Okay, it is a bit complicated but very simple at the same time. I hit a curb sideways and the insurance company says she is totaled. I bought her back for a song, assuming that they had no idea that indeed she was far from totaled...The only real issue is the right rear quarter panel (see pic) seems to be pulled away from the trunk lid about 1-2 mm, and some very light buckling at the C-pillar (nearly imperceptible, but you can tell).

 

As you can see the major trauma was sustained low to the wheel, blowing my Zeal coilover, breaking a piece of the knuckle off with the one of the control arms (or link, or something)...I am trying to figure out how I am getting the buckling at the C-pillar and increased gap between the quarter panel and the trunk lid...This is my mystery...Is it frame damage (as the insurance company asserted), or is it something more superficial and ultimately fixable?

Here is a picture of the upper control arm, where it attaches to the body. The force was so great that the mounting 14mm bolts were yanked pretty bad outward from the frame. I think this may be one of the culprits...You have to know what you are looking at, but the 14 mm bolts (especially the one on the left) has visible signs of enormous torque outward, bending the bolt leftward, almost as if somebody tried to yank on that arm to pull it out with something very very powerful.

 

So, whatever trauma sustained, absorbed mostly by the control arms and links, created a buckling affect on the C-pillar (between the rear door and rear-window) and the shifting of the quarter panel outward...The misalignment seems minor, with no visible strut tower damage. Somehow it seems like the force on the wheel, transferred through the links/arms, created the malformation.

Any wisdom would be appreciated.

 

You'll have to get your title fixed to be able to get insurance for the MR. I suggest getting a local autobody expert to look at it. Most likely will need to put it on a frame straightener. I know of a local(tome) guy thatis an expert at this sort of work. I can't really see much in your photos but glad you weren't hurt and that you were able to "buy back" the MR. I'm sure you did great in getting it back.
And great to see a fellow Jesus Lover on here...

 

Wait wait wait

**** your insurance company dude. a 06 MR does NOT get totaled over a curb hit like THAT. We have a Grand Am in the shop that has it's back end rolled under, with much more damage than those pictures even give me a guess at, and they are repairing it (a 04 Grand Am, for those that are curious).

A car TWO years older, many more miles, and not close in retail price is getting fixed while your's is not?

Ask to see their estimate. Get pictures of it on here. I want to see wtf they are thinking, because obviously they don't have their heads on straight.

also, you might want to fight it. salvaged title just ruined your car.

 

yeah thats minor crap, it can be fix with simple tools

 

im an appraiser for an insurance company. any more pictures ? from the shots you show I have no idea why they would total that car ?

 

how much did you pay to get it back, if you dont mind me asking

 

Is there a way to, after-the-fact, get somebody to rediagnose the salvage and change the title?

 

6,100...MR with 22,000 miles

 

It really appears minor...Here is the good side (left), and the bad side (right). You will notice (although the pictures are poor quality) that the right side is a few millimeters pulled outward from the trunk lid.

 

Again, here is a side by side comparison of the left side (good side) C-pillar, and the right side (bad-side). Almost imperceptible, especially in these pictures, is a buckling of the right side (starting about an inch above the horizontal body crease, right next to the window door frame, up to about 6 inches) on the C-pillar/body...sorry if this is confusing.

 

The mechanism, again, of the impact was such that the bottom of the wheel was forced downward, therefore pulling the upper arm outward...I think this was the main serious trauma (hitting an immovable object at 30+mph x 3,400lbs)...All the arms, links and coilover (blown) were bent out of shape.

 

where you from????

 

With the wheel bent in like that they are probably estimating for a new rear sub frame, quarter panel, bumper, wheel, paint, etc. I hit the guard rail due to mechanical failure in my dsm last december and caused $3300 for just a front bumper, hood, fender, and headlight.