Totalled??(Kidding)...what's next?

[Tacoman03]

So wife took Jeep out for a grocery run the other day, and an older couple ended up running into back bumper, while they "were apparently admiring it too much", the older guys exact words for reason for run in...so they have asked to not go through insurance, that's a first, but since it looks mostly cosmetic, what next steps would you take?
I'm thinking just running it up to a collision center and get an estimate....I am only worried about any damage due to tow hook getting most of the hit as well as steel bumper….
Thoughts?

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[xpcdoojk]

Sorry, that sucks.

JC

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

Some touch up and you should be good to go. Worst case you buy the sensor trim or the whole sensor if needs be.

Unless of course if you feel that this endangers the health and well being of you and the family, I'd be willing to take it off your hands. Do you suspect this might be a deep hidden conspiracy on the part of FCA ?

 

[Tacoman03]

Update:

Jeep Center estimate comes in at $925......wow! replace rear bumper, sensor and sensor harness and tow hook! I asked about keeping rear bumper and he said they charge a "$150 CORE fee"....????

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

Is anything actually bent or is this just a scrape?

 

[Tacoman03]

That’s what’s funny. I don’t see it but the estimator did there is a slight dent under sensor which helped push sensor back a bit. Weird as I can’t see it.

Is anything actually bent or is this just a scrape?

 

[hjdca]

I think I would take the money for the damage, spend it on another JT upgrade that I have been wanting, and leave the bumpeer like it is. Put some 303 on the plastic and you will barely see it. The red on the hooks - touch up paint, or buff it out with a buffer, wax it, and leave it.

 

[Russler]

Update:

Jeep Center estimate comes in at $925......wow! replace rear bumper, sensor and sensor harness and tow hook! I asked about keeping rear bumper and he said they charge a "$150 CORE fee"....????

Core fee on a bumper? Battery yup, starter yup, Bumper.....not so sure. Will be very interested in hearing how that plays out.

 

[Murgatroid]

So wife took Jeep out for a grocery run the other day, and an older couple ended up running into back bumper, while they "were apparently admiring it too much", the older guys exact words for reason for run in...so they have asked to not go through insurance, that's a first, but since it looks mostly cosmetic, what next steps would you take?
I'm thinking just running it up to a collision center and get an estimate....I am only worried about any damage due to tow hook getting most of the hit as well as steel bumper….
Thoughts?

What I come away questioning, is why such a minor ding could cost so much on a vehicle designed for rock crawling and banging about in the wilderness. This is where marketing and the engineers are always clashing.

 

[Tacoman03]

I asked as I have never even heard that term, and he said batteries, etc and now Steel too???

Core fee on a bumper? Battery yup, starter yup, Bumper.....not so sure. Will be very interested in hearing how that plays out.

 

[Tacoman03]

That's the thing, not sure 303 will do anything for a black, powder coated bumper......I feel bad giving the guy the estimate as he was probably thinking it was a tap....these new bumpers/sensors, etc are pricey to fix...even with steel bumper! Still, I am glad to have had the steel vs plastic!

I think I would take the money for the damage, spend it on another JT upgrade that I have been wanting, and leave the bumpeer like it is. Put some 303 on the plastic and you will barely see it. The red on the hooks - touch up paint, or buff it out with a buffer, wax it, and leave it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Core fee on a bumper? Battery yup, starter yup, Bumper.....not so sure. Will be very interested in hearing how that plays out.

Bumpers are a huge things for restoring - I can see them wanting to have that one to repair and sell as what in the old days was a "rechrome" - no chrome these days, so not sure what they'd call it. Not new, refurbished, perhaps?
They'll strip it, make sure it's dent free, refinish it and it will be like new.
It's a huge business. Sounds like a lot of folks aren't familiar with the body side of auto repair?
Put a contour gauge across the left side, then put it across the right - I bet it is distorted some on the right, could likely feel the difference. A good body guy could.

Hook is beyond buffing - but could be refinished. Depends on what you want or expect out of it.

Do you want it like new again as if it was never damaged - or is "cosmetically ok" ok with you?

Your call - your Jeep!

Me, my opinion, on such a new vehicle, I'd get it fixed like new. But that's me. If it was a year down the road, I'd likely pull it into my shop and fix it up myself.
Then there was the time we had a minor engine fire - I got a couple of bids, I had my own shop at the time, I wrote up an estimate to do the work through my own shop - came in a few bucks under the others, presented all bids to insurance.
I got the check to do the work. So I got paid to fix my own car.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I asked as I have never even heard that term, and he said batteries, etc and now Steel too???

Even if they weren't going to strip, straighten, and refinish that bumper, if it were aluminum, it would be worth cash as scrap. I took a bunch of stuff to a local scrap buyer, junk, small odds and ends, starter and alternator parts beyond repair, some aluminum castings, metal barrels, but the largest thing was an aluminum bumper off a car I was restoring for someone - an 83 SX4. A previous owner had drilled the bumper for a hitch and a huge CB antenna. I had the bumper laying around for a couple of years and tossed it in my truck to haul away.
The guy saw that aluminum bumper and lit up like I'd brought him a case of Canadian beer or something - weighed it - and gave me 40 bucks. I think it was 5 bucks for the other odds and ends, $35 for that bumper!

 

[steve68]

I got $75 dollars for LS block, all aluminum, the guy had a big smile on his face,

 

[Up venture]

If it were me I'd be looking at a number of after market rear bumpers or buy a take-off tow hook and buff the bumper

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