Question about body shops and prices and parts [View all]
One of my kids has a BMW 328xi 2008. Needs a headlamp and body work to install. Was quoted $1,062 for a used headlamp and then a few hundred for labor and the caveat that once they get in there they may need to order some other parts. I'm fine on the labor and the caveat. But the price of the part is high. I found what I think is the same headlamp, new, for under $200 (reliable source, am-autoparts.com, which I've bought from before). Not OEM, which I'm not sure the thousand dollar lamp is, but I'm fine with after market.
I'm going to get another quote from another body shop.
BTW, I've used both bodyshops in the past for insurance-related work and they're both good. And since it was insurance, I didn't care much about the pricing.
So here's my question. Do I ask the bodyshop about the price of the part that I've found and see if they'll accept that and do the work. Even if they increase their labor rate, I'm still ahead.
Thoughts from people more experienced and knowledgeable than I am would be welcome.
= new reply since forum marked as read