Insurance companies, main dealer or recommended repairer?

[glojo]

i would go elsewhere but i need to know that all the work is "BMW approved" for it to not effect any paint warranty later on..... also i am hoping that a BMW approved workshop will have the tech details availbale to uninstall and reinstall the door properly (i have airbags, soft closing doors, electric blinds on the windows etc) so i dont want a guy who has never worked on a 7 series before "winging" it.....

i assume the bmw workshop warranties work for a certain number of years - so should be ok if it does fade etc in time..... hopefully it wont!!

when my insurance company rings me saying what to do next, i will ask them about the hire car - i imagine it should be ok, i will probaby just hire a mondeo or something similar - might not bother at all if there isnt a car hire place near to the repairer otherwise i wont be able to colelct it etc without a car, causing more hassle than its worth (i can always just get the train to work when its in the bodyshop). the main prob for me is getting to the repairer again to pick the car up if its a weekday... so a hire car would sort that out if i can dump it near the repairer.

the repairer says they wont give me a courtesy car as they are Norwich Union reccomended repairer so all their cars go to those customers.....

Gee whizz ouch,
Totally agree with your very valid points about maintaining the warranty. The more I read this thread the more frustrated I get.

A BMW approved repair centre will not give you a courtesy car because the are aligned with Norwich Union and their customers take precedence.

The BMW dealer where you get your car looked after will not give you a courtesy car because they feel it is down to the repair centre?

This is where I would put a line in the sand and say enough of being Mr Nice Guy.

You are the innocent party (I hope the offending driver has not changed their story) Why are you being put to so much inconvienance?

Boy I would love to sort this out Have you got any legal assistance type extra with your insurance?

I am interested to read what other advice you might be offered.

John

John

 

[Cilonen]

After doing all that for you, Saab must be quite miffed that you went on to buy a Merc!

Their own fault for not making a folding hard top convertible

Seriously, the local dealer closed down a couple of years ago and the nearest Saab garage have a poor rep. The local dealer's service manager set up on his own so the car went there for routine care until it was time to change, but as there was nowhere I trusted to order a new one I decided to switch.
Will have another Saab when kids come along though!

 

[SilverSaloon]

insurers say NCB will be claimed back as uninsured loss via their legal dept after the other party has admitted liablity (still to hear back from their ins co as i only had the accident last friday)

The dealer is not involved at all - its all thru the repairer, the dealer isnt actually the one i usually use as they dont have a bodyshop at all. the nearest "approved bmw repairer" is the one i plan to go to. this "approved bmw repairer" also is the merc approved repairer and a few others.... all merc handbooks etc in their reception..... not much mention of BMW apart from a certificate of being "approved".

i havent been inconvienced yet really, but will be if i cant get a courtesy car, thats why i feel i should be able to just hire one and claim it back as an uninsured loss afterwards.

i was a bit miffed when i went to the bmw dealer only to be told to go direct to the repairer.... they didnt want to know at all. 100% not interested. although it is common knowlege that that particular dealer is pretty rubbish - they tried to charge me for warranty work saying i no longer have a warranty as i didnt buy the car from them! even tho it was 2 years old at the time lol. i went elsewhere, without any further probs!!

 

[glojo]

I do understand what your saying and you have to play with the cards you have been dealt.

I would merely check to see what size hire car your insurance company deem acceptable (I understand your claiming this back as an uninsured loss but you don't want the hassle of a drawn out arguement over what size vehicle you should hire)

Can the hire car be delivered or will you simply claim back taxi fares?

Will the repair centre return you home if you drop the car off?

The MOST Important thing is when you collect your repaired car. This centre does not fill me with inspiration. I would go over the vehicle with a fine tooth comb. Have any of your wheels been kerbed? Check them and make sure you point out to the centre that they are in pristine condition, or point out the damage that is already present.

Unfortunately I have heard of any number of cars that are returned with kerbed wheels, stains on seats are carpets, scrathes on bodywork. The list is endless. Try not to collect the car on a rainy day or evening when you cannot check the repair. Sorry if I appear alarmist, I don't intend to be, but hindsight is a worthless talent that merely frustrates folks. Forewarned is always forearmed. Point out the condition of your car when it goes in for repair, and simply make sure it is returned looking even better (repaired panel).


John

 

[WelshKompressor]

When I had the Mirror demolished off my C-Class the insurer of the idiot who did it wouldnt initially allow us to take to Mercedes benz. Took a lot of blagging and hard work for them to allow us to do so.

 

[SilverSaloon]

When I had the Mirror demolished off my C-Class the insurer of the idiot who did it wouldnt initially allow us to take to Mercedes benz. Took a lot of blagging and hard work for them to allow us to do so.

it is apparently your legal right to take it to whereever you want. also u should be able to take it to a dealer so the repair is up to Merc/BMW standards otherwise it may cause problems claiming against rust/paintwork warranty later on - remember it could be 5 or 6 years down the line until the paint rusts or something and then they will say "go away" or something similar.

 

[SilverSaloon]

more confusion.....


3rd party insurer has just phoned (spoke to wife at home) saying they will pay for all repairs and sort out hire car etc.....

they have yet to phone me back direct (which wife told them to do) but if all goes ok and they agree to estimate from BMW that i could fax them, can i just cancel the claim i made thru my own insurers....

it seems a better way as then i dont have any excess to pay etc or to claim back....

can i just cancel a claim?

 

[glojo]

can i just cancel a claim?

Have you contacted the guilty parties insurance company? They are sometimes very understanding and if you explain your vehicle is still under warranty... blah blah blah

I am no fan of these very cheap and sometimes not cheerful repair centres. As far as some are concerned a bake oven is where they heat up their pasty's.

Yes!!! but make sure the guilty party get the ball rolling and you get everything in writing.

It is a much better way of doing things, contact the company and try to get an individual that you can develop a repoire and 'seek their advice' In other words, "Where do you recommend I get a hire car and what size vehicle will you find acceptable?" That way there are no surprises.

Things are gradually working out for you and I say good luck.

John

 

[Flash]

more confusion.....


3rd party insurer has just phoned (spoke to wife at home) saying they will pay for all repairs and sort out hire car etc.....

they have yet to phone me back direct (which wife told them to do) but if all goes ok and they agree to estimate from BMW that i could fax them, can i just cancel the claim i made thru my own insurers....

it seems a better way as then i dont have any excess to pay etc or to claim back....

can i just cancel a claim?

You can cancel the claim BUT there will still be a record of it on your Proof of No Claims Bonus documentation and it may show as an accident (non fault) with no claim made on the policy. Thats what DaimleyChysler / Mercedes Insurance do anyway...

I personally would have used the Legal Cover (that comes with your full comprehensive cover) to have chased the third party as it is free of charge and there would not have been any record on your policy what so ever as no claim is made through your insurance company/policy. With legal Cover it is a separate orgaisation/company that allocates you a Solicitor at no cost for a valid claim and has nothing to do wuth your own insurannce company/policy i.e. similar to Break Down Cover.

 

[C43AMG]

Yes you can, it happened to me a while ago. it worked very well my isurance company was only to pleased not to go through all the paperwork etc, the third party insurers sent there man to inspect the damage at the bodyshop that i had specified, the work was done and they paid the bodyshop end of story.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Latest update: all seems to be working out now; 3rd party insurers have admitted liability and i have faxed a copy of the estimate to them. they are also hiring me a car from enterprise which i can just organise myself and then they will get billed 100% for everything.

all seems pretty good service from them so far... lets home they dont argue about the estimate which totals out at £1,418 for a new door & assembly!



i have a feeling that they will send out an engineer who will say it doesnt need a new door, in which case i assume i'll just have to accept a repair on the current door.

Looking at the estimate, they are going to "surface paint" the front door and rear side panel so the paint matches correctly.

 

[glojo]

they are also hiring me a car from enterprise which i can just organise myself and then they will get billed 100% for everything.

Enterprise is an excellent National Car hire company. The last time our car went for a service we were given an E-class 'courtesy' car. This vehicle was actually a hire car from Enterprise.

Fingers crossed you can get a vehicle similar to the 7-series (that would be either a Smart, or A-class )

If you have a good relationship going with the repair centre I would make sure they voice your concerns to the engineer. (Hence my posts have always been about good relationships) It is so easy for folks to open their mouths in haste, then regret it at leisure.

Good luck,
John

 

[SilverSaloon]

Fingers crossed you can get a vehicle similar to the 7-series (that would be either a Smart, or A-class )

hehe, i'll hope out for a S600 but i have a funny feeling it will be a Corsa. but if it gets me to work & back i wont mind.... i will however ask for the nicer car if possible and see what they say....

If you have a good relationship going with the repair centre I would make sure they voice your concerns to the engineer.
John

i dont really, only time i have spoken to the estimater is when he looked over the car..... not very well it seems as he has it down as a 730 with 17" wheels, when it isnt...

hope he realises it has electric roller blind and soft closure doors that he will have to refit when he takes the door off

 

[SilverSaloon]

The 3rd party insurers have authorised Enterprise to give me a Mercedes C Class, which will do me fine

I'm impressed with the service i've had from Zenith so far.... lets hope it doesnt turn sour if they kick up a fuss about the new door.

 

[Dieselman]

Get into the hire car quickly then if it comes to arguing over the door replacement they will be concious that the hire car is costing them every day you are in it.
This can sway a decision to a higher repair cost as the hire car can end up costing more than the repair.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Get into the hire car quickly then if it comes to arguing over the door replacement they will be concious that the hire car is costing them every day you are in it.
This can sway a decision to a higher repair cost as the hire car can end up costing more than the repair.

cant really do that, as my car is drivable - cant hire the hirecar until i take my car to the garage and they have to approve the estimate before i can do that.....

should find out today tho

 

[SilverSaloon]

OK, so insurance company have now recieved the estimate....

they want to send out an engineer to see my vehicle.

I think he is going to say that the door can be repaired and not replaced (estimate is for replacement door).

any ideas on how i should respond to him when he says doesnt need replacing. Am I entitled to a new door since it wasn't filled/repaired before their insured hit me.. so why should i have a filled door now...... or is my only option to cave in at this point and accept a repair to the door?

thanks!

 

[glojo]

any ideas on how i should respond to him when he says doesnt need replacing. Am I entitled to a new door since it wasn't filled/repaired before their insured hit me.. so why should i have a filled door now...... or is my only option to cave in at this point and accept a repair to the door?

Very diplomatically.

This person is a servant of the insurance company but still a professional with a reputation to protect. If he is adamant that you do not need a new skin then it becomes difficult. I have not seen the damage so you might be completely OTT in your demands... BUT If it were me then I would listen to what the engineer had to say, then explain that this vehicle is my pride and joy. Before the incident it was in pristine condition.

I have done nothing to warrant my car being here in this repair centre.

I intend keeping the vehicle, but when I do sell it if the buyer detects any trace of filler then I will be forced to reduce the price? There are instruments on the market that can detect filler, plus of course a simple magnet will not stick to filler. Will the insurance company compensate you for this loss that is clearly all tied into this incident?

I am with you on this point, but I fear it is not an open and shut case.

Hopefully someone might have more favourable input.

Good luck,
John

 

[SilverSaloon]

the damage is very light to be fair, 2 small creases at the top of the door - repairer estimator did say it could be repaired perfectly but i insisted him do a quote for a new door.....

yeah i think the fact that the price can come down from £1,415 for a new door to around £300 ish i expect for a repair, its going to be hard to argue my case.

i will mention magnets, no fault of my own etc etc. Damage to resale etc...

but if i do cave in i will tell them that if i can see ANY evedence of a repair afterwards i will not accept the repair. The door was 100% before (not even a scratch, chip etc) so it should be afterwards.

At the end of the day, the insurance company pay the guy to make sure each job is done the cheapest way possible...... i cant see this going in my favour. shame really as i have been very very impressed with Zurich insurance so far.... and if their quotes are competitive may have my own business in future, but not if they screw me over....

Very diplomatically.

This person is a servant of the insurance company but still a professional with a reputation to protect. If he is adamant that you do not need a new skin then it becomes difficult. I have not seen the damage so you might be completely OTT in your demands... BUT If it were me then I would listen to what the engineer had to say, then explain that this vehicle is my pride and joy. Before the incident it was in pristine condition.

I have done nothing to warrant my car being here in this repair centre.

I intend keeping the vehicle, but when I do sell it if the buyer detects any trace of filler then I will be forced to reduce the price? There are instruments on the market that can detect filler, plus of course a simple magnet will not stick to filler. Will the insurance company compensate you for this loss that is clearly all tied into this incident?

I am with you on this point, but I fear it is not an open and shut case.

Hopefully someone might have more favourable input.

Good luck,
John

 

[glojo]

At the end of the day, the insurance company pay the guy to make sure each job is done the cheapest way possible...... i cant see this going in my favour. shame really as i have been very very impressed with Zurich insurance so far.... and if their quotes are competitive may have my own business in future, but not if they screw me over....

Don't be to pessimistic, the assessor is human and I have found them to be very understanding. However they have to be sensible, if the job is silly small then they will never justify a new panel.

If we both cross our fingers and call him sir!! Who knows?

Good luck,
John