Cost estimates for accident repair

[pauljmcnulty]

Hi all,

Ideas for cost to repair this? Idiot drove in to me in a car park last night. []

He's prepared to pay, but of course doesn't want insurer involved as it's just a bit of filler. He did knock the wheel slightly, so it'll need alignment checking as well.

 

[zcacogp]

Can't help Paul, but sorry to hear your news.

Keep in touch with him and I hope he is as good as how word; it's amazing how forgetful some people can become soon after the accident ... []

And don't accept a sub-standard repair. I'd suggest that should be knocked out rather than filled (not that I know what I am talking about) and the whole wing sprayed. Yours is a nice S2 and should be repaired well.


Oli.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Luckily there was a witness, so he's not really got a leg to stnd on when it comes to paying.

I was thinking new wing? Plus spraying, probably quite a lot of paint to blend it in properly. It was enough to just mark the wheel rim as well where it pushed the wing in; I'm not that worried about the mark, it's pretty minor, but it will need the front alignment checking as well. My first thought was at least a grand all-in with VAT?

At least I know I can get the alignment done for the price of a bag of chips if I travel far enough North! [][]

 

[PSH]

Sorry to see this Paul... don't you just hate fools who can't drive...lol

I'd want a new wing at least.... the surrounding panels must be blown in for any chance of a match which is difficult at the best of times when talking metallic paint. I doubt the guy who hit your car has any idea of true cost and will either resist paying or go threw the insurance. I hope it get's resolved to your satisfaction, good luck.

Pete

 

[Hilux]

Alignment only?

I`d check it out a bit first if I were you.

If he hit the wheel hard enough to misalign it then the lower control arm, the strut and the steering arm will have been severely shocked.

Are the rack mountings ok? Is the track rod end ok? Has the track rod bent? Is the rack ok? Have the control arm mounting points been moved? Is the control arm lower joint ok? Has the strut bent at the bottom? Has the control arm been bent or cracked?

I always go through insurances if its their fault. If he hadn't hit you your car wouldnt be under scrutiny? The only person that benefits from not going through the insurance is the other party. Suppose the damage is considerable then see if you can get money out of him!

 

[Sandspider]

At least you saw him do it! (Someone crashed into mine in a car park and just drove away [] [])

On another occasion, someone crashed into my front passenger side wing while I was driving - cost for a new wing alone was £400 if I remember right, plus fitting, paint etc.

 

[Joss Walker]

I'll add my sympathies, this stuff can be a real pain, especially when it feels like you just paid a big bill to get other things sorted.

Another word of warning though, I'd definitely get a bodyshop to provide an estimate, I had a similar experience with a minor knock on a bumper but when the trim came off there were all kinds of bends and stresses hidden from view.

 

[andy watson]

Hi Paul,

Sorry to read this mate, but for goodness sake do not accept second best! Get 2 quotes QUICKLY! and at least one for a new wing.
Send them to the other driver and give him 24 hours to pay or inform your insurance company.

The only thing to bear in mind is that for a proper and correct job your insurance co. my wright the car off!!

Good luck with getting it sorted, keep us posted...(even in Italy!!)

 

[nick9one1]

Some good points made by everyone here.

You definitely don't want to have it filled. A good dent repair guy will get the panel looking back to normal without any filler. then just paint to worry about. Like others have said it will need blending into the door, bumper and bonnet - not cheap.

Like Paul has said, a lot of other parts need checking. It may not be as simple as just an alignment.

I would strongly recommend getting some *free* damage repair estimates from reputable garages and putting it through insurance. Unless he doesn't have any. I presume you have his registration? You can check insurance on www.askmid.co.uk

Is there any CCTV where the incident happened? If so I would try to get hold of it if you can. If he suddenly disappears or denys the whole thing you'll need it.

Good Luck!

 

[Copperman05]

Sorry to hear this Paul, I know how it feels. I agree you should always go through your insurer, not sure why he wouldnt as 3rd party claims do not affect no claims bonus and he will have to declare the accident anyway for any future insurance.

Trouble if you dont is he may decide not to pay or have work done on cheap, etc. With your insurance company involved you will have legal cover to chase a claim through the courts (to force them to pay when its their fault).

At the very very least have it looked at by a body shop of your choice, Dave at Daytona Coachworx is very good at this and will give you a price that will stand up to insurance company scrutiny.


Edd

 

[T3rra]

Very unfounten, but MIT as well make the best off it. Go though insurance, you deff get a new wing, new underseal. Paint blend? There prob paint the whole side off the car from the hips down. £1000/1500 the insurance company will be charged.

I would expect it 2 come in quite high that way. My nan had her rear bumper replaced and painted on insurance, apparently they replace the rear boot, decals the lot, was on Astra, was £1500/2000. Which was what I payed 2 have my how car repainted, and wings repaired e.c.t


If u had the wing fixed and Blown in, maybe, £300/500

Insurance will be cheaper 4 him anyway, excess £500? And increase in premiums.

 

[Copperman05]

Third parties claims do not involve an excess, as it is his fault, his insurance company would pay the bill in full, he pays nothing.

Paul, I would strongly advise you contact him again and tell him you have changed your mind and want to go through your insurance company (why do him any favours, he drove into you and wants the easy way out), tell him it will not affect his no claims or involve an excess. If you dont and the work is unsatisfactory or done to a poor standard you may find yourself footing a rather big bill to get it all right.


Edd

 

[zcacogp]

This is turning into a rabble, but if you have a witness and are confident the guy will pay up then DON'T go to the insurance company. He still has 'right to settle' - meaning he is allowed to resolve the matter as he chooses, and if he chooses not to go through insurance then so be it. Bodyshops are well known for putting together larger-than-necessary bills when they know an insurance company is involved - I've seen it first hand. They make a chunk more cash for the work and we all end up paying for it through increased premiums.

No fault accidents increase premiums, so if you report it to your insurance company then it will hit you in the pocket as well as him.

If you know a good bodyshop whom you trust then take it there for a quote, and preferably somewhere else for a second quote too. Tell them that it is a private job, insurance company not involved, but you want it done to a high standard. Pass both quotes to the other party, saying you want settlement within 24 or 48 hours, or you will report it to your own insurance company. See what he does. (Even better, take the other party with you when you take the car in and ensure he puts his credit card down as payment. That way, if any unexpected extra costs crop up then he is paying for them as well.)

As has been said, ensure that the geometry mounts at the front are still as they should be and that any quote for repair includes these parts, as well as a full geo. But any guesses at costs on here are just that - guesses, from a bunch of internet experts who haven't seen the damage. Take it to someone who knows what they are talking about and see what they say - much more reliable.


Oli.

 

[Diver944]

Sorry to hear about this Paul but at least you are philosophical about it and no one got hurt.

Looks almost similar to the damage to my own car two months ago:

As some of you know I run my own small workshop repairing minor paintwork damage and in my case we decided to replace the whole wing. Our bill for the repair came out to just over £1500 including VAT and we were at least £500 less than the next cheapest quote. The company that hit my car settled directly before we even started the repair, if it had gone through insurance we would have charged about £50 more because I know they wouldn't pay for another 30 or even 60 days and I would have had to send reminder letters chasing them as well []

My car is black so we didn't have to blend very far onto adjacent panels to match, but with Pauls metallic grey the door, bumper, badge panel and bonnet would need to be painted at the very least. They all involve extra dismantling - handles, mirror, lights indicators etc.

Pauls dent is a lot smaller than mine and would be easy to repair with panel beating and a light skim of filler. If his car was black you would most likely get away with only painting the wing and it would still match to the naked eye. Rough cost circa £200-£300. However that would still leave hin with a crusty bottom [] so I would recommend putting it through insurance in this instance.

 

[Copperman05]

Sorry but I have to disagree with you here Oli, fault and non-fault accidents have to be declared to your prospective insurance companies anyway whether you settle them outside the normal avenues or not. To not do so may invalidate your insurance (and believe me they will look good and hard when the time comes) and may leave you uninsured (or at least in battle with your insurer as to who is liable to pay).

Whilst you may take the risk to do so yourself, that choice is yours, to recommend someone else to do it may land them in a whole lot of sh*t, and court, and with massive costs...


Edd

 

[zcacogp]

Edd,

You are, of course, entirely correct in all that you say.

I stand by my post ... []


Oli.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Hi all, thanks for the thoughts! (And the call, Paul []) I'm off to a local classic restorer this afternoon for a quote.

Whilst I understand the attitude of claiming the maximum possible, I'm not that sort of character; I can confirm that I don't have whiplash either. This was only a walking-pace, at most, knock, and it's purely because it was the corner that hit my wing that made the damage more concentrated. The damage to the wheel is so slight it's nowhere near as bad as even a light bump on a kerb, let alone the potholes I drive over all the time, so claiming for damage to the steering and suspension would be taking the proverbial a bit IMO. A basic alignment makes sense, it would be frustrating to find it was slighlty out later on, but even that's really pushing the limit of my conscience!

I know it's possible to repair it, but that's not ideal as I'll only need to have more work done at another time to address the usual crusty bottom. It seems fair that the wing is replaced, so that's what I'll push for. This gives me the chance to get the inside looked at as well, addressing any corrosion on the a-pillar for instance, and I can get some other bits sprayed at the same time. Of course, I'd want these treated seperately and pay for them myself; the good news is that it will cost a bit less as part of the repair. That way I get something back for the time and trouble.

I think it's only fair to offer him the chance to pay it direct if he wants, saving his excess and no claims. I know you have to notify the insurer of accidents even if you don't claim; I did this once over a tiny knock that only needed a new light and touch-up to the bumper on an old car, and they thought I was mad to tell them. Certainly claiming does have ramifications, even if it's totally non-fault. I still have to declare a non-fault claim I had on the van, and although the existing insurer have never hiked the price it makes calling around for alternative quotes a pain.

 

[Will1981]

I'm having my wing repaired after my neigbour reversed into it...

Also sourced a replacement bonnet to be sprayed at the same time.
So for both wings painting, some repairs to the stonechip and an inside and out bonnet spray £660. I have used my body shop for many years and know how good they are which helps..

No insurance involved but we are quite friendly, however if I didnt know them I'd be inclined to go through insurance even if its extra hassle.

 

[zcacogp]

Paul,

Good, sensible outlook. Well done. I like the idea of getting the wing replaced more cheaply to sweeten the deal - that's got to be the silver lining to the cloud.

Hope it all goes well.


Oli.

 

[Copperman05]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty


I think it's only fair to offer him the chance to pay it direct if he wants, saving his excess and no claims.

Paul, I understand your point at being fair, but its a common mis-conception that NCB will be lost and excess be paid, you only pay excess or lose no claims when claiming on your own car. Third party claims never have excesses or lose NCB for this very reason, no one would ever claim fearful of the loses, the only thing he would have to do is declare the accident to his insurers and he wont have to pay a thing for you car to be repaired.



Edd