Hi All,

I'm looking for advice regarding my meeting tomorrow with the appraiser from Geico. Someone backed up on the hood and bumper while the car was parked and that person's insurance is paying for the damage. However, I can almost guarantee I will not be satisfied with the adjuster's assessment of what needs to be done. There is a 12" wide scuff up the bumper and hood but it is mostly a clear coat scuff. There is a narrow scratch in the paint on the hood and some paint damage on the bumper too.

I think the whole bumper and hood should be painted and cleared. What if they will only cover painting the area that is damaged and clear coat both parts everywhere? I don't think that will look good. There will be clear coating over rock chips.

Have any of you been through this or have suggestions on how I can ensure the car is fixed right?

Matt

 

They don't get to dictate what gets done - take it to the dealer and have them give you an estimate. You don't have to get it fixed where they recommend either. Their client shouldn't have backed into you - not your fault.

 

Don't take it to the dealer, take it to a competent shop who is going to do the repairs and let then negotiate with the adjuster. You can bring the car wherever you like by law.

 

Ditto'! Never take it to a shop they "recommend". That shop works for THEM not YOU and they will pump and dump your car in and out so fast your head will spin. You want the work done RIGHT and by a shop trying to please YOU and not the damn insurance company. Oh, and now that the car has an accident on it's record I'd be asking for compensation for reduced value of the car come resale time - yes they will hate you for thinking of that but it's a fair request!

 

^this word for word

Full bumper and hood re spray nothing less.

Document everything so if you decide to ever sell you can prove what the damage/repair was.

Post the damage pics

 

I went through same on my BMW. Make sure to align on expectations with your shop. If there is the smallest scratch into paint on your hood (I'm sure you can find one) as a result of the accident, then a full repaint is called for. Make sure your shop understands you expect a full prep with sanding out chips. After it's done, drive car straight home, park it for the ~3 week cure time and schedule your clear bra install. If you go this route, make sure the shop knows you intend to cover it. They may give it more time in the oven/advise on cure time. I went from a heavily rock chipped bumper & hood to something that looked brand new + protection against future damage.

Oh, and make sure to take plenty of pictures of the car before repair to show to subsequent buyers that the repaint was only due to superficial damage

Good luck. Hopefully you can make lemonade from this incident!

 

I mentioned the dealer because here I have a dealer who does Porsche certified body and paint work. I agree that you can take it wherever you want to get it fixed, so get some recommendations and find the best place near you.

 

Thanks for all the ideas and comments. I knew you guys would would understand. I visited a highly reviewed body shop here in Boulder, CO (not much of a car town) and the person that looked at my car for 1 minute freaked me out. I thought I was going to be stuck with a band-aid repair. I will find the right shop.

 

Agreed, go to the best shop you can possibly find.

 

If your and their insurance cannot agree on settlement, as in my case (I had OE parts rider on my policy) I had claim filed through my insurance instead and had them go after their company instead. As it was not my fault from the insurance adjuster report, no fault on my record. My insurance (Farmers) surbrogated with Liberty mutual and ended up replacing mine with OE hood and bumper as per my policy although Liberty tried to replace with used parts . They told the shop they were going to send a cut off front end of a vehicle for shop to dissasemble and install

 

I have no issues with a used hood as it's still an OEM part and will be prepped, painted. Odds are slim for A/M or used parts anyways as these cars aren't terribly common. No company will use A/M or used suspension parts either, only cosmetic.

Keep in mind, if you are hit by someone and it's 100% their fault, they have no argument on what to do (as long as it's realistic). They are obligated by their insured's policy (liab) to put you back in pre-loss condition.


If my car has solid gold wheels and they hit me, they have to replace them, plain and simple. As a third party, you have no obligations to them.

 

pm pwdrhound on here. he knows the best shops in colorado. he can find you the best place for all the work needed.

 

It looks like I will most likely need to go in a similar direction as what rxbike mentioned. Geico will not take responsibility for preping any chips that are not near the damage but they have to clear coat the entire part. Which means they will be clear coating over chips which is BS in my opinion. The adjuster did not understand why that was BS and probably doesn't deal with people that object to these kind of important details.

Like rxbike said, it's time for some subrogating. It's the only way I'll get the hood and bumper prep'ed and painted completely.

Now if anyone has a really good recommendation for a shop in Denver/Boulder that would be great.

Thanks again. I have not been on 6speed much lately. You guys are great!

Matt

 

Thanks 32

 

As stated before, find the shop you're gonna use and drop the car off. Let them negotiate with the adjuster. No one is going to let the adjuster dictate what needs to be done. You're just gonna get yourself aggravated for no reason. No competent shop will paint over chips, the adjuster knows that.