hello! I'm hoping someone can help explain a bit about frame damage to me. My car was in a fairly bad accident. The place that repaired it told me that they had to drill out the front portion of the unibody frame at the factory weld spots and replace it. However the work order after the repairs were done does not reflect this. This obviously makes a big difference to me as far as the value of the car and resale value etc. The repair shop also mentioned to the insurance company that it would take about a month to repair the frame rails.

so is repairing the frame rails and repairing the unibody frame the same thing or are they two different entities? Is this a fairly normal procedure when repairing the car? how could I tell if the shop actually did this or not (I do not trust the shops word)?

any insight woud be great, I'm not very versed on auto repair work. thanks!

taz

 

also, what does "trim LKQ parts" on the estimate mean?

 

usually once bent they just replace. Unless the damage is minor where they can pull them straight they dont get reused. You cant always go off a work order as things arent always listed. What they said by drilling out spot welds and replacing is normal. Also it should not take 1 month to replace frame rails.

 

Also if you question any thing go back and ask.

 

thanks for your reply! would replacing the frame rails be the same thing as drilling out part of the unibody frame and replacing it?

unfortunately I cant ask them so easily because we are in a legal dispute. We are trying to determine the Diminution of Value right now. If there was frame damage, then the DOV would be much more than if there was no frame damage, as would the resale value decrease etc.

thanks again!

taz

 

actually upon closer inspection, it looks as if they replaced the entire front end of the car. the estimate lists a front end costing $4,500 and with 6 hours of frame labor. Have you heard of a complete front end being replaced before? any idea wht that does to the value of the car?

taz

 

Yes thats the same thing. New cars dont have the old "frame" style. Its unitbody. Its many pieces joined together to make a structure.

Yes thats usually the way they do it. In a accident the front structure is supposed to crumple to make it safer for the occupants. Usually they replace most things firewall forward.

As for the value?? I personally dont worry about it. Especially on a 5+year old car with a value already diminishing due to trans problems. If its a reputable body shop the car should be every bit as good as teh day it left the factory.

 

Do you have a salvage title as in rebuilt or reconstruct title if yes then your car is worth anywhere between 20 - 60% off book value. If title is clear then your prices stays at book.