Car Accident: Part 2 - The repairs

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Cashizslick

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Car Accident: Part 2 - Parts & Repairs

All,

A few weeks ago I was involved in a car accident . The accident was not my fault, and although I did not have collision coverage, I was able to secure a payment from the other driver's insurance after filing a claim with them.

I am receiving a check for $2.4k to fix the car and wanted to get feedback on how the money should best be spent.

Parts I know are broken: Damaged hood (can be banged out/re painted), Busted headlite, corner lite, side marker lite, bumper, and radiator support (bent).

I figured I should get a CF hood so that the original paint on my front end (except the bumper) doesnt have to get re-painted. I also was thinking of getting the 240sx SE bumper w/front lip instead of the stocker - or an aftermarket bumper (may look dumb/ricey w/out a full kit). I am leaning heavily towards the SE bumper w/lip for the stock look . . .not trying to ruin a nice car.

Also, i feel that finding a used headlamp would also be smart since it will save money and match the "frosted over" passenger side lamp which is not broken.

What do you all think? From what I can tell - nothing else was damaged in the accident, but the adjuster put all kinds of quotes into the estimate for things like repairing tie bars, fender lineings, etc - i do not think/believe these are broken or need repair . . .

How can I make this money go as far as possible so that I can save some of the Insurance $$ for myself while "restoring" my car to pre-loss condition?


Thanks,

Cash
 
Avoid body kits. They are all just the same or slightly different combinations of swoops and swirlies. And they make your wheels look terrible.

Extended lower lips for more frontal area / less air under the car, or garden trim for track use. That's a man's body kit.
 
Bring it to a reputable body shop and tell him your wishes. They'll let you k now what'll fit with your cash as well as structurely what needs to be done as well.
 
when it comes to buying body parts, i prefer buying good condition used parts over brand new parts, they just seem to fit better. as for the c/f, i'm pretty sure it'll be cheaper if you repair, but that depends on how much money u wanna keep for yerself.

rad support; fix it if u can, cause getting a new one will cost more to install and needs welding and a very good body shop to put it in place, assuming its part of the subframe and is welded to the frame like some cars. if its a matter of screws then just get a new one they should b cheap. (even better find a "good shape" used one).

good to hear they paid up.
 
when it comes to buying body parts, i prefer buying good condition used parts over brand new parts, they just seem to fit better.


That's a great idea...hit up a salvage yard and see if you can find the pieces used...that way the paint might match up perfectly, if it's equally aged or whatever...
 
Avoid body kits. They are all just the same or slightly different combinations of swoops and swirlies. And they make your wheels look terrible.

Extended lower lips for more frontal area / less air under the car, or garden trim for track use. That's a man's body kit.

Yeah, i was gonna avoid the kit anyways - dont wanna make the car look stupid.
Send me a link on the garden trim lip - i was considering doing that before.

Bring it to a reputable body shop and tell him your wishes. They'll let you k now what'll fit with your cash as well as structurely what needs to be done as well.

I figured I would take it somewhere and get an estimate for painting the bumper cover, installing a hood - and fixing whatever is bent/damaged under the hood along with installation of the headlights.
 
when it comes to buying body parts, i prefer buying good condition used parts over brand new parts, they just seem to fit better. as for the c/f, i'm pretty sure it'll be cheaper if you repair, but that depends on how much money u wanna keep for yerself.

rad support; fix it if u can, cause getting a new one will cost more to install and needs welding and a very good body shop to put it in place, assuming its part of the subframe and is welded to the frame like some cars. if its a matter of screws then just get a new one they should b cheap. (even better find a "good shape" used one).

good to hear they paid up.


Well . . the check is "on its way" so to speak . . :ph34r:
 
mismatching paint sucks... my drivers side rear 1/4 is a different color than the rest of my car *sniffle*

my suggestion would be to first see if you can repair the hood, if you cant, find a similar colored one or just get a cf hood.

Why not a silvia or a '98 converision?
 
mismatching paint sucks... my drivers side rear 1/4 is a different color than the rest of my car *sniffle*

my suggestion would be to first see if you can repair the hood, if you cant, find a similar colored one or just get a cf hood.

Why not a silvia or a '98 converision?

A similar colour'ed hood wont matche either :(. Maybe they can just hammer it out and wont have to repaint? its very minor damage to the hood . . . if the accident wrinkled the paint then maybe a buffing would fix it?

A 98 conversion is more than I care to spend on looks for the car . . . It would run around 1.5k for parts (lights, bumper, hood, fenders) and I would then have to repaint the entire car anyways to make it all match :(. It would be cool lookin tho - maybe i can find the parts for cheeper or somethin - ill have to check egay some more.
 
the 98 front end just straight up looks badass. Are the paint colors the same between your year and a 98? Maybe you could get lucky... lol
 
zenki FTW

My old Front End was badass . . . If only I had the SE Lip or Garden Trim lip . .

891141351_l.jpg
 
Yeah, i was gonna avoid the kit anyways - dont wanna make the car look stupid.
Send me a link on the garden trim lip - i was considering doing that before.

A link ? I'll link you to "Come to Cel's / Airjockie's house and we'll make you one for $5"

I'm actually about to sit down and carve one out for the NX.
 
Maybe someone can help me install the defroster, perspex, and wiper in the new hatch for the Vega :)
 
angry eyes ftmfw!!!

ings-ds-s14-mcg-fb.jpg
 
angry eyes ftmfw!!!

ings-ds-s14-mcg-fb.jpg

give your car the authentic jap look with some slant eyes!!!!


Zenki & Kouki S14 front ends are both as jap as the other . . . no major difference between USDM & Jap headlamps for the respective years.


Besides, i just ebayed and got the driver's side light i needed for $70 shipped. Insurance adjusted it at a lot more than that.


The more I save on parts and such, the more I will be able to spend on a set of 16x8's and a new diff.
 
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