Hi guys, i got into an accident yesterday. I am wondering how much it would cost to repair this?

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3956/16102011021.jpg
By kuchoonhowe (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/kuchoonhowe) at 2011-10-16

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3161/16102011020.jpg
By kuchoonhowe (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/kuchoonhowe) at 2011-10-16

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3161/16102011020.jpg
By kuchoonhowe (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/kuchoonhowe) at 2011-10-16

Firstly, do you have insurance, if so, you pay your excess and its all good to go. But, if you have no insurance and are asking the question, then its a different answer.
For starters, your Bonned is buggered, Grill is smashed, Parabolic headlight also gone. Bumper appears ok, but the clips underneath and support bits holding it will need replacing as 99/100 bumpers flex and pop back, but the supports bear the impact, so its what you cant see there that needs changing. I am guessing/hoping your left front qtr came away unscaved. If it didn't, your looking at 3 panels of repair and I am guessing the car is worth $5k or so, so repairs would be in excess of $4k and I would definately see this as a write off. See Mits Fix threads of the cars there and some damage looks minor but winds up written off big time.

Not to mention if we lift the bonnet, did the rad support panel get bent, battery damaged etc?

But a rought guess, if you got all 2nd hand parts, repainted through a mate, you may get away for a couple k to do it yourself.

how long is a piece of string
depends are you taking it to get fix or fix yourself
biggest part front radiator support structure will be bent for sure
might need to be pulled out replaced even chassis straightner hard to tell from those picks
if i fixed it as the contacts i have would be around 1000 to fix but yes take to panel shop be a easy 4g plus

@robceline, sadly, im uninsured and also looking for someone to do the job

the radiator is now no longer vertical but at an angle. I can also see various broken plastics and clips around the radiator

i am now unable to pop up the hood. However, i can see that the airbox has combined and what looks like to me fused with the battery box cover.

the left and right panels above the drive wheels are looking fine.

then radiator support is buggered id say you need a few things extra like radiator ac might be affected too hoses snorkel airbox possibly you really need to force the bonnet open to get a real idea if you know where to get parts cheap might not be that bad
on here does not look bad but the radiator support was all bent and lights,radiator etc all line up on this bar which is welded on cheapest option get a 300 dollar ass ended magna take the bits you need dump the rest
i have done this http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2126/img00025200906212339.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/687/img00025200906212339.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
to this
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/4376/dscf3327o.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/dscf3327o.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
the support here not bad but due to everything lines up to it had to be replaced
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/9136/dscf1530c.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/dscf1530c.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

cost be 1600 but this also included a whole car respray

@robceline, so you repaired everything yourself? And hw can u respray a whole car fr 1.6k??

cost 650 all up for paint and clear and materials needed for prep and a carton and a bottle of jimbeam my mate is a spray painter mates rates
as car i got a second car for 250.00 a total write off went up to auction place took what i wanted off it at the auctions rung a scrap metal place they came and gave me 100 for it so i didnt have to pay to get it towed most expensive were parabolics and tj bonnet

ohhhh man..... i feel real depressed nw :( i thought it would cost ard 2 grand

From what I can see you hit something high? Back of a truck maybe? Doesn't look like it's low? So can't see too much happening to the rails. However only what I see from your photos. Mate pretty simple job if so. Start taking the damage bits off it's the only way. Most parts are going to be reasonably cheap. Wouldn't stress your in NSW there are complete cars there at the moment around 300 - 500 which you can swap parts over. Worst case find a beater to repair radiator support and any other minor issues if any and tons of painters do the job cheap enough. Quick question do your doors open easily? Is you windscreen cracked? What model does it have bags if so did they go off.


Sorry forgot depending on how resourceful you are I think between $1000 a $1500

I'd say about $4000.00. This is because I had an accident a while ago with the exact same amount of damage. As in, that was how much the repaire quoted to AAMI. I just paid the $400 excess.

i hit a late model subaru forrester. The airbag did not go off.The doors open easily. The windscreen is not cracked too. The car starts and runs. Central locking is working too. Should i pry open the bonnet and try to take look inside it?

i prolly hit it at around 20-40km/h

i hit a late model subaru forrester. The doors open easily. The windscreen is not cracked too. The car starts and runs. Central locking is working too. Should i pry open the bonnet and try to take look inside it?

i prolly hit it at around 30-40km/h
Haha, I hit a late model Ford Explorer at 20-30km/hr (silly woman panic braked at a zip merge).
Does not hurt to have a look just make sure you open it slowly in case things fall off.
My damages were:
1. New bonnet,
2. New bumper,
3. New reinforcement bar,
4. New top and bottom grille inserts,
5. New passenger side headlight,
6. New passenger side fog light,
7. New radiator,
8. New transmission cooler; and
9. Possibly new radiator support.

i hit a late model subaru forrester. The airbag did not go off.The doors open easily. The windscreen is not cracked too. The car starts and runs. Central locking is working too. Should i pry open the bonnet and try to take look inside it?

i prolly hit it at around 20-40km/h

Yes mate pry away can't do anymore harm. Sounds minor. I wouldn't be to stressed. Where there is a will there is a way. Put up a WTB and I'm sure there will be AMC members who can help out if you can't find a wreck. Take photos of the radiator support and show us. Take shots of hinges on bonnet etc. Bolts on quarters etc anything that may have been knocked or moved.

i hit this stupid china man who was trying to go from the left most lane to the right most lane. he was at the bottom of a short slope on an 80km/h freeway. i braked immediately when i saw him but to no avail. He just kept telling me he was new to australia and not sure. Pissed me off so much. i had an eyewitness come up to me who said he saw everything and said it was the actions of the subaru driver that led to this

I am chinese descent myself btw

Yes mate pry away can't do anymore harm. Sounds minor. I wouldn't be to stressed. Where there is a will there is a way. Put up a WTB and I'm sure there will be AMC members who can help out if you can't find a wreck. Take photos of the radiator support and show us. Take shots of hinges on bonnet etc. Bolts on quarters etc anything that may have been knocked or moved.

what do you mean by bolts on the quarters?? are they the panels above the wheels?

Then hit him up for damages, it's obviously his fault.

what do you mean by bolts on the quarters?? are they the panels above the wheels?

Yes mate the panels above the wheels. I agree with Woob if you have a witness let the other guy pay for it!

Yes mate the panels above the wheels. I agree with Woob if you have a witness let the other guy pay for it!

Ok , i have a stupid question.LOL. How do i go about doin it?

Did you get his & the witnesses details ?

Some facts of life: unless police were called you will have no chance of claiming as it's your word against his plus he also probably has no insurance and no money = no hope. With the amount of damage that you say happened, police should have been called (at least in Qld). If police had been called and you had a witness, then the other driver would have been issued with a 'driving with undue care' fine.....once that is issued you can then sue his insurance company (if he has one) or the driver himself, but it could take years and many grey hairs to get any cash.
The other unfortunate fact of life is that even if you fix your car on the cheap, it will look just like that, and never be like it was before the prang.
These are just my opinions FWIW, and I know hindsight is great. Pretty bad luck.

Some facts of life: unless police were called you will have no chance of claiming as it's your word against his plus he also probably has no insurance and no money = no hope. With the amount of damage that you say happened, police should have been called (at least in Qld). If police had been called and you had a witness, then the other driver would have been issued with a 'driving with undue care' fine.....once that is issued you can then sue his insurance company (if he has one) or the driver himself, but it could take years and many grey hairs to get any cash.
The other unfortunate fact of life is that even if you fix your car on the cheap, it will look just like that, and never be like it was before the prang.
These are just my opinions FWIW, and I know hindsight is great. Pretty bad luck.

I have to agree with hako if the police were not there then your outta luck. Because its cosmetic it shouldnt affect the car whatsover you can do it on the cheap quite well just get the important stuff repaired by a reputable person. And ask around you will find a decent painter/beater. The sheer volume of business in NSW you will find someone to do a decent job cheap enough. Private pricing opposed to insurance pricing can be substantially different :) Many factors can influence pricing, if their busy or not, the state you live in, if your in a rush etc and their mood :) I remember insurance work always took a priority for me as it payed well. The bonnet should cost around 2-300 to paint, if you need to paint the bumper aswell do it at the same time that way it will work out cheaper. Unless you find a bonnet the same colour. The radiator support around the 400-500. Parts will vary whether you used second hand or new? eg : Grille and right light can get here in VIC for around the 100 pp at wreckers saw them the other day, if they post. Rememeber if you use new it wont blend into your xx year old car. Hope that helps good luck

I hate to say it, and I know most are thinking it, but honestly get yourself some insurance!
Even if its too high, just get your parents to get the policy and you simply act as a named driver.

I honestly think insurance (at least 3rd Party) should be mandatory to protect all drivers, even if you cause the accident, the other person is covered. No insurance = no driving rights, simple as that. I may get flamed for a blatent statement but I dont care.

How can people not have insurance (except for pricing issues etc).

Theres an old saying, you dont spend your last $1 to buy a car, you need to be able to afford the Petrol! To that I'll add Rego, Insurance and maintenance. I guess its part of being a responsible car owner.

If you had insurance, this would cost you an excess between $250 and $1000 and the car gets repaired.

Looking at the damage it looks like you've got lucky.

If you can DIY the rad support (Got a mate who can quickly spot weld the new one in? If not, bolt it but make sure to use loctite), prices would be somewhere around this region:

1. Bonnet $150
2. Bonnet Paint $350 (Workshop)
3. Grille $120 (Best get a KH Xi one - full chrome, save on paint costs, see my avatar for example)
4. Parabolic Headlights $200-250
5. Radiator Support $200
6. Airbox Assembily $50
7. Front Bar Respray $350 (Workshop)

Front reo will be fine, it takes a lot more impact to bend one of them.

Looking at the damage it looks like you've got lucky.

If you can DIY the rad support (Got a mate who can quickly spot weld the new one in? If not, bolt it but make sure to use loctite), prices would be somewhere around this region:

1. Bonnet $150
2. Bonnet Paint $350 (Workshop)
3. Grille $120 (Best get a KH Xi one - full chrome, save on paint costs, see my avatar for example)
4. Parabolic Headlights $200-250
5. Radiator Support $200
6. Airbox Assembily $50
7. Front Bar Respray $350 (Workshop)

Front reo will be fine, it takes a lot more impact to bend one of them.

My front reo was generally fine but had sustained some damage on the left end. Also, you have to have a closer look at the radiator and condensor to see if they've been pressed in and damaged in any way. (does not take much to flatten those fins).

Also, I was told off by the police for not calling them right away.

Unfortunately is not just a matter of "spot welding" a new support panel in

You will need first to straighten the original panel and make it so you can get basic panel bolt up, if you cut anything off before you do this you will never get the front straight again

Looking at the damage, your top skirt will most likely be bent, to be blunt, if this was an insurance job you would pay your excess, get a cheque for market value and car written off as the damage is far more than the car is worth. I have a TL straight gas here with not even a quater of the damage you have with only 140 on the clock and was an economical write off, car still drives like a new car.

If you are going to do this yourself, perhaps strip the bolt ons, get someone who knows what they are doing to pull the front and replace the rad support, and then finish yourself so you will then know it is right

i hit this stupid china man who was trying to go from the left most lane to the right most lane. he was at the bottom of a short slope on an 80km/h freeway. i braked immediately when i saw him but to no avail. He just kept telling me he was new to australia and not sure. Pissed me off so much. i had an eyewitness come up to me who said he saw everything and said it was the actions of the subaru driver that led to this

I am chinese descent myself btw

Did you get the details of the witness. You have I think 24 hours to go to a police station to report it and then chase his insurance company and also provide them with the police report number and witness details.

Did you get the details of the witness. You have I think 24 hours to go to a police station to report it and then chase his insurance company and also provide them with the police report number and witness details.

In NSW you are actually not aloud to leave the scene at all without reporting it and waiting for police to arrive.

My mate was booked last night for driving 500m away to assess the damage, then calling police to make a report. There was also no other party involved (car spun out, went sideways, clipped the gutter, and took out a fence).

They haven't charged with Neg driving, but charged with Leaving the scene of an accident.

In Victoria you must call the cops if there is more than $1500 of damage. I had A similar accident it took out:

Front left suspension/driveshaft
front bumper
front quarter panel
left headlight
bent the internal panel as well
I was lucking the radiator and bonnet were ok

I got this fixed by a panel beater for $2500 about 3 years ago including painting etc. Most places quoted $2000-3000 for a private job or $4000+ for insurance.

Make a police report now with the witness and try your luck. You have nothing to lose.


In Victoria you must call the cops if there is more than $1500 of damage.
Where did you find this out? I've been nudged in a car park before causing just shy of $2k's damage and I certainly wasn't going to go calling the police wasting their time about a damaged headlight and bumper.

You don't need to call the police unless someone is injured..

You can contact the other party involved an enquire whether or not he is insured..

can you explain clearly how the event occurred..? As I will try and put it to one of my colleagues and see if they can give you a few hints/tips to follow up regarding liability..

You're looking at the repairs being uneconomical.. You can try and piece it together from a wreck.. But thats a painful process and will more than likely require a panel beaters input regarding your top support and the like..

SuFz :ninja:

It's $2500 in Qld - you should really check with your state transport department and download the road rules as sometimes that does not apply if it is a single car accident and no one is injured and there was no third party involved.
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Queensland-Road-Rules.aspx

damnit man... i think i will not be repairing it. How much does a wrecked car go for? Is there someone whom i can call?

How much does a wrecked car go for? Is there someone whom i can call?

They go for peanuts....there are auctions that specialise in selling damaged cars on certain days - usually they all come from insurance write-offs. Back a few years, you got $200 if you could drive it to the wreckers and $100 if it was a tow job. Nowdays I'd be very surprised if you managed to get $500, but I'm just guessing You could wreck it yourself but selling the bits is a long and tedious process so you are really better off just grabbing what you can get for it in one piece and putting it all behind you. The accident could have been much worse if it had happened a second or two earlier....you'd probably still be in hospital.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

It's $2500 in Qld - you should really check with your state transport department and download the road rules as sometimes that does not apply if it is a single car accident and no one is injured and there was no third party involved.
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Queensland-Road-Rules.aspx

Working in the insurance industry the QLD Police have advised us to advise our insured customers to only call if there are injuries.. If not, exchange details and contact your respective insurer..

But i see what you're saying there..

With regards to the car.. Stripping it will gain more money but is an extremely time consuming job..

Good luck though..

SuFz

Mate I just had a similar accident like this albiet slightly less impact.

looking at your damage you're unlikely to get this for under $2500 and that is with cash and cheap parts. I just spent $1600 fixing my front end and I used 2nd hand parts and a cheaper panel beater. My rad support was lightly tapped and only need to be pulled out a few inches. Radiator was fine as well. In the engine I only had to replace the condenser & drier and regass the aircon.

Part prices alone:
- Bonnet: $100-200 (lucky for you its easy to find a TE-TH/KE-KH series Bonnet)
- Para's - $200-300 + potentiall globes & brackets
- Grille: ~$100
- Bumper: $250 (from mitsu) and $150 (wreckers - hard to find a good cond. bumper from wreckers)
- Rad Support - $100-200
- Guard (the inside of your guard is probably damaged) - $80-150
- Reo Bar - $150
- Condenser - $100-150
- AC Drier (needs to be replaced as condener has lost all aircon gas) $50
- Airbox & intake - $100
- Battery box - $30

You then need to actually consider the work involve and the cost for that work. The entire radiator support will need to be replaced. This is a fairly large job as everything behind the support and infront of it needs to be removed. This includes radiator, condenser & fans, battery, intake, lights, reo, bumper, bonnet, aircon drier, compressor and potentially the guards as well. Once the space is clear the support needs to be cut and then lined up properly and welded back into place (not that easy). Putting everything back together requires time to make sure the alignment is right. You'll need to then get the aircon system overhauled as well. And then finally the respray. Painting alone could easily reach 1k. To give you an idea of cost - I provided parts, and I still paid $900 to have the front end panels replaced and lined up (bumper&reo, bonnet, lights, and grill - no guards were damaged). the rad support pulled out (lightly bent) and then bonnet & bumperpainted. For $900 this was considered very cheap. A proper insurance panel beater quoted me around 2k for the same work with $500 to pull out the rad. support alone.

I'd consider just selling the car as is or budget the requred 2.5-3k to fix this. If you had insurance this would be a writeoff as a insurance job would be an easy 3.5-4k. Car as it is, if the rest of the mechanicals are in good condition, is worth maybe $500. Wreckers will give you probably about $200. If you part out you will get a bit more but this is a time consuming process and takes ages for your money to come back. From what I can see this you have a KE Ei - so there are some things that could sell. The climate control system as a kit could sell for around $200. Seats anouther $100-150. Wheels w/good tread = $300. Bonnet & lights = $150-200. Woodgrain surround (if you have it) = $100. Engine cover (if still intact) = $50. Engine = $150-200.

Sorry to hear about the accident and especially about the circumstances. I wouldn't back down without a fight. You stand to loose a few $1000 with the damages to your car so I'd rather spend that on court & legal costs with trying to recover the damages from the guy who caused the accident. Start by getting on the front foot and sending a letter of demand for him to pay the damages. Call LegalAida and see if you have a leg to stand on. At the end of the day that driver's actions caused damage to your property. Legally, he has to pay. The advantage with insurance is that they have the power to fight for you and chase the driver for the money. As it is you cannot drive this car on the roads as the lights will not work properly nor the indicators. The bonnet could be considered a hazard to your vision as well plus not being secure - if you have insurance they can pay you out and then do all the legwork to recoup the costs.

Hope it all works out. :( I know the feeling - just went through the annoying process of having to source parts, source panel beaters and then get to work everyday without a car :/

In NSW you are actually not aloud to leave the scene at all without reporting it and waiting for police to arrive.

My mate was booked last night for driving 500m away to assess the damage, then calling police to make a report. There was also no other party involved (car spun out, went sideways, clipped the gutter, and took out a fence).

They haven't charged with Neg driving, but charged with Leaving the scene of an accident.

This is from the RTA

Dial 000 (some mobiles may require dialling 112 instead) to make contact with Police (and/or Ambulance) if anyone is killed or injured, either your vehicle or the other vehicle needs to be towed away or you are unable to provide particulars to the owner

So from this, either your mate was having a lend of you OR there was damage to public or another persons private property. If for instance he bumped a tree and there was no damage that prevented him from driving home safely there is not situation where charges can be laid if there were also no injuries.

Yea he did a 180 and took out a high school's fence. Goverment property. Still thought it was A bit shit to be charged with leaving the scene considering
cops were calld and it was reported

I was there when the cops came to take the report and charge him.

My understanding is that you can always call the police to come out to an accident. I would if there was a significant amount of damage, that way you have evidence of the incident in case the other party deny the whole thing later on. Our tax dollars are paying for the police service so may as well make use of it.

I was in a mates car once when we got hit by a truck at a red light.. There was a cop at the front of the opposing light, witnessed everything, and just drove off.. Which they aren't allowed to do.

It then turned out that the truck driver gave us fake details and screwed my mate right over. I wish we had reported the asshole cop for not stopping.

My understanding is that you can always call the police to come out to an accident. I would if there was a significant amount of damage, that way you have evidence of the incident in case the other party deny the whole thing later on. Our tax dollars are paying for the police service so may as well make use of it.

Unfortunately you cannot force the other driver to remain at the scene unless you wish to do a 'citizen arrest' which is very very questionable and can result in you being sued. When you call the police (not thru 000 but direct to local station), they will ask exactly what are the circumstances and then decide if their attendance is necessary. You cannot force them to attend.

You can always ring 000 and ask them to attend. The local cop shops do not issue jobs to officers out on the beat, 000 does that, they know where the cars are etc. If you ring the local they will refer you to 000. If the other person decides not to stay then get their rego and report it to the police, they will follow it up.