Wreck, best quality cheapest repair?

[Mike Corn]

I wrecked my trac and hit a small fence and a 4x4 post. I have pics, but cannot figure out how to add them.

Basically the hood and fender are bent near the driver side and on the corners where the two meet. The whole grille assembly needs to be replaced. Also the Headlight panel is cracked. I bent my passenger side side rail and have a long scratch on the molding above it. I also have a rear bumper ding my wife hit (or she says she didnt, ok) something.



My deductible is 2k and Progressive says 2500 in damage. Body shops are estimating 6 hours to repair the hood and 3 for the fender, 4 paint (hood) and 2.8 for fender. They said they will only paint the small piece near the dents to "Blend" properly.



I asked if it was cheaper to buy the fender / hood and have them paint it and body shops tell me they have to blend it into the doors , etc. However he did not say anything about blending the front bumper assembly I said I would provide dissassembled.



I can get a new hood, fender, grille assembly, chrome stepbars, hood hinges, headlight panel for 899 on ebay. All body parts come already primed.... Free shipping !!!



Question... Do you think its better to just buy all these parts and see how much it costs to paint the whole truck? I mean 1300 just to repair and paint the existing hood / fender, paint the disassembled grille assembly (Which i would have to install) seems like a lot. Granted they did throw in sanding and painting the rear bumper for 250.





Chrome sidesteps

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350758634858



Fender

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370862356036



Hood

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370876466662



Bumper cover

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370876421216





Headlight panel

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350791471194

 

[Richard L]

Mike C,

Your best bet is to check with friends or neighbors who had body work done and get their opinions. Nobody can recommend a local shop unless they live near you hand have had work done there.



From the description of the damage, you may also have a cracked or damaged radiator support...they are actually made of fiberglass.



My wife wrecked my new 2001 Sport Trac when it was only about 4 months old. The best body shop and painters were at the local Pontiac dealership, so that's where I took it. They found the cracked radiator support when they were removing the old damaged bumper and fender, and my damage does not sound as bad as yours. That support was over $400 plus labor to replace the cracked one. So just be prepared for a higher cost than originally estimated because there is always the possibility of hidden damage. I even had to have my driver's door painted even though it was not damaged, but they had to do it to blend the paint?



I just let the insurance company verify the hidden damage, so it was not an issue for me to worry about. That would be my advise to you...pay your $2K deductible and let the insurance company worry about the rest...that's why you have insurnace.



...Rich

 

[Gavin Allan]

I rear-ended a Tacoma without brake lights a few years ago (had like 3k miles on my nice new 'trac), and messed up a front corner. Hood was OK, but bent a wheel going over a curb. Otherwise, sounds like very similar damage. Initial estimate was something like $2600, and approved by insurance co, but the shop found more after they got into it. The total ended up being $4300 with all new Ford parts. Did great work- I can't see any difference from the showroom. My radiator support was cracked.



Wife's Pilot got banged up good in a hailstorm. Paintless was the way to go- but same thing. Initial estimate was $2800, but it turned out to be $3900 when they were finished. That was two years ago, and it still looks great. PDR even removed several door dings too.



Both cases USAA FedEx'ed a check to me for the initial estimate minus the deductible the day after I filed the claim. The next check was Fed Ex'ed the next day after the additional damage was discovered. LOVE USAA!!!

 

[scott degroot]

I would get a couple of more estimates before deciding on what to do and as others have said the estimate will get higher once they dig in to it. If it were me I would let the body shop handle all of it that way there is no room for excuses on thier end if something goes south.