got into an accident.. need to change the door

[THE VEIN]

my in-law's neighbor ran into my driver side door and basically fucked it up. insurance got involved and agreed to pay me for it. I got a couple estimates from 2 shops, both were close on the cost.

from start to finish...
$2150 using a new door
$1250 using a used door
$750 for Bondo and paint
or another option is to buy a door from the junkyard for $350 and change it myself

I'm not looking to keep the car, I actually had to up for sale locally before this happened. state farm said I would need a new door but I don't know if they mean brand new door or new as in a different door(used). im just trying to get everyone's opinion on what would be the best to do. i am looking to try to get some money out of it to try and cover some other things that need attention

[jsoto]

Bodyshop rates seem awfully cheap, especially for NYC. My shop would have probably squeezed out another 2K from the adjuster

[THE VEIN]

i didnt get the check from the adjuster so i dont know how much im getting. i had the adjuster come to the house instead of a body shop and also its just the door thats damaged. it could be completely smashed and they would still pay to change the door plus paint

[upallnight]

A recycle door from a junkyard or a Craigslist's listing would be the cheapest way to go, especially if you can find one in your color.

[MINIz guy]

You could definitely take the insurance check, spend $350 to put a door on yourself, and pocket the remaining cash.

Otherwise, if it isn't costing you a dime, get a new door on and have the body shop blend the paint. I don't think it will be a $2150 repair, but closer to $3k. My parents had to get a front quarter and driver's door replaced on their X5. It ended up over $4k using new parts.

[David.X5]

Get a used one. It's original quality and paint. No worse than the one that got damaged, and may be better than a quickie paint job.

Just remember they are heavier than you think. Get a couple of friends to help. A transmission jack also helps a lot.

[THE VEIN]

i was just gonna ask how hard would it be to change the door myself? i've changed the door handle before but im not sure on how to remove the actual door

[jsoto]

It if was me, I would have just left it at the shop and let my shop deal with the adjuster. He would have made sure I got a new panel, properly blended and ENOUGH money to the tune of $6-800 leftover that he usually kicks back me. He knows how I like to keep my paint, so usually gives me that leftover $$ and says go have X&X properly detail the car when the paints cured.

[THE VEIN]

Originally Posted by jsoto

It if was me, I would have just left it at the shop and let my shop deal with the adjuster. He would have made sure I got a new panel, properly blended and ENOUGH money to the tune of $6-800 leftover that he usually kicks back me. He knows how I like to keep my paint, so usually gives me that leftover $$ and says go have X&X properly detail the car when the paints cured.

well the thing is if the door had $500 or $5000 worth of damage, insurance would only pay for a replacement door whether its new or used which is probably somewhere around the $2000 mark. and like you said the prices I was quoted was already low. the reason I didn't leave it at the shop was because I needed my car to take my kids back and forth to school and I didn't want to be at the mercy of a body shop that has my car.

[OptimusPriM5]

Originally Posted by THE VEIN

i was just gonna ask how hard would it be to change the door myself? i've changed the door handle before but im not sure on how to remove the actual door

Its not a hard job but will require more than 1 person obviously due to weight and alignment for the door. You will need to swap out all your door cards etc if they dont match and some salvage yards sell those separately anyway so door may be stripped also you will need to swap out your lock otherwise you will need to rekey. I dont know if there are any other components that will require swapping that could require recoding and make sure in the estimate they include blending it doesnt sound like they are other wise it will not match. Make sure they blend with all adjacent panels in the estimate.