Hi, just brought my 2001 CL-S last thursday to a local Lube & Tune shop for an oil filter change and tires rotated. So, I pulled out of their shop and took a right at the first intersection. My left rear tire spun out, hit another car, and my car proceeded to drag on the left rear axle and rear bumperfor a few feet while i brought it to the side of the road.

I ran back to the shop to inform them of the situation and liability. They said they would take care of me, the car my tire damaged, and got me a rental car in the meantime. They said they would bring it into a body shop (within walking distance). I had them make me a list of all the parts they would replace, including the axle, rear bumper, rims on the tire that spun out, and ending with an inspection by an Acura dealer to make new parts were used and my warranty would not be voided. So far so good.

Today, they called me and brought me into the body shop. They showed me some additional damage that was incurred to the left rear quarter panel, which was covered by the rear bumper. If you can imagine your car scraping along the ground with no left rear tire, then you can imagine where the damage was. According to this local body shop, they said that in order to replace the entire left quarter panel, it would be extremely difficult as it would involve some cutting. So they wanted to get away with smoothing the dents on it out and cover it with the rear bumper!!! As you can imagine, I am very upset at them and suspicious that they are trying to screw me here. All I want is the car returned to me in exactly the state it was before the accident, but in their opinion, replacing the quarter panel will do even more damage and lower the car's value.

So I'm asking the guru's on this list give me their advice: how difficult is the quarter panel to replace? Would it really involve cutting or some shit to remove and then weld a replacement?! That just doesn't make sense to me. If I do end up covering the damage with the rear bumper, if I tried to resell it, would someone really remove the bumper just to see if it had been in an accident before? I'm just trying to anticipate all the problems so I don't get screwed in the future wit regards to warranty or resale. Any responses are GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

 

I'm certainly no guru but if the damage is cosmetic, and covered by the bumper cover anyway, I would fix it as best as possible, making sure to rustproof it, and cover it up before tearing off the 1/4 panel. Also, less paint to match.

 

I would take it to another body shop. may be to your dealer. dont go where they want you to go. they screwed up. i mean how hard is it to rotate tires. dont take no for an answer. dont forget to get them to pay you for your deprication for being wrecked.

 

another body shop....thats rediculous....yah i think they will have to weld a new pannel some but thats what body shops do....look at the body configuration and youll see it looks like one large part..