Pelican Parts Forums - Body Damage (2024)

I got hit this weekend as I drove past an SUV on a two-lane road. The idiot woman was impatient and decided to pass on the right the car she was stuck behind.

Aside from having an even more cemented hatred of SUVs, I'm OK. My car isn't. I have some substantial body damage to my left rear quarter panel.

She's completely at fault, and I'll be taking this to her insurance company today. Any advice on what to watch for? Should I take it to a particular body shop, or can any do? Should I have my tranny inspected too, since a drive wheel was hit?

Let me know....

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

Mark,

Sorry to hear about your accident...or I should say, that lady's F*CK UP. If it were me, I would be ready to jump down her throat. Anyway, I will stop...

About your car, definitely have the transmission looked at, and make sure the engine did not rub anywhere on the body. More things than what you think can happen in an accident.

About where to take the car, if there is anywhere in particular...say you have had a car painted by someone before and really liked his work, take it there.

Make sure you take it to a place that is really good at what they do.
Another thing you can probably get out of this is a complete paint job. That way, it won't be just a panel and not match the rest of the car.

Hopefully everything works out for you, and hope to hear that the car looks like new.

Paul

That sounds like a plan. I do have a favorite place to take my bodywork, so I'll do that. Any ideas on how to justify a complete paintjob?

I don't think the impact was enough to really mess up the engine..it just dented the hell outta the quarterpanel. It *did* hit the wheel too - are they gonna want to "repair" the wheel or just replace the set of ROH's I have on there? Do I have to worry about the tranny too, since the car was in gear?

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

It was drivable after I used my lugwrench to pry body away from tire. :|

(Can you imagine how hard it was for me to do that? http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/smile.gif I just stuck the iron in between tire and body and started yanking. It was horrifying. Amazing how easy that bodywork moves, though.)

I'm just concerned about possible driveline damage that won't show up for a month. I'll have it checked.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

Sorry too hear about your bad luck. Glad to here you are okay though.

I would take it to several shops for mech. work (to check the entire driveline including a 4 wheel alignment, rim , tire ... etc).

Then another several shops for the body (but up scale shops that paint mercedes porsches etc on a regular basis) Some shops will give references and you should call them if you can to verify the previous work they have done.

This long process will take some time and real people skills (especially with the insurance company) to get it done right. Remember, a rush job is seldom done correctly and will always come back to P_ss you off.

One last thought, never take the insurance adjusters first offer (it will be low). They have plenty of room to work with.

Good Luck!

Sorry to hear about yout encounter with an idiot in an Urban Assault Vehicle!!!

You may be a little reluctant to take the car back to the dealer after their clutch diagnosis and the DME relay, but I think they are the only one to trully give an accurate evaluation of the driveline/suspension damage for documentation purposes to the insurance companies, as THEY will tend to want to wrap up the incident and close it out quickly!
Even if the transmission was not damaged, there are some subtle possibilities:

1. Bent wheel ... if the runout is more than 1/16" ... it is bent!!!

2. Bent semi-trailing arm ... the aluminum carrier for your wheel bearings, CV-joint, stub-axles ... anything attached to it could have been damaged, and only the dealership has the capability of checking any of those to spec.

3. Trailing arm ... since it is what all of the camber and toe-in adjustments bolt to, it must be straight, too.

4. CV-joints, and axle ... my candidate for most likely to be damaged!!!

5. Wonder how much a new, replacement 915 transaxle costs? That might be worth sticking her insurance company for, just for grins!!!

All in all, the body damage is trivial compared to all of the other things that could have 'hidden damage' ... so, take it to anybody for paint and bodtwork, but stick to the dealer for everything else!!!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Mark,

Sentiments echoed. My father has been repairing Porsches for 40 years in terms of paint and body. My advise to you is to take the car to a Porsche Dealership for the estimate and repair. Remember, insurance companies can try and be slick with Certified Repair Facilities(etc, etc, etc). This means one thing, they save the insurance company money. It's nothing but horse****.

Do yourself a favor and unless you're absolutely 100% positive your body and paint man can do Porsche quality repair, TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. They are the only ones who will be 100% accountable for their work and any later noticed associated problems.

Don't let the insurance company bull**** you around. Insist on the Porsche Dealership and use of authentic Porsche parts. Screw the insurance company and insist on the correct repair. Good luck with it.

Rich

Mark:

Another option is check with your Local
PCA if you are a member. There are some independent shops that can out do the dealer
in as far as diaganotic and repair work.
There reputation and Lively hood depend on them being able to outdo the dealer. In my area ther are 2 shops that perform complete
resteration work that will surpass the dealer any day. Just get refrences and check them out before selecting a shop of your choice. Not the choice of the insuracne company.
Good Luck

Mark, I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear about your accident. God, it made me fairly upset and I don't even know you.
The responses so far have been dead on, don't even budge when it comes to an adjuster, give 'em hell ol' boy!!

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

Mark,what a pisser!
I hate those F'n SUVs also, people feel invincible in them and bully you around .

Insist on depreciation of your car which can be around 10%-15% your local PCA may be able to help you or provide documentation for this.
Dont accept used parts such as wheels which new are $850 etc. ,even if they are scratched the adjusters don't know you can polish them out
Id take it to as many shops as possible its your choice as to the estimate you like,don't leave out the mechanical possibilities the left quarter has the electronics etc. nad get a rental car which you should be reimbursed for , a repaint for your car done right can take 2 months +

My sentiments are also echoed, having been in a similar situation, but follow Warren's warnings (I find that I have become a Warren advocate). In my situation, the driver ran a red light and literally pulled the front bumper off of my 72 911. They wanted me to go to their shop and I refused. It became a small fight, but I won and took it took a known Porsche shop. Don't cave... don't get rebuilt parts and force the issue. You have the right to have your car in the condition it was in before it was hit and the value has been compromised. You were... essentially, an innocent bystander. Don't allow the insurance companies to get the best of you by frustrating you over a time period that is not satisfactory. Get up everyones ass about it and they will back down. Quote values for your car in the condition it was in and more than anything else... go to a known Porsche repair shop. What is not apparent in damage right now, might become your disaster later.

I hope that you take and maintain a strong stance in this and I am truly sorry about then incident. I hope that you and any of your occupants were left unscathed by the accident.

Best Regards,

Marc Weintraub

Guys thanks for all the kind words. I really appreciate it.

I'll be taking this up with the other driver's insurance company tomorrow, and this is all great ammunition for what I know will be a long fight. There's a couple things on my side though:

1. I have another car...but I'll get a rental anyway.
2. You guys have great ideas. I never thought about the depreciation. I'll nail them for that too.

Anyway - thanks for all the great advice. Anything else you can think of is mucho wanted.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

I'll admit I'm fairly new to Porsche (I plan to buy my first very soon!) But what I do know is body work. I've worked at custom performance and body/frame/paint shops and actually do body work estimation amoung other things. What I can say is EXPECT A SHOTTY JOB! It's how "we" make money (but I don't do it anymore!) They will charge what ever they can to make pennys! any and all corners will be cut unless you specify them. I'd specify that you want the entire quarter panel replaced (you'd be surprised how much body filler a shop will use to keep from haveing to replace the quarter panel! and i gaurentee they will try unless you tell the you want it replaced)...and even then, tell them you want EVERYTHING (and specify what defines that) to line up! (YOU'D BE SURPRISED!) My advice would be (like everyone elses) to take it to a shop specializing in restoration (i'm not even too sure if i'd go with the dealer) and tell them you don't want body filler (bondo) used but lead or body solder. its a dying art, but a shop still utilizing the technique is more likely to take pride in their work.

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Soon-to-be 911 owner

Sounds good. I was concerned about the use of body filler...but I think they'll have no chance at using it. I'll make sure to specify a new quarterpanel.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

Mark,

Bruce Anderson addresses the matter of a 'diminution of value' insurance claim for a 'never been hit' car in the new June 2000 Excellence on p. 62. Is your paint a metallic, clear coated paint? If so, any body shop (and insurance adjuster) should be aware that it is impossible to match older paint of that type with a repaired panel, so that would definitely weight the diminution claim toward the top value of 20%, rather than the low-end of 10%!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

My car is black, so it's going to be hard to justify more than 10% value...or even a full repaint. Any input on how to get a full repaint even though it's black?

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

Well, the factory has been using a 2-coat, base + clear since the mid-70's, and a quote or two from the 'Body' section of the factory service manual ought to be a pretty good case for a complete paint job. To paraphrase (from memory) their disclaimer: the factory uses a special high-temperature paint formula and curing process that can never be duplicated or matched at a local paint shop ... in terms of durability of finish or appearance' ...

I can dig out the manual and email you the exact quote if you think that would be useful.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

I've seen the same thing as Warren mentioned and I don't have the factory manuals. I suspect it's in my Owner's Manual, and my recollection is it does not distinguish one color from the next. In other words, color does not matter, and your car needs to be repainted (at least this is what the adjuster needs to know). and all the stuff needs to come off to do that, not simply masked. Including the windshield.

I'd be happy to scour my records (including Owner's Manual) to find the reference. Just say the word....

Please make the insurance company do all this for you. They owe it to you, and you owe it to them. I just put my 15-year-old daughter on my policy, and the numbers are breathtaking.

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'83 SC

My car has had a new rear wing due to accident damage.
When i got my car I didnt really know what I was looking for. I do now though.
The quality of the repair is awfull.
I've no idea who did it. The paint on that panel is just not up to Porsche standards. Porsche use some kinda rippled effect around the wheel arch. My replacement panel didnt have that and very quickly began to rust. Try to make sure that you get a really good repair. A bad repair is nightmare that doesnt go away.

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US 1976 911 2.7s
email:alex@cascade.f9.co.uk

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