Body Shop Advice (Los Angeles)

[ATB88]

https://absautorepair.com/

They work on tons paint and body for M cars and they do other collision work as well. The owner Kevin is a good dude (and he has a 997 GT3). The painted and installed my CSL front and hamann wing. Tell him Jim with the LSB e46 sent you.

So, I got a great quote from Kevin a few months ago, and he told me to just drive and enjoy the car until I got tired of looking at it, then bring it in. Got in touch today and apparently he's super slammed and not taking on new work :/

Bummer, as it seems like they're one of the best shops for e46s.

Next on the list is Kings Autobody, but that's all the way down in Huntington Beach :/

Before I shlep all the way down there from Echo Park for an estimate, does anyone have any other recommendations for any good shops for E46 paint and body work in LA???

[Gearhead55]

https://absautorepair.com/

They work on tons paint and body for M cars and they do other collision work as well. The owner Kevin is a good dude (and he has a 997 GT3). The painted and installed my CSL front and hamann wing. Tell him Jim with the LSB e46 sent you.

[ATB88]

Checking them out for an estimate this week! Bracing my wallet, tho.

[old///MFanatic]

Kings Autobody 👍🏻
Really good work and not some pretentious shop. Owner very easy to work with.
If wondering if he knows the E46 M3.. he races an E46 M3 and owns/has collection of over 20 E46 M3s .

[Nate047]

Subscribed. Kings is supposed to be good. I don't imagine they will be cheap. But any cheap body shop is going to suck.

[Cronenberged]

https://www.kingsautobodyshop.com/

[ATB88]

Thanks for the suggestions! Where/which is the Kings that you're referring to? There are apparently many different body shops around LA with "Kings" in the name

[Cronenberged]

2M, & Kings. They're a little south but know our cars really well..

[ATB88]

Well, after 5 years (and only weeks after paying the car off) I've finally had a small accident. Luckily my car was the only one involved, and it was pretty minor. But I need a new passenger side front fender, maybe a new front bumper, and there are some pretty minor scrapes on passenger door and rear quarter, so, we're talking paint. I think it would be very unlikely that there's frame damage or anything, just a very dented in front fender, and front bumper isn't hanging on properly on that side (currently have it bungee tied for drivability).

I would like to avoid insurance and see how reasonably I can take care of it myself, but I also want to do a good job of restoring the car to how it should look (I get that these are competing demands). It seems really hard to figure out who to go to for estimates and to find a place that's willing to work with me to meet my needs and give me options (or to tell it to me straight about what needs to happen). Does anyone have any recommendations for a place (or places) to start in LA? I'm based in NELA, but willing to travel for the right place

Thanks for any advice!!