Just wreckt the LS...

Well what I do is. I have them give me the estimate as they do it, then after they are finished I ask them about my own parts being used instead - and subtracting that off the estimate he just gave me. This way they do not try to make up the loss of money in other things... Kinda like trapping them in their own shady game.


Also is it illegal to lie when they ask me if it is for insurance?

The first thing the lady asked was: "Is this for insurance?"

Like that matters or something? I am thinking about lying and just saying it is not.
 
BrianDye said:
Omg man seeing your LS makes my eyes watery :(

Glad your okay though, your LS was amazing!
Click to expand...



Slurp!!!!


From an older guy, When you get a real estimate from a real collision shop, they actually use a computer program to identify the damaged parts and then associated replacement costs. the women needs to know whom to submit the claim in the proper fashion so they get paid. that is why they are in business, to get paid.

The site you want to check for part prices is www.car-parts.com insurance companies and collision shops use this site to check availability and costs of needed parts. it covers every region in the USA and I have used it many times.

Sometimes it actually pays to be older and have experienced what you are going through. some of the younger guys will actually appreciate the advice, some (Brian Dye) will not.

Be patient, getting any car repaired after a collision sucks a**.
 
Well I am faxing the estimates to my insurance agent. Then they send me a check (given it is not totalled). So why does it matter if the shop knows it's for insurance or not.

I'm gunna try and swing by another shop today after work if I have time.
 
It wouldnt be bad if they total it out though ,because if they do you could just take the money and get a 06 ls , then you alredy have the lse parts on it..
 
If they total it from this. I am keeping the car and fixing it...

Makes no sense to get rid of (salvage the title) my fully operational LS. The car has been great to me, and quite frankly, I love it still :D



I don't think it is totalled honestly. I think I can find some place to fix it under that 7500.... I was hoping for some estimate right around 6000 or a little more, then send that in. But then have someone fix it for closer to 5000.
 
Im pretty sure if they total it you have an oppertunity to buy it from the insurance.. But the only thing bad about that is that it will have a salvage title.
 
sancho20 said:
man everybody thought when i said $6000-$6500 i was crazy ,you better be careful though if the estimate gets to high they will total it out.. I dont really know what the bb is on that and what percentage they use in your state but with $7500 it will be close..
Click to expand...

i didnt think your was crazy i quoted the same thing remember. lol
 
Got another estimate today...

This one for $7100...


And this is a shop I would actually want to fix it, they're nice people. So anyways I mentioned bringing my own parts for them, because again - the prices on the parts were outrageous. The guy sounded a little weary about it and said I would have to ask the boss (he was gone today)... I asked if it was a thing that has happened before with people bringing their own parts... He said sometimes, but that they try and make money off the parts (NO KIDDING?!).

I understand it is a business, but I am the one with the wrecked car, deductible, citation, and all the headache and I am unable to profit from this while they are screwing over my insurance company by invoicing a part for $1600 then buying it for $400... That to me is some crap.

The more I am getting into this bit, the more I am thinking about doing this myself... I inspect the damage about every day because I am so upset, but I think I could actually do a decent job at attacking it... No major supports are actually broken, it is just bent and twisted stuff..

Obviously a new hood, bumper, and headlight will be needed.

I am seriously beginning to consider taking the check for the 7000 (less my deductible for 6500) and ordering parts online and having them painted, then reinstalling myself.

I kinda have it priced out to be like -

~$700 LSE bumper + fogs
~$300 HID Headlight
~$500 Hood
~$180 LSE Grille

~$1700 Parts (+ PAINT-LABOR)

Coming unpainted of course, then just take it to that shop and have them spray my stuff.

Now let's compare that to the invoices on the estimates I am getting for the exact same parts:

~$1000 Bumper + fogs
~$1600 HID Headlight
~$1500 Hood
~$250 Grille

~$4300 parts (+ PAINT-LABOR & BODY-LABOR)

And that is all before paint as well... Also a thing to remember is those extra little parts they did not have in the initial estimate to be dealt with...



Collision repair is some shady business I tell ya...




I am definitely putting thought into fixing this stuff myself now. I wonder how hard it is to replace a hood... I cannot open my hood now, but I am gunna try and pry it open this weekend and take a look inside. But is it just held on to the hinges in the back by some bolts or what?
 
Andrizzle said:
Got another estimate today...

This one for $7100...


And this is a shop I would actually want to fix it, they're nice people. So anyways I mentioned bringing my own parts for them, because again - the prices on the parts were outrageous. The guy sounded a little weary about it and said I would have to ask the boss (he was gone today)... I asked if it was a thing that has happened before with people bringing their own parts... He said sometimes, but that they try and make money off the parts (NO KIDDING?!).

I understand it is a business, but I am the one with the wrecked car, deductible, citation, and all the headache and I am unable to profit from this while they are screwing over my insurance company by invoicing a part for $1600 then buying it for $400... That to me is some crap.

The more I am getting into this bit, the more I am thinking about doing this myself... I inspect the damage about every day because I am so upset, but I think I could actually do a decent job at attacking it... No major supports are actually broken, it is just bent and twisted stuff..

Obviously a new hood, bumper, and headlight will be needed.

I am seriously beginning to consider taking the check for the 7000 (less my deductible for 6500) and ordering parts online and having them painted, then reinstalling myself.

I kinda have it priced out to be like -

~$700 LSE bumper + fogs
~$300 HID Headlight
~$500 Hood
~$180 LSE Grille

~$1700 Parts (+ PAINT-LABOR)

Coming unpainted of course, then just take it to that shop and have them spray my stuff.

Now let's compare that to the invoices on the estimates I am getting for the exact same parts:

~$1000 Bumper + fogs
~$1600 HID Headlight
~$1500 Hood
~$250 Grille

~$4300 parts (+ PAINT-LABOR & BODY-LABOR)

And that is all before paint as well... Also a thing to remember is those extra little parts they did not have in the initial estimate to be dealt with...



Collision repair is some shady business I tell ya...




I am definitely putting thought into fixing this stuff myself now. I wonder how hard it is to replace a hood... I cannot open my hood now, but I am gunna try and pry it open this weekend and take a look inside. But is it just held on to the hinges in the back by some bolts or what?
Click to expand...

its seems as if you arent really sure what to do...

if i were you, get the highest estimate, and take the money, shop around at local salvage yards and get the pieces you are looking for, thats the cheapest way to fix your car, replacing a hood on a totaled car is a piece of pie compared to body straightening, the parts you are looking for could all be replaced for maybe $3000 at the most, this is to fix your car to the condition it was in, not to go all out and upgrade everything
 
I know I'm not sure what to do. That is why I am in this thread talking aloud to anyone who would like to know the situation (probably no one lol). I dunno about taking the time and effort to run around looking for salvage yard LSes to find a hood. I am thinking about just buying one from: http://www.autofitexpert.com/product.php?id_product=72029 and then the LSE front fascia that we are all familiar with and taking those two things to get painted, then just put them on myself. I have found finding a 2nd Gen Hood without damage on the cheap is nearly impossible... And then I would have prep work to be charged for during paint instead of just the hood coming without paint.
 
There you go thats the spirit, do it yourself all you have to do is take the old parts off and put the new ones on..Ill keep an eye out for you on the parts you need.
 
Both the hood and bumper are very easy to put on. You will need another person to help you ,but shouldnt take more than an hour to put those parts on..
 
Did alot today. I redneck fixed the bent cross brace behind the front. The radiator is now backk in the supports and the hood closes again. I am submitting the estimate this week. I already got the headlight and I have priced the hood. The only thing now is finding a place to paint the hood and bumper. Then I also have a small roll of my drivers side fender that has. A little paint damage where it meets the broken headlight. I'll have to figure out something to do with that, maybe I can bend t out and touch up the paint myself.

Anyone have any suggestions? Also I will be posting pics of us bending the brace later as I'm on my phone right now.
 
Okay well you won't believe how I straightened the cross brace back into place. :)

I will post the result photos tomorrow in the light, but here is a before/during:

14653_707625485862_17128130_39591565_2038503_n.jpg


As you can see the brace is bent up and inwards, the top of the radiator assembly was free floating in the engine bay laying up against the engine block etc....

So I had the genius idea of throwing a chain around it and putting the other end onto a truck and having the truck torque the brace back into place.

We did just that and sure enough I had a person pulling with a chevy avalanche the front of my LS lol! It was so bizzare. After pulling it back out into place, it was then time to push the bend part that was sticking up vertically.. Of course this is best handled with a block of cedar and a giant sledge hammer... I am talking those sledge hammers you swing over your whole body and let the momentum drop on your target. So after a few good pounds with that, my cross brace looks like it was never out of place and the radiator and everything is back to snug stock position.

The only thing is you can see the fracture/bends in the steel in the cross member, but that will be covered up by the plastic dressing peices that lay across that area anyways.

So now my hood sits alot better and it actually latches in, no more bungee cords to hold it down!

Like I mentioned earlier, I will probably be getting moving on ordering the parts this week - pending on how quickly I can get my insurance check.

But I will upload some pics tomorow (today, sunday) of the damage after bending the brace and also I will keep ya guys updated on the parts and progress of the repair.

I am stoked to get this thing started!
 
Cool. using the good ol sledge hammer. Your radiator just cut in half. nice.
 
Check out www.certifit.com you can get a new hood for $285.50. They have warehouses all over the states. They have a warehouse in Oklahoma City (don't know if that's close to you or not) and ship locally to body shops.
 
Sorry about your LS man its still beautiful thp. I kinda had a similar thing happen with my 97 T-Bird sport. Had to swirve over tho the left to avoid a 16 yr old girl flyin outta wawa and she t boned my t bird with her focus. Totaled my car pushed the pass door into my seat and ripped one side outta the floor.

She blew my door in, as well as my quarter panel and frame was baaaadly hurt. She had paint missin off her bumper, a broken foglight and her liscense plate frame was jammed in between my door and quarter panel....

cop said it was my fault and i went BIZZZERK because he gave me the same ticket, the worst part about it was i was 8 minutes from a dealership that was gonna give me 3200 on trade in AND in the wawa parkin lot some one said "dang thats shame that woulda been a perfect car for my daughter, sorry man that sucks" (i had for sale sighns all over it.) Than she sued me and didnt show up to court 5 times.... any way sorry about your car lol just brought up a sore thought and ran with it.... best of luck to you
 
1600$ FOR AN HID HEADLIGHT!?!?!?!?
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SH*T MYSELF WHEN I READ THAT!?

What the hell is so special about them? I got my diamond cut clears, AND a set of highs and low HIDs in my explorer (10,000k) for less than 350!!
 
OEM is ALWAYS of higher quality and reliability than those el cheapo made in Taiwan HID kits and aftermarket headlights. You're comparing apples to oranges.
 
BrianDye said:
1600$ FOR AN HID HEADLIGHT!?!?!?!?
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SH*T MYSELF WHEN I READ THAT!?

What the hell is so special about them? I got my diamond cut clears, AND a set of highs and low HIDs in my explorer (10,000k) for less than 350!!
Click to expand...

can you say "Lincoln".

go back to the dreaded common sense post, the more expensive a car is when it is new, the more it will cost to repair.
 
Holy guacamole! I bookmarked a site that had them in stock for ~$400 each, now it's shot up to $1,100 each :O
 
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