Repair cost estimate? (someone hit my baby!) w/ pictures

[Kiamo]

I was waiting at an intersection today and a guy in a 1984 Ford Ranger just rear-ends by baby.
It bent the truck lid pretty bad and bent the bumper a little bit (his bumper is pretty much ****ed, though). The truck will latch if you push it really hard. From what I can tell, the frame is fine and nothing under the bumper is bent at all. The bumper itself doesn't even look bad at all. Here are a few crappy pictures of the damage:










So anyone have a cost estimate? Its free for me (police report done and all that, 100% his fault), but I'm just curious. Also, how much extra to get an M3 bumper instead if they do replace the bumper?


Thanks for any info/support!

edit: Oh yeah, all the Check Control says is "Lic Plate Light" cause the left license plate light doesn't come on now...

[Kompressor]

Did you tell the coppers that lic plate light thingy too? the mor emoney you get the better, right? Uh shouldn't be that much anyway. Just stick with yuor bumper.

[Vitolo]

at least $1500

[Kiamo]

Originally posted by Vitolo
at least $1500

I figure... The cop put $3,500 as his estimate, but that doesn't really count for anything. His insurance company is supposed to send an adjuster to inspect the damage and give a cost amount.

[VANOSNinja]

NO!! Take your car to a bodyshop which you want the car repaired at or if you know a place that will help you out take it there. Have THEM work with the adjuster and give an estimate that way. The cheapskate insurance adjuster will try to cut so many friggin corners.

[DukeBoy27]

Ouch, poor car... got hit up high, an SUV did it??

[Syko]

A ford ranger is a big truck.

Basically the same thing happened to me a couple days ago in the Accord.

[E31]

Sorry for the loss..

You need to arm yourself with info. Find out how much an M3 bumper that you want and how much your bumper costs. If they cost the same, make the garage get the one you want. Don't go to an adjuster, they will dry rape you out of $$, do as VANOSNinja said.

[rustamd]

what you should do is get estimate from like 3-4 big shops around town. Then see which one ask the most for repair and when adjusters comes over to take a look at damage tell him that you want the car to be fixed at that shop but you want to get check in your name. They have to give you whatever shop ask for or pretty close to that. Than after that you can find youself good deal to fix the damage and have few houndred in the pocket. Thats what i done. i live in clearwater, i got estimate from superior and bertsmith, superior's estimate was like 1400 more than bertsmiths, so i got my money, had it fixed in bertsmithbmw and kept $1400.

[SpeedDemon]

Play the game right, take it to an expensive body shop, then get the money, and take it to a smaller shop that does good work and doesn't charge nearly as much. Put the rest of the money into mods if you want and call it a day. You should be able to make about $1000 at least out of the deal if you play it right.

[nadir]

yeah, before adjuster comes out to take a look at the damage, DO THIS:

1) go to a bmw dealership and ask them which bodyshop specializes in bmw
2) go to that bodyshop and get an estimate
3) find more expensive reputable bodyshops (as u will have much easier handling of issues w/ em after paint/bodywork is complete)
4) when the car has an estimate and you're satisfied w/ the bodyshop, THEN ONLY adjust should come see and approve.

I had an accident recently.. yeah i drive a maxima, but i took it to a bmw specialized bodyshop as they were the oldest, had experience w/ em before, and the best one around here in NorCal. They did an EXCELLENT job... but i suggest u at least call the dealership and get a recommendation on which shop to take it too. Good luck man!