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Originally Posted by np2004
Last night as I was grocery shopping at a local market a witness told me a large SUV with an intoxicated driver hit a vehicle in the parking lot and in trying to flee hit my 08 4.8i with the side of his SUV. The witness could not see the license plate since it happened so fast but gave as much information as he could to the police officer that arrived. I filed a police report, spoke to my insurance company, and tried to see if the grocery store had cameras which they didn't in the area my X5 was. The damage done was the back tailgate is smashed in the portion that comes down not the trunk portion that can be lifted up and the bumper has some deep scratches which were all noted on the police report. I am taking my X5 to the dealership where I purchased it from for an estimate on how much it will be to replace the damaged tailgate and bumper. When I am there should I have them looking into anything else in particular that could have been damaged internally to the vehicle since it was parked that I cannot see visually? Thanks
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Sorry to hear your situation. I got rear-ended when my X was barely 7 months old. I had both bumper and muffler damage, but wound up getting it back in PRISTINE condition.
I too went to the dealership I bought my X from. But rather than getting a quote from them, I went straight to their Service Director, explained the situation in detail, and asked him to recommend the best body shop he knows of. It was the body shop the delaership uses, and I wound up dealing with the body shop directly, which meant less chance of miscommunication. I was calling the body shop owner every other day, to see how the work was progressing. Insurance covered everything (I think it came out to around $2600 or so).
Don't know how it works in Ohio, but in NJ you do NOT have to use the body shop your insurance recommends. You can go to any state-certified repair facility, and request OEM parts for everything. The insurance is obligated to pay.
Bottom line: Find out who your dealership uses for their body work, and take your vehicle directly to that place for an estimate. Have the insurance adjuster come there and get him/her to speak directly to the body shop owner. Always try to cut out as many of the middlemen as possible. When you get the right people to talk directly to each other, it makes the whole process smoother.
As far as your other "systems" or components being damaged, a good body shop will be able to evaluate that. In my case the damage was confined to bumper and muffler replacement (along with PDC sensor).
Hope that helps.
12-15-2008, 11:23 AM
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