cost to paint a fender

[dirtwarrior]

The fender on my Mustang needs to be painted. A small dent but it cracked the paint. The insurance allowed about 400$. I think this amount to small. Is it? The dent is above the wheel opening and smaller than a baseball

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[Dave2013M3]

The fender on my Mustang needs to be painted. A small dent but it cracked the paint. The insurance allowed about 400$. I think this amount to small. Is it? The dent is above the wheel opening and smaller than a baseball

Take a photo...a lot of times you can't paint just the fender. You have to blend it over to the other panels.

 

[55Tele]

Roughly $1000.00……..Is the $400 net after your deductible? Anymore these days any work involving even minimum paintwork is going to be at or North of $1K…….

 

[Firsttexan]

Your insurance is low balling you.

Go to two reputable Independent shops and get a proper estimate. Make sure those shops work with your brand of insurance.

I have never seen the top insurers pulling low ball stuff.

They will work with the adjuster to get it right. Aluminum is no big deal now days.

These things are known by both parties and are factored in.

I have 2 shops I use and send my customers to. Very good and the best. Very good would be in the $600 range.

The best would be around $1000. Depending on the panel,color and where the ding is on the panel.

They usually don't have to blend into other panels on base clear coats. They will repair the area and color the repaired area and clear the whole panel. With proper color matching the repair will be flawless.

That's in a large City and assuming the repairmen are masters at their job.

Materials and labor costs are rising fast. It will only go up. Skilled labor is declining fast. Especially on classics.

 

[The Demon]

Roughly $1000.00……..Is the $400 net after your deductible? Anymore these days any work involving even minimum paintwork is going to be at or North of $1K…….

The rule of thumb in my experience is break the car into three sections per side. Consider it $1000 per panel front, door and rear and how many areas have been hit or damaged it is $1000 $2000 $3000. And go from there, front end hood and trunk are different.

 

[55Tele]

I would agree with comments above……I’d also qualify that since the fender is aluminum, that may cause a slightly higher repair cost…….

 

[Firsttexan]

I would agree with that……I’m should also qualify that since the fender is aluminum, that may be slightly higher repair cost…….

Not really. Some shops may make you think that.

 

[55Tele]

Not really. Some shops may make you think that.

Well if they upcharge for it, then it is higher cost….

 

[Firsttexan]

Well if they upcharge for it, then it is higher cost….

OK

 

[55Tele]

There are special processes and materials involved. I spent 34 years at PPG……

 

[Firsttexan]

There are special processes and materials involved. I spent 34 years at PPG……

Yes, I understand that. I have spent 40+ yrs in the restoration business. I also understand the estimate process and if they are doing a mustang insurance estimate, they know the fender is aluminum and that's already factored into the estimate. So it's non issue IMO. Body shops repair aluminum everyday now . "Special process" doesn't translate to any higher cost over steel in my experience.

Aluminum is brittle. If it requires any significant work they just replace the whole panel. Mustang front fenders are cheap and small.

Now fiberglass on the other hand.

 

[55Tele]

Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree……a dent repair on steel fender is gonna be roughly a grand….its gonna be slightly more on a S550 Mustang. There are different (maybe not special anymore) fillers that should be used and special care must be taken to prevent contamination of the bare aluminum surface with anything containing iron…..if that is not done and iron gets on the surface (from the air in a body shop) , it sets up a galvanic reaction and the paint and or filler will not have good adhesion…it will eventually lift…..

If your guys aren’t doing that down in Texas then good luck…..

 

[Firsttexan]

Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree……a dent repair on steel fender is gonna be roughly a grand….its gonna be slightly more on a S550 Mustang. There are different (maybe not special anymore) fillers that should be used and special care must be taken to prevent contamination of the bare aluminum surface with anything containing iron…..if that is not done and iron gets on the surface (from the air in a body shop) , it sets up a galvanic reaction and the paint and or filler will not have good adhesion…it will eventually lift…..

If your guys aren’t doing that down in Texas then good luck…..

So what. Any qualified bodyman knows that and applies it. And that is written into the estimate.

The price between the 2 has been negligible. In my experience.

I did this back in 2015. It won People's Choice at Pebble Beach in 2018

 

[55Tele]

So what. Any qualified bodyman knows that and applies it. And that is written into the estimate.


You seem to be arguing with yourself

Any qualified bodyman knows it and applies it? Certainly…….Will it cost more? Certainly……What is your point? Yes, it will be in the estimate…

My point is that at least here in Chicago, it will cost more to repair an aluminum fender as apposed to steel…..

 

[Firsttexan]

Any qualified bodyman knows it and applies it? Certainly…….Will it cost more? Certainly……What is your point?

I said it but it went over your head.

"The price between the 2 has been negligible. In my experience."

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