Replace versus Repair.

They say there is more than one way to skin a cat. There is also more than one way to repair your automobile. In this article we will review a never ending debate of replace versus repair.

In a perfect world every damaged part would be replaced by original part made by manufacturer of your vehicle. Cost, availability and quality of repairs are three major factors when considering the best way to restore your automobile to pre accident condition. Of course if you live in Africa finding a replacement fender for Chevy Impala might be a bit of a challenge. I have recently interviewed a body man from Ghana who took pride in being able to straighten almost any panel and showed me pictures of parts he was forced to repair due to unavailability. With twenty five years of experience in collision repair industry I was simply amazed.

Fortunately we do not have the same problems in Southern California. Aside from few minor instances, such as trying to get a performance Porsche wheel through customs or having a wiring harness for a corvette on back order for several months, one can get any auto part imaginable in a timely manner. Should we then replace every damaged part?

Just the other day a proud owner of Chevy Suburban told me while dropping it off for repairs:” I don’t want any Bondo on my car and I want all new parts.”

“That is preferred Modus Operandus at Burbank Body Shop,” I replied.

Unfortunately it was 1998 Suburban and if I was to adhere to my customer’s wishes the cost of repairs would exceed the value of the vehicle. On the other hand an appraiser employed by State Farm Insurance, while negotiating a price of repairs with me said: “This door cost thirteen hundred dollars. Can we try to repair it? I will give you sixteen hours to do it.” Other words, insurance guy was willing to pay a body man to spend two days to repair this door. Is it reasonable?

Obviously the cost of repairs is important, but what about quality? What are the criteria’s to use when deciding repair versus replace? Generally when the cost of repairing of an existing panel approaches the price of replacement part, the new panel is recommended. Several different formulas are used in the industry to decide on repair versus replace. They take into account painting of the damaged panel along with blending adjacent panels and other operations as well as time required or as we call it cycle time. These formulas are complicated. There are also formulas on how much Bondo can be used on a panel, considering that it shrinks with time and prone to creating cracks on paint.

Ultimately, the decision whether to repair or replace a panel should be made with participation and best interest of one person in mind, vehicle owner. Transparency and communication between shop owner and vehicle owner is the key to successful repair, because just as often as I get requests for all new parts, customers say:” I don’t care what you do, just make it cheap. I am paying cash.”

Replace or repair? You be the judge, but remember that “ The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the cheap price is forgotten.”