Backed into a tree... Busted Tail Light

FML... We had the driveway re-paved a few days ago, so the wife and I are parking at the street while it sets. There are several pine trees close to the road up there, and I backed into one today trying to parallel the truck b/w my wife's car and the driveway.

FORTUNATELY, the main damage was to the tail light, which was destroyed. It was a BTLM light I got from somebody on here, and I still had my OEMs, so I've replaced both of them now.

There is a pretty gnarly dent above the light, and there is paint chipped both above the light and along the side of the light.

How much do you think this will set me back at a body shop? I'm going to swing by one tomorrow.

First two pics w/ the busted tail. Last three are w/ the OEM tail back in.





OEM lights re-installed:





In this pic you can see where the paint is chipped along the side of the light. Where the paint seems to change color is where it's chipped away.

 

Being that it's on the corner of the panel, I would guess that it's going to be expensive? I'm certainly no body man...

It's a truck, leave it!

 

I'm guessing a grand.

They are going to want to clear coat and buff the whole bed side and tailgate. Any emblems, stickers, etc are going to have to come off and then be reinstalled.

I was quoted 1,300 several years ago to knock out two large dents out of a fender, repaint the fender, and clear coat and replace emblems on the hood and adjacent door.

There's probably someone who will do it cheap, but I bet you can tell it's been done afterwards.

 

that blows major d*cks

 

This will be the plan if it's a $1,000 fix, that's for sure.

Honestly, I don't care if you can see that something happened once it's done. If I could pound it back out myself, I would. I don't want it way in like that, but perfection isn't my goal.



It just sucks.

 

I heard that. Good luck. You can always put a funny sticker on it if you end up leaving it...?

 

To fix it right it is a new bed side more like $2200. I had similar damage on my 93.

 

Took it to a body shop... He said it would be pretty expensive. He gave me the number for a 'dent guy,' but that guy said it would end up looking worse than it does now.

I'm not going to drop $1-2k on this, so it's just going to stay.

Now I need to figure out what to do to touch up the paint in a way that will keep it from rusting.

 

just keep it , or dent it out yourself