Who needs insurance anyways?

[NathanGrayW]

Long story short... Went through some snow that was plowed in front of my girlfriends driveway, ended up being very hard snow. Tore my lower bumper off, and dented my fender. I'm not sure how, and I don't really care at this point.
Was going to claim it on insurance, but they were going to total it.

Sooo I'm going to fix it myself.
It's probably going to take some time, mostly posting this so I can keep track of what I'm doing.

At least with no lower bumper I can finally get up on a pair of ramps.
Excuse the pictures, they were taken by the insurance/collision center
The extent of the damage:

Bent fender.


And a cracked core support



I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the core support, I believe it's existing damage from a previous accident. Replacing it looks like it's going to be a pain in the butt, and a little pricey.
Possibly plastic weld? Maybe drill a couple holes and put a aluminum brace to keep it up.


Gonna be rockn' no front bumper and a bent fender for a while though.

[Gooner1886]

Note to self: don't buy this usp a4

[a4_matt]

Sooo I'm going to fix it myself. sounds like a terrible idea

I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the core support, I believe it's existing damage from a previous accident. Replacing it looks like it's going to be a pain in the butt, and a little pricey. hence the reason you have insurance.... just total it and move on
Possibly plastic weld? Maybe drill a couple holes and put a aluminum brace to keep it up. again, sounds like a terrible idea


Gonna be rockn' no front bumper and a bent fender for a while though.

Note to self: don't buy this usp a4

agreed!

[NathanGrayW]

agreed!

How exactly is this a terrible idea? I've sourced a black fender and bumper locally. The core support as well.. if needed. I'm if not mistaken, the core support simply mounts the fans onto the radiator.

[blitz2190]

not to mention thats very little damage, and 100% fixable, then only time you have to be concerned is frame damage. They have just probably never done major work on a car.

[NathanGrayW]

not to mention thats very little damage, and 100% fixable, then only time you have to be concerned is frame damage. They have just probably never done major work on a car.

That's what I'm saying. There was no impact, I simply pushed snow out of the way to get into the driveway. Dumb? Yeah, but nothing I can do about it now,

They quoted me an entire new front bumper. The USP upper is $700 from the dealer, plus the lower, $300. Belly pan $259, core support $400. Not to mention the USP grilles, so another $300.
There was a total of $2,800 in parts they quoted, all from the dealer. And most unnecessary if I fix it myself.

I figure for $500, which was my deductible, I can at least get the fender fixed and the bumper replaced. (A normal upper converted with my USP lower I already bought a month ago)
A guy I work with does body work on the side and will paint anything that needs painted for me, for cost of materials.

Does anyone know if I'm actually correct in assuming the core support only mounts the fans onto the radiator?
If it actually supported something, I'd be worried about just patching the problem. But if it's just holding those fans it'd probably be fine just leaving it... Looking at the picture one ECS it looks like there's plenty of support left anyways.

[blitz2190]

That's what I'm saying. There was no impact, I simply pushed snow out of the way to get into the driveway. Dumb? Yeah, but nothing I can do about it now,

They quoted me an entire new front bumper. The USP upper is $700 from the dealer, plus the lower, $300. Belly pan $259, core support $400. Not to mention the USP grilles, so another $300.
There was a total of $2,800 in parts they quoted, all from the dealer. And most unnecessary if I fix it myself.

I figure for $500, which was my deductible, I can at least get the fender fixed and the bumper replaced. (A normal upper converted with my USP lower I already bought a month ago)
A guy I work with does body work on the side and will paint anything that needs painted for me, for cost of materials.

Does anyone know if I'm actually correct in assuming the core support only mounts the fans onto the radiator?
If it actually supported something, I'd be worried about just patching the problem. But if it's just holding those fans it'd probably be fine just leaving it... Looking at the picture one ECS it looks like there's plenty of support left anyways.

the plastic or the metal behind it? If its just the plastic that took damage patch it.

[Furly]

some of you guys are exaggerating. this is not bad at all. i'd be concerned if the car was smashed or had frame damage but this is nothing.

fix it and keep the car man!

[NathanGrayW]

some of you guys are exaggerating. this is not bad at all. i'd be concerned if the car was smashed or had frame damage but this is nothing.

fix it and keep the car man!

Thanks, at least I know I'm not crazy now.. Lol

[AudiA4_20T]

FYI aftermarket core supports are pretty cheap. I would just get a new one. They're also not tough to get on. You can pull the whole thing pretty quickly.

[BARRY]

you can get a new core support for 200-350 last i checked. with a 500 deductible i'd have insurance fix it.

[NathanGrayW]

FYI aftermarket core supports are pretty cheap. I would just get a new one. They're also not tough to get on. You can pull the whole thing pretty quickly.

Do you know where they're available from?

you can get a new core support for 200-350 last i checked. with a 500 deductible i'd have insurance fix it.

Insurance wanted to total it, so that wasn't an option.

[BARRY]

you can have them max out the payout before total loss if they are cool about it.

[NathanGrayW]

you can have them max out the payout before total loss if they are cool about it.

I asked about that, he said something about a state law. It would have been nice to just get a check and do the repairs myself.

However, It looks like I'm going to under my deductible anyways.

Found a core support for $67
If the person I'm buying the bumper/fender off of can get close I'll just pick his up while I'm down there.

[mauromj]

DO NOT GET AN AFTERMARKET CORE SUPPORT. I have been through two of them (each from different suppliers) and the fitment is absolutely terrible. Try and find a parts car where you can get the whole assembly for cheap. I got a complete front clip for $100 off a car some kid was parting out.

[mauromj]

The core support pretty much holds everything on your front end on. Radiator, headlights, fans, condenser, front part of fenders. The aftermarket ones are so bad that you will have trouble lining up your fenders, bumpers and headlight. Ask me how I know.

[NathanGrayW]

Thanks for the warning. Possibly saved me a huge headache.

I'll see if I can't pick it up off a part out then. If I even end up needing one.

[Jborch8]

good luck man

[Coors]

you can have them max out the payout before total loss if they are cool about it.

Yup, what he said. I Just had went theought his experience. I had over an 8k claim to the front end from some jack a$$ kid running a stop sign. Insurance totaled it. Even sent the envelope in the mail for me to send my keys in! I was pissed! I called them and had them max out the payment, roughy 7.5k. I live in Pa. Wasn't a problem here.

They wanted to total your car out for 2.8k claim?

Also, don't think your getting factory parts either. Guarantee they try to give you non OEM crap.

[walky_talky20]

I don't see anything that needs fixed on the core support. Looks like something hit the bottom and it cracked there. It's well outboard of all the important stuff. I would just leave it be. Like you said, it was probably from a previous accident and has been there the whole time. Put a couple scews and a little metal strap or just pull it together with mechanics wire if you must.

Fix the fender and bumper and be done. Then go buy a Jeep if you want to go all 'monster truck' on random piles of stuff. lol

[NathanGrayW]

Yup, what he said. I Just had went theought his experience. I had over an 8k claim to the front end from some jack a$$ kid running a stop sign. Insurance totaled it. Even sent the envelope in the mail for me to send my keys in! I was pissed! I called them and had them max out the payment, roughy 7.5k. I live in Pa. Wasn't a problem here.

They wanted to total your car out for 2.8k claim?

Also, don't think your getting factory parts either. Guarantee they try to give you non OEM crap.

2.8k in parts, 4.8 total. So it was plenty over the 75% limit. They valued my car at like 5400.
Which to me seemed fair... 172k miles...
I asked him to max out the payment, and he said it was a state law that he had to total it. So I canceled the claim.
Would have been nice. Spend 1k fixing it, and spend the rest on maintenance and mods.

I'll enjoy my accident free record, and my lower premium though. My insurance would have went up atleast $50 a month.

[Pothole]

Ahh 170k, I was wondering why they totaled it.


Mine has 118k on it and Allstate just put $5400 into my front end, some 17 year old decided to throw her daddy's F350 into reverse at a red light.....

[IMG][/IMG]

[Fast4esT]

Why not let them total it out and buy if back, fix it and still come out on top

[87supraman]

Try a different body shop for an estimate and tell them the core support was previous damage so they leave it off.
When I was backed into the body shop would not add any "unseen" damages to the initial estimate.

[diagnosticator]

Thanks for the warning. Possibly saved me a huge headache.

I'll see if I can't pick it up off a part out then. If I even end up needing one.

The core support holds the radiator, and the hood latch too. That is why Audi calls this part the "latch carrier".

[blitz2190]

Why not let them total it out and buy if back, fix it and still come out on top

Do this if you never plan on selling it, just make sure to ask what the buy back is, you might come out with enough for an Elim kit

[NathanGrayW]

Do this if you never plan on selling it, just make sure to ask what the buy back is, you might come out with enough for an Elim kit

There's a 4-6 week wait to get it inspected, after I fix it.
I can't be without a car for that long.

Buy-back was 1k.

[Seerlah]

Pick and pull $300 fix. Most likely less.

[NathanGrayW]

Pick and pull $300 fix. Most likely less.

What I'm hoping for. None of the pull-a-parts around me have any b6's though.
Gonna have to do some more searching.

[Turbavanttro]

Definitely agree with fixing yourself and do the OEM latch carrier. Try Wolf Auto parts, they should have at least a few of them and are great to deal with.

[BARRY]

Try a different body shop for an estimate and tell them the core support was previous damage so they leave it off.
When I was backed into the body shop would not add any "unseen" damages to the initial estimate.

this is a good idea as well. as i've heard this being done. alternatively if you plan to keep the car forever you can have them total the whole car for MAX value, then buy the car back for chump change, then use the money to fix and mod your car. car will carry a salvaged title, but if you plan to keep it forever it won't matter.

[blitz2190]

What I'm hoping for. None of the pull-a-parts around me have any b6's though.
Gonna have to do some more searching.

to bad your not farther this way there is an Audi parts yard in southern NH

[Furly]

There's a 4-6 week wait to get it inspected, after I fix it.
I can't be without a car for that long.

Buy-back was 1k.

if you plan on keeping the car for a while, i'd do it.

i got hit in the rear quarter panel/fender in my old car. insurance salvaged it and gave me max bluebook for it. i bought it back for $1300 and paid $1200 to get it fixed (was nothing more than fender pushed in)
no structural damage, they total loss it because the rear fender/QP needs to be cut out and a new one welded in + paint and work. so it would cost too much. so basically i got $5600 for the car, bought it back for $1300, fixed for $1200 and pocketed $3100 :D

the title only effects resale value.

[blitz2190]

if you plan on keeping the car for a while, i'd do it.

i got hit in the rear quarter panel/fender in my old car. insurance salvaged it and gave me max bluebook for it. i bought it back for $1300 and paid $1200 to get it fixed (was nothing more than fender pushed in)
no structural damage, they total loss it because the rear fender/QP needs to be cut out and a new one welded in + paint and work. so it would cost too much. so basically i got $5600 for the car, bought it back for $1300, fixed for $1200 and pocketed $3100 :D

the title only effects resale value.

And think of the fun things you could do with 3k on the car. not to mention you'll be well under 1200 for a fix as your doing it youself.

[NathanGrayW]

Even then, I would be without a car for a month minimum. I was getting dropped off at work for the days I had without it, but that's definitely not practical for a month.

Searching around and found a black fender for $150, need to make sure it's rust free.. I can compound and polish if the paints bad, so I'm not too worried about that. Need to find a front bumper cover and I'll be good to go. I already have a USP lower, so I'll just DIY mod it onto a stock upper.