CynicalWry

So I rear ended somebody driving my sister's blue TSX last week... hit the accord at about 10 MPH. I'm used to my brembo kit and probably just didn't push hard enough and was too late.

Never the less, I need a new hood (it buckled a little bit), new front headlights (at least, I need the front plastic and the inside black trim), new grill, and new front bumper.


My sister wants clears up front, so if I can't get just the broken parts of the headlights, where's the cheapest place for a set of clears that won't leak? Is it an OEM part? She has Xenon lights... are all TSX's Xenon?

For the front grill, I just want to get her the cheapest grill that will have a perfect fit. Any ideas? I've modded the crap out of my bimmer, and would like to start modding her car, but if it's not within the same region or price (like a Mugen grill), then I won't do it.

For the front bumper, what are my options? (Stock vs aftermarket). Can you point me in the right dirrection? What about fogs? I've seen a few TSXs w/ fogs, but I didn't think that was an option in the US.


Thanks in advance,
-Chris

MrChad

The best thing to do is the fix the car to stock and worry about aftermarket later. I'd be sure to have the frame checked too.

Stokeless_TSX

members78

yah, all xenons...

xizor

not going through insurance? and definately check for frame damage, the cost of repairs is probably a lot more than you think.

as for aftermarket, there is no cheap grills, there are no cheap bumpers. you're SOL in that area. the JDM headlights cost as much as new ones (although you can get muc cheaper OEMs on ebay).

MrChad

Nothing will be cheaper to do then just pay your deductable and have it fixed.

I'd say you have an easy 5-grand in just OE repairs alone...

CynicalWry

$500 deductable... I can do all the work myself for repairs...

NeoChaser

wow

all that damage from a 10 MPH??

i got the same damage doing 50 KMP...

xizor

$800 for a new bumper, $300 for a grill, who knows for a hood, $600 for headlights. not to mention any structural damage, you wont be saving any $$.

CynicalWry

What about this carbon Fiber Hood? What do I have to know about CF hoods?

http://www.eccmotorsports.com/enter.html

CynicalWry

A member here's selling his front bumper/headlights for 525 + shipping... I'd just have to get it painted. Ebay grill for $30, plus if that CF hood is any good, that's $400. That's about a grand before shipping plus paint (which will be about $100). Insurance would go up $350 a year.... so I think I'd be makin out pretty well

xizor

well whatever you decide to do, get the frame inspected. and paint is much more than $100 for a bumper and blending of the fenders. there is no ebay grill, you'd be well off buying that used OEM one.

fast-tl

fast-tl

$350/yr is only $29 per month, and it doesn't sound like you're hurting TOO bad for money. It's best to pay the deductible (perhaps think about raising it too, to offset the $350 annual increase), so your sister will have an accident repair and OEM parts with a WARRANTY on those parts and labor. If you do the repairs, you run the risk of being indebted to her for the life of this car if something's "not quite right", or worse if you get into it and find unsuspected damage.

gfxdave99

Plus if you have state farm, or many other insurance companies have a 'freebie' policy where your first claim on the policy does not raise your rates. Just look into it a bit more before you go wrenching around..

CynicalWry

Either way, if I go to start farm and get a check, I'll just be taking the car to my shop and doing all the work myself. This way, I keep out payments down, keep a clean title on the car, and hopefully throw some extras in the TSX.


So, what do you guys think of the Carbon Fiber hood? Being an bimmer guy, I've never really been intrested in a CF hood.

sauceman

Being a TSX guy I haven't either.

biker

Uhhh, what happened to the Accord you hit? Didn't it get damaged enough for them to want to put a claim in on your ins?

xizor

no one on here has that ViS CF hood AFAIK, its likely just a stock hood wrapped in CF.

fast-tl

Yeah, it seems we're only gettin pieces of the story herer. Plus an accident has nothing to do with a "clean" title unless the car's been totalled in which case it gets a salvage title.

There's a real DIY obsession going on here. What's the rest of the story?

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Wow...sounds like an awful lot of damage from a 10mph collision...

goose25

What happened to the Accord and why not go through the insurance company? It sounds like there's more to the story and I'm waiting anxiously to hear the rest of it.

gfxdave99

So you work at a body shop?

fear

Did the airbags deploy? If not it sounds like you might have been sorta lucky. The frame could still be slightly tweaked though. If the new hood works and the gaps are still all equal I'd bet the frame is ok.

All TSX's are Xenon and yes, fogs are an option.

Carbon fiber hoods look stupid IMO.... But whatever floats yer boat.

Painting the hood / fenders is going to be a LOT more than $100.....

Personally I'd just let the insurance company pay for it and have it done somewhere. That way when the paint peels in 6mos you can bring it back.

MrChad

Something if fishy....if my sibling jaked my ride....they would be paying for an Acura certified shop to repair the car, perfectly. Something is not right here.

$500 is chump change to repair a hood, fenders, bumper and lights on a TSX.
No to mention an Accord? ....

fast-tl

matelot

wow what's with all these reports lately about borrower focking up other people's TSX ???

MrChad

Clearly a small population of TSX owners are even dumber then the avg. American consumer.

Or the TSX has become the rich parent's, spoiled child's car of choice.

tehCOW

Unless you are a professional car body specialist at age 19, you should rethink this DIY job. I'm not saying you can't do it, i'm just shaking my head as I read this entire thread.

Tengu

i smell

biker

taking over the 3 series.

CynicalWry

I've done tons of body work already (nothing fully custom, but ripping apart a front end is a walk in the park.)

As for the accord, his car has been in several accidents. We said that as long as he's not injured, we'll pay for it out of pocket. I'm assuming he'll bring me an estimate to get the bumper repainted and I'll just write him a check for something low and he'll pocket the change... the left side of his car is completely messed up...looks like I car blew threw it a few years back (rusted/dented) so I'm sure the small marks on his bumper won't upsetup the guy.
The air bags stayed in. The crash was at such a low speed. I even hooked up the OBDII to my autotap to make sure there weren't any DTCs or warnings. I'll be ripping the front end apart next week to further inspect everything and hope to put at least new headlights in by then.
I take care of all our cars at the house, including the TSX. Soon on my list of things for the TSX is an aux adapater and hardwiring in an MP3 player. For the exterior, I've got a few dents to pull out front a shopping cart and students who my sister goes to school w/.

If I have to justify myself, here's my project car that I can't seem to find enough time to work on. http://home.comcast.net/~cynicalwry/car/