Recommendations for OC Lucid-certified body shops

[EZEVDriver]

Hi. I’ve got some collision damage to my Lucid AT (not my fault). I’ve got quotes from European Motor Car Works Costs Mesa) and No. 1 Collision (Newport Beach) and will be getting a quote tomorrow from Prestige Collision (Mission Viejo). Anyone have experience with any of them, particularly how close to the initial estimate the final bill was? Quality?

Also, any other shops I should consider? Thanks for any advice.

 

[rjpineda18]

I've used European Motor Car Works earlier this year to replace my rear right passenger window due to deep scratches. They did a fantastic job. Final amount due and estimate were identical.

 

[scal_air]

There are some forum supporters that are Lucid certified, not in OC but not terribly far away - Los Angeles, Glendale and Oceanside. If you give them a try and let them know you are a forum member, I would hope that they take care if you.

Vendor Directory

lucidowners.com

 

[Andrew@CCRC]

Regardless of the shop you choose, an initial estimate being close to a final bill is extremely difficult to predict without the vehicle being properly diagnosed (which could include seat belt inspections, steering column inspections, and plugging in the car to the LDS software), along with the area of damage being disassembled.

Most of us have a general idea of what to expect after fixing many of these cars, but California law prevents us from writing for labor, parts, and materials without being to visually validate they are necessary (aside from referencing OEM repair manuals/position statements).

 

[Northpointe]

Regardless of the shop you choose, an initial estimate being close to a final bill is extremely difficult to predict without the vehicle being properly diagnosed (which could include seat belt inspections, steering column inspections, and plugging in the car to the LDS software), along with the area of damage being disassembled.

Most of us have a general idea of what to expect after fixing many of these cars, but California law prevents us from writing for labor, parts, and materials without being to visually validate they are necessary (aside from referencing OEM repair manuals/position statements).

Your post from last week of what initially looked like seemingly minor damage was a really good illustration of this. Even if it wasn’t required by law, it would be intellectually dishonest to quote a repair without doing a full tear down and inspection.

 

[EZEVDriver]

Regardless of the shop you choose, an initial estimate being close to a final bill is extremely difficult to predict without the vehicle being properly diagnosed (which could include seat belt inspections, steering column inspections, and plugging in the car to the LDS software), along with the area of damage being disassembled.

Most of us have a general idea of what to expect after fixing many of these cars, but California law prevents us from writing for labor, parts, and materials without being to visually validate they are necessary (aside from referencing OEM repair manuals/position statements).

Yeah, I carefully read your post, Andrew. Thanks for all that insight. I was backed into at a low speed in a parking lot. Two vendors, from the visual inspection, said the left rear door had to be replaced and a third said it could be repaired, so I am pricing in the repair to all of the quotes. But I tremble before your advice about what can't be found visually, particularly whether it extends to the rear panel.

 

[Andrew@CCRC]

Yeah, I carefully read your post, Andrew. Thanks for all that insight. I was backed into at a low speed in a parking lot. Two vendors, from the visual inspection, said the left rear door had to be replaced and a third said it could be repaired, so I am pricing in the repair to all of the quotes. But I tremble before your advice about what can't be found visually, particularly whether it extends to the rear panel.

Aluminum is tricky, as it work hardens from the impact (https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/articles/work-hardening-aluminum-alloys-1/).

Once it reaches it's threshold, the aluminum cracks, which Lucid forbids us from welding up with an aluminum specific welder. In order to detect cracking, we use a process with dye penetrant and developer to determine if there are cracks present.