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2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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glyph
User
Aug 2, 2017, 8:47 PM
Post #1 of 8
(1743 views)
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2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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SHORT VERSION: hit a deer - car drove fine every day for 6 months. Just need to pass inspection now. Care nothing about how it looks or dents. Seems like I should be able to get a MUCH cheaper quote - am I right? (BTW I already have the lower bumper and grill parts, so I mostly just need headlamp and fan I think)
Link to full size photos of car and repair quote.
https://goo.gl/photos/RiS2XZ7bSZTKbCPt5
LONG VERSION:
2001 xterra 6cyl 3.3 liters with 190k miles. My sister owned it and they hit a deer. They never took it to a shop and drove it EVERY DAY for 6 months afterwords with no problems. Then it needed inspection but they wound up just getting a different car. (BTW the insurance company had called it "totalled/salvage" and just gave them a settlement.)
The car is 1.5 hours away at my brother in laws parents. They talked to a guy at a local shop, who estimated almost $2600. I talked to him and made it clear I care nothing about aesthetics - don't worry about dent's, paint, if a part is a totally different color - or not even painted. All I want is for it to pass inspection. And maybe get a couple years of driving it <10 miles back and forth to work. I just need a beater to get to work so I can leave the nice new car we have for wife and baby.
He mentioned a few corners he could cut and was saying maybe he could get it down to $2100.
Now I am no expert at all, but looking at this car, I can't imagine how it can't be made to pass inspection for something more like 1000-1500 tops.
Here are pics of the car, and the estimate from this guy. I know people on this forum obviously can't know what might be hidden, BUT the thing ran fine, drove every day 6 months no problems - all it needs is to pass inspection.
Oh - and I already have parts for grill and bottom of front bumper. So that's already paid for and not a factor here.
Thoughts? Am I crazy? Or should I take this to a different shop?
Link to full size photos of car and repair quote.
https://goo.gl/photos/RiS2XZ7bSZTKbCPt5
Thanks!
 
(This post was edited by glyph on Aug 2, 2017, 9:04 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 3, 2017, 2:28 AM
Post #2 of 8
(1716 views)
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Re: 2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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If you don't like that estimate, then go get another one and if you don't like that one, go get a third one. You will be charged for all these estimates and in the end you still won't be happy.
It is what it is. You had insurance and they paid for the damage. If you don't like the result, go buy another car.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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glyph
User
Aug 3, 2017, 7:45 AM
Post #3 of 8
(1704 views)
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Re: 2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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actually I left out some details to shorten the story... I was NOT paid for the damage, my sister was because it's her car - she is basically giving me the car as-is, and I can pay to get it fixed up so I can drive it. Thing is - I don't need a perfect looking car, I looking for a beater. They drove it for 6 months after the accident and it drove fine, and so I feel better trying to fix this up to pass inspection than buying some beater from some random person for $2000 or so which is just as likely to have some deep seeded issues in the engine or something.
This xterra is 1.5 hours away and it has no license plate and I can't get a license plate until it passes inspection - so it's not easy to get other estimates. Forget cost of estimate, I'd have to pay to tow it place to place.
The quote is greek to me - I can tell paint is not needed - but I don't know what else is aesthetic and what is needed to pass inspection. What I am curious to find out from people with the expertise on this forum is - does it look like there is some stuff that is not NEEDED to pass inspection on this quote? If you had to take a guess do you think I could find a body shop that would be willing to do the BARE MINIMUM to pass inspection for something more like 1000-1500?
Knowing what experts on this forums guts tell them will help me decide if I should try to get another quote or not.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 3, 2017, 9:03 AM
Post #4 of 8
(1691 views)
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Re: 2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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That's between you and the inspector. I have no idea what they will require as you have no idea what this type of repair costs. I doubt you will even find a shop willing to Mickey Mouse it as you are requesting.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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glyph
User
Aug 3, 2017, 9:41 AM
Post #5 of 8
(1683 views)
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Re: 2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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I have found a few shops who will only do a full job or not, and a few willing to "mickey mouse" it. I mean - shouldn't it be up to me, if I care about paint or dents that don't effect safty?
between me and the inspector? I thought inspections have objective tests... not subjective assessments. What is between me and inspector? :-)
In any case - I was just hoping someone here could help me weed out what is cosmetic vs what is required to pass NC state inspection. Not asking for a guarantee - obviously there might be hidden damage, but I would think a good mechanic could look at those pics and that quote, and have a reasonable idea of what is NEEDED vs what is probably cosmetic, and perhaps provide some gut based insight. If that's not possible so be it :-) thanks anyway
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 3, 2017, 10:17 AM
Post #6 of 8
(1678 views)
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Re: 2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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Inspection guidelines are regulated state to state so I have no idea what your state requires. My state has no inspection.
You're not going to get any kind of pricing here from a picture. It requires an "on-site" inspection.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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glyph
User
Aug 3, 2017, 2:43 PM
Post #7 of 8
(1663 views)
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Re: 2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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In in NC - I found out all I need to pass inspection is for headlamp to be secure and pointed right.... that's it.... don't need perfect bumper or anything.... just can't have it hanging off probably. But I already have that part.
Forget I ever asked about quote - let me rephrase the question - I'm curious if anyone can look at the estimate and let me know what looks like it's just cosmetic. (i.e. not needed for the requirements mentioned in first paragraph)
Thanks!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 3, 2017, 2:47 PM
Post #8 of 8
(1661 views)
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Re: 2001 Xterra body work to pass inspection after hitting a deer
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OK, you're just not getting it.
You need to simply find a body shop willing to do what you want and see what they will charge you to do it. That estimate won't help you with that.
I'm going to close this now as it is going nowhere.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 3, 2017, 2:48 PM)
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