Bumper cover experts, Help!

[jrd1990zr1]

FWISW

Here are a few pictures of mine before paint. The urethane bumper cover manufacturer recomended a special material with mesh reinforcement.

After checking it closely they found a small crack on the left side too. So entire bumper fascia was refinished.

[LGAFF]

You can ask Brett how many 53 out there are not patched or filled? hell watch them build a custom bike, they use body filler to smooth it, etc...thats a normal repair

[jrd1990zr1]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

OK time for a dose of truth....

Tom does not matter if you get a higher estimate, you are entitled to a reasonable industry repair. Meaning you are entitled to be paid for the average labor rate in your area, for reasonable repair(shop with average skills and tools). Bumpers can be plastic welded and reconditioned. DV is almost impossible to get because ultimately if your shop screws up the car, its their issue not the companies.

DV has evolved some but it was originally an alternative to the payment for repair, not in addition to... GA is the only state which recognizes first party DV, and in your case this is third partyloss, so proving a DV is very difficult....as stated your shop is paid for a proper repair if its not proper thats between you and the shop, not you and the ins company.

Thats reality...profiting from ins is stupid and the fact is in states were insureds and claimants can abuse insurance settlements, everyone pays out the *** for permiums. The other reality, no one is paid more for paying less on claims, and if you do... you won't be in business long, because you would lose your *** in a class action suit at some point.

Ins companies also don't make alot of money off your premiums, the profit margin is maybe 3-7%, and the rest is made off of investments in low risk things like municiple bonds. So to make money you need reasonable risk and a lot of insureds....so service and keeping people happy is a priority, even when its the other party because its a potential insured.

People having accidents sucks, getting your car damaged is worse, but some of the paranoia is unfounded. I think I have a pretty good rep here in being honest and fair, and thats why I have been a claims manager since I was 26 years old. Lets not fill peoples heads with craziness

Black is also known as the easiest color to match, in back with the exception of newer metallics black is the one color than generally requires no blending into additional panels.....

Pick a decent shop and I am sure the adjuster will work with them, if you have issues ask for a manager.

Lee,

This is not a slam at you but most apraisers and adjusters only care about repair at the least cost. Insurance companies are in business to save money on claims. And they typically tell the repair company how to fix a vehicle and what to use, so agreement on method and material is between Tom and the Insurance Company. Again you may be different in how you work in the business so please don't take this personal, we are going to disagree on this, sorry.

I have been down this road in New York. Your state may be different. Tom is entitled to having his classic car repaired to pre accident condition. (I am assuming it has not had previous damage to the car). The key issue here is that this is a classic limited production car. If it was my wife's Pontiac, I would agree with you.

I believe Tom can argue with the Company and insist on a replacement bumper. My 1990 was hit in a similar fashion and repaired as shown in my post. I argued the significance of the car with the insurance company and they wrote a check to redo the job with a new OEM bumper.

I think if my property is damaged and its value is reduced I should be compensated.

Key is to argue this is not a Pontiac or a neon, it is a limited production ZR1.

My opinion FWIIW. John

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Originally Posted by jrd1990zr1

FWISW

Here are a few pictures of mine before paint. The urethane bumper cover manufacturer recomended a special material with mesh reinforcement.

After checking it closely they found a small crack on the left side too. So entire bumper fascia was refinished.

This repair in Post #41 is done properly as just one of the preferred methods of repair. Each shop may have their own preference as to which method they use.

Plastic welding can also be used as a method. These two methods are the "norm" when a replacement bumper cannot be obtained. The "patch" method is what I used to fill the ZR1 badging holes on EX5023.

If I had a large crack or tear in the bumper, I would plastic weld and then use the mesh/adhesive on top of it, on the backside, and the urethane filler on the front side "after" plastic welding the front side as well. You want the weld to melt together on both sides of the surface. Then, do the cosmetics to the outer surface.

And Lee, you are absolutely correct. I have never seen a 53 that hasn't been patched in a non factory seam area.

[LGAFF]

Adjusters are not paid for the cheapest estimate:

-They are paid to write what is visable, they do not guess what might be damaged
-They ensure alternative parts are considered; if anyone should know what a parts monopoly does to cost it should be a ZR-1 owner.

-They ensure if a part is going to be replaced its actually replaced, not repaired and money pocketed(This is fraud)

-They get an agreed price with the shop, and 99.999% of the time there is no issue, and lets not forget the shop has liability here too so they are not going to agree to a half a$$ repair.

I have overseen the handling of more than 900K claims in my offices, including NY, during a typical 5-7K claim month I may see 1 complaint, most are not justified....last month I totalled a BMW that already had $25K in repairs done to it, because it was the right thing to do

You are free to ask for whatever you want, even a pontiac should be restored to pre-accident condition by industry specs. Going through your own insurance may get you what you want, don't forget what you are entitled to by contract is probably better than what is owed legally....espcially with classic car ins.

If every panel was replaced and every car that was damaged was totalled, imagine how much more your premiums would be......Insurance fraud costs $12.3 billion dollars a year, if you are from NY you should be well aware that no fault fraud comes out of your pocket to the tune of 500M per year. Heck I busted a fraud in 2006 that has stung 3 carries for $1M.....and it started with a field adjuster inspecting the loss.

Adjusters are paid to ensure a fair settlement in a timely manner....thats it


I don't engage in these conversations because its unfortunately a waste of time, people believe the reality they want to..........I guess I go to bed along with most adjusters knowing we do the right thing

Theres 15 minutes I will never get back

These same adjusters are in MS/Mo/OK/TX right now working 12/13hr days to help people put their lives back together

[xlr8nflorida]

-They ensure if a part is going to be replaced its actually replaced, not repaired and money pocketed(This is fraud)



Just to clarify. I am straight as an arrow and not involved in fraud of any type.

If your car is wrecked and you get a check from the insurance company, you can do whatever you want as the owner. You can do a quick fix or you can even leave the car as is and drive it damaged. You are still entitled to damages. If my back bumper is smashed up and the insurance agrees to pay for it. I can keep my back bumper crashed up, use the $$ for beer or buy 2 cans of spray paint and shoot it myself.

I think if you read my posts you will see I'm all about being fair. I agree insurance companies can't be paying out fortunes all the time. Not all people are unethical. I got hit years ago bad, rearended, I was in bad shape but decided not to sue because that is what everybody else does. So being a nice guy, now I still have problems years later and probably will for life.

I'm all about being fair.

There are good adjusters and bad adjusters. I remember an adjuster that told me he had 50 corvettes. (chances of that by the way??) He spoke for about 45 seconds and I knew he was full of ****. He didn't know anything about SMC or repairs. He was cheap to the bone.

I have had other adjusters, give me great estimates or given me supplements later on with no problems.

I think it really comes down to the adjusters and the company. Some of the adjusters will almost never give you new parts, even if the body shop has to put tons of work into used parts that will never look right.

All my experiences with State Farm have been excellent. Whenever I'm involved with Progressive or no name insurance companies, its always low ball and a pain in the ***.

Those are just my experiences, others experiences may vary.

[LGAFF]

If the company writes a part and you decide not to fix it thats fine, but if you bill for a part knowing it does not need to be replaced, thats fraud.

People do it to cover ded etc....its fraud

Seen shops prosecuted for it

[xlr8nflorida]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

If the company writes a part and you decide not to fix it thats fine, but if you bill for a part knowing it does not need to be replaced, thats fraud.

People do it to cover ded etc....its fraud

Seen shops prosecuted for it

I agree 100%. I just wanted to clarify as Fraud is not my thing

[LGAFF]

No I do not think anyone was commiting fraud, just want people to understand Ins Companies are not out to screw people

[ScottZ95ZR1]

Originally Posted by jrd1990zr1

Also I would tell my insurance company they are under no circumstances are they to pay any of the claim.

I'm no expert with auto insurance claims but in the recent repair of my car after being rear-ended, I first planned to deal directly with the other party's insurer (AAA) after my insurer (State Farm) informed me she had accepted fault.

AAA sent a 3rd party estimator to my home to inspect and photo the damage, and a day later their adjuster emailed me an estimate totaling just $1,800 to replace the bumper cover. Anything requiring supplemental payment(s) would have to be authorized by that 3rd party estimator.

Bottom line is I chose not to proceed and informed AAA not to send me a check - that I would file with State Farm and let State Farm subrogate with them after the repair was complete. When the repair was completed the cost (including $2K for a suitable used bumper fascia, impact bar, and absorber) was close to $6K. I paid my deductible out-of-pocket but received a reimbursement check from AAA just 6 weeks later.

I am glad I decided to file with my own insurance company. My thought was that State Farm would be more responsive in general as I've done business with them for years, and they cover 6 vehicles and my home. I'm sure AAA would have made things right, but it was going to be alot more frustrating getting there.

Now, I guess I'll have to stand-by to see what happens to my premiums, but State Farm assured me I would not pay more as a result of the claim as I was not at fault - and AAA ultimately paid the bill.