I recently purchased a 2010 Prius IV and am looking to have a number of accessories installed, such as body side moulding, lower rocker moulding and mud guards. Can anyone recommend any independent body shops in the Chicago area that perform good workmanship at a fair price? I want to make sure that any trims are mounted properly by someone with experience. I am located in the northwest suburbs near Schaumburg but am willing to travel a reasonable distance to have the work done right. If you've had a good experience and could recommend someone, I would really appreciate a referral. Thank you!
I have installed everything on my Prius...body side moldings, mud guards, fog lights, hitch, lighted door sills. They are all easy. You just need to read the instructions and do it slowly and check each step. Save yourself the money and do it yourself. I am sure many will conclude.
If you need a body shop I take everything to: Gold Coast Auto Body 900 W Division St Chicago, IL 60642-4215 (312) 787-0333
Thanks for the recommendation! I have to admit I am not comfortable as a DIYer, so that's why I am looking for some help with these installations. I appreciate your help.
Easy: America's Auto Body in Schaumburg. In nine years working at various dealerships, America's is the only place I have never had to send a car back to because of a workmanship issue. On a personal level, they also flawlessly repaired my 1990 MB 300E for underbody corrosion and my 2004 VW Phaeton after I was rear-ended.
Hey Chris . . . What a coincidence! Before you posted, I actually had set up an appointment at America's Auto Body after visiting their website. Now that you've given them the thumbs-up, it makes me feel even more confident. I'm looking forward to have some installations done early Monday morning. Thanks!
America's Auto Body I brought my 2010 Prius IV to America's Auto Body in Schaumburg this morning for installation of body side mouldings and lower rocker mouldings. I wanted to post my experience for any local PriusChat members who might be interested. First off, it was nice that they were able to perform the installation at 7:00 a.m. so I could be out the door and not lose time from work. The shop itself is very clean and well-illuminated. The men who worked on my vehicle appeared to be experienced, not kids. Jerry, the manager on duty, runs a tight ship. Although they were very busy first thing Monday morning, he treated me courteously and efficiently. He processed several customers expeditiously, ensuring that those leaving a vehicle had rides. He also dealt with various insurance claims between handling customers. Around 7:20 he escorted me into the shop, where there were two technicians planning the work with a tape measure. Jerry pointed out that the lower rocker moulding would look much better-aligned if I would give them permission to cut a tiny corner. I thought this was an excellent value-added suggestion, and it resulted in a perfect fit. I would have not have thought of this if I had done the installation in my driveway! By 8:00 the work was finished, and the technician returned the instructions and paperwork for my files. Jerry provided me with his business card, as well as another card listing "good" and "bad" auto insurance companies, based on their customers' experiences. He then escorted me out to examine the finished work on both sides. All in all, I was very pleased with America's Auto Body in terms of their professionalism and workmanship. They made me feel valued as a first-time customer, and they will definitely get my repeat business for any future auto body needs. As far as the installation goes, I hope to be posting photos in the near future. I've been getting home after dark, so I might need to wait until the weekend to take some pictures. America's Auto Body 810 Lunt Avenue Schaumburg, IL 60193 Phone: 847-985-3760 www.americasautobody.com
Re: America's Auto Body Thanks for the report. Its good to know of a good auto-body place in the Chicago NW burb area. BTW, I don't suppose State Farm was one of the better insurance places on that card he wrote?
Re: America's Auto Body The insurance companies recommended were Acuity, American Family, American Express Insurance, Cincinnati Insurance, Grand Protect and Pekin Insurance Company. Those not recommended were Allstate, Farmers, Geico, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Progressive, State Farm and Travelers. I would imagine that this is based on the experience of customers from this particular body shop. If you would like to do wider research on auto insurance, check out the October 2010 Consumer Reports, which has an article, "Save on Car Insurance" (Pages 34-37). This article provides survey results based on claims- and non-claims-related problem, as well as timely payment. Top providers on this list include NJM Insurance Group, USAA Group, Amica Mutual Group, Auto-Owners Insurance Group of Companies and State Auto Insurance Companies The article has a lot of good tips. Good luck!
