What if an insurer's repairer can't find cause of a problem
Discussion
Had a slow speed knock last week (not my fault) and it's made a very slight problem much much worse, but before when I've tried to get garages to diagnose it they haven't been able to find out what it is.
So insurance have it being collected to go to a repairer tomorrow, but my question is what if the repairing garage also can't work out what is the root cause of the problem.
Will they write off my P&J?
Anyone know how insurance companies deal with such situations?
So insurance have it being collected to go to a repairer tomorrow, but my question is what if the repairing garage also can't work out what is the root cause of the problem.
Will they write off my P&J?
Anyone know how insurance companies deal with such situations?
Ok, it was just a general Q but...
Turning left when car is warmed up properly (say 30min drive) and only when you apply a bit of throttle you feel a tapping through the gear shifter and hear a repeating tappy/thud sound.
This is 10x worse (much louder and happens on more shallow curves/turns) since the knock so I am assuming whatever the mystery failing component it is has been knocked/knackered more by the collision.
Car is '99 E38 740.
Turning left when car is warmed up properly (say 30min drive) and only when you apply a bit of throttle you feel a tapping through the gear shifter and hear a repeating tappy/thud sound.
This is 10x worse (much louder and happens on more shallow curves/turns) since the knock so I am assuming whatever the mystery failing component it is has been knocked/knackered more by the collision.
Car is '99 E38 740.
joebongo said:
Ok, it was just a general Q but...
Turning left when car is warmed up properly (say 30min drive) and only when you apply a bit of throttle you feel a tapping through the gear shifter and hear a repeating tappy/thud sound.
This is 10x worse (much louder and happens on more shallow curves/turns) since the knock so I am assuming whatever the mystery failing component it is has been knocked/knackered more by the collision.
Car is '99 E38 740.
Shifter? American insurance rules may differ then Turning left when car is warmed up properly (say 30min drive) and only when you apply a bit of throttle you feel a tapping through the gear shifter and hear a repeating tappy/thud sound.
This is 10x worse (much louder and happens on more shallow curves/turns) since the knock so I am assuming whatever the mystery failing component it is has been knocked/knackered more by the collision.
Car is '99 E38 740.
Is there a mount somewhere along the drive train that's not doing its job? Exacerbation during a turn suggests that something is shifting (see what I did there?) leading to moving parts being even further out of alignment.
The problem you'll have here is that the BMW garage are already aware of the problem, so when you complain to the workshop post-repair andthey contact BMW, they'll simply say that it was an existing problem and unrelated to the crash (knowing you can't prove that it's gotten worse!)
depending on the severity of the bump, some suspension components may be checked/replaced. If the impact was on the wheel area, the car will have a geometry check too which may show up the problem- so you may be pleasantly surprised when/if the car is repaired.
Of course even if it is written off you'll have the opportunity to buy the damaged car back from the insurance company, with cash in liu of the damage.
depending on the severity of the bump, some suspension components may be checked/replaced. If the impact was on the wheel area, the car will have a geometry check too which may show up the problem- so you may be pleasantly surprised when/if the car is repaired.
Of course even if it is written off you'll have the opportunity to buy the damaged car back from the insurance company, with cash in liu of the damage.
Thanks for the replies - it's not going to BMW or anywhere it's been before.
I did (cos I'm honest) tell the insurer that it's made what was an existing but very slight problem a lot worse.
Presumably though to try and fob me off with the old "it's not related to the knock" patter they'd have to diagnose it first?
Will be back later - got to go play with my 17month old son :-)
I did (cos I'm honest) tell the insurer that it's made what was an existing but very slight problem a lot worse.
Presumably though to try and fob me off with the old "it's not related to the knock" patter they'd have to diagnose it first?
Will be back later - got to go play with my 17month old son :-)
An update for those that care - the repairer has resprayed my bumper (and managed to make it cost 600 quid!) and have decided that looking underneath the car because there is corrosion to some of the parts (it's a 12 year old car) they didn't explore it at all and are assuming it's a pre-existing fault.
My insurance company say if it's at all related to a pre-existing fault it's not covered even if the accident makes it worse.
Whilst I understand and accept the insurer's perspective - you can't cover things unrelated to an accident, it's strongly looking like they will not have found the cause of the problem but still decide that it's not related to the accident because the underside has rust and therefore they don't want to delve too deeply for fear of having to replace rusty bits if they can't get them off/back on.
Unless anyone has any tips of handling a wriggly insurance company it looks like my car will be returned unfixed.
My insurance company say if it's at all related to a pre-existing fault it's not covered even if the accident makes it worse.
Whilst I understand and accept the insurer's perspective - you can't cover things unrelated to an accident, it's strongly looking like they will not have found the cause of the problem but still decide that it's not related to the accident because the underside has rust and therefore they don't want to delve too deeply for fear of having to replace rusty bits if they can't get them off/back on.
Unless anyone has any tips of handling a wriggly insurance company it looks like my car will be returned unfixed.
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