When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
illogitech are you working with your insurance company or the other guys? No way could your car be fixed for the $42K estimate. Perhaps time to get some lawyers involved specially you are dealing with the other guy's insurance.
Just as a comparison my car was in a low speed fender bender. The car was eminently drive-able so much so that I even completed the 2500 trip with the bent fender. The initial estimate was about $2500 but the body shop found other hidden damage and parts to replace when they opened it up. By the time it was all done the insurance paid about $8000 of that $2200 was just for the headlight that was broken from the back . I did not take the car to a insurance or Audi authorized body shop, but the adjuster was very familiar with the shop and spoke very well of them.
I had my S5 fixed at a Caliber shop, (Much less damage than this.) Issues were loose trim below doors (fixed), and some overspray along the sunroof edge (also fixed)
My main complaint was that the rear quarter panel should have been replaced, or a patch welded in for the damaged area between the wheel well and door. There's a detail ridge there that was crushed, and they just sculped it out of filler. I can see the difference just looking at it, but at least it's on the side I normally don't see
I'll never do business with Caliber again, and I wouldn't trust them to get the panel replacement done properly after this.
@illogitech & @Waggin — While it’s a real shame that both of you have had to go through this crappy-a$$ed repair with Caliber — it’s great that you post up these threads. We’ve recently had a large Caliper Body shop open locally: I never realized they were a franchise operation but I’ll tell my friends to be very careful with their car repairs!
As my Audi dealer is one of many brands sold under the Penske Auto Mall, the Auto Mall has their own body repair shop for all the brands they sell and while I know that’s no guarantee, I know they are using genuine manufacturers parts and are certified by those brands.
It certainly is a scary place out there and it seems like everyone is out to do the least while making the mo$t.
I had my S5 fixed at a Caliber shop, (Much less damage than this.) Issues were loose trim below doors (fixed), and some overspray along the sunroof edge (also fixed)
My main complaint was that the rear quarter panel should have been replaced, or a patch welded in for the damaged area between the wheel well and door. There's a detail ridge there that was crushed, and they just sculped it out of filler. I can see the difference just looking at it, but at least it's on the side I normally don't see
I'll never do business with Caliber again, and I wouldn't trust them to get the panel replacement done properly after this.
For something that size, most shops will use filler in that kind of damage (regardless of whether there's a body crease or line that was damaged). If it's a good shop they can recreate a very sharp body line out of filler.
I know they are using genuine manufacturers parts and are certified by those brands.
Be careful about ensuring they are using OEM parts. My wife was rear ended in the Q5 and the Audi Dealer’s body shop was directed by insurance to use non OEM parts. Long story, but we had to use our insurance. After 2 bumpers arrived damaged, they insisted upon using an OEM bumper. I didn’t realize insurance was trying to use non-OEM parts and about came unglued when I found out. My wife didn’t know any better. After 1.25 months of it being in the shop, she just got it back on Wednesday. Before the car rental, damage was $7k!
Be careful about ensuring they are using OEM parts. My wife was rear ended in the Q5 and the Audi Dealer’s body shop was directed by insurance to use non OEM parts. Long story, but we had to use our insurance. After 2 bumpers arrived damaged, they insisted upon using an OEM bumper. I didn’t realize insurance was trying to use non-OEM parts and about came unglued when I found out. My wife didn’t know any better. After 1.25 months of it being in the shop, she just got it back on Wednesday. Before the car rental, damage was $7k!
Way back when I reported that my previous car was hit in the rear (minor damage to both the bumper skin and rear ground effects) and the service manager for the dealer body shop showed me the parts that had to come in from an Acura warehouse on the West Coast. It slowed down the repair — but I didn’t particularly care as I was then driving my brand new S5 and I no longer had to move the Acura off the driveway to pull the Audi out of the garage.
He told me that the insurance company of the person who hit me tried to spec cheaper 3rd party replacement parts but the Penske body shop refuses to use parts from 3rd party suppliers. I am trusting that they want to keep as much of the cost of both parts & repairs within their own organization.
I could be wrong but I believe that part is what holds the tyvek shipping cover on the car as it’s delivered to the final dealer. The bottom part is pulled under the pinch weld and the cover is looped around the top piece. I’m guessing your dealer’s prep guy somehow popped it into your interior.
09-27-2019, 01:47 PM
