Hey Forum,

My Monte Carlo had the displeasure of meeting a Coyote over the weekend...at 60 mph. The front bumper, right fender, foglight and windshield washer reservoir are all busted. I've got it duct taped Nascar style right now, but looking at options to fix it.

The car is a 2000 with 260,000 miles on it--so I have a 1k deductible on my insurance. I've got estimates at just over 2k to fix it. Being that the car is old and high miles, I don't know that I want to put 1k of my own money into fixing it.

So my question to those that may know---if I"m able to locate the parts, how difficult is it to replace those parts on my own? I'm thinking I can either find some take off parts that match my color (silver) or buy new primered and get them painted, and do the install myself.

I'm a pretty capable DIYer but I've never done work replacing body panels like this. I know there will be some nuances I am ignorant about, so I'm seeking input here from the community.

Thanks in advance!

 

I know my local pick a part charges $60 each for the bumper and fender, I think the reservoir was about 30, never checked the price on the fog light, i removed mine to make a CAI. Bumper, fender and fog light are simple to replace. The reservoir is kind of a dick but not too much. Price of new panels and paint and what not I have no clue, I'm a hardcore DIY guy lol.

 

Its pretty easy to replace those parts, if it was me id just find parts that match the closest & not worry about paint, its pretty much unbolt & bolt up new, bumper, than fender than washer resivour & than back together in reverse order

 

Replacing those panels and parts are all easy. The only issue would be straightening anything that might be tweaked. These W-Bodies kinda suck when little things get tweaked. I work in a body shop and I don't like working on my own car because of this.


If you're going to do it yourself then have the insurance adjuster come out and see all the damage before you accept the check. Make sure everything is on it, including anything that might be hidden from surface view. Look at your gaps between panels, doors to fenders, fenders to hood and A pillar, fenders to wheels. Make sure they're all the same, if they're not then you'll need to make some adjustments.

Coyotes might be small, but I've seen SUVs hit dogs and take out the fan and bend the frame.

 

Panel replacement is fine. But with out blending the whole front cap don't expect a good match even if it is the 'same color'.