Would you feel the same way or am I overreacting?

quarryninja

So last week I was stopped in a red light and all of a sudden the guy in front of me shifts into reverse and hits my front bumper.

The damage amounted to only a small dent and some paint scratches (keep in mind that my Z was only a weak old at the time).

After dealing with the paperwork and waiting for things to get sorted out with the insurance company the verdict was that they were not going to change the bumper, the dealer said they were only going to fix and respray. If this happened to you would you settle for this? Or would you demand a new bumper? Will the repair leave it just as good as new? Something I should specifically check for (quality wise) when I get the car back to know if they did a good job?

I know I probably won't notice anything after they fix it, but deep down I'll still know that my baby had a dent in it.

Bonus question:
I am planning on getting it Xpel'd soon. If this were to have happened with the Xpel on does your insurance cover that cost as well?

Hope to get some input from you guys.

kenchan

no, i would demand dat the bumper be replaced to new if the damage is big enough. it was their faking fault for backing into u. dont settle.

if u have the receipt to prove u had XPEL applied, i think so.

bascially dont settle until it is back to the condition the car was prior to the accident. its bad enough u have to feel bad and deal with the body shop and paperwork, calling claims, BS..

Zbrah

What he said. It's a brand new car. Get a new bumper!

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B&W_Evader

This is a short list of all the things I've seen them screw up...

Sprayed clear over dirt on the inner fender wells.

Scatched the paint by removing and installing the bumper. Look at the seem between the fender and the bumper

Cracked or broken adjoining pieces

Fish-eyes in paint (usually from poor prep work or water in the CDA)

Orange peel / Over-spray

Sharp body lines rounded from sanding (during prep)

Good Luck! Almost guaranteed that it won't be perfect. Have them redo it and they'll probably screw it up even more.

That's been my experience... I'm a picky mo-fo and I've done a lot of body and paint so I see everything.

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peterc05

Something like that happened to me. I just paid out of pocket to have a brand new front bumper. The body shop did an awesome shop you can't even tell something happened. I would react that way too lol, since it is a brand new car

FairladyZ40th

NEW CAR=warranty=new parts and service=new bumper. Back to original or "like new conditions" it's sucks **** that the stealership does everything possible to **** you and take your money and charge you a lot for shitty jobs but they'll also do everything possible to not respect the warranties and to back out on giving any free services amor parts that are covered by a warranty. If they don't want to fix it then they shouldnt sell you a warranty.

FairladyZ40th

Don't settle for less when you deserve the best .

Duc_Z09

I'm the same way. People tell me how great my car looks and all I see are the flaws. Even brand-new (and expensive) cars are so orange peeled it's pathetic. Nobody believes in wet-sanding these days. Then again, most people don't even notice.

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birdman71

Coming from someone in the insurance business, keep pushing for the new bumper. What is insurance company's settlement offer they are willing to pay you for the damage? as of right now.

Just because if their estimate is $750 in damage and they are going to "fix and respray" at the dealership, that's kinda screwed from the start. Have the two most unhelpful sides trying to fix your car.
You can request a settlement payout in the end and a check is mailed to you usually. At that point you can use the insurance money to buy a new bumper, whether it be OEM or Aftermarket. If you're lucky and find one in your color and in great condition you may even save money.

This also depends on what insurance company you have filed the claim through. I already assume you filed the claim through his insurance company to begin with and are waiting to use your own company to avoid having to pay the deductible and time of subrogation.

I would also take the car into a local body shop you know and see what kind of estimate they can give you on the damage. See if the insurance company is lowballing you and if they are, at that point you can go back to the insurance company and say that you have a shop that you want to use to be able to repair the damages. Still get the payout amount just cause you'll be able to spend the money on making the car back to the way you want it.
The dealership nor the insurance company care about whether or not you have a pristine front bumper, even if the car is brand new.

These are California regulations and each state varies, but I would assume they still have a settlement payout option and SHOULD (not is) be the same regarding a body shop for repairs. In CA and at State Farm we have Select Service Shops that are of 4+ star reputation and has all the requirements to be a Select Shop. If a customer wants to use a different shop, we cannot tell them no. Bottom line. Don't know specifics of your state though.

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mults

The only trouble I see with a respray is that in a few years, the original paint and the respray may oxidize/wear at different rates. If so, the paint may not match the original. I vote for a new bumper.

I had my Mother-in-laws bumper fixed a few years ago, and the body shop did an amazing job at repairing/matching the original paint. Trouble is, we sold it right after that, so I don't know how well the repair held up. A few pictures of before and after attached. This was way more than a little scratch...

Attached Images

	IMAG0147.jpg (537.1 KB, 37 views)
	IMAG0148.jpg (667.0 KB, 35 views)

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quarryninja

I'm part of the club as well. I would not want to have myself as a customer.

I care about my cars more than I care about myself.
When I get it back I'm going to inspect every inch to make sure it's perfect or else I'm not leaving there without a new bumper.

SouthArk370Z

Why are you taking it to a dealership for body repairs? Do you buy cars at a body shop?

Take it to a body shop and get it done right.

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kenchan

some dealers have an in-house bodyshop..

axmea?

Pics of the bumper?

Insurance company's obligation is to repair unless virtually impossible to fix. You can demand all you want but they are not obligated to replace. What they are not allowed to do is hand it back to you and it is not to your liking because it is not visually and functionally back to its original state. If not fixed or repaired to your standard, they must fix. Do your research on who will be fixing your car. You are not obligated to go to their network and can choose where to take your car for repairs.

Edit: You can also cash out. Depending on the amount you agree to take, you can get a new bumper such as the '15+ Nismo or a replica amuse or Fuji and just add more out of pocket to paint and install. At 1200 to 1500 you will have more than enough to do it.

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barncobob

get the dealer out of the equation, they are looking out for themselves