10 yrs experience painting 250,000 - 500,000 dollar r.v.'s. So do my paint jobs look like a million dollars, well pretty dam close, lol. but anyway, yeah the replacement parts should be good, and yeah I'd go with a blend,