Total loss due to unavailability of parts?
Discussion
Middle of last week, involved in a two car collision between my 2019 Volvo V60 and a Skoda Yeti.
Other driver admitted fault at the scene and has also admitted it to their insurer (their insurer has accepted liability on the phone with me and also to my insurer).
My car was recovered by my insurer and needs a new bumper (and assorted plastic bits) headlight, wheel, tyre and suspension on that corner as it broke the top mount plus a repair to the corner of the bonnet. Was told on Monday that it would be back with me tomorrow.
Just had a call to be told that Volvo have no suspension parts and cannot give any indication of when parts may become available. The implication is that it could be months and was told "we will keep you updated every week".
Will there come a point at which the lack of parts renders the car unrepairable and for it to be declared a total loss? Repairer has suggested that it was already pretty close to a total loss anyway due to the repair cost.
Other driver admitted fault at the scene and has also admitted it to their insurer (their insurer has accepted liability on the phone with me and also to my insurer).
My car was recovered by my insurer and needs a new bumper (and assorted plastic bits) headlight, wheel, tyre and suspension on that corner as it broke the top mount plus a repair to the corner of the bonnet. Was told on Monday that it would be back with me tomorrow.
Just had a call to be told that Volvo have no suspension parts and cannot give any indication of when parts may become available. The implication is that it could be months and was told "we will keep you updated every week".
Will there come a point at which the lack of parts renders the car unrepairable and for it to be declared a total loss? Repairer has suggested that it was already pretty close to a total loss anyway due to the repair cost.
It all depends on the insurer, they may look if needs be to good quality aftermarket parts if that means getting the repair sorted.
Many years ago a company i worked for were a main distributor for Ssangyong parts and had contracts for bodyshop supply. One particular repair sticks out for a korando which needed a wing, archliner and a wing moulding, the wing moulding part was on order with ssangyong in korea but leadtime was 12 weeks.
As the repair wasnt complete the vehicle couldnt go back to the customer despite the moudling only being cosmetic so the customer was in a like for like hire car which was a brand new range rover, she really was disappointed when it finally came in and she got her 10 year old korando back!
I wouldnt mind betting the 3 or 4 month hire car bill was significantly higher than the cost of her ssangyong!
Many years ago a company i worked for were a main distributor for Ssangyong parts and had contracts for bodyshop supply. One particular repair sticks out for a korando which needed a wing, archliner and a wing moulding, the wing moulding part was on order with ssangyong in korea but leadtime was 12 weeks.
As the repair wasnt complete the vehicle couldnt go back to the customer despite the moudling only being cosmetic so the customer was in a like for like hire car which was a brand new range rover, she really was disappointed when it finally came in and she got her 10 year old korando back!
I wouldnt mind betting the 3 or 4 month hire car bill was significantly higher than the cost of her ssangyong!
whp1983 said:
Not just that... have you got a courtesy car? If so the rental company will be rinsing their insurance- if delay looks too long they’d rather write off then it’s sorted they can also sell your car to breaker.
I declined a car from my insurer as I don't really need one as WFH and I have access to my wife's car when I do need to go out. I was also told on Monday this week that it would be repaired by Friday, guess before they found out that Volvo had no parts. I can still get one from my insurer if I decide I need one.TP insurer offered but only if they could handle the repair but it had already been recovered by my insurer. To be honest based on the little dealing I have had with the TP insurer (to tell them that my insurer was already repairing it) I wouldn't want them doing anything, it was hard work.
Wish said:
Modern insurers will either, give the owner the last known value of the parts cost. Or will get on to the manufacture to supply a car to the owner until they can get the parts.
Not sure what you're saying but why would I want the value of the parts and for what reason would an insurer pay me that? What use is that to me, I want the repaired car back, not half a car and some cash to buy parts that aren't available.If your second sentence is suggesting that an insurer will tell Volvo to supply me with a car until they can supply the parts that's not going to happen, it's not Volvo's problem and they're certainly not going to incur costs for something that is nothing to do with them.
Sheepshanks said:
stemll said:
Repairer has suggested that it was already pretty close to a total loss anyway due to the repair cost.
On a 2019 car that seems unlikely if they thought it could be fixed in a week.I understand that the damage is all at the wheel end of the suspension so I assume just bolt on repairs rather than anything at the chassis needing repair. It broke where the top arm connects to the upright and there is also damage to the lower arm, and the wheel is broken. Then bodywork limited to bumper and wing (bonnet damage very light)
Almost a month on and the last parts arrived on Friday and........ they don't line up with the chassis.
Where the suspension mounts to the vehicle is apparently an aluminium part and, although it looks fine, it clearly isn't and the bodyshop it is at cannot repair aluminium. They do have another site in Manchester who can but they have no capacity and they have no details of how or if this is repairable. So, bottom line is it now back with the insurance engineering team to discuss it with Volvo.
Costs so far are at £5k against a car value of £20k. No idea what this aluminium repair will add and the shop it is at at the moment feel it may not be a part that Volvo will say can be repaired.
Where the suspension mounts to the vehicle is apparently an aluminium part and, although it looks fine, it clearly isn't and the bodyshop it is at cannot repair aluminium. They do have another site in Manchester who can but they have no capacity and they have no details of how or if this is repairable. So, bottom line is it now back with the insurance engineering team to discuss it with Volvo.
Costs so far are at £5k against a car value of £20k. No idea what this aluminium repair will add and the shop it is at at the moment feel it may not be a part that Volvo will say can be repaired.
I recall in the early 2000s seeing an immaculate Cat D Ferrari 328GTS for £18,500. It had been written off after a minor collision because it was proving impossible to source a new front indicator/sidelight light cluster. Someone had since been successful in sourcing the part and was now selling it.
Found out that the part in question is the cast aluminium suspension tower so the green bit on this page
http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Volvo/new/S60_2018...
Not sure how you straighten a cast aluminium part as aluminium can lose both ductility and strength when heated so it bends easily but also breaks. Guess that's why he's talking about specialist body shops with experience and equipment for aluminium.
http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Volvo/new/S60_2018...
Not sure how you straighten a cast aluminium part as aluminium can lose both ductility and strength when heated so it bends easily but also breaks. Guess that's why he's talking about specialist body shops with experience and equipment for aluminium.
Eyersey1234 said:
IIRC at one time weren't Saabs being written off due to problems getting parts? This was after Saab went bust. I've a feeling the same applied to some Rivers.
Yes they were, even now there are no aftermarket body panels for the last of the line 9-5 so if you prang one of those it's game over unless you happen to find one in a scrap yard to pillage parts off.Eyersey1234 said:
IIRC at one time weren't Saabs being written off due to problems getting parts? This was after Saab went bust. I've a feeling the same applied to some Rovers.
Quite common back in the late '00's / early '10's with the Mk1 Focus RS too. Due to the lower values back then, even a relatively minor knock to the bodywork could result in a Cat C due to the lack of availability of a new front bumper or either of the metal front & rear 1/4's. TBH even when those parts were still available a fair few still gained a Cat C purely due to the price of the parts vs book value of the car at the time.stemll said:
Found out that the part in question is the cast aluminium suspension tower so the green bit on this page
http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Volvo/new/S60_2018...
Not sure how you straighten a cast aluminium part as aluminium can lose both ductility and strength when heated so it bends easily but also breaks. Guess that's why he's talking about specialist body shops with experience and equipment for aluminium.
Pretty sure they won't be pissing about trying to straighten it, they will be ordering a new strut tower and welding it in as per Volvos repair procedure (Not just however bob in the body shop thinks it should be done!). Not particularly hard for a good oem recognised body shop. http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Volvo/new/S60_2018...
Not sure how you straighten a cast aluminium part as aluminium can lose both ductility and strength when heated so it bends easily but also breaks. Guess that's why he's talking about specialist body shops with experience and equipment for aluminium.
thiscocks said:
Pretty sure they won't be pissing about trying to straighten it, they will be ordering a new strut tower and welding it in as per Volvos repair procedure (Not just however bob in the body shop thinks it should be done!). Not particularly hard for a good oem recognised body shop.
That was his point. There isn't a Volvo repair procedure for that tower on that car hence why it's back with Volvo. It's not like it's a brand new release either, this version of the V60 has been around since 2018 so if there isn't a repair procedure for that part yet.....Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff