Picking Car up after insurance repair.
Discussion
Just found out today that my car will be getting repaired after someone pulled out in front me from a McDonald's car park. It's been estimated to cost £2900 to repair and will hopefully be done in the next 2 weeks.
So when I go pick it up, what should I be looking for to make sure the job has been done to a satisfactory quality? I know the obvious things, like checking to see if all the panels are the same shade of colour and match, and that the panel gaps are all the same, but is there anything which I should check, which isn't as obvious?
The damage is to the front nearside and I was told it would be having a new front bumper, new nearside front panel, new nearside front tyre, minor bonnet work and a new air box and filter. I'm also sure one of the brake lines will need to be replaced, as it was leaking brake fluid at the scene and it lost all it's brakes, along with the brake pedal going all the way to the floor like a clutch pedal if pressed.
Also where do they draw the line in terms of what you're allowed to demand to be rectified? I'm only asking because to get the car off the road the police had to drag it to a safe spot, with the handbrake locked on, as it wouldn't release and then the tow truck had to drag it up onto the ramp (with serious difficulty). So I'm guessing they'll be some serious flat spots on the rear tyres but the insurance never mentioned anything about the rear tyres getting done.
So when I go pick it up, what should I be looking for to make sure the job has been done to a satisfactory quality? I know the obvious things, like checking to see if all the panels are the same shade of colour and match, and that the panel gaps are all the same, but is there anything which I should check, which isn't as obvious?
The damage is to the front nearside and I was told it would be having a new front bumper, new nearside front panel, new nearside front tyre, minor bonnet work and a new air box and filter. I'm also sure one of the brake lines will need to be replaced, as it was leaking brake fluid at the scene and it lost all it's brakes, along with the brake pedal going all the way to the floor like a clutch pedal if pressed.
Also where do they draw the line in terms of what you're allowed to demand to be rectified? I'm only asking because to get the car off the road the police had to drag it to a safe spot, with the handbrake locked on, as it wouldn't release and then the tow truck had to drag it up onto the ramp (with serious difficulty). So I'm guessing they'll be some serious flat spots on the rear tyres but the insurance never mentioned anything about the rear tyres getting done.
Mopar440 said:
The Turbonator said:
So I'm guessing they'll be some serious flat spots on the rear tyres
I doubt very much that there will be flat spots on the rear tyres, so don't worry so much.johnnnnnnyy said:
Mopar440 said:
The Turbonator said:
So I'm guessing they'll be some serious flat spots on the rear tyres
I doubt very much that there will be flat spots on the rear tyres, so don't worry so much.A bit of scuffing perhaps.
Apart from panel alignment and paint finish, look for overspray, poorly fitted seals, check the locking wheel nut key is still in the car, look at anything that will have been removed and also do a quick walk around looking for any incidental damage that might've happened in the workshop.
The Turbonator said:
Just found out today that my car will be getting repaired after someone pulled out in front me from a McDonald's car park. It's been estimated to cost £2900 to repair and will hopefully be done in the next 2 weeks.
So when I go pick it up, what should I be looking for to make sure the job has been done to a satisfactory quality? I know the obvious things, like checking to see if all the panels are the same shade of colour and match, and that the panel gaps are all the same, but is there anything which I should check, which isn't as obvious?
The damage is to the front nearside and I was told it would be having a new front bumper, new nearside front panel, new nearside front tyre, minor bonnet work and a new air box and filter. I'm also sure one of the brake lines will need to be replaced, as it was leaking brake fluid at the scene and it lost all it's brakes, along with the brake pedal going all the way to the floor like a clutch pedal if pressed.
Also where do they draw the line in terms of what you're allowed to demand to be rectified? I'm only asking because to get the car off the road the police had to drag it to a safe spot, with the handbrake locked on, as it wouldn't release and then the tow truck had to drag it up onto the ramp (with serious difficulty). So I'm guessing they'll be some serious flat spots on the rear tyres but the insurance never mentioned anything about the rear tyres getting done.
The main thing to watch is the alignment & that the paint matches this is harder to do than you think we've had cars in where we've had to ask the customer which colour they want us to match it to as the wings were different tints as you can imagine they weren't happy when we gave them the news their pride & joy had already been damaged.So when I go pick it up, what should I be looking for to make sure the job has been done to a satisfactory quality? I know the obvious things, like checking to see if all the panels are the same shade of colour and match, and that the panel gaps are all the same, but is there anything which I should check, which isn't as obvious?
The damage is to the front nearside and I was told it would be having a new front bumper, new nearside front panel, new nearside front tyre, minor bonnet work and a new air box and filter. I'm also sure one of the brake lines will need to be replaced, as it was leaking brake fluid at the scene and it lost all it's brakes, along with the brake pedal going all the way to the floor like a clutch pedal if pressed.
Also where do they draw the line in terms of what you're allowed to demand to be rectified? I'm only asking because to get the car off the road the police had to drag it to a safe spot, with the handbrake locked on, as it wouldn't release and then the tow truck had to drag it up onto the ramp (with serious difficulty). So I'm guessing they'll be some serious flat spots on the rear tyres but the insurance never mentioned anything about the rear tyres getting done.
Get the car out into the light & take a photo of it with a good quality camera they normally show up any differences in paint, if it's raining outside sign for it but put "I am signing this note of satisfaction, subject to viewing the car in normal daylight conditions" otherwise you'll find most insurance companies aren't interested in any complaints once the satisfaction note has been signed.
As for the tyres they won't have any flat spots that you'll notice.
It`s sensible practice to replace both tyres on the same axle at the same time. I`d be looking for brand new matching front tyres and whilst on my hands and knees checking the rears just in case they have been dragged over any of the debris left by the accident and cut the rears.
Other than that , checking usual suspects like panel gaps and overspray on the windows particularly. I`d also want to see an alignment printout after the FNS has been replaced.
Oh , and dont forget a brake check as you start rolling !!!
Other than that , checking usual suspects like panel gaps and overspray on the windows particularly. I`d also want to see an alignment printout after the FNS has been replaced.
Oh , and dont forget a brake check as you start rolling !!!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff