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Reply With QuoteAsk a few other smash shops for quotes, and query the bumper thing.
Rear end Repair - Why not new bumper?
To make a long story short, someone hit the back end of my 2002 Holden causing over $5,000 in damage. The other driver's insurance will cover the cost.
I asked for the vehicle repair quote for review and noticed that all parts were new except one. Its the Rear Bumper Bar Cover Inc M/U. Rather than "NEW" the code was EXC meaning Exchange. I inquired about this and was told that it was industry practice to exchange the bumper bar (not sure what M/U stands for; anyone know?)
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone can confirm that this is standard industry practice or is someone trying to save cost at my expense?
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Ask a few other smash shops for quotes, and query the bumper thing.
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Originally Posted by Reaper
Donating member
New parts are only fitted when the cost to repair the damaged part is greater than the new part. The insurance company is only going to restore your vehicle to the way it was BEFORE the damage, not to the way it was in 2002. There fore a putty up and paint is going to be cheaper than a new bumper and paint. The real bonus is you get a new paint job.
Not all insurance companies are run like that, there are some that will only use new parts if available and there are others that will go the used parts.
Donating member
Correct!....but the one CANDIVE is insured with wants to use exchange parts,...as he stated!
luxo barge
Yes Einstein, but as he stated, he doesn't know, that's why he was asking
Thanks for the feedback guys. I just found it odd that every part ordered was new except this one. Maybe they don't have new bumper bars available for 2002 Holden Statesmen anymore? You would think a panel beater would rather work with new parts than mess around with an old one. I would think the labour cost of preping an old bar would outway the additional cost of a new one.
Donating Member
I think that because Stateman bumper bars are very expensive they repair them if possible. I recently had damage to my rear bumper and expected to get a new one from my insurane company but they repaired mine instead.
MY RIDE
I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken.
Ask your repairer to get the dealership that he's buying the new parts from to match the change over price for a new bumper which they WILL DO
If they dont,find out the difference from the change over part to the new part and explain to the repairers that your NEVER going to be happy with an exchange rear bar on your car and ask the repairer to foot the bill (for the difference of Exchange to New),there buying price of the part will cover it easily.
Last edited by GE4CE; 24-12-2009 at 12:10 PM.
Tells it like it is.
What difference does it make??? As long as the repair/paint job is of good quality why does it matter that your 7(?) yo bumper cover is replace by another 7 yo bumper cover?
Reaper
Obviously none
Just keep paying your insurance premium with no claims for years only to have someone slam up your a$$ on a car that was as good as new then except an insurance company stick a reconditioned/exchange part on your car for an accident that wasnt your fault.
Hmmmm good point
Tells it like it is.
If it's a good quality repair and paint - how would you or anybody else know if you weren't told? Paying an insurance premium doesn't get you a new car - it is intended to return the car to the state it was before it was pranged.
Repair it properly and it will be indistinguishable from new anyway.
Reaper
Take it easy mate, as he stated he didn't know what was going on and the way you wrote that it sounded like every insurance company will go the used parts if they can. I just clarified that.
Oh and reaper, by returning the car how it was before the prang if it had an undamaged bumper before then putting a fixed one isn't returning it to how it was before. I care what they use as I pay my premiums and I know how much bog and crap there is under the paint. Would you care if you had a prang and they just pulled the panels back into some reasonable sort of shape and then filled it with bog? Going by your thoughts then after it's painted you would never know so who cares.
Donating member
The better(?) insurance companys will let the insured select the crash repairer of their choice. The repairer may put 'new' on his quote for various parts to be repaired or replaced, but the final decision is down to the assessor. Though it's possible some repairers try a little harder than others to satisfy the customers wishes. I had a Magna slightly damaged on the bonnet and one front guard by falling fence posts from a ute in front recently. The damage would have been beaten and putty wiped a few years ago, but not now with the high hourly rate, new bonnet and guard were fitted as being the cheaper option for the insurance company. Needless to say, I didn't complain!
Always choose the insurance mob carefully. I have always personally found the company endorsed by the motoring organisation here (RAA) to be the best.....and cheapest.
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