Hey there guys,

I've just recently bought a 2000 Nissan Stagea in Bayside blue - amazing car!!

Unfortunately for me, the day before hand someone backed into my magna, didn't leave a note and here i am... really pissed off! haha. The taillight is fully smashed, the boot has been lightly dented in and the panel around the light is decently dented aswell.

I'm just wandering what you guys reckon would be an acceptable quote from a panel beater? One i tried hasn't got back to me but said definitely over $1000. Im located in Adelaide, SA.

Here's some picks: Sorry for the Cellophane, it makes driving legal -.-

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1384.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1384.jpg.html)

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1385.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1385.jpg.html)

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1386.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1386.jpg.html)

Really appreciate any help/advice, cheers fellas

You can get a second hand tail light for about 30 bucks. Boot lid doesn't bad at all so I doubt would cost much. No idea about the guard though but from the pictures I'd guess under 1K all up

Boot lid doesn't bad at all so I doubt would cost much. No idea about the guard though but from the pictures I'd guess under 1K all up

Yeah the boot lid I'll leave i think, perhaps a tiny bit of touch up paint. The main problem is the denting on the panel, the cellophane really masks it. HOPING another taillight will fit because the panel has sort of curled and may not allow another taillight in, only one way to find out though haha.

You're not going to like my answer...
Panel beaters work to a formula, to ensure they make money. This is due to insurance companies always trying to get the lowest price. Even if its private work they use the formula so as not to lower expectations.
A rough guide to the formula is..
$1500 per panel that requires remove, refit and trim off/on....
$1200 per panel that does not.
In short, your damage is about a total panels worth (damage appears to be on boot and rear quarter) so $1k is actually cheap by their standards. If you went and got more quotes I believe you would be looking around the $1200 mark.
Bump a kangaroo, and your magna is a write off....front bumper and radiator support beaver panel + bonnet = 2x total panels= $3k work (not including if you broke lights and grille) = write off.
(Brothers XR6 ute was written off this way 2 years ago)
DIY time me thinks !

You're not going to like my answer...
Panel beaters work to a formula, to ensure they make money. This is due to insurance companies always trying to get the lowest price. Even if its private work they use the formula so as not to lower expectations.
A rough guide to the formula is..
$1500 per panel that requires remove, refit and trim off/on....
$1200 per panel that does not.
In short, your damage is about a total panels worth (damage appears to be on boot and rear quarter) so $1k is actually cheap by their standards. If you went and got more quotes I believe you would be looking around the $1200 mark.
Bump a kangaroo, and your magna is a write off....front bumper and radiator support beaver panel + bonnet = 2x total panels= $3k work (not including if you broke lights and grille) = write off.
(Brothers XR6 ute was written off this way 2 years ago)
DIY time me thinks !

using that formula my altera would have been written off ages ago. its all based on the cost of repairs.
cant really tell if the rear quarter is/how badly damaged but you are looking at a taillights,new bootlid(or repair of old one) , possibly new bar and possibly new quarter panel.
if doing the repair private its best to speak to a few shops and see if you can bargain a price down.

Thanks for the replies guys, yeah I accept it's not going to be a cheap option. What would you guys do in my situation? Spend the cash getting it fixed up or get a headlight for it and sell it as is? Also what prices would you say? It's a 2001 TJ VRX with 190,000km, good condition other than that, haven't had any issues, serviced each 6 months etc. I'm thinking fixed: $4500 negotiable, accept around $4000ish or not fixed $3500 and accept $3000?

Also, where would I find a tail light in Adelaide as cheap as possible? Upullit is no good, tried!

Couple more pics:

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1388.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1388.jpg.html)

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1389.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1389.jpg.html)

Thanks for the replies guys, yeah I accept it's not going to be a cheap option. What would you guys do in my situation? Spend the cash getting it fixed up or get a headlight for it and sell it as is? Also what prices would you say? It's a 2001 TJ VRX with 190,000km, good condition other than that, haven't had any issues, serviced each 6 months etc. I'm thinking fixed: $4500 negotiable, accept around $4000ish or not fixed $3500 and accept $3000?

Also, where would I find a tail light in Adelaide as cheap as possible? Upullit is no good, tried!

Couple more pics:

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1388.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1388.jpg.html)

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1389.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1389.jpg.html)

DIY Time!

I've fixed worse damage than this. The most time consuming parts are reshaping the quarter panel to fit a new light, then surface prep and paint.

Unfortunately I'm not prepared to pay you your asking price of the car "as-is". Sorry.

Keep looking for a shop that will do it privately at a price you feel comfortable with.

There's a giant wrecker near the corner of Grand Junction road and Pt Wakefield highway, they may have a tail light.

DIY Time!

I've fixed worse damage than this. The most time consuming parts are reshaping the quarter panel to fit a new light, then surface prep and paint.

Unfortunately I'm not prepared to pay you your asking price of the car "as-is". Sorry.

Keep looking for a shop that will do it privately at a price you feel comfortable with.

There's a giant wrecker near the corner of Grand Junction road and Pt Wakefield highway, they may have a tail light.

Thanks for the reply, If i had more time and knowledge on car repairs I'd definitely consider DIY but I'm willing to suck it up and pay to get someone who knows what they're doing. HOWEVER I'm sick of these shitty crash repairers, so far 2 have promised quotes by certain dates and given nothing...

Can I ask why $3000 would be asking too much? I've been looking at the market for a while now, even right now - all the VRX's on gumtree with practically the same features/km's people are putting up for $6000, don't get me wrong I don't think people would pay $6k but maybe drop $1k off and you've got $5k. I'd find it hard to believe it'll come to over $2000 to get the repair work done.

Any input appreciated.

What people put up a car for and what they get for them are 2 totally different things

I have purchased VRX Magna's with similar and often less damage from auctions for FAR less than what you are asking. When ever you start with quarter panel damage the $$ mount up. Remember that the panel shop will spend several hours repairing that before it is even primed and painted. They like every business have to pay costs, wages, power, insurance etc etc.

Sure you can get an average job for less but will that then make the car worth even less.

You either need to fix it properly or leave it as is and suffer the loss

I'm sick of these shitty crash repairers, so far 2 have promised quotes by certain dates and given nothing...

Can I ask why $3000 would be asking too much?



An accurate quote requires that the car stays with the panel beater for a day or so for them to look at. Takes time and effort, unless they are desperate for work, they won't want to do that on the slim chance they get the work.

$3K to buy, $2 to $3K to get fixed, $2K for timing belt etc adds up to $7 to $8K. Puts it in the territory of younger, lower km cars like the 380.

To quote Mal:
"What people put up a car for and what they get for them are 2 totally different things"

Too true! I'm trying to sell a low Km 2004 Lancer for what I think it is worth, zero interest so far! Not dropping my price, might as well keep it for the next 10 years! lol

Your best bet is to source the tail light, and "massage" the opening to make it fit, then tape it up to waterproof it. Then keep the car forever.

Finally got a quote back, $1600 to fix it. Let's just say i sell the car for $2500, I guess that's a better investment than spending the $1600 to get it fixed and selling it for say $3500.

What do you guys reckon? Thanks for spending the time to reply guys. Got a new tail light in, 2 of the 3 screws fitted in the panel, feels solid for now but obviously not a permanent fix.

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1428.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1428.jpg.html)

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1429.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1429.jpg.html)

SOOOO glad to have my Stagea now, such a solid car!

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af250/blackeagle1994/IMG_1409_tonemappedReduced.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/blackeagle1994/media/IMG_1409_tonemappedReduced.jpg.html)