So I get a text from a buddy who happens to be staying at my place on Thursday. Seems a lady that lives in my neighborhood did this to my XJ! Luckily she has insurance and let him know and gave him her info. Sent it in on Saturday to get an estimate this morning. Insurance came back with over 3 grand in damages, and if the shop finds much more they are going to want to total out the dang thing! I just finished putting my new RockHard rear bumper and Tire carrier on too!

 

Over three grand?! Is there something I'm missing in the pictures? That doesn't look like that much damage. Then again, I'm not a professional insurance adjuster or body shop tech...

 

from what I am being told on top of the cosmetic, the radiator is cracked, (aftermarket aluminium) and power steering is cracked. Hoping my mechanic can do it for less then that.

 

If you park in the road there's a chance you'll get hit. Maybe next time you'll find a better place to park?

 

Laredo,
If I had a better place dont you think I would have??

 

you have a jeep, so you should simply fix those problems yourself and be done with it.

first of all make sure your frame rails are not bent or cracked. by simply crawling under with a light will be enough to get a good idea. from the looks of it I'd say there is no damage to the unibody. I was in a similar accident and my bumper bent a little, header panel cracked but the rest was A1.

leave the fender like that, it's not a problem

aftermarket bumper : 300-500$

new header panel and parking lights : 30$ at your pull a part or 100-200$ aftermarket replacement

replacing the box is not very hard, same goes for the pump (don't know which power steering part is cracked) i'd say under 100$ for the parts at a pull a part, aftermarket probably more. if it's the box get a refmanufactured one or one from a durango.

oem radiator replacement : 200$

so i think for around 1000$ you can get away with it easily if you do the job yourself. i never dealt with insurance, but they'll be happy to pay 1500$ instead of 3000.

 

Yeah it suck but I agree 100% with what Cane says above: over 3k for that seems excessive, even with the mechanical parts. Even if you don't want to do all the bodywork yourself and assuming that you get it professionally painted, I don't see over $3000.

On the other hand, I'm glad she was honest and left details. Where I live in Los Angeles, most people just drive away and a huge number don't have insurance. My ex was hit by a guy in a brand new Range Rover: he drove away and left her trapped in the car from the panel damage. Luckily there were witnesses.

 

The over $3000 cost might be because they are estimating cost of labor.

 

At three grand the insurance company will total it. They will give you a check for the value of the vehicle. You can buy it back and do the repairs, or upgrades and still have cash in your pocket.

 

What Bustedback said!!

 

Agreed! Asked for the buy back quote.

 

Yeah, buy it back and fix it.

Now you can afford a new front winch bumper and an upgraded radiator, new power steering gearbox, steering components, and whatever else is broke

 

These are all a bunch of great ideas guys! I was mainly posting as I was frustrated and I know this group would sympathize at the very least. After talking to my mechanic the repairs are under way. While they are not totaling the jeep, the value was close. And as for doing the repairs myself while the idea sounds good and I would love to, with my schedule right now coupled with the fact I do not have any covered area to work on it, it would be months until it was completed. Luckily everything actually is working out with just a little frustration on my part and hopefully I will get my rig back soon. If they were going to total it I totally planned on buying it back as salvage or what ever I could, heck I just paid to get all the bearings and seals replaced in my rear d44 axle! I wasn't gonna let that thing go!

 

Take your insurance money and fix the headlight, new radiator OEM from AutoZone $100 along with what is needed to drive. Use the rest to upgrade ft bumper and other items you need.

 

THATS 3K WORTH OF DAMAGE?!?! I've done that at Rausch Creek and still drove home.

mannnn I wish mine would get hit like that. If they were to even pay out 1k for damages I'd make out like a bandit. Fix what's necessary for as cheap as possible. body damage, meh who cares. WE CAN BUILD IT BETTER. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.... and insurance money