Smash repairs
Panel Beating in Brisbane
Panel beating is the crash and impact side of body work: reshaping metal that has been pushed out of its original form, and replacing panels that have gone beyond saving. We do that work at our Moorooka workshop on all makes and models, including European vehicles and 4WDs. Call 0402 723 464 or bring the car in for a look.
Impact work
What panel beating actually covers
Panel beating is impact work. Somebody hit you, you hit something, a tree came down, a trolley got away in a car park. The panel has been deformed, and the job is to return it to the shape the manufacturer built, so the gaps line up, the doors shut properly, the water goes where it is supposed to go and the paint sits flat.
The key decision
Repair or replace, and how we decide
This is the question customers ask most, and it is rarely about cost alone.
We repair a panel when
- The metal has stretched but not torn
- The damage is in an area that can be accessed from behind or pulled from the front
- The panel is not structural
- The finished result will be true rather than merely acceptable
We replace a panel when
- The metal is torn or heavily creased
- A bolt-on panel is cheaper to swap than to reshape
- The panel carries safety structure with defined repair limits
- The manufacturer specifies replacement rather than repair for that section
Modern cars complicate this. High strength steels used around the cabin do not behave like mild steel. Some cannot be heated or reshaped at all without losing the property that makes them useful in a crash, so replacement is not a shortcut, it is the specified method. Aluminium panels, common on European models, are handled separately from steel to avoid contamination.
Chassis and frame
Structural work
Where an impact has moved a chassis rail, a strut tower, a subframe mount or an inner guard, the repair is a measured one. Sections get pulled back and checked against specification rather than by eye, because a car whose geometry is out will never align properly and will not behave predictably in a second impact.
If a vehicle cannot be brought back within tolerance, we will tell you that plainly rather than patching it and handing it over.
Paint
Colour matching and blending
Getting the shape right is half the job. The other half is making the repair invisible. Factory colour codes are the starting point, not the answer. Two cars built the same year in the same colour can be measurably different once one has spent eight Queensland summers parked outside.
We match to the car in front of us, spray out a test card, check it against the panel in daylight, and adjust before anything goes on the vehicle. Then the colour is blended into the panels either side rather than stopped at the edge of the repaired panel.
Preparation
What comes off before the work starts
Trims, handles, mirrors, lights and mouldings come off rather than getting masked around, wherever that is practical. Masking leaves an edge. Removal does not.
It takes longer, which is one of the reasons a quote from a proper workshop is rarely the cheapest number you will be given.
Same building
The mechanical check that goes with it
Panel damage and mechanical damage arrive together. A hit hard enough to crease a guard has usually done something to the suspension or steering on that corner. Because mechanical and smash repairs happen in the same building here, alignment, steering, suspension and cooling components get checked as part of the job.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does panel beating cost?
It depends entirely on the panel, the extent of the damage and whether the panel is repaired or replaced. Bring the car in and we will quote it properly rather than guessing over the phone.
Can you fix a dent without repainting?
Sometimes, where the paint is unbroken and the dent is shallow. Once paint is cracked or the metal has stretched, refinishing is part of the job.
How long will a panel repair take?
Light work is often a few days. Panel replacement with paint takes longer, and parts availability can add to it, particularly on European models.
Will you match my paint exactly?
We match to your car as it is now, including fade, and blend into the adjacent panels. That is more accurate than spraying to the code alone.
Do you repair aluminium panels?
Yes. Aluminium is handled separately from steel work to avoid cross contamination.
Do you work on European vehicles?
Yes, all makes and models including European, 4WD, commercial, hybrid and EV.
Is the repair going through insurance?
It can. See our insurance claims page for how the claim process runs and what happens with the assessor.
Will the repair affect my car's resale value?
A properly documented repair done to specification is a very different thing to a rough one. Buyers and inspectors notice panel gaps, paint edges and mismatched colour, which is why we spend time on all three.
Do you open Saturdays?
Yes, 8am to 3pm. Monday to Friday we are open 8am to 5pm.
Get a quote
Bring the car to
2 Baldock St, Moorooka.
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm. After-hours key drop available. All major cards and cash.