Expert: William Forster - 3/7/2009

Question
I need to replace the front bumper cover on my 2006 BMW 330i. I have a high deductible so I will be paying 100% of the cost.  I've been quoted @ $1000 by a couple of shops, but we all know the price would be lower if they had to negotiate with the insurer.  How much can I expect to negotiate off the price?  10-20%?  Can I shave the total no. of hours?  Or is it more effective just to make an offer?

Answer
Get 3 estimates, have the shop with the lowest estimate fix it. There isn't enough profit in a bumper cover job to warrant giving you a deal. Especially when your insurance deductible is so high. High ins. deductibles are a calculated risk- a gamble, if you will. You just lost that gamble, and we body shop professionals know you just lost that gamble. You just saved a bunch of money on your car insurance- but now, all that savings is going to go away. Sorry, happens to people who CAN'T afford luxury sedans, also. Don't insult a body shop with demands of a discount. You obviously have no idea how the estimating and insurance process work- the insurance company doesn't come in and negociate percentages off - they cut estimates mostly through parts. Used parts and Immitation parts. (from China.) Book labor times are book labor times-they pay book labor times, every time. Period- especially on clear cut jobs like a bumper cover. I bet 75% of your estimate is parts- the other 25% labor. Body shops make most their money from labor. Your only avenue to save money is if there is a used or aftermarket part available- however, you will pay more labor for the used part - they always have a bit of damage to fix- and the immitation part's fit and finish will be inferior.