Bronco Possibly Totaled

[MilesTeg]

Yes, either paint the entire side or do what they call "blending". I'm not a body guy so I may be incorrect in what I'm about to say, but I don't think "Blending" means painting all the adjacent body panels. I thought it was clear coating them, since often it's the clear that tends to dull and fade. Again, I could be wrong.

Blending is where they partially repaint panels next to the repainted panels/area. They remove clear coat, then feather/gradient new paint over the transition area without fully covering the old paint. Then add new clearcoat. To me as a guy with no painting skill at all it's basically black magic, but when done well it looks good and makes it harder to notice the difference between the original and fresh paint tone.

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[GoHawks63]

Blending is where they partially repaint panels next to the repainted panels/area. They remove clear coat, then feather/gradient new paint over the transition area without fully covering the old paint. Then add new clearcoat. To me as a guy with no painting skill at all it's basically black magic, but when done well it looks good and makes it harder to notice the difference between the original and fresh paint tone.

Thanks for the explanation and yes, it does sound a bit like black magic, and definitely a skill.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Cut and weld.

In both pictures the tires are pointed straight ahead. and parallel to the frame

Driver's side

Pass side

 

[CalvinT]

Adding to this: insurance companies cannot make you choose their preferred repair shop. They can't pay you less if you don't.

That's what I thought from a quick read of AZ statutes. The someone backed into my Subaru and I didn't like the options his insurance company gave me. They gave a list of six shops or a check. My prefered shop wasn't on their list and their check wouldn't cover his bill. Hence I turned it over to my company which would allow me to use my preferred shop.

In AZ the other guy's insurance can make you use the the shops they want. YOUR insurance company cannot make you use their preferred shops. Other states are probably different.

 

[flip]

In both pictures the tires are pointed straight ahead.

Driver's side

Pass side

It's possible that nothing behind the front brackets got damaged but standard practice is to put it on a frame rack, hang targets, get measurements and compare to OE. If the front horns do need replaced the "correct" way is hanging targets after disassembly and the horns are tacked in place once they're in the correct position then finish welded based on what OE call for. Reality is that a lot of places will do it without laser frame measurements and can get it close enough things will align after they're done. There's enough play built into the components to allow for tolerance ranges during manufacturing but it things were already at the extremes, using less precise methods can cause fitment problems when going back together.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Looks like they will be able to fix it.

Estimate was $20,373.52 of which $500 is my deductible.

According to KBB that is a few grand under 50% of its value

Only fixable since air bags didn't deploy or that would have put cost WAY over 50% of value


Though I still have to review that as the claims web site is having issues right now and I can't see the detailed break down.

 

[Lej512]

Sorry about your Bronco, I'm glad you are both ok. We have a 2-door V-6 and hope we never have to replace it.
BTW is that a "man purse" that guy has on?

"It's European!" (From Seinfeld)

 

[Pbethel]

Or maybe this "manbag". In AZ you just don't know.
https://www.amazon.com/Jessie-Conce...=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

 

[Roger123]

Looks like they will be able to fix it.

Estimate was $20,373.52 of which $500 is my deductible.

According to KBB that is a few grand under 50% of its value

Only fixable since air bags didn't deploy or that would have put cost WAY over 50% of value


Though I still have to review that as the claims web site is having issues right now and I can't see the detailed break down.

Best of luck to you! We were there as well, was going to be fixed and our estimate was *only* $17K but then it had to go through some higher level reviews due to amount of claim and one of the *higher-ups* got cold feet and pulled the plug. Body shop even had ordered and received the frame. That was one of the reasons our claim took so long.

They ended up paying us out $44K, I thought fixing it for $17K made more sense but.........

REALLY hope this works out for you!

 

[Steve_In_29]

Or maybe this "manbag". In AZ you just don't know.
https://www.amazon.com/Jessie-Concealed-Crossbody-Shoulder-Turquoise/dp/B08DLCL7ZW/ref=sxin_11_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.e22e9a66-f629-4cc7-bff7-b5ce53ad6cd3:amzn1.sym.e22e9a66-f629-4cc7-bff7-b5ce53ad6cd3&crid=11EI1PI55S8DX&cv_ct_cx=concealed+carry+purse&keywords=concealed+carry+purse&pd_rd_i=B08DLCL7ZW&pd_rd_r=921ecee3-021c-4e72-8e28-5519ff4da6a4&pd_rd_w=CVMEK&pd_rd_wg=7rtDD&pf_rd_p=e22e9a66-f629-4cc7-bff7-b5ce53ad6cd3&pf_rd_r=BSYPZVD2KZAD2B4KK9EC&qid=1780759344&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sprefix=concealed+carry,aps,266&sr=1-5-4a82bf2c-99de-49d4-8c6e-1b9c06d4b176-spons&aref=OA4nvGATeH&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

A "murse"

 

[Steve_In_29]

Best of luck to you! We were there as well, was going to be fixed and our estimate was *only* $17K but then it had to go through some higher level reviews due to amount of claim and one of the *higher-ups* got cold feet and pulled the plug. Body shop even had ordered and received the frame. That was one of the reasons our claim took so long.

They ended up paying us out $44K, I thought fixing it for $17K made more sense but.........

REALLY hope this works out for you!

Had you kept the vehicle your payout would have been less. Which if you need to pay the loan off might screw you.

As an example, on my (long paid off) 07 F350 it was $32K to give them the truck or get $26K and keep the truck My body shop guy told me that no matter what do the buy back as he said he could sell pretty much everything from the truck and recoup WAY more than the $6K difference. for me
Heck just a partial list was...
engine (6.0 diesel) $10K
bed (without tailgate) $2K
tailgate $500
doors $500/each
then there were...
wheels/tire
interior (rare black interior with black leather seats)
transmission
transfer case
F/R axles
wiring harnesses
hood
16.5K Warn winch
etc...

This is why insurance is quick to total, as the sum of the parts they can sell is more then the cost of vehicle.

In my case we loved the truck (extended cab/long bed/4x4) and already knew the truck could be fixed for $16K so I kept truck, spent the $16K and pocketed $10K. We still drive the F350 to this day.

 

[MilesTeg]

Looks like they will be able to fix it.

Estimate was $20,373.52 of which $500 is my deductible.

According to KBB that is a few grand under 50% of its value

Only fixable since air bags didn't deploy or that would have put cost WAY over 50% of value


Though I still have to review that as the claims web site is having issues right now and I can't see the detailed break down.

The only time I've ever had body work done, the cost went way, way up after they started actually doing the job. Lots of times they can't find all the damage until they start taking it all apart. So, beware.

 

[Steve_In_29]

The only time I've ever had body work done, the cost went way, way up after they started actually doing the job. Lots of times they can't find all the damage until they start taking it all apart. So, beware.

Your body shop wasn't any good then.

Over the years I've had multiple cars require body work and the shop I used back in CA was always spot on with their estimates.

 

[MilesTeg]

Your body shop wasn't any good then.

Over the years I've had multiple cars require body work and the shop I used back in CA was always spot on with their estimates.

Interesting. In my case it was getting rear ended. Obvious damage was bumper cover. Hidden damage was, of course, the actual bumper was damaged.

Every place I took it to said "the bumper itself is probably damaged, but we can only estimate what we can see for legal reasons". All reputable, high quality shops.

 

[Roger123]

The only time I've ever had body work done, the cost went way, way up after they started actually doing the job. Lots of times they can't find all the damage until they start taking it all apart. So, beware.

In our case they (insurance co.) were worried about the tub being tweaked once they took it off the frame and what growth work would come from that.

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