Thank you for the input. I was shocked at the fact that both the quarter and bumper wouldn't need replacing, although the appraiser did say we won't know until we get everything apart.

The bumper does not looked cracked, just scratched/paint transfer and the corner of it is quite flattened out. Another reason I think a body shop will just replace it as a whole to retain customer satisfaction. I will mention that I want and think it should be replaced entirely. There should be no structural damage behind the bumper, so it should be a simple OEM cover replacement. If that's the case, I will be pursuing a JDM rear out of it.

I thought $1,850 was low and even questioned the appraiser, but again was told "we won't know until we get everything apart..."

 

Just want to say good luck with everything! Please let us know where you purchase the JDM rear, how much it was and how the fitment is. I'm looking for one in the very near future! Thanks!

 

Appreciate it. I am scared, nervous, pissed, but I think I found a collision shop that will take great care of it.

Stopped by the State Farm adjuster today for an estimate and he wrote up to replace the rear quarter. The adjuster wrote nothing for the frame of the vehicle, so because replacing the quarter is the correct way to fix a quarter panel and the Carfax should show no frame damage/repair, I think this is the route I will be going.

I will not be getting a new bumper cover as there are no cracks, just scuffs/paint transfer, so no JDM rear for me Honestly, the bumper cover is the least of my worries. Do a quick search on EvoM or Google and you will find a place that supplies JDM bumper covers. I know STM supplies the support and hardware to install them, and they may even be able to source a bumper cover, so I would start there. Just my $0.02. I will be going JDM rear in the future, but I would rather do that on my own dime/time and not try and scam the insurance company out of something that isn't even the most important aspect of the repair.

I will be stopping by the collision shop at least once a day on my lunch break and will bring my camera to take some pictures, so I will be updating the thread with progress and pictures along the way.


This doesn't get easier, but I'm starting to feel better that I feel I found a great shop to do this work.

 

Thanks for the info on sourcing for the JDM rear. Absolutely please share pictures of the process. I'm really anxious to see when they end up cutting the rear quarter and see the process of welding it and pinching it all together, if that's the proper terminology. Wishing you the best of luck with this repair.

 

Thank you. Because I can't be at the shop 100% of the time I will be asking the shop to take detailed pictures for me as well, but I will keep y'all up-to-date. This is an intriguing process for me too, just wish my car wasn't the "guinea pig."

 

If the insurance company determined your bumper cover needed to be replaced and they cut you a check for the cost to replace it with an OEM one, it would not be a scam for you to go purchase a different bumper cover. You are not obligated to buy the OEM bumper cover just because thats what they are basing the amount of money they are giving you on. Insurance is about making you whole again after a loss. Now if you don't actually own the car, then it would be your lender that you are "scamming" not your insurance company. As most lenders require you to have full coverage insurance, and they expect that the car will be repaired to a certain standard. If you do own the car though, then there is no obligation for you to fix the car at all, you could pocket all the money and just drive around in a busted car. As long as its safe and meets all laws to be on the road. just a little background, i have worked for an insurance agency and a body shop, but my experience is limited to what the laws are in my state, so there is a chance laws might be different in your state.

 

Good insight. I think scamming was the wrong term. Conning the insurance company might be a better phrase But anyways, none of the shops I went to nor State Farm says the bumper cover needs replacement, just needs the be repaired and painted. They won't know until they get the bumper cover off though.

And I thought about just pocketing the check, driving around with a busted Evo for a little while and selling it for what I can get for it, but I can't even fathom the thought of selling this car as there is absolutely nothing else on the road under $25k that I would rather own.

This incident reminded me why I don't drive a Toyota Camry every day. I think I'm more heartbroken over this indecent than any female has ever allowed me the pleasure of feeling. That says something about cars, the community involved, and the Evo in general

 

conning, scamming all have a connotation that you are doing something shady. Its simply the terms of your contract with the insurance company. Look at it this way, if your car was a total loss, and the insurance company cut you a check for the agreed value of the car, do you think they would require you to go buy the same car? No, you could use that money to buy a new car, or maybe it was your weekend car so you don't buy another car at all.

Yah i couldn't imagine selling my evo either. It has been hands down the most fun/best investment i have ever made as far as transportation goes. To even come close to exceeding it in the things i enjoy would require buying a car i simply couldn't afford.

 

Dropped the car off Monday morning, stopped by the shop on my lunch brake today.

Not really a site you want to see, but here goes...




Shop found some rust forming on the backside of the quarter as well as in the gas cap compartment, so 1) no more rust, and 2) that tells me the previous owner(s) did in fact drive it in the snow and rain. Maybe not often or for very long, but I'm not sure how else rust forms on the inside of the quarter. I forgot to ask but I am going to call them and see if they'll spray a coating of rust preventer on the inside of the 1/4 before they put it on.

Also the clip on the inside of the gas door that holds the cable in place (which allows the gas door pop open) has gone missing, and I have been using a zip tie to hold the cable snug otherwise the gas door wouldn't release, so the shop claimed that the gas door was creased and got me a whole new unit No JDM rear, but it will do. Especially because the bumper already had a pretty large scratch (~3") under the license plate, so a fresh coat of paint is good enough for me.

I will be stopping by the shop on Thursday morning, and will have them send me pics if they mount the 1/4 tomorrow. Stay tuned.

 

On another note, I will no longer ever joke about another driver rear ending me "to get a new rear bumper out of them."