Advice Required Please - So So Annoyed with Myself!

[Horts]

Hi All

I am gutted to say the least that I have had an accident in my DB9 Volante!

Finished work last Friday and thought as it was nice I would pop out for a spin in the P&J, visited some friends and popped to the supermarket. It was on the way home that my near side front, hit an object in the road (first thought to be a pot hole). In my surprise I stupidly over steered to correct the effect of the impact and ended up hitting the curb of a pedestrian refuse on the offside.

Managed to keep the car rolling for about 2 minutes until I could find somewhere safe to stop.

On first look to me as a non technical person, it looked like I needed, two new wheels and tyres for the offside plus the impact had detached the lower wishbone so on stopping the car, the wheel fell in on its self, slightly chipping the wheel arch of the wing.

The car is now in the hand of my insurance company and Chartwells (Derby) have undertaken their initial estimate. Maybe I am naive, but I was shocked as to their initial prognosis. I have listed the parts below:

O/S/R Wheel
O/S/F Wheel
O/S/F Wing Linner
O/S/F Wing
O/S/F Door Mould
O/S/F Low Sus Arm R&R / New Parts
Antiroll Bar R&R / New Parts
Roll Bar Link Arm R&R / New Parts
Roll Bar Bushes R&r / New Parts
Steering Rack R&R / New Parts
Steering Rack Clamp R&R / New Parts
O/S/F Hub/Bearings R&R / New Parts
O/S/F Knuckle
Nut/Bolt Kit
O/S/F Tyre
Remove & Refit O/S Wheels
Remove & Refit Front Bumper Remove & Refit O/S/F Wing
Remove & Refit O/S/F Wing Fitting
Remove & Refit O/S/F Door Fittings
Remove & Refit O/S Sill Cover
Remove & Refit Front Subframe
Remove & Refit Stering Rack
Remove & Refit O/S/F Suspension
Remove & Refit Bleed Brakes
Check Clean

I reckon impact speed would have been 40-45 mph so I am shocked at the fact they reckon that a new steering rack is required. Apparently they replace them on every suspension impact due to their sensitive parts??????? If I ask them to not replace it, then I have to sign a waiver for them.

I genuinely thought it would be a matter of new wheels, tyres, suspension components etc, wing and paint. I am so so upset and angry that this is of my own doing, I consider myself a very capable driver, but my ego has taken a battering over this.

Does anyone have any insights into the Steering Rack?

Thanks

Horts

Edited by Horts on Tuesday 20th May 10:03

[tonyhall38]

seems abit excessive.....i would get a second opinion and estimate....looks to me...like the garage is rebuilding your entire car on one side....and am sure they would be earning a nice chunk of change , on the basis you are not going to check they have replaced everything on the list....as i'm sure some parts would be reusable and undamaged.
on another note....isn't there an ecu in the wing area?....i see that sensitive peice of equipment does not need replacing?

[Horts]

tonyhall38 said:

seems abit excessive.....i would get a second opinion and estimate....looks to me...like the garage is rebuilding your entire car on one side....and am sure they would be earning a nice chunk of change , on the basis you are not going to check they have replaced everything on the list....as i'm sure some parts would be reusable and undamaged.
on another note....isn't there an ecu in the wing area?....i see that sensitive peice of equipment does not need replacing?

Problem I have Tony, is the car is stuck at Chartwells now who are Astons approved body shop, Admiral wanted it to go to one of their approved repairers, which you appreciate I was reluctant to do. Not sure how I would get my second opinion without getting it trailered. I won't post on here, but I was gobsmacked at their estimate.

[Horts]

tonyhall38 said:

seems abit excessive.....i would get a second opinion and estimate....looks to me...like the garage is rebuilding your entire car on one side....and am sure they would be earning a nice chunk of change , on the basis you are not going to check they have replaced everything on the list....as i'm sure some parts would be reusable and undamaged.
on another note....isn't there an ecu in the wing area?....i see that sensitive peice of equipment does not need replacing?

Problem I have Tony, is the car is stuck at Chartwells now who are Astons approved body shop, Admiral wanted it to go to one of their approved repairers, which you appreciate I was reluctant to do. Not sure how I would get my second opinion without getting it trailered. I won't post on here, but I was gobsmacked at their estimate.

[Neil1300r]

40-45MPH impact will put a lot of forces through suspension, sterring components. Seems sensible to replace the steering rack. Even if it could be checked, it would need to be taken off the car. By the time you've done that, may as well replace it. As its an insurance job surely you want as much replaced as possible? With protected NCB its won't alter your premiums next year.

[petesv8v]

Dependant upon the angle of impact the rack could well have received an end on loading. The rack is obviously connected to both wheels via arms and track rod ends to the hub. Imagine then causing one wheel to be turned and the forces being sent through the hub to the rack and dependant on the deflection being inward or outward the 'stretching' or compressing of the rack internals. Also some suspension parts are designed to be somewhat sacrificial in an accident to both dissipate forces and save the chassis. From what you have described the body work and wheels elements seem to speak for themselves so I guess its things like the hub and rack that have been a surprise. Personally I would go for better safe than sorry; if the original rack is deemed fit for reuse but subsequently is failed at MOT or shows wear etc then you will have the bill.

[michael gould]

firstly sorry for the damage an the heartache ........but what do you care about how much its going to cost to repair....its an insurance claim ....pay the excess, get your car back all nice and shinny and put the incident behind you

[mikey k]

Sorry to hear about that
That looks about right IMHO for a proper & SAFE repair
I'd be insisting on the steering rack and subframe be checked, they are not designed to take load in the direction you applied
Good luck

[robgt]

michael gould said:

firstly sorry for the damage an the heartache ........but what do you care about how much its going to cost to repair....its an insurance claim ....pay the excess, get your car back all nice and shinny and put the incident behind you

I'm with Mr.Gould on this one. In fact due to the sheer amount of damage I would be insisting on having the car taken to Newport Pagnell for them to effect a repair, their attention to detail and integrity is beyond question. Call Simon Clark at NP on 01908 619299.

[BraceyBoy]

I clipped a kerb at about 40mph in the 997 GT3 I previously had - steering rack was changed on the advice of an independent engineering assessor who refused to sign off the car without a new rack.

Further, as you are claiming through insurance there is little point in not having a comprehensive repair - the claim will have to be notified on any application for insurance in any event

[Horts]

robgt said:

I'm with Mr.Gould on this one. In fact due to the sheer amount of damage I would be insisting on having the car taken to Newport Pagnell for them to effect a repair, their attention to detail and integrity is beyond question. Call Simon Clark at NP on 01908 619299.

Thanks Rob and everyone else for their remarks, you are correct, of course I want an absolutely pukka job done, I am just worried about the insurance accepting the costs which on estimate exceed £10K. Admiral have been brilliant in the past but never claimed for the Aston. Got asked some very odd and probing questions and I think they are far from impressed with my insisting on it going to an Aston Approved workshop.

But fingers crossed all should be okay. Its going through the emotions, quite daft really its only a car, but I really do love it!

Horts

[Neil1300r]

Horts said:

Thanks Rob and everyone else for their remarks, you are correct, of course I want an absolutely pukka job done, I am just worried about the insurance accepting the costs which on estimate exceed £10K. Admiral have been brilliant in the past but never claimed for the Aston. Got asked some very odd and probing questions and I think they are far from impressed with my insisting on it going to an Aston Approved workshop.

But fingers crossed all should be okay. Its going through the emotions, quite daft really its only a car, but I really do love it!

Horts

Have had my car repaired in te past with Bell - sister company to Admiral. No problems using Aston approved bodyshop, just you won't get a courtesy car.

[AMDBSNick]

robgt said:

I'm with Mr.Gould on this one. In fact due to the sheer amount of damage I would be insisting on having the car taken to Newport Pagnell for them to effect a repair, their attention to detail and integrity is beyond question. Call Simon Clark at NP on 01908 619299.

I belted the fence in our car park yesterday at 4pm and damaged the front wing which will need replacing because its cracked. By 9am this morning Simon @ Works had arranged collection for Thursday PM and Aviva will authorise the claim today. JD

[yeti]

AMDBSNick said:

I belted the fence in our car park yesterday at 4pm and damaged the front wing which will need replacing because its cracked. By 9am this morning Simon @ Works had arranged collection for Thursday PM and Aviva will authorise the claim today. JD

Fool

[yeti]

robgt said:

I'm with Mr.Gould on this one. In fact due to the sheer amount of damage I would be insisting on having the car taken to Newport Pagnell for them to effect a repair, their attention to detail and integrity is beyond question. Call Simon Clark at NP on 01908 619299.

Rather painfully, I agree with Rob WS for this level of repair

I also agree with the fact the rack probably needs replacing, a 45mph impact is by no means light and the car is not designed to withstand that. If you don't get it replaced, I bet the car will never 'feel' quite right again.

Oh and... it could happen to anyone. Seriously, don't let your confidence take a knock over this, it's just one of those things. Analyse, learn from it and move on, you won't ever do anything like it again.

And think yourself lucky you don't have an older car like me - they'd write it off!!

[sukh_m]

AMDBSNick said:

I belted the fence in our car park yesterday at 4pm and damaged the front wing

Were you (again)

[AMDBSNick]

sukh_m said:

Were you (again)

As you well know young sukh when I use public transport. I love not knowing where I will end up

[Horts]

yeti said:

And think yourself lucky you don't have an older car like me - they'd write it off!!

Thats what I am worried about Lewis, mine is a 2006!

[yeti]

Horts said:

Thats what I am worried about Lewis, mine is a 2006!

Ooooooo... didn't know that - and it changes things. Getting huge bills/quotes from WS might well push it into the uneconomical to repair category... Suddenly all your concerns make a hell of a lot of sense

You can insist it's repaired up to a certain value... how much do you love your car? I wouldn't let mine be written off; would you be happy with a like-for-like car at market value?

[Speculatore]

Isn't there a chap from a while back with a Porsche garage that could do the repair for half the price???