Recommendations of body shops in Twin Cities

I participated in a fender bender a few weeks ago. The insurance company is issuing me a check and I have no idea where to take my car. I have received 2 estimates ($3100 from Luther Automotive and $1995 from CMS Autobody) and from looking at both estimates I will need at least a new driver side rear door and a a new rear panel thing (see picture, the red is where i was hit).

Any recommendations on body shops in the twin cities? In this economy Im skeptical of service shops, just trying to find a place that will do a great job.

Thanks

 

I would say just do a search - it seems this is discussed whenever someone gets in an accident.

The most mentioned name is usually Raymond Autobody.

 

Gotcha, yeh I tried a few searches to no avail. Thanks

 

Just curious, do you have a break down of the estimates (how much for parts, labor, paint). That might help you decide which one will do a better job. If you have them, could you either post a summary or pm me, I have similar damage and I'm trying to figure out how much it's going to cost.

I was recommend to Hamline autobody, so I'm taking my car there Friday to get looked at.

 

Raymonds is the one I hear about all the time as well.

 

Hamline is who I've used when my acura needed some body work. they do good work.

 

For sure, here is a revised estimate from Luther Automotive (guess the insurance company didnt like the orig estimate lol)

 

The paintless dent repair guy I use leases space at this shop. I always see a lot of high buck foreign cars there being fixed.

http://www.collisioncentermn.com/

 

suburban auto body has done good work for me. I've been there twice if that says anything.....
I also like Heritage auto body
CMS ( I think the one out of St cloud) sponsors a good friend of mines motorbike race team so it's alway good to see them being used.

is your scan from Luthers body shop? because it looks like it's from the insurance company's appraisal....
at any rate, Insurance company's can not dictate where you get your body work done. they have to pay the shop that you trust @ the shops rate/price. SO pick someone that you trust. if you're having a problem finding someone/ place, ask your insurance company to give you a referral to someone that they trust. (they deal with a lot of shops and they probably have a few they really like. I Know State Farm has certified shops they the trust)
I personal wouldn't try to dick over the IC just to make a buck but I also wouldn't let them dick me over by low balling me or my shop of choice.

Good luck

 

My dad owns a bigger shop up in Duluth here and has had a couple guys come up from Hamline. Really top notch guys that do good work.

 

^The scan is from the insurance company because its an altered estimate. The original from Luther was more than the insurance company wanted to pay so they sent out their own adjuster and worked with Luther to drop the cost. Obviously Id prefer to make money on this : ) but more important I just want my car fixed. CMS is most likely who I will go with because I've seen their work first hand (friend totaled his is300 and they did all the body work, looked outstanding when they were done).

Thank you all for the replies

 

Hamline Autobody. You'll understand why as soon as you pull your car in to get an estimate. www.hamlineautobody.com . Raymond also gets good reviews.

 

my brother use to work at raymond autobody in downtown and does fantastic work, but has since moved to a diff one...

 

I had walser do some bodywork on my car a while back. I wouldn't recommend them though. The work isn't bad, but it certainly could be a lot better... next time I will go elsewhere...