Help - our 3 month old MCSa got crunched yesterday afternoon during the DC metro area's first snowfall. I won't go into the details but suffice to say our MINI was in the wrong place at the right time. We got hit by a 2004 Toyota Tacoma - no injuries but the rear left quarter panel, tail-light and bumper took a solid hit. Please see the gallery photo titled "Greeley crunched".

I'd appreciate your recommendations regarding body shops in the "nearby area". My preference would be a MINI dealer - however I noted that MINI of Sterling, the dealer where we purchased our MCSa, sends their body work out to Royal Auto Body. I saw that MINI of Towson and Tate MINI have their own body shops. Am I wrong in wanting a MINI dealer to do the work? Has anyone had any experience with Royal Auto Body. Thanks for the assistance everyone.

 

Royal does good work. Ask Edge

 

Funny you mention about the Tacoma issue... I had to dodge a Sliding Tacoma yesterday....

 

Thanks for the mention, but I really have no idea. I did have some repair work done via MoS before, and the car turned out great... but it wasn't body damage, it was suspension damage.

 

It was Mark Mm who had the out of body - I mean auto body experience with MoS. I know they've been using Royal for quite a while. I believe an auto body shop that does work on BMW's better be good - the clientèle is very picky

 

If you want to take it for a bit of a tow, CarStar in Baltimore is pretty good, they are the body shot that MoT uses, so they know the in's and out's of MINIs, as well as do very good work.

 

Thanks for the comments folks - got some good news yesterday as well. The other driver's insurance company called and advised they were taking full responsibility for the accident and the repairs.

 

Well thats good that they simply admitted fault, instead of trying to get away from it, and ending up getting left at fault anyway. Hope your MINI feels better soon.

 

FYI - "Carstar" in Baltimore is no longer affiliated with the national chain Carstar. Their new name is Jeff Shaw's Collision Craft. [SIZE=-1](3811 E Monument St; Baltimore, MD 21205; (410) 342-1560).

I had body work done there after my husband had the misfortune of following
a semi when it's tire exploded. And then again after someone gouged my door
trying to break in. Both times the job was well done.

 

Sam if you meant me, mine did NOT go TO MoS. The body shop did blame MoS for delays in parts, but in hindsight and evaluation afterwords I'd say the shop deserved most of the blame. I went to my insurance companies choice and had a 'good feeling' about them. Bad move, the work was good but it took them forever as I eventually found they didn't know anything about MINI's at that point. At least that was their excuse for a very protracted affair. I'm trying to remember now, what was it 2 and a half months?

 

Yep, thats them. Nice investigative work.

 

I've had work done by both Ashburn Collision (Sterling VA, rock dent/chip in door on my '02), and by Collision Craft (Balmer, MD mentioned above; fairly significant damage to my wife's '04).

Was very happy with both shops' quality of work, although if I'm being honest, Collision Craft had my wife's car for. Flippin'. Ever. Wasn't really an issue as I take the MARC to work, but they drug the process on for quite a while--despite being given a "no more than 10-days" estimate, I ended up getting the car back around the 27th day, iirc. Really felt like I was getting the runaround toward the end of the deal. Just anecdotal, but keep it in mind.

If it's 'elective surgery' you're having done, you might call and ask how many cars you'll be waiting behind (and that'd go for either shop).

 

There's a shop I've heard great things about (but had no personal experience) in Alexandria, just across Rt 1 from Potomac Yard Shopping Center. They actually have two shops in that area - WagonWork:

http://www.wagonwork.com/published/index.html

I've been thinking about getting my wheel skirts painted to match my JB body color and this place came up as doing good, quality work.

Does anyone have any experience with them?

 

I had work done at the shop in Baltimore that MoT uses. Then I had to price it again at WW because I was clumsy and crunched a kick panel on a pile of snow last winter. The work in Baltimore was excellent -- but no warranty ( I like warranties, but I learned their policy after the fact). WW gave me great confidence when they estimated the job, but their estimate was twice what I paid in Baltimore. So, I had a third place do the repair.

However, I will check again with WW about another job that's on my list now. I'm fussy (make that serious ) about quality, and I was impressed with their shop and with the person I spoke to about the kick panel.

 

TATE MINI has a body shop in house. TATE body shop serves CHEVY MINI and BMW.
James used them last year to repair an old lady's parking job. They did a good job (did not replace the bumper), kept the car for 3 days and returned when promised. The insurance co. was not involved.

I am waiting for Streghina new bumper to arrive and I will take her there.

USAA adjuster knows TATE very well. I met w/ the adjuster last week directly @ TATE body shop and she told me that she deals with them all the time so if her estimate (USAA is sending me a check) should be lower she will talk with them directly.

Bonus, service will coordinate w/ Body shop so that I will get my service done on the same time. I could not ask for a better service.

When GyPsy got the new bumper the Body shop was not involved as the bumper came directly from Italy (already painted), plus MINI USA was involved in the matter.

 

I've got body work done @ Tate, and havn't been dissapointed.

They used to have a Service Advisor who worked their, who claimed their paint was sub-par. When he left, he went to Jeff's Body Shop right on the other side of the annapolis bay bridge... He's done some work for me as well, and I'm quite pleased with them as well.

If I were to choose between the two, I would go with Jeffs... Mostly because of the service problems I've had with Tate. When things are resolved quickly and easily at Tate, it's as it should be. But too often there are issues, and when there are, they're very difficult to work with.

EDIT:
Correction, I've never gotten any bodywork done. Everything Tate or Jeffs have done have been replacements... New hood, aero kit, new suspension, etc...

 

I can add to the other post about Ashburn Collision in Sterling - they did a fantastic job on our 02' after we were rear ended...

Donna

 

Hi everyone - well 4 weeks later and about $4 grand in repairs (thankfully paid by the other driver's insurance) we now have our MCSa back. I'd almost forgotten how great it is to drive this little beast - of course driving a rented Chevy Colbalt for a month can dull the senses