Collision Repair Advice Please

My beautiful 2023 ORP got hit by an idiot next to me who decided to abruptly turn left into my right front wheel well. No one was hurt, and it is currently being repaired at a Toyota certified collision repair shop. Insurance has been pretty helpful, although they initially tried to get me to send it to one of their favorite repair shops. They relented when I insisted on the shop it's at.

Any advice on how I can make sure that the repairs don't miss anything to avoid problems later? What should I ask or look for? Should I visit the repair shop and have the technician explain all of the damage to me? I'm not knowledgeable about these things and would appreciate advice.

 

The biggest thing you'll need to worry about is making sure the paint matches. Before you sign ANYTHING to confirm their work is "Done" inspect the paint very carefully and with great lighting. If it's dark, cloudy or raining, don't agree to pick up the 4Runner.

Most of that damage looks minor. But you should also inspect the UCA, LCA and brake rotors/lines.

 

If it's a reputable shop you will have a warranty on their work, ask them about that. I agree with Loco, make sure it's a bright day, look at several different angles and distances, make sure the paint matches perfectly.

 

In addition to good advice given here,
the wheel could be slightly bent. Any marks on rubber or wheel its self?
A tire shop can check for roundness and runout (wobble). They should dismount tire first.
Verify this inspection is covered by insurance.
The bill will probably be around $2,500 - $3,000 after all is completed.
What does other vehicle look like?

 

According to the repair estimate they are replacing the wheel and tire, along with body panels and bumper. I didn't see mention of the UCL or LCL, so I'll ask about that. Thank you all for the good advice. I'll make sure about the paint and ask about warranty.

The other vehicle had front end damage where they turned into me (made the job easy for police to find fault).

 

One thing some shops by me (at my Honda dealer collision and one independent shop) do is they give a lifetime warranty on the work they perform (obviously not with standing another accident in same area). As Borrwcho mentioned check your paint match many times and in good light. I say fluorescent lighting and definitely out in the sun and move the vehicle in different directions to make sure it matches.

Also lots of folks on here without an accident had issues with the bumper meeting that front quarter panel. Make sure that looks tight and gapped properly and not loose

 

Spend time finding a reputable body shop. Do your research and you won’t need to do anything else. A good place knows what they’re doing.

 

Consider giving your general location here so other members who may have used a shop with good or bad results can so state.

 

Find the shop with the best painter. Painting is an art and can be botched by a lazy or uncaring painter.

Insist on new OEM panels, even if you have to pay the difference out of pocket. OE or OEM equivalent is not the same.

Pay the extra money to have them prep the new parts with an etching primer, then standard primer, then paint, and clear coat.

Make sure that the clear coat is good quality with UV protectants. Don’t let them use a faster than recommended catalyst or change the mixing ratio to flash the clear faster to get you out of the shop.

Make sure that the insurance includes blending the adjacent panels in your quote and that the shop does it. A properly blended metallic paint will not be noticeable unless you’re looking for it.

Do let your paint and clear coat harden and off gas within the recommended time from the shop before doing any paint correction or PPF.

 

Is the air box inside damaged? I had a truck a few years ago, got hit where the engine air box is, they repaired, a year later I was chasing MAF codes, and all sorts of things. Make sure no nicked wires and everything is OEM, not OE or equivalent… and the paint obviously. But you don’t want to mess around with air/fuel mixture because it’s a parts cannon road if it comes to that

it should be brought back to “pre loss” condition meaning it didn’t come from the factory with non OEM parts, so it gets OEM parts.

 

Yeah especially don’t accept any of these Chinese knock off body panels. The guy who runs a local shop by me told me many insurance companies will only pay for those OE not OEM parts and panels. Make sure it’s in writing also.

 

Depends on how the impact transferred its energy through the wheel / suspension, but I would certainly have them inspect all the suspension (UCA, LCA, tie rods), as well as the steering rack. Insurance is paying, so may as well have literally everything inspected. Some super diligent folks would ask for a frame scan, frames are meant to absorb energy and aren't as bulletproof as some think (that said, highly unlikely any issues there). My 2022 4R with 15k miles is on its second frame, so I'm a little biased.
Sorry this happened to you, hope you get it back soon!

 

Thank you all for the excellent advice. I went to the repair shop today and found out (no surprise) that there was more damage than the initial estimate indicated. Suspension parts on the wheel in question need to be replaced. They did confirm that they use all OEM parts. I will make sure to be picky on the paint as this seemed to be the consensus issue (in addition to insisting on OEM parts). Thanks again. It will be 2-3 more weeks as they wait for parts. I miss my 4Runner.

 

Say whut?
You're gonna sit there and say this and not give some context?

 

I would make a diminished value claim with the insurer. As a result of that "moderate" accident/damage showing on the Carfax report, your 4Runner is now worth about 10% less than it was before the accident. You should be compensated for the loss in resale value.

 

Not to derail the thread, but how did you manage to get a second frame?

 

@knappster007 you should fill in your location in your profile. Insurance is state-specific, and repair standards and rates may also be location dependent.

Your insurance company probably has a contract with the best repair facility, to provide a lifetime warranty, and a repair timeline so you don't get pushed to the end of the line. When I was an adjuster we held direct repair facilities to a pretty high standard for number of hours per day they'd work on our insured's cars. You'll need to be your own advocate since you chose your own shop. Get the shop manager's card and call him once a week.

Anyway, remember it's a car, not a wife or a kid. You won't keep it forever, and it'll have dings and scratches before you sell it. It should be repaired right, but worrying is more than you need to do. You're not the expert, the shop and the insurance adjuster are. Let them fix your car.

 

are you able t take it to a toyota dealership that has onsite body shop?

 

Also, not sure it was mentioned here... What I find works for me is going through my own insurance and having them subrogate to the other party's insurer. Companies like GEICO LOVE to nickel and dime, use OE parts and will reuse parts that just barely meet minimum standard. What I do is go through mine, have it fixed to my expectations, pay my deductible, then have mine go after the other with a bill and middle finger. LOL. It's worked well for me so far!

Cheers,

Sean

 

I'm very sorry to hear. I do wonder how much push back insurance will do to avoid putting OEM parts on the car to keep the costs down. My wife got in a fender bender in her Nissan about 10 years ago (her fault) and I was disappointed when I realized a lot of the stuff they repaired on her vehicle was non-oem (her insurance was through Geico at the time; we have used Progressive for the last 10 years now). I also noticed one of the panels didn't align properly. Unfortunately, I didn't notice any of this at first until after a year when I was detailing her car.

I wonder at what point an insurance/autobody shop is thinking you are being unreasonable for wanting it to be 100%. I imagine they would compensate some money on top if you were completely not happy with the results in a non-fault situation.

Anyway, if you don't have dashcam, I do recommend them! I was involved in an accident in 2016 that I had to fight to the end on because the guilty party changed their tune once we exchanged information (I didn't have a dashcam then). Even worse, a cop stopped by and didn't do a police report - said it was very straight forward and the at-fault party is admitting to it. I definitely learned my lesson from this experience as it wasn't straight forward at all. Luckily, the other party's insurance saw I didn't want to give up and was doing my own detective work with witnesses, camera footage nearby, documenting all interactions, etc...

 

Maybe this is the best thing to do. Especially, if it doesn't count as a claim on your policy. Let your insurance do the dirty work since that is what you pay them for. Thanks for the info on this.

 

No worries, mate... Happy to help... When my insurance is paying, I get to say, use OEM, etc., etc.. When someone else's insurance is paying, they call the shots and I have to stick with a sub par quality job. The one time I've ever had another person's insurance fix my vehicle was about 15-16 years ago... After 1.5 years, the paint started peeling and I had to get it repainted. Then, the paint looked new on one panel, and worn on the others. It was a mess.

From that point, I use my own and let them do the dirty work.

Cheers,

Sean

 

You guys and dolls are funny.

You don't call the shots, ever. You and your insurance company are bound by the contract, no one is the big-shot. Pound your chest, you'll just get winded, lol.

The shop offers the warranty. Choose a reputable shop, not someone trying to save you your deductible or any other savings. Shop rates are typically the same in an area, the paint comes from one of two or three manufacturers, same with parts. You get OE if your contract says you do, or whatever is cost-effective.

The shop is a for-profit business and they have a MUCH higher profit margin than the insurance company. But both have to make a profit to exist.

You get paid, or the repair gets made, based on what is required by law. The insurance process, in the United States, is regulated by the state, even rates, haha.