Hi gang - I have not posted anything in a bit, but I am trying to replace my OEM f56 JCW hood with one of the “racing” hoods from Duall AG. The first thing I’ve done is getting a estimate from a local body shop that deals primarily with Mini’s, BMW’s Audi’s…you get the idea. So the quote I got for the hood only…just removing my current one, then reinstalling was outrageous! The price does NOT include the hood itself. They are telling me it takes 72 hours just to remove and reinstall. The paint quote was separate. Am I missing something here? I pulled up a video online and it said to remove and reinstall it takes just shy of 1 hour.

 

Time to look for another body shop?

 

Yes that is definitely going to happen. But does anybody have any experience with this sort of thing? I had more than the hood that I wanted painted. For example the plastic wheel well trim was going to be sanded down and painted in body color (Midnight Black) and clear coated, I have a new front lip that needs painting and installation, and I am replacing that plastic piece on the front bumper where the license plate goes…plus a few more minor areas to paint. I’m just stuck on the 72 hours they’re claiming it takes to remove and replace the hood. Again…this does not include paint.

 

Sounds like they don't want the work.

 

You know that’s funny. It’s the exact same thing my wife said. I will be calling around tomorrow to try and find another body shop.

 

Just wanted to bump this thread. Due to a ton of work related travel I still have not made a move on the Dual AG racing hood I’m trying to buy. Let me just throw this out there: if I’m reading the estimate properly from this body shop, they are saying it takes 72 hours to remove my current hood, then install a new one. This 72 hours does NOT include paint, or anything else. It’s simply the removal and reinstalling. I have spoken to a
few Mini and BMW service reps, and they are telling me it takes ~20 mins to remove a hood, and 40 mins to install a new one. Where in the hell are they coming up with 72 hours? And believe me I have read my estimate at least a dozen times. I even googled how long it takes for hood removal and reinstalling…and even it said approx. 1 hour.

 

72 hours....whiskey tango foxtrot. Mind = blown. No way in Hell it would take NINE days (working 8 hours/day exclusively on your car) for a reputable shop to remove & remount the hood. I could see it taking a couple hours for an amateur, especially to get all the gaps correct & tweak any leveling screws or whatchamacallits to get the fitment just right. But nine days?

 

Yes exactly! Thank you! I am completely blown away at that quote. I’m already looking at other body shops. Like someone else on this thread mentioned “it simply looks like this guy doesn’t want the business”. I have heard from a few Service Techs that it’s roughly 20 mins to remove, 40 mins to reinstall.

 

72 minutes, not hours...lol And that's with final alignment
72 hours and you could have the full Duell AG body kit installed.