Replace or paint keyed panel?

[ADA1958]

My bonnet on my red Smart 451 was keyed by some jerkoff last night and the Smart Centre in Beverly Hills want $400 to re-paint it!! yikes!! Is it cheaper to buy a new bonnet? ANyone out there with a thought for a very sad Smart owner- I hate Los Angeles!!!

[kinschan]

Get a panel and snap it in yourself.

[gamernotwatcher]

It should be cheaper to order a new bonnet, but you will have to wait. The entire sum for all panels is $1099.

[BeSmart]

Originally Posted by ADA1958

My bonnet on my red Smart 451 was keyed by some jerkoff last night and the Smart Centre in Beverly Hills want $400 to re-paint it!! yikes!! Is it cheaper to buy a new bonnet? ANyone out there with a thought for a very sad Smart owner- I hate Los Angeles!!!

Sorry to hear about your assaulted smartie. Too bad you didn't have a video cam mounted inside to catch the b****** in the act.

[jwight]

Moved these to separate them from the clock/tach pod WTB thread.

[HGB]

I'm sorry about your terrible experience with the keying.
Would it be possible to have a sign shop put a design on it that would camouflage this idiot's work. I talking about an intentional design that reflects on one of your hobbies or similar. The cost should be reasonable I believe and it may look really sharp.

[nscaler]

Car wrapping just the "bonnet"?

[wahi]

Here's an answer... from another thread..

********-
03-27-2008, 02:29 AM #7
drew55

Location: michigan
Drive: 2007 chrysler 300
Just happened to me last Sunday. Waiting to make a left turn at a red light and the guy in front of me decided he didn't want to make a left so he cut his wheels and tried to back out of the left turn lane and crushed my right front corner. 280.00 bucks to replace damaged panel. Only had 680 miles on it.
_____________

[jwight]

I think he means the removable cover that goes over the fluid reservoirs.

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by wahi

280.00 bucks to replace damaged panel.

There's your answer. $200 for a brand new "hood" panel that you can replace yourself (just remove the screw that holds on the strap), vs $400 to paint it over.