okay, here's the deal, ordered JDM front end conversion, carbon fiber hood, cwestin bumper for my ITR from David at R&D, thanks David., took it to the shop, and the estimate from the way it stands now, the SHOP told me in the 3K$ range, now i had an estimate awhile back to replace stock lip, 1 fender, hood, rim, bumper, and miscelanous parts and painting was 3800,
now i bought a new rim myself. order the kit, bumper, hood, so basically, i'm paying 3000K$ for paint, install, and whatever work thats getting done for wiring and doing the radiator support. I guess i'll have to pay the money, but i'm going to call my uncle who's a lawyer and see what he says. maybe call BBB, i was thinking possibly 2K$ at the most...

Before i get riled up, does this seem right? This guy and his shop does all of acura's work, and does a awesome job, i seen a cl type s that was totally fucked up rear end, and he showed it to me yesterday, and that thing is Emmaculate, looks like it did when it was in the showroom, and i'm particular, i checked every inch of that car, in the trunk, under the trunk mats, under the rear of the car, couldn't not tell anything was bent back or not stock looking.... so i just need to know if this is crazy.


[Modified by Double 06, 7:19 PM 10/5/2001]

 

well that is a lot... hmmm.
I paid $4800 for front end work from a minor collision, almost all of what would constitute a jdm conversion in parts, labor and paint.
here is some info for you...
a rim is in there, and tire..... $400.
bought a cf hood thru R&D as well, saved some loot.
a cf hood saved me $200 in paint too.
bought headlights myself used.
$400 was painting my new ITR lip and rustwork on a fender.

I think $3800 is a total rip off... especially since you have the parts.
minus the BS I added to reach $4800... I say $4000 including the oem replacement parts...
and that is 60% of the cost easily... so it should be less than $2500, if not much less since you will save say $200 on not painting a cf hood.

good luck bro, if you need my collision receipts for any comparison, le tme knwo I can fax them to you if you need em.,
just IM me or email me.



[Modified by owen_the_soyboy, 10:30 PM 10/5/2001]

 

I'd expect about that much for GOOD serious body work. I'm in NY, don't know if that plays a role in it but, I feel you get what you pay for! You seem to want the BEST so why aren't you willing to pay for it?

Another angle on it is, you saw some of his work and were impressed with it right? Well why would you not want to pay a professional the right price for a professional job?

I'm VERY curious to hear other peoples opinions and answers in regards to this? Especially maybe a professional Autobody guy. And also those who have had the JDM conversion done?

Bottom line Again: " You get what you pay for!" You want awesome flawless work? Then pay it without thinking twice. You want to hem and haw about it and nit pick prices then go to MAACO and be satisifed. I see this sh*t everyday, Sorry if I ranted but you get my drift I'm sure.

A.

PS don't get me wrong it might be high where you are or for your limits but you could also get a different quote if you wanted. I've had dealership body work done for free and it was the best I've seen. I've also seen some inhouse dealership work that SUCKED. I also recently met an awesome body and paint guy that I would expect to pay probably that much too, for that work and, after seeing his work would feel comfortable feeding his family for a couple of weeks if he did what he does sooo well. IMHO.


[Modified by 1GreyTeg, 7:47 PM 10/5/2001]

 

With the exception of the minor cutting and welding work of changing the radiator support, the JDM front end should be a bolt on affair. From there it only needs to be prepped and painted. That is not what I would call serious body work.

Now if there is some kind of frame damage involved $3,000 is probably appropriate, but if there is no damage to repair I think it's a ripoff.

 

What is their labour rate?

 

for all the work done for my jdm conversion i paid 1200.00 thats it and i took it back cuz the paint wasnt right and they fixed it for free...is that just for the install or the whole kit and install?

 

no there is no serious work at all, basically all that happened, is i have a dented hood and drivers fender.

I bought the kit myself, complete JDM metal, cwestin bumper, carbon hood.

Now when i took it to him for an estimate the first time, it was 3800K$, now that including a new hood, fender, wheel, bumper, lip and install, and paint.

Now if i do the math since i've bought all that myself, i c

400$ hood
250+ fender?
400 rim
200 bumper
300+ lip
about 1550$ take away from 3800$ = 2250
take away roughly 150 for not having to paint the hood, $2100

now lets add back the 150 for painting the other fender thats going to need painted now. 2250, plus electrical work, wiring markers, lights, radiator support that will need cut and welded on $? maybe 3000K is right, or close, i haven't actually seen the estimate for the new one, but i will tuesday or so, then i'll find out what actually is going on, i'm not really bitching, but i really expect low 2grand. maybe me and him can work something out. i was just there the other day, and he was really busy, and he said something about 3grand or higher, . then i talked to another dude around here that had the same thing done, except it was a factory jdm bumper, and factor hood, and he paid close to 3K, and he hit a deer, and had to have some frame work done, I don't.....

I'll pay the money ofcourse, but i just wanted to here your guys thoughts.

this car is killin my wallet, almost god, don't even wanna say it, 8thousand, jdm conversion, drag III, thermal, and i haven't even got the hondata yet, thats another 1500....

GuYs and there toys only live once i guess


[Modified by Double 06, 1:52 PM 10/6/2001]

 

Jason,
What it sounds like is they are still charging you for the parts. Do you have the original quote? Call me tuesday.

 

Install + paint + wiring charges should only come to between 1200-1500, That Body Shop must be out of their minds.

 

thats what i'm saying, me and him need to talk next week. i'll call you david, by the way they have the hood now too, so i have everything. Is there going to be Honda emblems in those boxes?, they still haven't opened anything but the bumper and hood, so hopefully, everything is there.... and undamaged.

 

Just about right behind you, but instead of the JDM front end I need more wheels.
P.S. Had a nice run with a turbo Supra coming back on 270.


[Modified by zygspeed, 11:12 AM 10/7/2001]


[Modified by zygspeed, 11:19 AM 10/7/2001]

 

The body shop that did my car also charged me 3K, but that included shaving the emblems, straightening all the panels and re-painting the entire car. This was also a high-end shop.

Mike