Regarding Exan, I went to see them in Hampstead on Friday funnily enough. I have a dink on my front left wheel arch thanks to some f***tard dragging a shopping bag into the car and it looks like a tin of beans or something has caught it. The dink is 2.7mm x 1.9mm. I got the calipers out after I'd seen Exan in case I was 'missing something' and in case my idea of 'small' wasn't the same as everyone elses when it came to describing it.
Anyway, the estimator comes out to the car, takes a look at the damage and then starts telling me that they need to panel beat the little dent out and then blend it and that they'd have to do the passenger door as well to blend everything fully. For a 2.7mmx1.9mm dink. So, I'm already prepared for a stupid quote and am about to sarcastically ask whether he might want to respray the entire car to ensure the whole vehicle is consistent when he reveals the cost. £1,200. Yes, one thousand two hundred pounds. I just laughed at him and congratulated him on his fine sense of humour. He wasn't joking. I remarked that the most I would have expected to pay would be £500 and that would be verging on daylight robbery as it was. So, he nods, looks thoughtful and then asks to check the paint code in the boot and says he'll have a chat with the body shop. Anyway, he comes back 15 minutes later with 'good news' based on the fact that the car is flat black, not pearlescent. Guess how much they can do it for? £500. How convenient.
Based on my experience, I'd avoid them. The MD of Alan Day where I bought the car recommended them and their work is spot checked by VW as an official bodywork supplier but seriously, for a mark that small, I'd wager that I could buy a new front left wing for less.
