Budget Accident Repair on 955
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 3:28 pm
OK, I mentioned in Cuda's "Shit I think my car was totaled" thread that my college son was in a minor fender-bender a couple of weeks ago in the '06 955S (157k+ miles). Actually, he wasn't driving - their fraternity pledge class was returning from a "walk-out" weekend in Ohio and his pledge brother was driving at the time and it was his fault. Anyhow, minor accident. But, my insurance company (USAA) is paying the claim to the other vehicle. As it turns out, since we didn't have collision insurance on our Cayenne, the driver's insurance policy will cover it (just so happens the driver had USAA also). So, insurance is going to pay. Today, we took it in for an estimate. It's basically the front bumper cover, the driver side headlight and then the very front corner of the left front fender is buggered up a bit. The repair estimate was over $4,700, or as the body shop estimator said "75% of the way to totaling it out."
USAA is giving me the option of having the shop repair it or writing me a check and letting me get it fixed on my own. Here's what I've found so far:
I can buy a used front bumper unit with the grills and lower spoiler in good shape, but the wrong color, for around $650 shipped. Would need to get it prepped and sprayed. Probably around $750 or $800 for a local shop to do that.
I can buy a brand new set of Valeo headlights (left and right) from Warehouse33auto.com for $644 shipped. That way they are new and would match. I could buy a used driver's side only headlight off ebay for $230 and just polish both sides up.
New sidemarker light is about $35.
Figure $500 for the repair to the fender.
So, that's a total of about $2,200 to $2,600. So, I'm not making out like Cuda (lucky bastard), but should come out about $2k+ to the good on this deal. Thoughts?
Also, a question. When I bought the Cayenne a couple of years ago, the rear bumper cover was buggered up, and I just happened to find one on ebay the same color (lapis blue). If I could find a decent front bumper unit in lapis blue, I could save $750 in having it prepped and sprayed. Other than just dumb luck in running across one on ebay, is there any way to search for a used bumper cover in a certain color? I found a salvage yard selling parts from a 2004 and a 2006 model in lapis blue that showed pics of intact front ends, and I sent them a message on ebay to see if they might have the bumper cover from one of those cars. Any other ideas to find one I wouldn't have to prep and paint?
USAA is giving me the option of having the shop repair it or writing me a check and letting me get it fixed on my own. Here's what I've found so far:
I can buy a used front bumper unit with the grills and lower spoiler in good shape, but the wrong color, for around $650 shipped. Would need to get it prepped and sprayed. Probably around $750 or $800 for a local shop to do that.
I can buy a brand new set of Valeo headlights (left and right) from Warehouse33auto.com for $644 shipped. That way they are new and would match. I could buy a used driver's side only headlight off ebay for $230 and just polish both sides up.
New sidemarker light is about $35.
Figure $500 for the repair to the fender.
So, that's a total of about $2,200 to $2,600. So, I'm not making out like Cuda (lucky bastard), but should come out about $2k+ to the good on this deal. Thoughts?
Also, a question. When I bought the Cayenne a couple of years ago, the rear bumper cover was buggered up, and I just happened to find one on ebay the same color (lapis blue). If I could find a decent front bumper unit in lapis blue, I could save $750 in having it prepped and sprayed. Other than just dumb luck in running across one on ebay, is there any way to search for a used bumper cover in a certain color? I found a salvage yard selling parts from a 2004 and a 2006 model in lapis blue that showed pics of intact front ends, and I sent them a message on ebay to see if they might have the bumper cover from one of those cars. Any other ideas to find one I wouldn't have to prep and paint?