Repair garage needed 😭

[SkiMB]

Sad day today as some complete idiot hit my parked V8S.

No idea how they've done it but have managed to hit the car sideways and into the curb, snapping the suspension on both sides!!

Insurance is saying they want to take it to their repair centre or I can choose my own. My worry is a non specialist might repair the cosmetics and miss something like the chassis being slightly warped which will ruin the car experience and be frankly dangerous.

Any advice on specialist high performance repair garages? Ideally near London but not a must.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to see this.

Most insurance companies have an additional excess (typically double) for the car to go to a garage of your choice and might exclude a loan car as well.

It would be worth asking them for a list of their authorised repair centres first to see what they have available.

If you signed up to the £250 free excess cover I posted then don't forget to use it.
https://www.ftypeforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5906&hilit=Excess+%C2%A3250

Cannot help with London area but hope you get it sorted out.

 

[mickjaguar]

Aluminium repair is specialist, so you might find the insurer has use one of the big outfits anyway.

There was a post back in 2016 with a guy called Fisher having the same concern about repairers. Turned out his insurer was sending it to a swanky specialist in Slough anyway.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Very sad to see this.
Personally I would go to an accident repair specialist. They deal with accident repairs on all makes of car every day and have highly trained staff and specialist equipment (alignment, jigs, etc.) to get cars back to factory. They are well able to source parts and know where to look for additional damage that you otherwise may be missed. They work to high standards and it's competitive so don't release poor quality work. IMHO they are much better than other options like dealer or Jaguar specialist
Aside this going outside of the recommended agencies as noted above often leads to less benefits, delays in quotation, starting the job, etc.

 

[SkiMB]

thanks guys, i've asked to see their accident repair center list and will probably choose from there. Was wondering if there is a well know specialist I should look out for. So far Direct line being very helpful, no excess to pay and hire car on the way as it the other party and their insurer Admiral have admitted fault and liability.

 

[Mr.Tea]

as it the other party and their insurer Admiral have admitted fault and liability.

I was worried it was a hit & run as most people are shit-houses and would attempt to flee the scene. Did the other driver explain how they managed to hit your car so hard on, what appears to be, a straight road?

 

[cj10jeeper]

Out of interest have you been given the go ahead from the insurance estimators?
Hard to tell but I’d expect with 2013 V8’s starting at £30k it may be a close call. Several pieces of rear suspension, new rear diff assembly if driveshafts have damaged it, driveshafts, bearings pack, bumper cover and brackets, lots of bodywork paint, wheel arch liner, possibly wheels, on top of recovery, storage, hire car, etc. it could reach the crossover cost of c50% book value fairly quickly.

 

[Quiet man]

O my god that must of hit it just in the wrong spot, in my experience most large insurance approved work shops will have jigs or will have companies they use with jigs if one is required. If the car doesn't feel right or drive the way it did when you get it back then don't accept it till its sorted. Hope it all goes smoothly for you.

 

[SkiMB]

You're right cj10, could very well get close to write off. It's going off to the insurers accident center. We'll see what they say......

Still no idea how he did it but will post if I find out.

 

[Pilot Pete]

Don’t wish to piss on anyone’s cornflakes, but….

Depends on your insurer and who they use as their ‘approved’ repairer. My Audi A4 was hit on the front and Direct Line was the insurer. Yes they have all the kit etc etc BUT they get paid the bare minimum and have to turn over both the volume and in minimal time.

My car was returned on a flat bed car transporter and I refused to accept it. I did this THREE times before the quality assurance manager (obviously not really having his finger on the pulse) eventually sorted it to my satisfaction.

The first time it came back the front end was all twisted (it’s a plastic body coloured deep bumper, which once fitted has two bolts deep down in holes either side of the radiator which are used to align it). The gaps around the headlights were not the same and one had its lower lip protruding. The under-tray, which is just a big plastic pan which bolts to the underside of the body below the engine had cracked in the impact and one corner had snapped off. Did they replace it? Did they hell - the put the bolt back in with a 4” washer to clamp the broken edge! I assume they thought your average punter wouldn’t bother to look underneath. There was also overspray on one of the wheels and orange peel effect on one wing.

I listed all the faults and sent the driver back. Like I said, it came back twice more and was sent back because the faults still hadn’t been rectified to the right standard. The front end was still twisted until the service manager came out to my house and showed me the two bolts - it took him less than five minutes to straighten the front panel. Unbelievable. He told me my car’s issues were now being discussed at management level because the car transporter costs alone had wiped out any money they had made,

So I’m sure the big body shops vary from one to another, but the big ones which are ‘approved’ by an insurance company are approved because they have signed a contract to repair vehicles at minimal cost to the insurance company, and they have to do the volumes and turn around times to make profit.

When my son’s Fiesta ST was hit by an 85 yo chap who just drove straight onto a mini roundabout without slowing, I insisted that it went to our local Ford dealership who do excellent repair work. I said forget about the courtesy car the old chaps insurance were dangling, you want your car done right - the B pillar was twisted. Ford got it on a jig and did a fantastic job, replacing the whole side, door etc. cost was twice what the big sheds would have charged.

Be warned.

 

[Pilot Pete]

In your sad situation I would be looking for a Jaguar repair shop. Failing that a specialist repairer that does real top end motors and not just your average run of the mill place that does average cars to a very average standard because most people are happy if it’s back vaguely the same shape and colour as before…

 

[cj10jeeper]

Taking it direct from Jaguars website it's clear that they don't do body and paint repairs themselves, rather just contract it out and I'm pretty where repairs end up
Of all the JLR dealers I've visited I've never seen one equipped with anything other than a servicing workshop.

https://www.jaguar.com/owners_international/jaguar_ownership_support/approved-body-paint-centre-network.html

APPROVED BODY AND PAINT CENTRE NETWORK
Trust your Jaguar Approved Body and Paint Centre to carry out your repairs to the highest quality standards.

The specialists at our Approved Body and Paint Centres have undergone comprehensive, certified training in approved Jaguar repair processes. We make sure they have mastered the use of unique tools and are highly qualified in surface repairs and structural restoration. They are the only ones to rely on for expert repairs of everything from minor blemishes to major collision damage. Rest assured that only genuine Jaguar parts are used so that your factory Warranty is maintained. Because the Warranty you receive on repairs and parts installed to Jaguar standards varies by country, consult your Jaguar Approved Service Centre for specific Warranty information.

Contact your Jaguar Approved Service Centre or Jaguar Approved Body and Paint Centre

 

[Lunar]

I had excellent results and personal service from these guys - although the owner has sold it on since.

https://www.premierpanelskills.co.uk/jaguar