Opinions Needed: Someone bumped into my Viper (pics)

[FikseGTS]

My car was parked. An BMW M roadster was parked across from me and the person left the car on a slight incline without the emergency brake pulled all the way up....

the car rolled back, and bumped the drivers side rear quarter panel of my Viper...... the area that got hit is cracked and pulling back from the rest of the quarter panel.... its not just paint cracking.... the panel itself is cracked....

I called my insurance company and got all of his info and the adjuster is coming out to look at the car tomorrow.... here are some pics of the damage..... I think the panel needs to be replaced instead of some kind of bondo job..... not sure what the adjuster is going to want to do..... and how I should approch the situation...

thanks for any info....

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[MadMaxx]

Ok, so i'm a little bias... I say nail the insurance companies

James

 

[SmokinV10]

You can definitely repair that. I had my rear quarter repaired from a minor accident before. After it was done, I couldnt tell that it was EVER in an accident. I was meticulous enough to make sure that they showed me the back side of the panel before re-installing it back onto the car. I couldnt tell even from the back side. Make sure you take it to a shop that knows how to repair fiberglass. Make sure the fiberglass is heated, cooled and cycled a few times to make sure there is no long term shrinkage. I dont think the insurance company will authorize replacement of a rear quarter. Damage doesnt look too bad... Find a good shop who does good work, and youll be happy.

 

[Ulysses]

Doesn't matter what the insurance company will authorize. You are entitled to have your car back to the original shape it was in before the accident. Most adjusters will try to weasel out of it, and most are successful in trying because they rely on the fact that most people do not know this. BE INSISTENT on having it replaced and be meticulous in your search for the right body shop to do it. You will find that most top notch repair shops are on the insurance company's recommended repair shops list.

 

[SurfSnake]

I would demand a new panel, the insurance company should put your car back to pre loss condition which means replacing the panel. In my 20 years of auto body I have never seen a repaired fiberglass panel last more than 2 years, If they still refuse to pay, ask them for a life time warrantee on the repairs. And try to use a independent shop with a good rep. not a drp shop.

 

[Richard K]

I had very similar damage occur to my GTS on Friday morning. I was parked towards the back of a strip mall parking lot with no other cars anywhere close. About an hour later I came back from some appointments, went home and when I was putting the car away noticed that someone had scraped across the passenger side of the car from the door to the bumper, leaving deep scratches and cracking the rubber section of the rear bumper area. No note, no nothing!!

I assume someone pulled up close by to take a look and either got too close or hit it pulling away or backing up.

I went to 3 separate shops for quotes and all three said they would need to replace the bumper. The shop I'm going with was the most expensive at approx. $4K, but they went over every inch of the car and pointed out some spots even I missed, including some scuffing on one of the new HRE's. Ulysses is right you should be entitled to have it put back to it's previous condition. A good shop (especially one that deals with higher end vehicles) will understand that and deal directly with your insurance company to justify getting what needs to be done covered by your insurance.

Good luck!

 

[SteveBCloud9]

Brooks, Sorry to hear the news about your snake. A little fiberglass and you are as good as new. You could try to get an entire new panel but I don't think it's going to happen. A word from the wise.....

The squeaky wheel gets the grease..... don't let up.....

 

[Jerry Dobson]

Hey I work for an Insurance Company. I would insist on a replacement panel. Since it's a Viper, most companies will fix it back to the original state (new panel)

It is VERY rare, but now that you have paint work, bring up the "Loss of Value" claim, see what they say. Some states are still required to pay. Since you can no longer claim the car "Has never had paint work" when you sell it.