Neighbor Rearended me :(

[zman]

So, I just got out from my house and I was sitting at the traffic light for at least 30 seconds, then I felt this jolt from the back. A big Dodge RAM rearended my 2003 325xi.

It turned out to be my neighbor. The visual damage on the bumper were small. There were about 3, 1 inch, gouges on the rear bumper. I guess it was a light bump, but the jolt felt like when I released the clutch.

His insurance (State Farm) quoted me that replacing the bumper is only $500. Is this correct? They also told me that I could only go to body shop with $40/hr labor rates. I think this is insane.

Furthermore, since BMWs are precision car, should I worry about mechanical problems later? Should I do full diagnostic on the car, which State Farm will not pay?

The thing I am worry about taking my car to just a low-end mechanics are:
1. they don't know anything about European cars.
2. Seeing a good car, they could replace any good parts on the cars with old parts and I would not know about it until perhaps few months from now when things are start falling apart.

So, if you know any good trustworthy body shop in Manassas, VA area, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[Abdoman]

State Farm is full of poop. You can take your car anywhere you want to. I'm sure about the full diagnostic, as it sounds like it was just a fender bender, but you can take your car to any body shop and State Farm will have to pay for the estimate/repair. The body shops are very good at the insurance game, so let them deal with it. Just find a good body shop that specializes in high end cars.

 

[Kirby]

You have the right to use ANY shop. Here's the dirty story they are not telling you. They set up agreements with "preferred" shops, guaranteeing "authorized referrals" to get a negotiated lower hourly labor rate. The shop agrees to it to increase their volume.

So they will pressure you to use their shop, or a shop that charges the same rate, so they pay out less money. F!(*@# them. Use whoever you want.

 

[Big Daddy]

Both Gary and Kirby are correct, you can take your car to any body shop you like, that is the law. I also looked up your bumper, there are two options depending on your build date, however the bumper cover itself is about $500.00 in primed condition. It needs to be painted and there is the issue of labor. I would have my bumper shocks checked as well, they are about $100.00 each. Demand excellence and remember you have rights.

 

[maddog88]

I have USAA. My SUV (not our BMW) was rear ended; obviously their fault. I went to take it to our body guy who last year replaced the front bumper cover on our 325 vert ($800, including paint, prep an dinstallation).

USAA said we are free to use whomever we want. However, our guy, not preferred would have to have anything approved that didn't fall into resonable and customary as listed by the adjuster on their inspection. On bumper damage, ofter times things are found later as you really can't tell what is damaged un til the cover comes off.

They provided 2-3 names in our area of shops on their preferred provider list. We went with one of their guys and couldn't be happier.

With our "non-preferred" guy, anything found would have to be approved. The adjuster would have to come down again and look at the vehicle again (disassembled) and say OK. The advantage with the "approved" guy was the insurance companies do not hand out "preferred" status easily and if they say it needs a bumper shock for another $100, they do it and are not questioned. Of course there is alot of trust involved and the shop doesn't want to lose their preferred status and the jobs it brings. Their "honesty" is rewarded. Because of their preferred status, they got our $4500 job that they otherwise wouldn't have gotten.

Another thing, at least with USAA, now being in the loop, they also warranted the shop's work, even if I move. "An advantage to using our preferred shop, who will do it right the first time; even if you move across the country and you have a problem, call us and a different prefferred provider in you new town will fix it and bill us as long as you own the car".

My thoughts on the advantages of using the preferred shop................

 

[Big Daddy]

The advantage with the "approved" guy was the insurance companies do not hand out "preferred" status easily

Actually they do, all that means is that that company has an agreement, usually stipulating a discount for the company. In some cases they even have agreements with "preferred" shops to use aftermarket parts. We are lucky in the Seattle area, we have a member owned body shop who hold seminars and tech sessions on this very subject, others as well. Here is a link to their next session. My son is a body technician and he said he would avoid "preferred" shops as much as possible.

 

[///M SPEED]

You're speaking of Haury's aren't you Dan? That place is great! His shop can do it all. They have all the latest equipment too....

 

[Big Daddy]

Indeed I am, they do the finest work of any repair shop I have ever seen! They resprayed my bumpers for me and they look BMW NEW!