Body Shop recommendations: Mountain View / Palo Alto area

[Brycej]

My wife had her car (Q5) hit while she was visiting the hospital so... nothing too bad, they dented the front right quarter panel and a bit of the light assembly.

Any recommendation for body shops around the Palo Alto / Mountain View area?

Thanks...

[ShadowofBob]

Curious as well if anyone has good experiences with local shops. I have a tailgate spoiler I need color matched and maybe mounted on my B7 Avant. I talked to Palo Alto Audi and they said they send any work needed to Superior Auto Body up in San Carlos.

[2BblkAudis]

I've always had good luck with Brooks motor cars in Oakland, but they have a new second location in Fremont. I've only used the Oakland shop, lots of shops in the my/pa/peninsula area but I haven't found one that I'd recommend.

[034Motorsport]

Sorry to hear about the accident, Bryce! I know you're on the other side of the bay, but I'd highly recommend giving Nelson a call at Coelho’s Body Repair & Auto Collision Shop.

We've taken many shop projects there, and he's done work on my car as well after someone smashed into it. Hope the Q5 gets back on the road soon!

Cheers,
Laszlo

[rudyr]

Summit Auto Body in Belmont did a minor job on my wife's RDX. Satisfied w/ the work, but more importantly their customer service was top notch. Pretty sure they're highly rated on Yelp, etc.

[Brycej]

Thank you all for the recommendations... I've now had three estimates which are all not more than $100 from each other (with all estimates around $4k... $2k parts/$2k labor).

This suggests a very interesting industry where pricing is very tightly regulated / controlled...

[rudyr]

Thank you all for the recommendations... I've now had three estimates which are all not more than $100 from each other (with all estimates around $4k... $2k parts/$2k labor).

This suggests a very interesting industry where pricing is very tightly regulated / controlled...

If I had to guess, probably shops use software with industry-standard man hours for work. e.g. Replace left front fender 1.5hrs...so, when they enter in the estimate they're all using the same number of man hours, probably pricing for parts is near-identical since they use the same suppliers, the only difference might be things like "shop / environmental / disposal" fees and maybe some deviation to the $/hr.

[thegimp03]

Anyone have good recommendations in West San Jose/Campbell/Los Gatos area? I was run into this morning. Luckily there's not a ton of damage on the back bumper, but just wondering if anyone's had experience with shops in this area. Thanks!

[Brycej]

I agree that autobody shops use very similar (if not the same) parts sourcing... but it seems most also have the same tactic: "Pull and Replace Everything Anywhere Near the area of impact."

A neighbor suggested I contact Silicon Valley Autobody and Tow... I just got the quote and it's almost half that of the other three.

Not sure exactly why the encouraging disparity... they have good reviews that I've seen... I'll let you know how they are for me.

[Stubek]

Skip PanAm on Moffett just before central. When they were C&C Body shop for 30+ years, they were great. I have had work there twice since they became PanAm and they are pretty bad quality now.

[Ernie1060]

back in the day i used to do adjusting for progressive.... everyone uses the same software and parts come from the same places... OEM come from manufacturers and after market stuff comes from the same big 3.

It's either remove / replace or remove / repair. then they have to blend to the nearest panel, which means removing all the parts of that panel too. It's a pain but when shops do it, the work looks terrible.

[thegimp03]

Anyone have good recommendations in West San Jose/Campbell/Los Gatos area? I was run into this morning. Luckily there's not a ton of damage on the back bumper, but just wondering if anyone's had experience with shops in this area. Thanks!

Just wanted to reply to my original inquiry in case anyone else in the South Bay is looking for a good shop. Went with Los Gatos Acura Collision Center due it being a direct link off of the Steven's Creek Audi collision link and Steve there ended up doing a great job with the bumper replacement (replaced with a brand new one and painted it Florett Silver) & the other plastic piece that wraps under the bumper around the exhausts.

[codrus]

Works Auto Body and German Auto Body, both in Santa Clara are both excellent.

--Ian

[Ultrasport Steve]

Shops vary so much in the quality of work its ridiculous. I am bummed since my "go-to" guy just retired. He is out of business now, but I went to him from the mid to late 80s until about 2 years ago. ABC Autobody in San Mateo. I have heard mixed responses about German Auto Body, other guys I recommended in the past don't do work anymore...Automotive Perfection in Belmont use to be a guy I had gone to...as was another guy in San Jose, next to DSR (Dynospot Racing).

[Brycej]

I just picked up the wife's car... looks good and at about 50% of the cost of all others I'd received quotes from!

I know, it's just a preliminary review... we'll find out how it holds up over time... but the paint match looked good and the hood/fender line looked good too!