F'd in the A

an99 · 05-03-2008, 09:39 AM

I was recently rear-ended at a stop light outside of Boston. Fortunately, I can still drive the car, but the rear bumper needs replacement.

I did a search of the boards and was planning on having my car repaired at Dick's Auto Body in Somerville. But, I had a friend tell me that the FMW Body Shop in Ashland is one of the few BMW certified body shops in Mass. Now that it is one of Herb Chambers Collision Centers, I'm not sure if the quality of their work has changed in any way.

Anyone have experience with the collision center in Ashland or any other recommendations?

Thanks!

lyjw88 · 05-03-2008, 01:06 PM

sorry to hear,
don't do any business with Herb Chambers.

AWD Addict · 05-05-2008, 02:48 PM

I've had repeated good luck with Mirak Body Shop in Arlington, MA. Great service, and excellent quality repair. My wife's turbo S40 needed a new door skin, and the paint matched perfectly, with no orange peel. From all angles, it looks like factory spray.

I've no experience with your shop in Ashland.

Good Luck!

Bimmer330i · 05-05-2008, 02:54 PM

Stay as far away for Herb Chambers as possible. I purchased a 330 from them in Boston and traveled nearly 3 hours to pick it up. When I got there, I noticed that the entire passenger side had been repainted. Their comment to me was that all their cars get dinged up on the lot and need to be touched up occassionally. Then after I blew up at him like a fire cracker, the salesman's comment to me was "people don't buy BMW for what they look like, they buy them for how they drive." My relpy to him was "For that kind of money... I want it to drive great and look fabulous both!" Then I instructed my wife to get into our own car, and barged into the dealership and let them know how disgusted I was with their way of business... and ripped up the purchase agreement up and made the three hour trek back home... and bought my current Bimmer in Syracuse, which is about 2.5 hours the other direction from where I live.

I335 · 05-05-2008, 03:17 PM

You might want to give Today's Collision in Malden, MA a try. They're excellent and work mainly on high-end cars and have a beautiful shop. I had some work done on my X5 there and it was perfect. That's also where BMW of Peabody has all their body work done. They have a web site too if you want to look them up. If you go there ask for Bobby Cobb - great guy...

Brunotheboxer · 05-05-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmer330i

Stay as far away for Herb Chambers as possible. I purchased a 330 from them in Boston and traveled nearly 3 hours to pick it up. When I got there, I noticed that the entire passenger side had been repainted. Their comment to me was that all their cars get dinged up on the lot and need to be touched up occassionally. Then after I blew up at him like a fire cracker, the salesman's comment to me was "people don't buy BMW for what they look like, they buy them for how they drive." My relpy to him was "For that kind of money... I want it to drive great and look fabulous both!" Then I instructed my wife to get into our own car, and barged into the dealership and let them know how disgusted I was with their way of business... and ripped up the purchase agreement up and made the three hour trek back home... and bought my current Bimmer in Syracuse, which is about 2.5 hours the other direction from where I live.

isn't there a stealership closer to where you live?

blueaudi18 · 05-05-2008, 08:58 PM

have u got an appraisal? They might not replace the bumper. i had a recent fendr bender but the insurence company only paid to get it repair not replaced.

an99 · 05-05-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueaudi18

have u got an appraisal? They might not replace the bumper. i had a recent fendr bender but the insurence company only paid to get it repair not replaced.

I had an appraisal done last week and the report was mailed to me during the weekend. $1100 was the estimate to replace the bumper. I thought it would be more.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

dmichael · 05-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Dick's in Somerville has a stellar reputation. BMWCCA reccomends him. He books up fast, so you may have to wait in line to get an appt. I had a car repaired at FMW in Ashland before the Herb Chambers take-over and I was very unsatisfied. The car had to go back into the shop 2 extra times and I was still not totally satisfied. Now that Herb owns that shop, I wouldn't go near there with a yugo. Next time, I might try Hollis AB which is right next door to FMW in Ashland. If I lived closer to Dicks that would be my first choice

Lassaxi · 05-14-2008, 05:42 PM

I know I'm a little late in posting here, but here are my $0.02:

I wouldn't bother going to a BMW certified body shop for this minor damage, especially one owned by Herb Chambers, because you will likely pay more than you need to.

I got backed into at a commuter rail parking lot last summer and had two nice chunks taken out of my front bumper cover, along with a large scrape. I took it to the same body shop I've used twice in the past (West End Auto Body in Waltham), and they filled the holes and sanded and repainted the entire bumper cover for less than $400. Looks good as new now, and I didn't need to replace the bumper.

It's hard to tell from the photos how deep the dent is, but it's not clear to me that you would need a new bumper- if you don't care about having it replace, it could be repairable.

AWD Addict · 05-15-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyjw88

sorry to hear,
don't do any business with Herb Chambers.

+1

05-03-2008, 09:39 AM	#1
an99 Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2008 Space Gray e92 328xi Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	F'd in the A I was recently rear-ended at a stop light outside of Boston. Fortunately, I can still drive the car, but the rear bumper needs replacement. I did a search of the boards and was planning on having my car repaired at Dick's Auto Body in Somerville. But, I had a friend tell me that the FMW Body Shop in Ashland is one of the few BMW certified body shops in Mass. Now that it is one of Herb Chambers Collision Centers, I'm not sure if the quality of their work has changed in any way. Anyone have experience with the collision center in Ashland or any other recommendations? Thanks! Attached Images
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05-03-2008, 01:06 PM	#2
lyjw88 Major 237 Rep 1,414 Posts Drives: C63S & X3MC Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (6)	sorry to hear, don't do any business with Herb Chambers.
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05-05-2008, 02:48 PM	#3
AWD Addict Chief Executive 390 Rep 2,919 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi 6spd Coupe Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 335xi [0.00]	I've had repeated good luck with Mirak Body Shop in Arlington, MA. Great service, and excellent quality repair. My wife's turbo S40 needed a new door skin, and the paint matched perfectly, with no orange peel. From all angles, it looks like factory spray. I've no experience with your shop in Ashland. Good Luck!
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05-05-2008, 02:54 PM	#4
Bimmer330i Private First Class 1 Rep 126 Posts Drives: 2006 e90 330i N52 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Saratoga, NY iTrader: (0)	Stay as far away for Herb Chambers as possible. I purchased a 330 from them in Boston and traveled nearly 3 hours to pick it up. When I got there, I noticed that the entire passenger side had been repainted. Their comment to me was that all their cars get dinged up on the lot and need to be touched up occassionally. Then after I blew up at him like a fire cracker, the salesman's comment to me was "people don't buy BMW for what they look like, they buy them for how they drive." My relpy to him was "For that kind of money... I want it to drive great and look fabulous both!" Then I instructed my wife to get into our own car, and barged into the dealership and let them know how disgusted I was with their way of business... and ripped up the purchase agreement up and made the three hour trek back home... and bought my current Bimmer in Syracuse, which is about 2.5 hours the other direction from where I live. __________________ 1992 325is Red Coupe, Sold with 270,000 Miles. 1996 Honda VFR 750cc, Red and Black, 12,000 Miles. 2001 525iT Custom-Built Touring Wagon, Electric Red, Sold with 115,000 miles. 2006 330i Sparkling Graphite, Sport/Premium, Nav., 6 spd., L7, Active Steering, etc. Last edited by Bimmer330i; 05-05-2008 at 02:56 PM.. Reason: typo
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05-05-2008, 03:17 PM	#5
I335 Brigadier General 126 Rep 4,248 Posts Drives: '08 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England iTrader: (11)	You might want to give Today's Collision in Malden, MA a try. They're excellent and work mainly on high-end cars and have a beautiful shop. I had some work done on my X5 there and it was perfect. That's also where BMW of Peabody has all their body work done. They have a web site too if you want to look them up. If you go there ask for Bobby Cobb - great guy...
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05-05-2008, 08:58 PM	#7
blueaudi18 Colonel 301 Rep 2,687 Posts Drives: e92 08' 335i , mb sl500 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: boston iTrader: (25)	have u got an appraisal? They might not replace the bumper. i had a recent fendr bender but the insurence company only paid to get it repair not replaced. __________________ POSTED WITH APOLOGIES FOR POOR SPELLING, GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE Poor Man's M3
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05-07-2008, 11:36 AM	#9
dmichael Lieutenant 25 Rep 452 Posts Drives: 2011 GTI Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	Dick's in Somerville has a stellar reputation. BMWCCA reccomends him. He books up fast, so you may have to wait in line to get an appt. I had a car repaired at FMW in Ashland before the Herb Chambers take-over and I was very unsatisfied. The car had to go back into the shop 2 extra times and I was still not totally satisfied. Now that Herb owns that shop, I wouldn't go near there with a yugo. Next time, I might try Hollis AB which is right next door to FMW in Ashland. If I lived closer to Dicks that would be my first choice __________________ 2008 E90 328i - Sparkling Graphite/Terra/Dark Burl, 6MT, Sport, Premuim, Fold-down seats, iPod/USB(6FL). M-Sport Steering Wheel, ZHP M-Sport Shift knob, Euro fog lights. Euro Split Armrest
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05-14-2008, 05:42 PM	#10
Lassaxi Major 10 Rep 1,035 Posts Drives: April ED - E90 328xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I know I'm a little late in posting here, but here are my $0.02: I wouldn't bother going to a BMW certified body shop for this minor damage, especially one owned by Herb Chambers, because you will likely pay more than you need to. I got backed into at a commuter rail parking lot last summer and had two nice chunks taken out of my front bumper cover, along with a large scrape. I took it to the same body shop I've used twice in the past (West End Auto Body in Waltham), and they filled the holes and sanded and repainted the entire bumper cover for less than $400. Looks good as new now, and I didn't need to replace the bumper. It's hard to tell from the photos how deep the dent is, but it's not clear to me that you would need a new bumper- if you don't care about having it replace, it could be repairable. __________________ May 3, '07European Delivery, Redelivered on 6/11/07 - Monaco Blue/Beige, Steptronic, ZPP, ZCW, PDC, iDrive/Navi with RTTI, Logic 7, Xenons, HD Radio
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