Pictures: Damage to E36...What's estimate to fix? - United Bimmer Community

**delmarco** · 05-02-2005, 08:39 AM

So I'm wondering....

So far I've managed to sort of hammer out the space between the grills, but it's still uneven and the grills tend to slip down in the sockets after I drive. But it was alot worse before i took the pictures.

The hood I cannot hammer out...but I'm wondering what would be the cost to fix these two minor things?

Anyone can guess?

BTW someone backed their X5 into my car whiles it was parke don the streets of NYC and drove off.

**billycuth** · 05-02-2005, 08:46 AM

man that sucks. welcome to NY, I guess, right? My wife got my bimmer in an accident that had the nose piece replace (the hood was fine so it didn't need to be replaced) and it was probably around $1500-$2000. Save up your cash dude, and get it done right!

**delmarco** · 05-02-2005, 08:51 AM

$1500 nosepanel! Wow!

Nowadays a nose panel cost 130$ to replace and for painting and labor to weld on it should bring the total up to about $300. The cost to replace the grills are miniscule in comparison...

So far my nose panel I got hammered out alittle, but it's the cost to repair the hood I'm really worried about....
thx

**komodo** · 05-02-2005, 09:01 AM

Unless you want to spent many hours with a hammer and pliers trying to get it straightened out, it might cost you something. (Cheaper, but it won't ever be perfect)

I looked around a bit and found PartsTrain has a pretty good price on a hood for a 95 318.

http://partstrain.com/products/Hood/1995~BMW~318I.html

$169 normally, TODAY ONLY it's on sale for $118 (30% off!)
Plus you're talking about $150 to paint it I'm guessing.
Installation will take under an hour if you do it yourself, otherwise probably a couple of bucks to get a mechanic to do it.

Hope that helps!

**Oldskoolbeat** · 05-02-2005, 09:02 AM

That sucks, will your insurance not cover it? BTW, last time I was in manhattan, this truck sideswiped a parked e39 m5 on the street kept driving. Dont feel too bad

**billycuth** · 05-02-2005, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delmarco

$1500 nosepanel! Wow!

Nowadays a nose panel cost 130$ to replace and for painting and labor to weld on it should bring the total up to about $300. The cost to replace the grills are miniscule in comparison...

So far my nose panel I got hammered out alittle, but it's the cost to repair the hood I'm really worried about....
thx

could be. I was guessing. the old lady did a little more damage than just the nose panel. the total damage was $9800, so I was guessing on the nose, and you will need a new hood too, right? anyway, good luck. Body work isn't my specialty. I like fidgeting around with gadgets, like push button starters and stereo systems.

**jrhaile** · 05-02-2005, 12:25 PM

get a carbon fiber hood and have it painted.. total around 800 bones for a good fiber hood and paint job problably :P

**komodo** · 05-02-2005, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhaile

get a carbon fiber hood and have it painted.. total around 800 bones for a good fiber hood and paint job problably :P

Oh? I've always thought as CF hoods alone as running around $800. And then you paint.

Not to hijack cause it's relivant to delmarco too, but anyone have any links for cheap but good quality CF hoods for 4 door e36's?

**Rooz** · 05-02-2005, 02:35 PM

it's mroe of a dent it appears, and I mean since it's on a curve and all, it will be a bit costy...

**delmarco** · 05-02-2005, 04:04 PM

So it seems the general consensus is that I'm gonna have to replace the hood....
instead of getting it professionally hammered and re-painted?

Komodo that site was awesome...I'm gonna contact them if my shop's estimate is high...

the only thing is a Hood might be about $60 to $100 to ship.
What suxs is that I just got a new paint job last January after the accident with the city bus...

**94bmw325i** · 05-02-2005, 07:16 PM

Yeah, when I bought my car in December the nosepanel has a dent that looks almost exactly like yours, so I probably need a new nose panel unless I can knock the dents out.

**delmarco** · 05-03-2005, 12:19 PM

yeah I already knocked some of the dents out but it still looks wierd somehow and unsymmetrical. It bothers me to the point where I may just get the whole thing done professionally ontop of what the hood is gonna cost...

**E36Bimmer** · 05-03-2005, 12:42 PM

I replaced hood and nose panel. $800 total for parts and labor (painted and installed, plus the freight cost to ship the hood). To save you from the mistake I made, do not get a hood from partstrain. The fitment is something to be desired (sucks) and it is flimsy. I dented it while closing it.. While it looks fine to the untrained eye, and from afar, I can tell and it still bothers me to this day..

**allegood8** · 05-03-2005, 08:09 PM

ok this is without being there to look at the car but ill do my best. i work at a body shop btw. if u want to replace the hood, get the corrosion protection under the paint, and get a nice paint job so it wont look cheap.....it should run anywhere from 800 to 1000 dollars. and maybe another 50 to 100 dollars to realign the bumper. cause 90 percent of the time the damage is more extensive than it looks.

**SHAHAB323IS** · 05-03-2005, 08:40 PM

hope you get it all worked out delmarco