Repairs can get EXPENSIVE

[PyrPatriot]

In February I was hit from the side by a 2000s Toyota camery. The driver hit ice in a parking lot and couldnt stop. Oh they didnt have insurance. I didnt notice any damage, but it was dark and during a snowstorm. Initial inspection by my insurance company found a small dent.

No biggie. My only concern was the seal getting damaged and losing water fording ability. Initial cost: $700

I took it to a body shop that is known by the insurance companies to be...thorough. They have now estimated it is $4k in work!

Now, that's mostly labor with things like color matching adjacent panels, squaring and straightening the body to make sure it didnt get out of alignment (their words, not mine).

Fun fact: the door seal is $700.

2 weeks worth of labor.

So folks, even though damage might look minor, it can cost a pretty penny to fix on these new vehicles.

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[MoxiesDad]

The door sill is $769 (retail). It is different than the door seal (rubber seal).

 

[Renegade]

Holy Crap! I hope you're not coming out of pocket for all of that. It sounds like insurance fraud by the body shop to me. Buy some armor and cover up that dent, and prevent the next one!

 

[Rubiwoo]

The damage is hard to see from your picture. I use to appraise vehicle damage as an independent and in body shops. If your insurance company sent you to them, so be it.

 

[PyrPatriot]

It is hard to tell, but that bit is steel and is bent inward. The seal keeping the water out of the cabin has been moved due to the impact and needs replacing.

Yes, hard to see. Here is the undamaged driver side

I dont know how much of the seal being "damaged" is true. I forded some deep water that reached above the damaged area after the crash, didnt see any water leaking in nor did the body shop see signs of water inside where it shouldnt be.

Dont know how much of the "color matching" is necessary, but it sounds to be the majority of the bill.

My insurance is paying for it (uninsured motorist claim) and they told me I could go wherever I wanted. Body shop sent them this estimate, insurance signed off yesterday. My policy renewed after the crash and after the initial $700 bill assessment, but I don't expect my rate to go up as this was not my fault and the whole purpose of uninsured coverage is for this very reason.

 

[PyrPatriot]

The door sill is $769 (retail). It is different than the door seal (rubber seal).

Yes, both still and seal are in the $700 range (I was told) and need replacing.

 

[stickshifter]

I don't know anything about appraisal, but it seems like body damage to the rocker panel is always expensive to fix. Its one of the reasons that we install rock sliders. If body damage is confined to a single panel - like the front fender - its not too expensive, but damage to the rocker panel is always $$$ Good luck with the repairs!

 

[PyrPatriot]

I don't know anything about appraisal, but it seems like body damage to the rocker panel is always expensive to fix. Its one of the reasons that we install rock sliders. If body damage is confined to a single panel - like the front fender - its not too expensive, but damage to the rocker panel is always $$$ Good luck with the repairs!

I have the Rubicon rock sliders installed. Unfortunately I was a couple inches short of the vehicle hitting the sliders, and they hit the panel. Or maybe he DID hit the rock rail and it pushed in that part of the panel anyway. There was paint from his front bumper on the panel even after washing the part to look closer for damage

Thank you for your well-wishes.

Anyone care to explain to me what all the "color matching" is? Seems they are taking down and re-coloring the entire side of the vehicle to match the "new" part they are installing. Why not just color match the one part to the rest of the vehicle? And if they do the entire passenger side, will that not just make the driver side look off?

 

[5JeepsAz]

Sorry to hear this. Keep us posted. That invoice is something else.

 

[SuburbanGP88]

No repair to any modern vehicle will be cheap

 

[Gvsukids]

I have the Rubicon rock sliders installed. Unfortunately I was a couple inches short of the vehicle hitting the sliders, and they hit the panel. Or maybe he DID hit the rock rail and it pushed in that part of the panel anyway. There was paint from his front bumper on the panel even after washing the part to look closer for damage

Thank you for your well-wishes.

Anyone care to explain to me what all the "color matching" is? Seems they are taking down and re-coloring the entire side of the vehicle to match the "new" part they are installing. Why not just color match the one part to the rest of the vehicle? And if they do the entire passenger side, will that not just make the driver side look off?

Why not just call the body shop and ask?

 

[Moe_Fugga]

This is why insurance premiums are so high. Collision centers f**k the insurance companies who turn around and f**k us to pay for it and keep their profits up.

 

[PyrPatriot]

This is why insurance premiums are so high. Collision centers f**k the insurance companies who turn around and f**k us to pay for it and keep their profits up.

that is one aspect to the problem yes. I am sure that the insurance company has a lot of experience in knowing what is needed and now for certain impacts and how to sift through bs. Mine actually authorized $3900, the bill is expected to be $4200, the $300 discrepancy is what Jeep charges to come down and re-set the computer for any codes that get thrown from removing panels. That bill is a separate authorization my adjuster wants an invoice for

 

[IamAlan]

It is hard to tell, but that bit is steel and is bent inward. The seal keeping the water out of the cabin has been moved due to the impact and needs replacing.

I see those X-Treme .45's peeking out from underneath the seat.
Great projectile at a good price!

 

[syreeves]

Sounds like an excellent reason to have really strong sliders... sorry the OP is going through this. That sucks.

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