I have a front collision recently with my XB, luckily nobody is hurted.

Insurance company just inspected the car, and think it's fully repairable with 7000 dollors. Sounds a heck of money, but they won't total it, saying most are just body works except radiator, condeser and airbag.

Anyway, I find that the radiator, condensor, CAPA LT Fender and LT fender liner are from so called quality replacement part from alternate parts suppliers.

Is this ok choice for the repair?

 

You are entitled to stock replacement parts and the repair center of your choice unless you have crappy state laws. I would worry most about the fender being the right quality.

 

Ask for OEM parts!!! I made that mistake when my celica front clip was replaced and it looked bad! The body shop is probably charging your insurance for oem parts and buying cheaper aftermarket parts.

 

Thanks for the comments. They are really helpful.

I notice in the estimate of record:

************************************************
This estimate has een prepared based on the use of replacement parts supplied by a source other than the manufacturer of your motor vehicle. Warranties applicable to these replacement parts are provided by the manufacturer or distributor of these parts rather than the manufacturer of your vehicle.

If quality replacement part (QRP) appears on this estimate, it indicates that this estimate has been prepared based on the use of one or more crash parts supplied by a source other than the manufactorer of your motor vehicle warranties, if any, applicable to these replacement crash parts provided by the parts manufacturer or distributor rather than by the manufacturer of your vehicle.

IN ADDITION TO ANY SUCH WARRANITES, xxxxx PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING:
OWNER LIMITED WARRANTY:

We warrant that all quality replacement body parts (parts not manufactured by the manufacturer) identified on your estimate, are free of defects in material and workmanship and meet generally accepted industry standards this parts and labor warranty will be in effect for as long as you own the vehicle described in the estimate. This warranty covers cost of the part, lablor to install, and incidentals such as paint and materials and is specifically limited to those items. This warranty does not cover loss or damage that is unrelated to defects in the quality replacement parts. This is not transferable if any quality replacement parts are defective in either material or workmanship, contact your XXXXX representative.
********************************************

It looks like they will use parts from other crashed cars. I always feel tricky for those types of life time warranty. OEM is the reason I send my XB to the dealer.

I'll contact the adjuster tomorrow. I'm wondering, if I insist using OEM parts, what they will do try to convince me keep the current estimate. Will they say they are actually the same, or the new parts take time to get, or other causes?

And do they have to file an new estimate again?

 

7k sounds like alot of cabbage for a front end collision, no? Will they just give you the money or do you have to let their people do the work?

 

it is a lot of money. I guess I can take the check and tow the car to some other places for repair, which I really don't know. I'm quite new here and have no experience with any mechenic. Thus I'm thinking of going to the dealer for straight OEM parts.

 

man thats a lot i was in a wreck to, my front end was 1950 and change give or take. thats hood bumper right front fender and other parts i don't recall now. But check and see if you vehicle has frame damage or even core damage cause if so when you go to get rid of the box you will lose close to half of it value. and with 7000 worth of damage i am sure it is. don't know but maybe you can fight that angle with you insurance company. any questions more about this let me know. I know what they look for to recoginize frame damage and paint work to vehicles. but good luck with you repairs makes me feel a little better about mine now.

 

Thanks souldcracker, that's important information.

I just went over the estimate again, and notice:

Unibody Repair - Setup & Measure
Unibody Repair - Pull & correct

The labor hours are about 6 on these repairment. Does this hint any frame damage?
Then what's my best approach?
Thanks lot.

 

yeah unibody setup and mearsure and pull and correct means it hasframe damage. that means they will put it on the machine and clap onto the frame rails under the car and pull the frame straight. so if they fix you car and you look underneath the car on the rail you will see 2 clamp marks on each side. When somebody goes to appraise you car and they see those it will drop you value if not half at least 4000. you figure depending on miles a used box trade in is about 12 you would be looking at around 8000. now granted it is a rough guess but i know where i work we would wholesale a car with frame damage and that just kills the vaule. I would take that angle with the insurance company and be like look brand new the xb goes for around 15-16 so 7 grand in repairs is already half the value and when if i ever go to get rid of the vehicle I will not be able to get the value i should. I dunno if it would work but i would start causing a fuss and complain about it,And when you talk to the claims department speak to the manager you will have to start with the rep that picks up but if they give you the run around push to speak to a manager. let me know if you got any other questions and keep me up to date on what happens. also who is your insurance company.

 

Great information, soulcracker. Millions of thanks.

My insurance is with Geico. Anyway, I think most of them are the same, you got to fight over it. I'll fight as much as possible.

I just do some research on the web, and it seems I can check with insurance on the diminished value associated with the frame damage and other bodywork, and tell them I prepare to file a supplemental claim with legal service provider once the repair is finished. I plan to go such a check anyway, so at least I know whether the repair is correctly done. I'm not really care about the money issue, but for my own safty, and I just don't want to be ripped off my own rights.

I'll keep the whole thing reported.

Thanks again for the support and information.

 

If you insist on the OEM parts it will no doubt drive the cost of repairs up which might help your arguement to total the car. Let us know how it turns out.

 

Just talked with the adjuster who inspected my car.

He said if I want to use the OEM parts, I have to pay the difference. He said this is in the policy, so I guess I have to check it out on my GEICO policy. The aftermarket parts are made by some one called keystone, listed as

Keystone - Complete
3949 West Van Buren Suite A
Phoenix, AZ, 85009.

Also he tried to avoid answer me whether there is frame damage. Finally he admit there is repairable frame damage, and don't know how it affects the future sale.

I think I have several points possible to fight:
call the adjuster again see if he can change the estimate from repairable to total.
check how I can insist on OEM parts.
argu with representatives when the report is sent about the diminished value.

Any suggestions on detailed approach or new idea?

Thanks for all your concern.

 

Our body shop has used parts from Keystone and they are crap in my opinion. I've seen a tech try to put a aftermarket fender on a Camry and it did not fit. The gap between the fender and the door was visibly larger than the opposite side. I think he made several attempts to make it work and it looked horrible. The manager ended up getting a OE fender for it and making the insurance company pay for it.

 

Thanks for the tip, jonathan.

I just called the insurance commissioner of my state, and I was told there is no law protect me against using aftermarket unit. So could you mail me more information about your experience so I can talk with the guy see if they can change it?

I've also check about the diminished value. I was told since I was the first party, I cannot negotiate this value. They will have a representative talk with me about the policy. Does anybody has any suggestions on what I should say with the representative?

 

Talich, I feel for you, buddy. It sucks! I had a similar situation with my 35th Anniversary Z/28 that was clobbered by a Tahoe on a wet road. The insurance adjuster claimed the vehicle could be adequately fixed and had it sent to THEIR licensed repair facility. This was my mistake! NEVER have the insurance adjuster be the only one to evaluate the damage of the car. The insurance adjuster is looking out for the interests of the insurance company, NOT you. Get an unrelated second opinion, even if it means having to pay someone to evaluate the damage. Use the second estimate as a comparison for that of the insurance company. Do not use a related insurance company or repair facility. In most cases, the second estimate will be considerably higher! After all, the second estimator has nothing to gain by cutting corners or lying to you.
Frame damage is a serious issue. Most frame damage causes structural problems that will arise later on down the road. Tires will wear unevenly. Doors will not shut properly. Suspension parts will fail prematurely. Body panels will show signs of rippling. Paint may begin to crack in unusual spots, etc..
Needless to say, I no longer have the Z. 1500 miles after the "repairs" was all I needed to decide to lose my shirt and dump the car. I had to hire an attorney to get any sort of resolution to the issue and still ended up losing my shirt over it.
Bottom line: NEVER trust the insurance company!

 

Geico has always screwed people I know who carry them. Sure they have great rates, but at what cost? Customer service? Sending a fram damaged vehicle back on the street that your kids might be riding in? An insurance policy is basically a contract. I'd find an insurer who will acknowledge that all repair work will be done by a dealer using original equipment.

Maybe frame repairs have come a long way, but it's been my luck that the vehicle has never run the same again, and I just don't feel comfortable driving them. I still can't believe they are shelling out that kind of cabbage for an xB though. Another accident like that and they end up in the hole big time.

 

Thanks all again for the information.

Actually I was offered to an affliated bodyshop and I refused. I let the car towed to a scion dealer where I used have service. But I think then the estimate is done jointly by the adjuncter and the mechanic. I just called the mechanic and he confirmed that (he is on insurance's side), and said this is under the agreement with my policy (for aftermarket parts and others).

I'm not sure what to do. He says this estimate could be final even I find other guy to estimate. He even say you can tow the car to any other places. Damn.

 

Talich, the insurance company is going to do their best to make this as quick as possible. The sooner they can get your car under repair, the less chance you have of finding them responsible for other details. Document EVERYTHING. Take photos of all the damage. Even though the insurance company says they will finalize their judgements whether you have a second opinion or not, I still say you are better off with a second opinion. Any estimator will come the to the location of your vehicle to assess the damage, so it does not need to be towed to anyone else. Repairs cannot start on the vehicle without your permission, so take the time to get that second opinion.
If the insurance company refuses to up the ante on what the repairs will cost, your second estimate will give you a legal leg to stand on if future problems arise. Most insurance companies are not afraid of the consumer and will make things almost impossible for you. They tend to respond quite differently when confronted with an attorney.
Get pictures and get a second estimate from an unrelated party. If needs be, get an attorney.

 

Thanks, UV7.

Do you know what's the best way to find one expert for the second opinion? Should I just call some otehr body shop? Or is there any professional service on this?

 

I would call a few body shops and inform them of the situation. They will be more than happy to direct you towards any number of estimators. Good luck to you, man. I know it sucks.