B8 (2011) 2.0T A4 Accident - Next Steps

[BostonA42011]

Unfortunately I got into an accident with my 2011 A4. Damage includes: rear bumper, rear left panel, front left panel and wheel well, front bumper, grille and hood; may also include damage underneath, but so far no leaks/issues with driving/etc.

The car has <50k miles on it and is in otherwise great condition - no dents, major scratches/dings, etc. I've read a few posts/replies about other accidents to similarly-aged Audi's and it sounds like the repairs can rack up quite a cost. I'll work through my insurance company, but is there anything in particular I should know? Should I have it repaired at an Audit-certified shop with no exceptions? Will they fix with Audi parts considering the year/mileage? Any idea what the potential damage is going to cost in the way of parts/labor/etc.?

Thanks in advance. I've never posted here before, but have been lurking and reading various threads for a while.

[ToddBrunswick]

That sucks, sorry to hear that. Can you provide pictures of the damage?

[Audibot]

Was it your fault? If not, you should not have to worry. One good piece of advice is ask the guys at the dealership which shop they bring the cars to. Also, ask in the Regional Forum, if you have not already. Be prepared for a couple supplementals to the original estimate, as the shop finds more damage. But this should not cost you anything. If it does, it's at worse, your deductible, which you should then get back.

And if it is your fault, cost to you should be whatever your deductible is. In this case, unless you have accident forgiveness, you would likely see an increase in your rate over the next few years.

And yes, costs can increase! Back in '13, on my B7, I had gotten backed into by a contractor's truck working across the street (I was working nights and thus sleeping at the time). What looked to be a single broken taillight and damaged bumper (original estimate of <$750) turned out to be about $3300 when the shop pulled the bumper off to see the full extent of damage. Was repaired flawlessly.

[blbroo]

Unfortunately I got into an accident with my 2011 A4. Damage includes: rear bumper, rear left panel, front left panel and wheel well, front bumper, grille and hood; may also include damage underneath, but so far no leaks/issues with driving/etc.

The car has <50k miles on it and is in otherwise great condition - no dents, major scratches/dings, etc. I've read a few posts/replies about other accidents to similarly-aged Audi's and it sounds like the repairs can rack up quite a cost. I'll work through my insurance company, but is there anything in particular I should know? Should I have it repaired at an Audit-certified shop with no exceptions? Will they fix with Audi parts considering the year/mileage? Any idea what the potential damage is going to cost in the way of parts/labor/etc.?

Thanks in advance. I've never posted here before, but have been lurking and reading various threads for a while.

There are 10 or so active Boston B8 guys on here. Some of those jerks may be of local help.


@allroadcorbin @ryanhmusic @4ringnut @b6hate4 @lambda13 @lettuce @tombradysalady

[Audibot]

There are 10 or so active Boston B8 guys on here. Some of those jerks may be of local help.


@allroadcorbin @ryanhmusic @4ringnut @b6hate4 @lambda13 @lettuce @tombradysalady

That's why I suggested the Regionals... but some of his other questions are outside the scope of that.


Btw, you make me miss Homestar Runner

[AllroadCorbin]

Oh dear god I need to help this guy. Where in the boston area are you located? I know a few good places to go... And a few not so good places


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[Project Quattro]

There are 10 or so active Boston B8 guys on here. Some of those jerks may be of local help.


@allroadcorbin @ryanhmusic @4ringnut @b6hate4 @lambda13 @lettuce @tombradysalady

Brian is a wise man. And he speaks the truth.

That's why I suggested the Regionals... but some of his other questions are outside the scope of that.


Btw, you make me miss Homestar Runner

http://www.homestarrunner.com/wallpa...wallpaper3.jpg

[ToddBrunswick]

Oh dear god I need to help this guy. Where in the boston area are you located? I know a few good places to go... And a few not so good places


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[Lambda13]

Oh dear god I need to help this guy. Where in the boston area are you located? I know a few good places to go... And a few not so good places


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can say that again.

[blbroo]

HA! That guy should have stuck to book covers. Car repair is not his thing.

[bakedziti]

In my brief stint as a masshole, I used Bob's Collision in Weymouth. Fantastic results, and awesome communication, but outside of the city a bit.

http://www.bbb.org/boston/business-r...outh-ma-22616/

[b6Hate4]

LOL.

[ryanhmusic]

Unfortunately I got into an accident with my 2011 A4. Damage includes: rear bumper, rear left panel, front left panel and wheel well, front bumper, grille and hood; may also include damage underneath, but so far no leaks/issues with driving/etc.

The car has <50k miles on it and is in otherwise great condition - no dents, major scratches/dings, etc. I've read a few posts/replies about other accidents to similarly-aged Audi's and it sounds like the repairs can rack up quite a cost. I'll work through my insurance company, but is there anything in particular I should know? Should I have it repaired at an Audit-certified shop with no exceptions? Will they fix with Audi parts considering the year/mileage? Any idea what the potential damage is going to cost in the way of parts/labor/etc.?

Thanks in advance. I've never posted here before, but have been lurking and reading various threads for a while.

Hi, who is your insurance carrier and who's the insurance carrier of the person who hit you?

I'd recommend either using a shop that the insurance company "guarantees" so you can go back over and over until its perfect. Or Mike's Auto Body which will be perfect the first time you go.

Also, make sure the insurance writes the check to you not the shop -- that way you can hold the money until the shop is done [gives them incentive to work faster]. This will also give you a chance to find better deals on parts which can save you some money.

Edit: post some pictures -- sounds like a lot of damage -- wouldn't be surprised if it got totaled.

[Dub_prime]

Just finishing up a claim on my accident, although I'm not in Boston, repairs on my car have exceeded the total % of the car at this point and I'm fighting State Farm to remedy some suspension damage that all the way up to the management level they have denied is accident related. So far I'm $12k in repairs on a $14-16k car and still have about $2k of suspension repairs and DV claims to deal with...
Just be very careful and don't accept any BS from the carrier.

[Audibot]

that way you can hold the money until the shop is done [gives them incentive to work faster]. This will also give you a chance to find better deals on parts which can save you some money.

Faster does not always equal better. I'd prefer a shop take its time. A good shop will have several-to-many other cars to repair.

Also, a good shop will work with you for the parts. I worked with mine to replace my aftermarket tails, and while I was contemplating a DTM rear bumper, I decided against it in the end. But it would have not make a lick of difference to them!

[99r6]

I had rear quarter and bumper damage. Broke a control arm, bent the sub frame. Cost was $12k. I have a thread somewhere with pictures of damages on here somewhere...

[kdaffy]

if insurance is paying everything, you might as well go with an audi certified shop. i have used automotive specialties in hyde park and was pretty meh about the experience. their work is good, but the communication with the shop was terrible and the amount of delays that i experienced was unacceptable. ive heard great things about the only other certified shop in MA, Hollis Auto Body, but they were booking out a few months and were a little inconvenient for me to get to when i was looking. knowing what i know now, i wouldve waited and sorted it out and gone with hollis. im sure other locals will have additional recommendations...@allroadcorbin is doing some work so hit him up

[ryanhmusic]

Faster does not always equal better. I'd prefer a shop take its time. A good shop will have several-to-many other cars to repair.

Also, a good shop will work with you for the parts. I worked with mine to replace my aftermarket tails, and while I was contemplating a DTM rear bumper, I decided against it in the end. But it would have not make a lick of difference to them!

True faster doesn't equal better.

The point of holding the money is 1. so they don't do nothing for three weeks after taking the insurance money and 2. so you don't pay until you're satisfied with the work.

When they call and say they're done show up with the money, take a flashlight and go through all the work with a fine tooth comb, if you're happy pay and leave, if you're not point it out and wait for them to fix it.

If the insurance company pays, then you don't think xyz is perfect, you have to go through them...it takes longer.

I had a friend who's car sat in a shop untouched for almost two months before she showed up and took it without it being fixed -- she ended up having to take them to small claims to get the insurance money back as they were completely unwilling to play ball with her.

Holding the money is a simple way to protect yourself. Don't pay until it's right.

[Audibot]

True faster doesn't equal better.

The point of holding the money is 1. so they don't do nothing for three weeks after taking the insurance money and 2. so you don't pay until you're satisfied with the work.

When they call and say they're done show up with the money, take a flashlight and go through all the work with a fine tooth comb, if you're happy pay and leave, if you're not point it out and wait for them to fix it.

If the insurance company pays, then you don't think xyz is perfect, you have to go through them...it takes longer.

I had a friend who's car sat in a shop untouched for almost two months before she showed up and took it without it being fixed -- she ended up having to take them to small claims to get the insurance money back as they were completely unwilling to play ball with her.

Holding the money is a simple way to protect yourself. Don't pay until it's right.

Completely agree, but I would not hold money to make the job go faster on something that should not be hurried.

Either way, it still takes time, especially if it was something that was mistakenly missed. If it's not on the estimate or supplement(s), the adjuster will still have to come out to verify it and then cut the check--it's just whether it goes to you or the body shop. My experience with my local shop (the only place I'll take my car now) is on the couple points where something was missed, they immediately went back to work on it. And when I had a taillight that would go out when it was wet, I called them up, sent them the link for the tails (aftermarket) and done. Two weeks later, new taillights!


And what happened to your friend sucks! That's why I think it's critical to find a good body shop you can trust. I lucked out in the place where I go is a nice family-owned business. The son is taking over, but he's done all the jobs to one extent or another, and the father, who owns it, was thrilled to get his hands back in the shop. He actually had personally worked on my car. Great guy!