Any room to negotiate?
 

My car is scheduled to be brought to the dealer I bought it from the 13th to get the damage fixed. I was in a minor accident a couple weeks ago. (hit by a trailer when I was parked) Seeing how I bought the car there not 3 months ago, and I am now bringing them more business by having their collision center fix it, is there any room to bargain with them to try and walk away with some cash in my pocket? I'm really looking to get some new wheels, and it would certainly help.

I was given a little over $1600 to replace the front bumper cover, driver's side headlight, front grille, and fix the driver's fender. It was quoted with all OEM parts at MSRP. That's $840 in parts, $575 in labor, and $220 in materials. With just a little searching, I found OEM parts for much less than they even quoted me. It comes to like a $150 savings.

Basically I'd like to walk away from this with at least $200 in my pocket. Is that reasonable, or should I try and get more/less? Regardless, just by searching for parts a bit, I've got $150 to start with. I'm hoping having bought the car there will make them a bit more willing to work with me as far as labor and materials prices. If not, I'll tell them I can take it somewhere else.

Thanks!

Body work is hard to get a deal on unless they give you a discount on the labor. Parts there really isn't much they will do on the price of those. But I live by the rule of if you don't ask you'll never know.

Did the insurance write you a check or the body shop? If the insurance pays the body shop directly it would be considered insurance fraud. If the insurance paid you directly find a place to do it cheaper and keep the extra, and I would never use a dealer for body work. Not ever.

The check was written out to me. It's a reputable dealer, and it's leased. They wanted it fixed there.

Gotcha. I doubt you can negotiate the price with the dealer. Doesn't hurt to try I suppose.

If not, I'll supply the parts myself. Or just go somewhere else.

Since it is a lease, you're probably SOL. If you take it elsewhere to save a few bucks and they find any fault with the repair when you turn it in at the end of the lease, it could cost you more then than you saved now.

This! It wouldn't hurt to hang onto any paperwork you get after the repair since there is no guarantee that you'll be dealing with the same people i.e. service manager, when the lease is up. Don't give them any excuse to penalize you.

I'll be buying it regardless