Sunset Auto Reconstruction

I can’t say anything about the repair work because my car was totaled, but John was very efficient in assessing the car and doing the appropriate paperwork for us to get on with our lives.

They are extremely knowledgable, helpful, and friendly — I brought in my car a few weeks ago as a result of a minor accident for which I wasn’t at fault, and they helped me wrangle the insurance companies, kept me updated on the process, and did a beautiful repair job. Furthermore, they washed and detailed my car! They are so nice, and although no one wants to visit an autobody shop, if you must then this one is definitely worth it.

Save yourself a headache and go somewhere else. I took my car to Sunset Auto on the advice of my insurance company after a hit and run accident. The original estimate was $ 2800, but it came to $ 3300 when I picked up the car.
I took the car in on a Tuesday and was told they would call me the next day to give me an update on the repairs. No call, so I called them. Was told it would be ready on Thursday or Friday. I told them that Friday would be better for me. The woman in the office said she would call me the next day with an update. No call. I called them and was told it would be ready for pick up the next day (Friday) mid-​afternoon.
I showed up at 2:50 pm and was told they were waiting for some clips. And that the clips had been delivered to two different wrong addresses. They said that when the clips come in, «any minute now», that it would take just a few minutes to fix and I’d be on my way.
I took a walk for a few minutes and received a call on my cell phone. I was told that the windows don’t work and the head lights stay on. I hadn’t had those problems before. I was then told that the car is at a mechanic’s shop. Strange!!! I hadn’t authorized to have a mechanic look at my car, since the damage was to the hood-​fender and not to the mechanics of the car. (I am using the term hood-​fender since it is one piece.)
He then told me that the car needed a Body Control Module. Estimated cost almost $ 500.00 plus labor. I told him I’d take it to the dealership where I bought it since it was under an extensive warranty. He seemed surprised when I said that. Uh-​huh!
When I picked up the car on Monday, the man in the office said that he has a friend who is a mechanic and can fix the problem for me. I had it towed to the dealership, since not only would the windows not go down, the turn signals were not working. Making the car unsafe to drive, since I could not signal my turns.
It turns out it was NOT a Body Control Module problem at all. Furthermore, the dealership said that it looks as though the part that was not working looks as though it had been tampered with!!! (So, that’s probably why it was at the mechanic’s shop.)
Also, Sunset Auto did a terrible job on replacing the hood-​fender piece. It is not on the way it should be. It’s off-​kilter, and there is a hole in the cladding over the front right wheel.
What a rip-​off place. So somewhere else. i should have looked at Unilocal before trusting this place. I learned my lesson.

What a lousy experience I had with Sunset Auto. The person I dealt with one time, John, was very nice. So that’s worth one star. But beyond that…
My ’63 VW Bug was rear ended and I needed to get my bumper fixed. My insurer State Farm gave me a list of a few SF garages that they recommend and Sunset was nearest my Cole Valley home. Plus unlike another garage referal they didn’t require a reservation for an appraisal. John said he’d find the part and get back to me. I gave it a week and called to see about any progress. John was busy so I was told by someone that he’d call back later that day. But he didn’t.
Another week passed with no word so I called again. I work at home and don’t drive my car much so fortunately it wasn’t critical that I have my car fixed right away. But still. This time John was there but he complained that finding a bumper for a ’63 bug is difficult and he only has 10 minutes every few hours or so to search online. I asked him if this is too much of a bother (as it sounded). If so I’d find another garage. No he said, he’d deal with it and get back to me the next day. Ha. Another week passed with no word.
I gave up. Never heard from John again. I guess he forgot about me. He obviously didn’t give a shit. Instead I took my car to Stan Carlsen Body Shop on Frederick where they got my bumper back in shape and re-​chromed and acted professionally. Which is the exact opposite of my experience with Sunset Auto Reconstruction!

Estimate came out 75% higher than another shop, and the lady was grinning from ear to ear as she inputted all the line item charges.
She then said in a very smug way, «You damaged the worst part of the car,» gave me the three page estimate, and walked away.
The dad seemed really nice though.

These guys saved the day for us. They provided a super fast quote, worked directly with the party at fault on the damages, had the car ready exactly when they said, and even fixed the lock on our door (an $ 80 job) FOR FREE. Super nice and excellent service.

Three week wait to drop off my car after estimate. Job was satisfactory.

These guys are great. Awesome work. Nice people. Honest and hard working. Love ‘em.

Got an estimate within 10 minutes. The insurance estimate was significantly lower than bodyshop but the field agent told me to have bodyshop call him if I ever decide to repair. So I went back to sunset auto and asked them to call the insurance but she kept saying there’s nothing they would do unless I drop my car off for repair. I insisted, she made a call and everything’s settled! She is not «super friendly» type of woman but professional and helpful towards the end. When I picked up my car, she helped me by calling car rental company and asked them if they could pick up my rental car at the bodyshop. I saved a trip to car rental place and best of all, my car is good as new!

I don’t write reviews on Unilocal unless they’re exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. This was an exceptionally bad experience.
I was led to Sunset Auto Reconstruction for a smashed window a couple years ago. This review gets 2 stars, instead of 1, for the mere fact that I didn’t have any problems when they fixed my window and some paneling the first time someone broke into my car. I had my window smashed in AGAIN yesterday and called them because I remember them doing a great job. I called to ask for a very broad quote. First, someone answered the phone and hung up on me after I asked if they could give me a pricing quote. I called back and was immediately told by the snottiest sounding woman that they don’t give quotes over the phone. Fair enough – if you don’t have all the information, you don’t want to mislead a customer. Fine, but you can probably give me a really broad ballpark, like I was requesting, if you maybe ask me what kind of car I have and if there is any other damage. No. She wasn’t having any of it. I asked if she could tell me if it would be a couple hundred or a couple thousand and she just rudely said she couldn’t answer that… again, I’m sure she COULD answer that. Then she told me they currently had a car in for a broken window and their window costs $ 600 because of the type of glass the car make/​model uses. She could have asked me a couple questions about my extremely standard car just to give me a very rough estimate. She didn’t have a single ounce of customer service so I hung up, called Super Auto Glass and they gave me an EXACT quote in 2 minutes (under $ 250) – with a friendly and helpful attitude.
Sorry, Sunset Auto Reconstruction… I’m a pretty reasonable person and always keep in mind the other side of the situations I’m in, but you could have at least TRIED to answer my question. I apologize for bothering you with a very typical phone call this morning.

My car was in rough shape. One side of my rear bumper was scraped, the other side was crushed and flapping in the wind, my front license plate was hanging by a thread and bent in half, and my front bumper was slightly out of place on one side. I paid Sunset Auto to replace my whole back bumper, and when I got it back they had washed it, vacuumed it. fixed my license plate, and popped my front bumper back in place, with no additional charges. I don’t make a ton of money, so little stuff like that makes a huge difference.

I LOVE these people! Utterly professional, helpful, honest, and understanding.

Back in the day this was the place to get your classic car fixed.

My paint crackled and is now cracked on the door. What a shit paint job. The guy yelled at me and hung up on me the last time I tried to talk to them about it.
In addition to the crackling and actual cracks. The paint chips off if you glance at it.
I am so sad I spent all that money, and the paint was supposed to have a «lifetime guarantee». Now the paint is cracked and the car will rust because of it. Except I no longer have money to fix it, since I gave these people my life savings to repaint it the first time.
I posted pictures of the cracks and the crackling so you can see it for yourself.
—-
update:
My paint is now also cracking and has chipped off on the roof of my car.
I’m furious.
I’ve complained but no one seems to care to reply.

In and out in 15 minutes.
Got a written estimate for insurance purposes.
Was treated like garbage at Don’s Auto Body on Clement. Any and all work will be done here instead.

Very professional. Car is perfect. Washed and vacuumed it. Good people.

Hmmm… an «auto body» shop that doesn’t repair leaks in car roofs… because there’s a rusty spot involved. At least that’s what the woman who answered the phone told me. Guess I won’t be going here this time around.

Unfortunately, my unassuming little Civic has been run into by bad drivers three times since I’ve lived in the city. I found Sunset Auto Reconstruction when I had to get some body work done the first time, and I’d never go anywhere else now. They are fast, reliable, and honest. They’re also State Farm preferred, so they bill my insurance directly, meaning that I just have to pay my deductible and go on my way.
I just picked up my poor car from them today after someone pulled the old hit-​and-​run into a parked car last weekend (sans note of course). Originally they said they could do the repairs next week, but after I explained my situation they were able to call in a favor and get the parts for me the same day I brought the car in. They saved me from having to figure out alternate transportation for the first week of my new job. Turned it in on a Monday afternoon and got it back on a Friday afternoon with a new fender, new bumper, new light cover, new door panel, new wheel cover, new windshield, wheels realigned and paint brand new. When I realized my left turn signal didn’t work upon leaving the shop, I went right back and they fixed it in 5 minutes.
Long story short, I’ve had 3 great experiences with this shop. I’d recommend them, especially if you have State Farm.

Awful. It’s been a couple years since they did my paint and it’s terrible it’s chipping all over, even places that definitely haven’t been bumped like around the hood by the windshield washers.
I would take it back and complain except the were so awful to deal with the first time.
They first told me it would take two weeks. Then when it wasn’t ready, they said two more weeks. And this kept going on finally after 8 weeks I got my car back. And when I complained that they should have been honest with me about how long it would take they called me a liar and said they never told me that.
I thought well that sucked but at least I have nice paint. Unfortunately it’s been just a couple years and now my paint is all chipped all over. I can’t afford to have somewhere else redo the paint so I guess I’m left trying to patch it with touch up paint so the car doesn’t rust.
Progressive was also supposed to guarantee their work but now they’re avoiding my calls and won’t give me an answer about getting it fixed by a shop that won’t have my car for another 8 weeks.

I was rear ended about a month ago. Tried to work things out with my insurance company, and the insurance company of the lady who hit me. Decided to talk to a lawyer. Everybody said to get an estimate.
So I did. Called my State Farm agent who suggested Sunset Auto Reconstruction. The service was no-​frills, super-​fast. Got a picture on record and a printout with my full estimate in no time.
If I do get my car repaired, I’ll definitely be coming back and will post an update.