Has anyone had to replace and paint the front right fender?
 

So recently, some chick cut me off and caused me to smack into her drivers quarter panel. I hit her with my front right bumper area just below the fog light. There is a decent amount of paint damage and the plastic is actually ripped by about an inch and a half near the fog light. I assume this means a whole new fender will need to be furnished along with painting and blending. If so, does anyone have any idea what this would cost? Note: insurance claim is in progress. This is strictly so I can compare what the cost should be to estimates I receive.

Thanks all.

Image of my damage at the scene of the accident (paint damage is hard to see in this photo):
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7...1032300011.jpg

Thats the bumper not the fender.

Probably a new bumper skin, maybe otehr misc stuff and paint. $1400.

A

Odd. When I looked at the piece of plastic, it seemed as though it was the same piece as the fender. It's all plastic and is all attached. How is that just the bumper?

RealOEM.com * BMW E70 X5 4.8i Side panel, front - Part 1 (Side panel, primed, front right) is the piece that has the paint damage and crack. That matte plastic piece bottom left in my photo isn't as big of a concern to me.

See the part surrounding the fog light? It goes all the way up, over the wheel well and surrounds the headlight.
http://image.automobilemag.com/f/671...w_x5+front.jpg

It is the fender, they wrap around and the bumper is mostly the black part in the center unlike most cars.

That's what I thought. With that said, ard, how about a new estimate? You still think $1400 holds true?

Fender itself is about $1,000. From the pic it looks like it can be repaired and repainted. Plus you need a new bumber mask as ard said.

How would they repair such a rip? Just pop it back and put some bondo on it and repaint? Wouldn't you need to blend the new body piece with the surrounding pieces as well? Seems like quite a bit of paintwork, at the least.

I would have guessed $2000 with a new fender for around $800 included. If it is repairable, then slightly less than that.

Depends on the specific type of plastic used. There is plastic welding, or various types of plastic repair; then surface filler and paint. Less paint than if the whole fender has to be painted from prime.

Yikes. I thought the rip was a reflection at first. Repairing that is technically possible but you'll likely not find a shop that wants to do it for a reasonable price.

It looks like replacing the fender and bumper mask.

Fender is around 1k with prep and paint around 500 for it. Plus the price of a new bumper mask and installation.

It won't be cheap.

Welp, this better be covered by the offending woman's insurance company. I have a claim going through them right now, my insurance doesn't even know about it - unless contacted by her insurance company.

The police report states that she was not in a turning lane and went to turn left from the middle lane (3 lanes wide) while I was in the left lane (which is not a turn only lane; can go straight or left).

I'd say thats pretty good odds that I'll get 0% liability and she'll get 100%, no?


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...01321&t=k&z=20
See the northbound side? Where that grey vehicle is? Now see the u-turn in the middle of the median? Well, I was in the left lane going straight and she was in the middle lane just ahead of me. She put her blinker on at the last minute and turned into the u-turn. She claims "well, I had my blinker on" and I said that just because your blinker is on, doesn't mean you can just turn.

My bad. For some reason I thought there was a seam by the headlight and never looked at it.

The problem with replacing the fender will be that you would need to blend the color into the door and onto the hood. As a rule of thumb I go $800 per panel plus parts...so if indeed it was a new fender it is $3500 ish. Door, fender, hood plus stuff.

OP, you should get recommendations for 'best body shops' from the forum. Don't assume that since the "BMW dealer uses us" means they are the best.... good to hear but nothing beats recommendations.

DO NOT settle for her adjuster telling you what your claim is.

Good luck

A

since youre in NY go to C&D auto body in Hackensack NJ, a bit more expensive than the rest, but worth the price. Matt Casiano is the owner, great guy

Btw, what insurance company does she use? please please please dont tell me its progressive

Its not progressive.

Do you guys think its odd that her insurance is asking me to get an estimate and have it faxed to them by "my shop" and telling me its not needed to have their appraiser or adjuster come look at my car? Is that basically them saying "figure out what it costs and we will cut a check"? Or is it the complete opposite? I've never heard of it done that way unless they are ready to cut a check.

Very good sign. Choose your shop well, make sure they understand your expectations. The shop will know how to deal with the insurance.

Typically the insurance will then contact the shop, maybe ask a few questions and get a few photos.

'getting a check cut' is not something that you need to push for... once they give the shop the OK, then the shop will handle the billing, etc. If other items come up, they just add it to the claim. If you insist on a check, then it can get messy with reopening the claim. etc

Agree that it's a good sign. It means that they don't have a drive-in adjustment center or adjusters under contract in the area. They will deal directly with the body shop. Once the body shop gives them a multi-thousand dollar estimate, they might hold up the repair to send an adjuster to see it, but any dispute will be between the insurance co and the body shop.

What if I know a guy who will do the work for me but I get an estimate elsewhere? He's my buddy but doesn't have his own shop or anything so it wouldn't be a legit estimate. He's restored a few older M3's so I definitely trust him with this job.

Thats a little on the shady side, but you shouldnt have a problem. Just have a shop give you a quote to provide to your insurance. If her insurance company just cuts you a check, then pay your buddy and pocket e savinvgs if any. :)

How's it shady? I asked her insurance to just send an adjuster out and they said "no, we need an estimate from your shop." So I need to get an estimate from a legit shop. I already told my buddy I'd throw him some cash if he helped me out on this. So, what other ways are there to get a legit estimate? It's not shady if I just ask for an estimate. How does the shop know that I have an insurance claim? That's the point of an estimate, to see what the cost would be BEFORE work is done so you can decide if you want to do it or shop around different body shops.

Sorry for being a bit abrasive but saying something is shady, that really isn't, is kind of asking for it. Just my opinion. :thumbup:

No no. The part that could be seen as shady is that not an approved shop would be performing the work. On shady in the eyes of insurance. Trust me, if I were in the same boat, I'd do the exact same thing. :)

Gotcha. My apologies for the rash response.

Ard, what did you mean when you said something about not letting her insurance's adjuster tell me what my claim is? My claim is that their driver cut me off and caused an accident. Period. Or were you talking about the repair costs?

Nothing wrong with doing that (^^^). The issue is if he takes off the bumper skin and finds damage underneath....you've already agreed to the cost to repair, accepted the check, and closed your claim.

And what if something goes wrong in a year, maybe there was contamination on a part and you get a paint blister? In your case maybe you are cool with it, but some people may find themselves SOL.

Finally, I take pictures of damage, insurance claims, work orders from the body shop, and stuff them in a folder if I ever sell the car.

I can tell you if you have to tell a potential buyer "A buddy did it" you will suffer more devaluation than having a work order from a recognized high end shop.

Agreed. I have thought of that a bunch of times. I'm still undecided on what I'll do. I, first, need to get the estimate and look at what kind of work is involved. Not only is there the issue of repairing, but I also need a vehicle. I don't want to have to rent a car any longer than I have to - if at all.

I'm thinking I may take a check from the insurance agency and let the money sit in an account until I can get some more time to set aside to deal with the repair issues.

:iagree: Good points.

To me, using a professional shop vs having a friend (or myself) do it, comes down to the nature of the repair. If it is replacing a bumper which comes prepainted, it is easy to decide. If it is a repair that has some complication to it, I would be more likely to use a shop.

These fenders are a thermoplastic. They can be repaired, but some shops won't touch them, as the repair has to be done exactly right. The risk is apparently that the TP plastic fenders include a mold release agent in the plastic, and that means that things don't always adhere when the repair kits are used. Some shops have botched it, and had to go back and put a new fender on afterwards.

If it is getting a new fender, and the friend has access to a proper paint booth, then I would consider it. If the estimate is based on doing a repair, I would lean towards a pro with a warranty that is dealing with the insurance company directly, in case they have to spend more.

Good points as well.

Another aspect- if your insurance has 'preferred shops', and it turns out the best shop you can find is a preferred shop, then often times there is a warranty on the repair.

I once had a windshield replaced as part of a repair. 12 years later I was getting a windshield done and they discovered rust where the old shop had gouged out the adhesive. Transfered the car to a body shop, and the insurer - via the 12 year old claim- paid for it. The company that did the work 12 years ago was gone....

While this is HER insurance, there is nothing wrong with using your insurance to gain this coverage.

Often times the threat of losing the preferred status will help you with the warranty...

Well, ignore all this if it is a lease. ;)

Other option is to phone around and see if there are any 07 - 10 X5 in the wreckers, you might even get lucky and get the right color.

That would be a nice solution that I could take care of myself. Hmm..thanks for that idea!

had similar damage done by the dealer while it was in for regular maintenance. They had their body shop refinish the existing fender and bondo any "tears" and it looks pretty good - amazing what they can do these days. They re-did the entire front on BOTH sides of the vehicle - it looks brand new with no discoloration. I don't know the cost unfortunately since it was covered, but I just wanted to say that it can be repaired without replacement no problem. Hassel BMW body shop in Freeport, NY.

Ok, thanks for the heads up. My truck is actually in the shop (since last Thursday night) for a bad crank shaft position sensor (wouldn't start; iDrive said tranny malfunction; long night on Thursday getting it towed). After that, I'm going to bring it to an indy and see what they say about the damage.

Update: Adjuster just came. I didn't get a chance to go to an indy and get an estimate. The adjuster said I need a new fender, paint, blending. He applauded the design of BMW for the funky fender. As did I when he said I needed a new one.

I'll report back the bottom line price once he calls me later. He said that insurance company prefers to just cut checks so that works out well for me.

That's basically the same reaction my friend that owns a body shop said. He took one look and said, "Is it molded? No? Why the f*** would they make it like that?"

For sky high insurance claims!

haha, precisely!

Appraiser came in at $1672.xx with parts, paint and labor. He also threw in new grills and a new Roundel.

Should I go elsewhere and get another quote?

Nope, that's right up there with what I was thinking. Nothing wrong with that.

I was expecting more...

1000 for fender
500 for prep and paint
172 for your knicknacks

that's probably about right.

OMG.

Where, pray tell, will the paint/metalics be 'blended' so that there isnt a distinct "repainted fender" look?

This needs blending in the door and hood, and clearcoat of door, hood and fender.

But what do I know. Don't bother getting any estimates...just take the check, and use bondo and rattle cans, and you can be the smart one with that extra cash in your pocket!

After all this hi-falluting 'paint talk' is just a conspiracy to jack up repair costs.

OP, listen only to those posts that reinforce your pre-conceived ideas...don't go to a real shop...sounds like a plan

I'm very confused. I'm getting the impression you were directing this towards me...but you said $3500. That's why I was expecting more. Can you reword your reply?

always get two quotes and one always being from a dealer.

then i would repair it from the back so the crack lines up and put the money into your payment or to pay off some other debt... or if you have no debt to put it in your savings account.

Do you think the insurance company will cut me a check for a quote from a dealer after they've already had their guys come check it out?

I just made an offer to the insurance adjuster handling the claim. I said double the quoted labor rate and give me the correct tax rate (they quoted 6.75% when it's really 8.25% in my area) and we can come to a resolution.

I think that's fair.

no, but they may rethink their number and move it a bit higher.

for example you call them and say that you got a quote from a BMW dealer and it was 5K, then you say to the insurance company that their estimate is wrong and then you can come to a better number.

that works too. insurance companies will always give the lowest number, and have a high number for them not to exceed... my buddy got 8700$ for his totaled truck, we called the insurance company and said how the heck is he going to buy a comparable truck to his for 8700K, (it was a full size tundra with low miles) without skipping a beat they gave a bit over 11K. they knew 8700 was too low.

No I cannot "reword" my reply.

The estimate you received from the adjuster is woefully low, the work described will be substandard...and you seem inclined to pocket the check and get the work done by a buddy, without recognizing the need for INDEPENDENT estimate, nor even a rudimentary understanding of painting a $60k vehicle.

Listen, sweetheart...

Just because everyone knows you on these forums and thinks you're end-all-be-all and jerk off your ego all the time doesn't mean you can come in here and be a dick for no reason. I asked you to reword your reply because, as I've seen quite frequently with you, you reply with one-off sentences and jump around from idea to idea more than a skitsofrantic. It made no god damn sense. Then I ask a question and you go and insinuate that I'm an idiot. Have I ever dealt with this type of thing before? Nope. Hence why I came here and posted my situation for you guys to give me advice. If I had all the knowledge you seem to have - I certainly wouldn't have posted here requesting help.

Get off your high horse and either help or gtfo. Thanks.

Will do!

Best of luck.