Should this be Written Off ??

[ScottyDave]

Hi, I'm in need of some feedback. Earlier this month my car 2001 Y reg, was reversed into by a pickup causing quite a nasty dent in the n/s rear quarter, it has actually split the panel in 2 places 1 is 4" long the other 2". The authorised repairer when examining the damage suggested welding the splits, beating it out then filler, I told them I thought the panel needed to be replaced to do it properly, as I thought his idea is just a bodge.
The engineer has now looked at it and decided it's not viable to replace the panel as it would write it off, so he has authorised the bodge repair, Im not happy with the planed repair and have voiced this, but basically been told thats what im getting like it or not.

[GeordieBoy]

Its not a structural part of a car, so no a repair rather than replace is fine to me.

[neildavies]

i'd have expected a replacement panel personally, but I don't know what insurance companies are authorising these days

[steve_earwig]

Pug seem to do 2 replacement panels, one the whole thing and one listed as "repair", I'm not sure what that is but they're both 377 quid

I guess insurance companies being insurance companies they're going to go with the cheaper repair if they can get away with it. Perhaps you could get your own estimate but I'm not sure if you can argue with their engineer. Anyway, cutting off all the spot welds is fairly labour intensive, I reckon that'll be a good few hours and probably take it over a grand. I'd worry they wouldn't take enough care over rustproofing and allow the panel to rust out after.

Look at it this way, a good panel beater can weld the panel and get it fairly straight, then fill it & spray it so only you can see it. I'd find out who'd be doing it and take a gander at some of their other work. If you don't like it I think you should be able to take their pay out and find someone you do like.

[omega]

i agree with you it sounds a bodge
i would go to a couple of other body shops and get some quotes and some diffrent views
i dont see why you should have to have a bodged repair for something thats not your fault.
if you can get it written off you could buy it back and bodge it yourself for about 200 pounds

[Welly]

I work next door to a repair shop and they told me that the big insurers who have a list of nominated/approved repairers give them a fixed fee for each car (something like £1,700.00) regardless of the amount of damage

So, you can imagine if they were to receive £1,700.00 for this job then they'll be rubbing their hands. You don't have to use the appointed repairers you know but you are encouraged too (for the reason above, so they know what the bill would be). I'd speak to the claims dept. and state that you wish to take the car to a repair shop of your own choice. It's no big deal as you can still drive around in it.

On a similar note, this guy had an Audi TT in which had been 'fixed' by fixed-fee's-r-us but the punter was unhappy with the finish.......turns out it should have had a replacement roof skin but they just filled and pulled it to shape......the true cost of the repair was closer to £10K by the time it was finished

That panel of yours will never look straight imo and Silver is especially difficult to do well.

[FarmerPug]

It sounds a bodge but ive seen repair shops they do a grand job of things like that youll never notice, in fact a local mecanic who started off in bodywork repair was able to cut a wheel arch out of a structurally intact 106 and replace the slightly rusty one in a 106 i had bough, welded it in, filled it, and sprayed it and honestly there was not a sign anything had been done. It depends on how reputable they are.

[ScottyDave]

Thanks, for the feedback. Its at the repairers now, they're doing the bodge and I have no choice Engineers word is Gospel as far as the insurance company is concerened
Would liked to have taken it to an Independent but a I think a bearing has started to break up in the gearbox as very noisy to drive so the Authorised repairer recovered it to their place for the engineer to look at which kinda snookered me, 2 days beforehand worse bloody luck

That panel of yours will never look straight imo and Silver is especially difficult to do well

Just going have to take a good long look at it and if it aint right send it back, and keep sending it back till im happy

[FarmerPug]

Its difficult for us non bodywork people to say its difficult to get right but having seen the magic they do on seemingly unfixable cars i can say if you get the right ones youll never know its been hit, if you get a cowboy well then it will look worse than it was hit.

[Gary406]

i think a good bodyshop will do a good job, let us know the outcome