Guys,

I thought this forum would have some good recommendations for local paint repairers, but I could not find any. Hence this thread so we can accumulate some good experiences.

Please post up your recommendations.

I will start off by saying that while I was reversing into an undercover car park bay, I was ignoring the technology in the car as I could not see and obstruction in the rear view mirrors. Shortly after, I heard a terrible sound of paint and plastic grinding into concrete. Well, the heart sank and I pulled gently forward, stopped, got out and had a look. I had managed to catch the support concrete that was freshly sprayed in the same colour as the rear wall. Needless to say, it did not show up in the rear view mirror due to the dim light and blending colours. Lesson learned, trust the tech!

Well I was looking for a panel shop on the way home and happened to spot one in Swan Street, Richmond, so I stopped to get their assessment. What looked to me to need a rub, fill and respray turned out to be no more than a mild cut and polish and within ten minutes, I was sent on my way. They refused any offer of payment and suggested if I ever need some real panel work do remember them.

So, remember them I shall and post up this recommendation:


Richmond Panels are the the number 1 smash repair business in the Richmond and Burnley areas. Call 9428 3016 for a free quote.
5.0 star rating from 13 Google reviews, and I will add to that!
500 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
(03) 9428 3016 and ask for Ali. Mention the Mark and the Jag they buffed up for free and they'll know it was me who sent you.

So please send forth your recommendations for Panel and Dent repairs.

And fess up about what you have done to your pride and joy and stop blaming the missus or shopping centre car parks!

 

Thanks for the information

In the past I have had good experiences with this guy in South Melbourne, who specialised in small repairs, and does a lot of work on high end cars.

Dentfix - Automotive paint and dent repairs - Prestige Car Specialist

 

I see a lot of Jags, Land Rovers and other prestige Marques at Corso Body Works in Southbank, just near my office. I have not used them personally, but I walk past their shop everyday day and they look like they do good work.

Corso Body Works

 

I worked in close association with this trade for a few years in the mid 2000's, not in repairs directly, but in business related matters. These are some of the things I encountered:

Typically, insurer accredited shops are set up to churn out volume work for low unit prices (often ridiculously low), mostly on everyday cars. Sadly that formula doesn't make quality a priority - stands to reason. Some of the output standards I've seen would make you cry. So "Insurer Recommended Repairer" doesn't guarantee that good things happen.

I would always steer towards smaller independents who do a higher quota of cash/private work and/or a shop that's used/recommended by a prestige dealer - they are more used to fussy owners. It's always a gamble, but you can generally tell by what they are working on. Get to a place that has Jags, Mercs, Beemers, Porsche, L.Rover etc. in the workshop. Many euro models have a higher proportion of alloy and high strength steel build structures, which your average mum & dad shop may compromise if skills are lacking. And you don't want that.

If you're getting a repair done under insurance claim, check out the shop they allocate your car to and make a pest of yourself. The squeaky gate usually gets more attention. Car insurers (especially the BIG ones), are a bolshie lot and will push you around the same as they push repairers around, which means forking out the minimum to fix your car, if at all. Their "lifetime" repair guarantees (which actually means the repairer, not the insurer, bears all the cost) are no comfort; watch out for the loopholes and limitations.

Finally beware of those that hide the workshop from customers on the grounds of "health & safety". Good operators with nothing to hide will either have a transparent wall so you can see the work going on, or even let you into the workshop (within reason) to set themselves apart from the cowboys.

Having said all that, I can't recommend anyone in particular at present because I haven't needed a repairer in a good while (thank goodness!) and would only mention one if I had first hand experience with them.

 

Thanks for that contribution Jagent, it will be a very useful guide for us.