Accident / x5 (Pics)

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by bd3500

Geico seems to be a little bit better in terms of parts, but we'll see. Any pointers to try to get it restored back to the way it was with avoiding after market parts? I've taken really good care of this car...

Really, all you can do is request OE. At the end of the day, they view it as an 8 year old car with over 120k miles and will probably not easily put OE parts on if OEM or aftermarket parts are available at a much cheaper price. They may also try to use a refurbished OE bumper cover and so on. Push your insurance for it and get the shop to do the same. That is really all that you can do. Even the best shop in the world will use aftermarket parts if that is all your insurance will pay for.

[bimmerboy12]

Originally Posted by Boston X5 4.4

1.) She was at-fault which Police documented. Should I file with her insurance (State Farm) or mine (Geico) and work to get reimbursed?
Contact you insurance and give them all the details.

2.) In terms of body work, would you recommend that I take to a dealer or a body shop? I think BMW of Fairfax has a collision center.
Call your (reputable) dealer and ask them what collision center they use/recommend.

3.) Anything else I should know? I've babied this car and hope that the repairs will restore her to back to where she was.
Looks like a lot of $$$$ and may be close to the 75%. Make sure there is no frame damage.

good luck!

DO NOT get your insurance involved. Some insurance companies want to get involved to make money on something, when they shouldn't. The entire process should transpire with no involvement from your insurance.

[StanF18]

Originally Posted by bimmerboy12

DO NOT get your insurance involved. Some insurance companies want to get involved to make money on something, when they shouldn't. The entire process should transpire with no involvement from your insurance.

HUH?

OK, that makes like NO sense at all. Why would he go out-of-pocket for a $4,000+ repair? This is EXACTLY the time to rely on insurance. And regardless of who's fault it is, you always start off by calling your OWN insurance company to get everything documented by them. It does not matter if the other person's insurance company is responsible for footing the bill, you need your OWN insurance company to do the bidding on your behalf and have THEM chase down the other insurance company. This is a process called subrogation.

bd3500: I am very suprised that you had to deal with the other person's insurance company at all. GEICO should have been handling this and talking to the other insurance on their own, without getting you involved with State Farm. In this situation, State Farm is not interested in helping you, they are interested in helping their own insured. GEICO should have been the one to contact State Farm regarding subrogation, not you. Make sure you do not speak to State Farm ever again. If they contact you, tell them you have nothing to say and tell them to contact your insurance.

As far as OEM parts are concerned: the laws may vary by state. I know for a fact that in NJ you have every right to DEMAND OEM parts for your repair. Reputable body shops can, and do establish good rapport with the insurance adjusters, such that the automobile gets fixed to your liking and only with OEM parts.

You also have every right in NJ to request a body shop of your OWN choosing as long as they are officially licensed. Of course, the insurance company will still try to steer you to one of their pre-contracted body shops, but you are allowed to refuse and take it to one of your own choosing.

If they still have not started work on your car, I would call the local BMW dealer and ask which body shop they use for their newer models. Most BMW dealers only use reputable body shops that are experienced in working on high-end German makes. Then call that body shop directly (cut out the dealer) and explain the whole situation to them from start to finish. Again if the insurance law is the same as NJ, GEICO cannot refuse a body shop that you have chosen yourself.

FWIW, I have GEICO also. They took very good care of me when I was rear-ended a few years back and my X was brought back to mint condition using only OEM parts at a BMW-certified top-notch body shop.

Good luck!

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by StanF18

As far as OEM parts are concerned: the laws may vary by state. I know for a fact that in NJ you have every right to DEMAND OEM parts for your repair. Reputable body shops can, and do establish good rapport with the insurance adjusters, such that the automobile gets fixed to your liking and only with OEM parts.

You also have every right in NJ to request a body shop of your OWN choosing as long as they are officially licensed. Of course, the insurance company will still try to steer you to one of their pre-contracted body shops, but you are allowed to refuse and take it to one of your own choosing.

It also depends on what is actually in your insurance policy. MANY state that they have the right to use aftermarket or refurbished parts for repairs. It is very common.

I just went through something similar here in Georgia with The Hartford insurance company and yes, I was able to take it to the shop of my choice after I got an estimate from their preferred shop, but there was no way they were putting new parts on an 8 year old car with over 100k miles that was by no means limited production.

I suggest the O.P. read his insurance policy very thoroughly.

[flyingmachine]

Originally Posted by StanF18

HUH?

OK, that makes like NO sense at all. Why would he go out-of-pocket for a $4,000+ repair? This is EXACTLY the time to rely on insurance. And regardless of who's fault it is, you always start off by calling your OWN insurance company to get everything documented by them. It doesa not matter if the other person's insurance company winds up footing the bill, you need your OWN insurance company to take care of you in the process and have THEM chase down the other insurance company. This is a process called subrogation.

bd3500: I am very suprised that you had to deal with the other person's insurance company at all. GEICO should have been handling this and talking to the other insurance on their own, without getting you involved with State Farm. In this situation, State Farm is not interested in helping you, they are interested in helping their own insured. GEICO should have been the one to contact State Farm regarding subrogation, not you. Make sure you do not speak to State Farm ever again. If they contact you, tell them you have nothing to say and tell them to contact your insurance.

As far as OEM parts are concerned: the laws may vary by state. I know for a fact that in NJ you have every right to DEMAND OEM parts for your repair. Reputable body shops can, and do establish good rapport with the insurance adjusters, such that the automobile gets fixed to your liking and only with OEM parts.

You also have every right in NJ to request a body shop of your OWN choosing as long as they are officially licensed. The insurance company will still try to steer you to one of their pre-contracted body shops, but you are allowed to refuse and take it to one of your choosing.

If they still have not started work on your car, I would call the local BMW dealer and ask which body shop they use for their newer models. Most BMW dealers only use reputable body shops that are experienced in working on high-end German makes. Then call that body shop directly (cut out the dealer) and explain the whole situation to them from start to finish. Again if the insurance law is the same as NJ, GEICO cannot refuse a body shop that you have chosen yourself.

FWIW, I have GEICO also. They took very good care of me when I was rear-ended a few years back and my X was brought back to mint condition using only OEM parts at a BMW-certified top-notch body shop.

Good luck!

second that. you should get your insurance company involved and have them documented this. most likely, they will help you get the car repaired and then they will try to get reimbursed by the other party's insurance company without bothering you. remember to fax them police report that shows that you're at no fault. you may need to pay your deductible up front but they will reimburse you once other insurance company pays them back.

don't waste your time dealing with other party's insurance company. you're not their customer, they have 0 interest helping you to your satisfaction.

[bd3500]

Agreed, thanks for the feedback so far everyone. I turned the rental car in that State Farm had rented for me since they had stated they would not pay for it.

I also had the car towed from a shop that was in-their network (which is actually really good and only does BMW) to an even better shop called WagonWork in Alexandria.

Spoke the the adjuster and he will go check it out at WagonWork.

This whole experience has left me with a really poor view of State Farm. They got really mean quickly once I started questioning them on the parts and the fact that "their" shop wouldn't be able to look at the car until the 26th. I only brought up the 26th since they then stated they would not pay for a rental car for that entire period.

[Weasel]

That's crazy... why wouldn't they pay for the rental?

Maybe I'm lucky but I've always had good luck with state farm. But then I haven't been in that situation either.

[bd3500]

Originally Posted by Weasel

why wouldn't they pay for the rental?

The shop that was in their network couldn't get to the car until the 26th. To be fair, the shop in their network was very upfront. I would have left my car there had the State Farm issue not cropped up.

As a result, Geico agreed to pay for it and will do subrogation back to SF. The shop I had it towed to "Wagon Work" is supposed to be really good as well. State Farm did not want to cover rental until the 26th, which is understandable but apparently Wagon Work is more expensive of a repair shop.

[bimmerboy12]

Originally Posted by StanF18

HUH?

OK, that makes like NO sense at all. Why would he go out-of-pocket for a $4,000+ repair? This is EXACTLY the time to rely on insurance. And regardless of who's fault it is, you always start off by calling your OWN insurance company to get everything documented by them. It does not matter if the other person's insurance company is responsible for footing the bill, you need your OWN insurance company to do the bidding on your behalf and have THEM chase down the other insurance company. This is a process called subrogation.

bd3500: I am very suprised that you had to deal with the other person's insurance company at all. GEICO should have been handling this and talking to the other insurance on their own, without getting you involved with State Farm. In this situation, State Farm is not interested in helping you, they are interested in helping their own insured. GEICO should have been the one to contact State Farm regarding subrogation, not you. Make sure you do not speak to State Farm ever again. If they contact you, tell them you have nothing to say and tell them to contact your insurance.

As far as OEM parts are concerned: the laws may vary by state. I know for a fact that in NJ you have every right to DEMAND OEM parts for your repair. Reputable body shops can, and do establish good rapport with the insurance adjusters, such that the automobile gets fixed to your liking and only with OEM parts.

You also have every right in NJ to request a body shop of your OWN choosing as long as they are officially licensed. Of course, the insurance company will still try to steer you to one of their pre-contracted body shops, but you are allowed to refuse and take it to one of your own choosing.

If they still have not started work on your car, I would call the local BMW dealer and ask which body shop they use for their newer models. Most BMW dealers only use reputable body shops that are experienced in working on high-end German makes. Then call that body shop directly (cut out the dealer) and explain the whole situation to them from start to finish. Again if the insurance law is the same as NJ, GEICO cannot refuse a body shop that you have chosen yourself.

FWIW, I have GEICO also. They took very good care of me when I was rear-ended a few years back and my X was brought back to mint condition using only OEM parts at a BMW-certified top-notch body shop.

Good luck!

HUH? ok been in many wrecks and never had my insurance involved, if they settled for me, I would be screwed. Nobody looks after me like i do. to each his own. good luck.

[Boston X5 4.4]

Originally Posted by bd3500

As a result, Geico agreed to pay for it and will do subrogation back to SF.

Exactly why you go though your insurance company to fight the battle for you.