Disco Hood Replacement Cost Breakdown

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
04/28/2020 at 15:12 • Filed to: Disco Inferno

I mentioned a bit earlier that the Disco took some pretty serious hail damage the other day. Overall I think I got off pretty lucky as the hood and gutters took the brunt of the damage. For former I thought would be an easy fix.

I was mostly wrong.

Option 1 - Replace with new and paint hood - $1750?

Unfortunately with a storm on the horizon my body shop didn’t have time to talk to me which was... something. They did tell me painting a hood would run about $550. Not sure if that is including blending the fenders or not, but it it the number I’m using.

Hood cost I’m guessing is going to be low four figures, but I’m reaching out to some contacts to see what my options are there.

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There are a couple hoods available around my area ranging from $70 (LKQ) to $200 in “perfect” condition. Paint would run, as mentioned, $550.

This option seems the most sticky as I’m now dealing with a used hood, a possibly long drive to retrieve it, and all the trappings of that. Last time I bought a used hood... it didn’t go well. I might be able to get a little money back by offering my hood as part exchange.

Option 3 - Replace with used and blackout - $350

One of the hood options appears to be the same color as my hood and is in almost good condition. The exception is some meh paint. However, most of the paint damage is part of the hood that would be covered by a commercial hood blackout. (See above)

Not sure I want a hood blackout, but it is certainly an option and I don’t think it would look bad by any means.

However, some of the paint damage on the replacement hood would be visible and I’m not sure about that.

Option 4 - Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) - $999?

I initially figured the hood was too far gone for this one, but looking at the prices for painting the hood... it is starting to look like an option again. I might swing by the local recommended PDR place and see what they tell me. Even if the price is comparable to replace and paint I might go that direction.

Buuuuut I suspect they’ll tell me to bugger off. Even at the lower prices I’m seeing online ($30/dent) I doubt this option would be under four figures.

Option 5 - Just leave it - $0

I mean... it is my off-road car and the damage isn’t that bad. I feel like this, however, is a slippery slope of not giving AF about this car anymore...

DISCUSSION (9)

Mid Engine > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/28/2020 at 15:26

It’s an offr oa d, I wouldn’t spend a dime on it. Curious though, insurance woul dn’t cover this ?

CalzoneGolem > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/28/2020 at 15:36

jminer > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/28/2020 at 15:39

I’d lean towards either the blackout or leave it alone. I’m not a great example though as I barely wash my cars and all my off road vehicles have ended up with serious trail pin-striping .

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Mid Engine
04/28/2020 at 15:57

Actually that is a fair point. I was so wrapped up in keeping insurance out of it I forgot that the damage is probably minor enough that it wouldn’t total out... Probably. Not sure if you can do a partial repair on a claim though, since technically the damage extends beyond the hood...

66P1800inpieces > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/28/2020 at 16:15

Place a T itleist sticker in the center of the hood and leave it through the summer. If in the fall you still want to fix it you still can. It also gives you time for one matching in year/color to come up on a CL or FB part- out.

Kinja'd!!!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/28/2020 at 16:15

In terms of cost, painting used parts often costs more than painting new ones. New parts are usually just matter of scuff, prime, base coat, clear coat. Used parts are lot more prep, usually a sealer primer, maybe filler primer for rock chips on the leading edge, then the primer/base coat/clear coat routine.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/28/2020 at 16:17

I’d be shocked if PDR was that much, and th ose guys are wizards.

I once had a couple who were on the fence about buying an Encore (puke, I know) because of a rather large dent over the driver’s front wheel well , and the PDR guy for our dealership happened to be there and he told them “If I get this dent out, and you can’t see where it was, you have to buy it.” The couple said “deal!” and sure enough, 10 minutes later it was gone.

He also runs a supercharged Vette. Good guy.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/28/2020 at 16:22

Yeah I’ll run it by them eventually. I figure they’re pretty busy as it was not a small hail storm.

Ash78, voting early and often > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/28/2020 at 16:33

I vote for leaving it alone. The car isn’t a garage queen, either when parked or when out on the trail. You earned those dents, even if it wasn’t anything glamorous. Would you feel differently if you had been out on an adventure and hail had struck?

I’d just be grateful your glass is all intact!

It’s still worth a call to a PDR place. A lot of them are just small franchises working out of car washes or repair shops. I bet you could get a decent deal for a bunch of dents, especially if business is quiet. If they’re charging $30 each for a single dent, then showing up once and getting it all done, I’d charge you $10 per. You could try offering that.