Quote:
Originally Posted by gtahvit
Radz,
YOU ARE THE MAN!!!
Well, here's the good and the bad. The dealer's repair center basically refused to do the work and warranty the job. I couldn't figure out an angle to convince the insurance company to pay extra for warrantable parts, nor could I find an angle to get the dealer to warranty the repair for the estimated quote.
The LKQ scenario you describe above of finding a donor car and transplanting it into my car is exactly what the insurance company wants to do. After speaking to both repair centers here is what I found. The dealers wants all new factory pars and they want to recreate the rear quarter from scratch. The Insurance co. wants to cut an assembled rear quarter out of a doner car and install the complete rear quarter as an entire piece except for the outer body panels, lights, floor panels, shrouds etc. I'm pretty sure I understand the pros and cons of both. But in the end, the preferred repair center will give me a lifetime warranty while the dealer won't. And the preferred repair center has the option to refuse the LKQ parts if they aren't acceptable or adequate for the repair and warranty. Whether or not they will do this is anyone's guess.
So, with all things considered. I'm getting impatient, I want a warranty, I don't want to be the middle man any more and my gut, which has been wrong before, says the preferred center will keep my best interests. I don't have the time, to shop this job around, I wish I did but I just don't. That may sound a little hypocritical seeing as how much time I spend here, but that is a perk of the position I hold. 
So, the bad is I'm probably gonna ride it out with the Ins Co's repair center and just watch them like a hawk.
I haven't signed the authorization to work form yet so it's not too late. Does anyone have a problem with the donor car LKQ repair that I'm not catching?
And once again, thanks to everyone. |
It isn't too bad as long as the shop that does the work trims the parts of the LKQ assembly in such a way that everything overlaps and the z-cuts and such all perform like the manufacturer designed in the case of another crash in that area. When it comes down to it, if they can trim the parts they need, straighten them out, and provide enough corrosion protection, you probably will be okay, again, as long as it's done right. When I hear of an LKQ sectioning job I think of a hack chop-shop job where a bunch of people weld two halves of two different cars together to make one car. You can't do like that, but you can trim and fit different panels together and make it right, and if the shop can do that, and put it in writing, then you're probably going to be okay. I'd find a good shop, though, that works with Progressive, obviously
Quote:
Originally Posted by diarmadhi
Wow .. this has turned into a nightmare for you gtahvit.... Mine is going smoothly now.. the panels/hood have been replaced and it will be ready for paint tommorrow..
Things I have learned....
1. Know a good body shop before hand. I did and its made all the diference, it also helps that the body shop i know works with my insurance company and is a prefered servicer, and warranties the repairs for the life of the vehicle (as long as its owned by me).
2. EVEN IF THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IT MAY NOT BE TOTALED... the total cost of repair for my truck... 5381.41... the total retail from kbb for my truck is 3500ish.
3. You dont HAVE to work with the bodyshop doing the repairs. You can literally deal only through the adjuster. BUT it will help if you already have an open dialog, just take a firm stand that it will be repaired like NEW.
4. Non- OEM parts do NOT mean cheap plastic chinese crud... ALL manufacturers pretty much don't MAKE the parts that are assembled into your car anymore. The THIRD PARTY parts are usualy from the same people that supply the OEM (BUT MAKE SURE TO CHECK).
5. this is a tip for you gtahvit - dont talk to the other guys insurance.. ignore them and there adjuster. GO TO YOUR INSURANCE HAVE THEM DEAL WITH THE OTHER GUYS INSURANCE. They know how the system works and you pay them for there service, this is there responsibility. You are also ENTITLED to a rental car if you vehicle will be unavailable.
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No offense, but this makes no sense. How are you to know what is going on with your repairs? The shop is
supposed to be there to know what your expectations are and do their utmost to fulfill them with working with the insurance companies. I couldn't agree with the insurance company all the time, but, I did make sure my customer knew everything that was going on and involved them as much as they wanted to be, and made sure they knew I was working for
THEM not the insurance company; I think this gets forgotten by many shops. Maybe you mean not to argue with your shop (because, to me, it sounds like they aren't too willing to work for you) and I agree in that case - I'd find another shop.
Since you could be finding another shop, I'd say go with one that has good reviews that is recommended by Progressive or just have your insurance company deal with it (I'd pull your car from where it's at now though because it doesn't sound like they're on your side anyways.) Since Progressive has accepted liability, you shouldn't have a deductable, and your company should deal with the shop you have it at directly. You will be confined by your policy because of your contract, but I don't think it will be much different than Progressive, except for the LKQ garbage.
Like diarmadhi said, not all aftermarket parts are garbage. The insurance company is responsible for restoring the vehicle back to pre-accident condition so if parts don't fit well or look right, you can complain and they should be able to get it handled. Make sure your shop understands what you expect and be involved with the estimator if you are so inclined and have the time (yeah, right
). You only want CAPA Certified parts if they won't pay for OEM and remanufactured bumpers, when repaired correctly, aren't all that bad.
Also, perhaps mention to all parties involved, that (if your state has it) you are going to take your car to a state-run inspection station to have your repairs inspected. In California, we have a Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) that is run by the State's Department of Consumer Affairs and they provide a free service to any car owner who's had repairs done in that last three months (or whatever it is - I forget) and the customer brings in the repair invoice, and their inspectors go through the car, in the repair area, and make sure that everything was done correctly, and that the invoice accurately reflects what the repairs were (i.e. that everything the shop charged for, and the insurance company paid for was done and done correctly). I've had to use the BAR to threaten repairs shops that jacked me and that got their attitudes in check right away. If your state has a program like that, look into it, and make sure the shop and the insurance company knows that the way they repaired the car will be scrutinized. That should be enough to let them know you will be keeping an eye on them.