Wrecked my Jeep... need insurance/HD bumper advice!!!

[McFly]

Hey folks, I wrecked my Jeep somewhat, I OWNED a street sign going about 45 mph... don't ask, but I'll post pics on the next reply

Well I've called my insurance company, and I'm scheduled to take the Jeep to the shop about 10:30 this morning and get a rental car. My question is this: How can I go about getting them to NOT replace and paint my bumper or front fender flares (i needed them gone anyhow), and get the money that would have gone for that for myself, to buy a Heavy Duty bumper? I figure that with OEM replacement parts, paint, and labor, that might add up to... $400-$500? ish? I don't know, I can find that out tomorrow after they've done the estimate. Anyhow, I just wonder if that's possible at all. I go through Progressive Insurance.

And as far as bumpers go, I like the ARB bumpers, but I don't need the turn signal lights, and I'd like something with light tabs on top and loops for D-ring shackles on the front. Who makes great ones like that? Around $350-400?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jjvande]

i dont know about your company, but with my claims (stolen and egged) i just asked them to cut me a check after the estimate was done by the approved shop and approved by the claims adjuster. I told them I wasnt able to get the repairs done at that time and would do it on my own schedule. it worked! and money is money to them, so what you do with it isnt always mutch concern to them. I used paint money and sourced my new dash cheap(did my own labor) to get a MUTCH better CD player than they would have replaced the stolen one with.

cheers

 

[Goatman]

Yep, just tell them that you'll do the work yourself, or any other good reason, and get a check for the estimate, minus your deductible. I did this a number of years ago.....repaired the damage myself, got a new paint job, custom front bumper, and new winch, all with the insurance money.

 

[McFly]

Well I'm taking the XJ to them at 10:30 in the morning, dropping it off, and getting a rental vehicle. Should I have them call me after the estimate? And have them cut me a check... then between myself and the collision center, tell them I want all the work done EXCEPT the bumper?

 

[McFly]

I know, this thread is worthless without pics so here ya go:

Front damage: bumper bad (just dangling there), fender flare barely on, grille smashed up a bit

Top Damage: Windshield broken, roof damaged above rear view mirror, smushed in above passenger side head (door won't open), bad scrapes AND the front roof rack crossbar is simply missing... musta got torn off.

What could have done all this, you might ask? I had to go back and check...

A huge sign, with two posts in the ground... see how one post is missing? Well I unearthed it an found it about 15 feet away from the rest of the sign. It's not on my front porch as a trophy

 

[tchase]

That sucks man. You got off lucky though, the road sign I hit with my MJ had a power pole hiding behind it. Lucky you weren't hurt either, would've sucked if that thing had come through the windshield at your head. Good luck with the repairs.

 

[jjvande]

Well I'm taking the XJ to them at 10:30 in the morning, dropping it off, and getting a rental vehicle. Should I have them call me after the estimate? And have them cut me a check... then between myself and the collision center, tell them I want all the work done EXCEPT the bumper?

yea do that

 

[XJCasper]

I would not say anything about doing my own work. But I go to someone who is known for their skills, but is a familly friend or customer known through my dad's business. This person is fair, but understands what I want to do.

 

[Goatman]

yea do that

Ditto!

 

[old_man]

In Colorado, if the vehicle is financed and the damage is over $1,000, the check has to be cut to the company doing the repair. I got around it by doing the work myself, then showing the finished work to the Insurance guy. They would not allow changing the bumper or the like because technically you don't own the car until it is paid off.

 

[McFly]

2:38pm Update!!!

I got a Jeep Liberty rental (ehh, a Liberty but at least it's in the Jeep family) for up to 30 days

I told the insurance guy about wanting a STRONGER bumper, in case this happens again, he was unsure of what to do, he said the check would be in MINE and the COLLISION SHOP's names... but we were on a 3-way call with the collision shop. Basically the insurance guy will cut us a check after the estimate, and I can work with the body shop about the money.

The body shop guy said they could work with me and probably just cut me a check for the cost of what a replacement bumper and paint would be (not labor, because they would have to take off the bumper to work on the grille, and replace the bumper with a new one so labor's a no go).

So if it's around $300 or so for the bumper, end caps, and paint... i might just have them replace the stock bumper/endcaps/paint... OR just get a check for that $300 and pay the difference out of my pocket for some other bumper (ARB, AJ's Offroad Armor, Rigidco, etc). If the $$$ is higher, say $400-$500, I'll definately keep the money and order a bumper and maybe some lights (or Rigidco's bumper mounting system).

What do you think?

 

[jeepguy97]

I think you intentionally hit the sign just to get a new bumper.

 

[JCSXJ]

I think you intentionally hit the sign just to get a new bumper.

lmao!! I don't think you will get anywhere near $300.00 back.....could be wrong though.

 

[McFly]

I think you intentionally hit the sign just to get a new bumper.

And windshield

 

[jeepguy97]

And windshield

Plexiglass all the way.

 

[McFly]

Well as far as the bumper goes, I'm considering a bumper from www.jcroffroad.com - more particularly the http://www.jcroffroad.com./DefenderXJbumper.html bumper.

They're close (Kalamazoo, MI from Bloomington, IN), willing to do whatever custom work I want done on it, and they aren't backed up on anything, so they can get the bumper out to me ASAP.

Plus it's down from $400 to $350!

What do you think?