Frame damage?

[Chineywhale]

Originally Posted by Chineywhale

I researched a place in Atlanta called Bavarian Collision. They have really good Goggle reviews and they said that they use a BMW certified frame measuring machine. However, I looked on BMW's website and their not certified. There's only two certified locations: United BMW (United Collision) and Nalley BMW (Nalley Collision Center). Do you recommend I use a bmw certified collision center?

Spoke to adjuster today. They told me they are allowed to use aftermarket parts if available. I told her my concerns about aftermarket parts and she said I'd have to discuss it wit the appraiser.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Chineywhale

Do you recommend I use a bmw certified collision center?

Personally I wouldnt care. IMO these are marketing ploys that the shops try to achieve to pull in customers. Yes you will hear 'they dont do used parts' or 'they follow factory procedures', which while possibly true does not mean another shop cannot do the same. (You would be shocked at how few 'factory procedures' there really are on bodywork repairs...)

As long as the shop you chose will go to bat for you, and understands your demands for a perfect result, THAT is what matters.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Chineywhale

Spoke to adjuster today. They told me they are allowed to use aftermarket parts if available. I told her my concerns about aftermarket parts and she said I'd have to discuss it wit the appraiser.

Sigh. You are not controlling the situation...


This is the adjuster for the other parties insurance? What is in their policy with their insured has no bearing on what you are required to accept from the person that hit you.

(Caveat- I am not sure how GA/MA law works in terms of insurance laws modifying legal liability questions)

How I would handle: They are liable to the damage their insured caused. Their insured hit your car with original BMW parts- hence they will be paying for original BMW parts. Period. You will be having the work done at XYZ. They have had the opportunity to inspect the car. You are done with them. you will pay the bill and present them with the final repair amount. there is no requirement that you allow them to be involved with any aspect of the work. Should they refuse to pay the claim once the repair is done, you will sue the insured. (not them, you will sue the other driver!) This is hardball. we can do this the easy way, or the hard way- they chose.

Or you can just talk to the adjuster and the claims people and let them control the process. this is how it works, when you ask them for permissions and pre-approvals, they know they have you.

You should also research Diminished Value in Georgia.

[Chineywhale]

Originally Posted by ard

Sigh. You are not controlling the situation...


This is the adjuster for the other parties insurance? What is in their policy with their insured has no bearing on what you are required to accept from the person that hit you.

(Caveat- I am not sure how GA/MA law works in terms of insurance laws modifying legal liability questions)

How I would handle: They are liable to the damage their insured caused. Their insured hit your car with original BMW parts- hence they will be paying for original BMW parts. Period. You will be having the work done at XYZ. They have had the opportunity to inspect the car. You are done with them. you will pay the bill and present them with the final repair amount. there is no requirement that you allow them to be involved with any aspect of the work. Should they refuse to pay the claim once the repair is done, you will sue the insured. (not them, you will sue the other driver!) This is hardball. we can do this the easy way, or the hard way- they chose.

Or you can just talk to the adjuster and the claims people and let them control the process. this is how it works, when you ask them for permissions and pre-approvals, they know they have you.

You should also research Diminished Value in Georgia.

Hey ARD, the accident occurred in MI, which is a no fault state. As a result, my insurance covers my damage and their insurance covers theirs. So the adjuster from my insurance company stated that they can use after market parts if available.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Chineywhale

Hey ARD, the accident occurred in MI, which is a no fault state. As a result, my insurance covers my damage and their insurance covers theirs. So the adjuster from my insurance company stated that they can use after market parts if available.

Sorry. I thought I read you were dealing with their insurer. I got confused with you were moving to GA...

Where is the car registered and where is your policy? Still in MI?

Do you HAVE TO deal with your policy? As a matter of law? I dunno

FYI, quick read that even in MI, you should be able to go after the other driver for up to $1000 of stuff not covered by the policy. Read up on your rights, figure out how to leverage....

GL

[ChuckG]

A BMW certified shop is supposed to use only BMW parts. If the other shop will do that for you it should be OK.

Chuck

[Chineywhale]

Originally Posted by ard

Sorry. I thought I read you were dealing with their insurer. I got confused with you were moving to GA...

Where is the car registered and where is your policy? Still in MI?

Do you HAVE TO deal with your policy? As a matter of law? I dunno

FYI, quick read that even in MI, you should be able to go after the other driver for up to $1000 of stuff not covered by the policy. Read up on your rights, figure out how to leverage....

GL

So I got the initial estimate from the appraiser. My insurance company sent me an app that I used to take pictures of the car. See attached estimate.

[ChuckG]

I got rear ended about the same as you and the initial estimate was about the same as yours. The final bill after disassembly was $13,700. It was repaired very well by a BMW certified shop. I noticed that your estimate included an aftermarket bumper. I would not allow that even if I had to pay extra.

[Kostyan]

Guys picked up mine from the certified BMW shop and disappointed in quality of repair. The SA said they did their best to align both tailgates but the gaps are a bit bigger compared to what was before, and that's after use of brand new OEM parts.

Makes me feel pissed off for going BMW-certified shop route. Guess not one shop will make the vehicle the same.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Kostyan

Guys picked up mine from the certified BMW shop and disappointed in quality of repair. The SA said they did their best to align both tailgates but the gaps are a bit bigger compared to what was before, and that's after use of brand new OEM parts.

Makes me feel pissed off for going BMW-certified shop route. Guess not one shop will make the vehicle the same.

In the past when Ive had repairs done I will arrange to have interim inspections by me during inspections to make sure it will turn out right. Before paint; after paint but before re-assembly. On the P car the last time, there were some issues with orange peel, which I identified after they did the buffing but they had not started re-assembly. Easy enough for them to work on it some more without major re-prepping.

If you wait until pick up- all shiny and done- you will surely get nowhere- they arent going to repull the body work at that point.

BMW-certified is just a marketing gimmick that shops achieve to get them BMW customers...IMO.