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suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision


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carjunky8love
Novice

Jan 2, 2022, 11:04 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1287 views)
suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

My lovely 2013 Mazda 3 (2.0lit/82500mile) ran into an accident, having its left front side slightly damaged and shortened a bit, but the car is still fully drivable for the past two months. I recently tear open the front bumper and shot a few pictures around the car showing that the main damage comes out of the left longitudinal bar. Also, the parts in the left front engine compartment of the vehicle seems to be cramped. I post the pictures here seeking help for the following questions.

http://autoforums.carjunky.com/photos/pic/644NZmKB/1871.jpg
http://autoforums.carjunky.com/photos/pic/644NZmKB/1872.jpg
http://autoforums.carjunky.com/photos/pic/644NZmKB/1873.jpg
http://autoforums.carjunky.com/photos/pic/644NZmKB/1874.jpg


(1) what's the formal name of the damaged longitudinal bar? I might use it to search for the price of the part.
(2) is this bar actually replaceable? Roughly how much to do the replacement job?
(3) It seems this damaged bar could be pulled to restore its original shape(, and thus fix the vehicle). Roughly how much for the pulling job?
(4) Will fixing the bar help fixing the cramping parts in the left front engine compartment?
(5) with your professional opinion, which type of fixing should I do with this damage?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 3, 2022, 3:23 AM

Post #2 of 10 (1265 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

This suggests YOU are paying for it?
It's bent alright and that probably can be pushed or pulled back to where it is. It's not my personal trade but see when gets done and lots about it. Pics are nice at least proves it's messed up but it's going to take a pro auto body shop to appraise the damage and approach that's best if all YOUR bucks now maybe some room to fix not toss certain parts.
This is popular enough of a car used should be available and worth the fix with used car cost spiking but know it will be tagged as a fixed major repair lowers it's resale value when done.
Find the shop. Good that it runs fine but no pics of the body damage and finish work may out cost this a lot! That and any hidden damage even in and around where you showed item too close will know better when some is pulled back if this is a candidate or a whole front clip of all that minus the engine/trans if all fine IDK that's what those places will determine,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 3, 2022, 5:31 AM

Post #3 of 10 (1262 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

Those are collapsible reinforcements and they will be available through the dealer only but you are going to have far more damage than those bars alone. Trying to repair this yourself will be totally impossible. You need a professional shop to look at it.



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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.



carjunky8love
Novice

Jan 3, 2022, 4:54 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1229 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

Unfortunately, yes, I had a rear-end collision with front car but only liability insurance.
The value of the car is roughly $6000, and I only have limited bucks in the pocket, thus cannot afford/is not worthy of having dealer restore it. I had driven it to independent body shops and they requested roughly $4000 with painting jobs, and mentioned extra if further damage is found after the car is torn apart. After I asked them to make best use of existing parts, one body shop quoted $2000 but also mentioned extra which might be needed. I thus am quite curious what's possible damage done to the car with it still running ok and slightly distorted exterior. The mazda dealer service manager took a look at it and commented just forget about it(spent money restoring). But I still have concerns to drive it safely on highway and possible rain getting into engine compartment, so I am doing more research on it.

I understand pulling/replacing the left collapsible reinforcement(thanks to Hammer_Time) is a major fix, I thus would like to know roughly how much that might cost, including tearing the car apart in order to do the job and put everything back together. I fully respect the professionals who are able to do the job for us as well as their value and would be willing to pay as much as I could, but just don't want to be taken advantage of.
The other known issue with the damage is the plastic part supporting the left front light is cracked, hopefully it can be glued and reused.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 3, 2022, 5:00 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1221 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

Nobody is going to get involved in this mess unless it is fixed 100%. Body shop estimates are always left open for unseen damage which is found quite often. Insurance companies are accustomed to finding hidden damage once the car is disassembled. Hidden damage is almost always there.

If you can't afford to fix it, trading it would be your only other option. This is the risk you take when you decide not to insure. I assume the car is paid for. Otherwise the bank would have forced you to insure it.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



carjunky8love
Novice

Jan 3, 2022, 5:03 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1217 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In


In Reply To
Those are collapsible reinforcements and they will be available through the dealer only but you are going to have far more damage than those bars alone. Trying to repair this yourself will be totally impossible. You need a professional shop to look at it.



carjunky8love
Novice

Jan 3, 2022, 5:15 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1210 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

Thanks for your message. Could you please explain further what this means "Nobody is going to get involved in this mess unless it is fixed 100%."? I really don't quite understand it.
As to the car after collision, a picture is here, looks quite decent to me and too pitiful to trade it in.
http://autoforums.carjunky.com/photos/pic/644NZmKB/1875.jpg


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 3, 2022, 5:40 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1207 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

Repair people are trained to repair cars totally and correctly. If you start asking these guys to half repair or glue things together, they are just going to tell you to take it elsewhere.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



carjunky8love
Novice

Jan 3, 2022, 8:18 PM

Post #9 of 10 (1190 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

Respect that! I didn't bother asking further questions concerning the details of the repair with dealer body shop or body shop firms, but I think customized repair/restoration can be discussed with privately owned body shops as long as they are willing to work on your car.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 3, 2022, 9:10 PM

Post #10 of 10 (1182 views)
Re: suggestions on what to move next on a moderate collision Sign In

I hope you understand and think you do. The "real" shops want it right so that costs no matter what.

I'll refresh that used cars (safe and right) are way over book values right now so would be of interest to trade, or fix but doubt you'll have access to the tools or the place to DIY it.

How about ask the salvage yards in your area if they take on some of this just not the "pretty" finish work? Ask about options to you.

Just a guess that it's too much still but worth a trade in towards whatever you can negotiate.

Parts, skills and places to fix stuff is in tough shape where I am with wild shortages of the people, high costs and waiting so long for parts it's really hurting for biz things. Insurance would just have paid off the thing and sold it off I see a lot of OK but fixed up unfinished cosmetically stuff out there of just like this popular cars where there's a chance for the parts!

The web is just wonderful but places need to see this as it is now and it's still guessing what "unfound" damages will surface. There's the snag that really stops the show so just dump it will be the answer more than once before.

Keep trying if you can keep this + you know you'll need to get around without it for a while no matter what unless you plain trade for new or another already done (with hopes not a problem car) so YOU can carry on with what your doing other than this!

Things are just not fast right now even if you had all the bucks now to fix it so a rock and hard place all around,

Tom







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