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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/14/2009 12:58:05 AM
Posts: 2,
Visits: 2
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This is a really basic question, and I definitely don't trust the insurance guy who appraised the damage to my car!
Basically, there was a big wind storm the other day and a tree branch fell and hit my car, smashing a window and denting the body panel behind the driver's seat. The dent is about 10 inches long, and the body panel now bulges out a little. The insurance company appraised it and said that they would replace the body panel with a new one instead of repairing it. The new panel will be bolted on (the insurance guy said) instead of welded like the original. This sounds bad to me - does the insurance company not want to do the denting/ painting repair work because it costs more? And it sounds to me like a bolted on body panel will weaken my car...
I would be really grateful for any advice from you knowledgeable folks out there! 
I don't have a digital camera so I can't post any pics - but I can tell you it's a Ford Focus ZX3. That's a 2 door hatchback, and the panel in question is on the driver's side next to the back seat .. so if someone were sitting behind the driver, this is the body panel which would be their door (if I hadn't been so cheap as to buy a 2-door and they actually had a door!).
The dent itself is about 10 inches long, not too deep. I've done worse and had it beaten out and painted over I like the thought having a welded panel because it would just be stronger. I'd guess that it would weaken the car to take a whole panel out (meaning that they cut through the welds attaching it??!!) and bolt on something else. Right now, I think I should try and get them to just fix the dent and leave the original panel on. It doesn't make sense to me that an insurance agent who isn't going to do the work should make the decision. I use the Focus as a spare car that my wife and I use on the weekends, but I want to get this fixed soon.
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Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/14/2009 5:01:46 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 31
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| Sounds to me like the panel is very much repairable, the down side is that after the tech shrinks the metal with heat and a wet rag, he’s going to work the dent out using a welding gun to pull the dent. The metal has to be worked, filled and blocked then he may have more than a desired amount of plastic filler on the repaired surface, which I feel is the only downside of a repair IMO. Also I would suspect it necessary to R&I the trim panel, .25 glass & lt taillamp , w/strip, run channel, handle, lock & molding to blend the door for match. But I would very much rather tackle the repair then put a quarter on it.
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/14/2009 4:47:04 AM
Posts: 9,
Visits: 11
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| I'm a professional body man and the repair sound's easy enough maybe less than your deductible maybe thats why he wants to replace the panel.As far as replacing the panel is a good idea also depending how they do this repair.It must be primed and painted inside of panel before installation also must use weld throughout primer on panel edge if welding it so no rust will start they also use panel glue in some cases this is also good now as far as bolting it ya right as if they would even say something stupid like that unless they meant using screws to hold the panel in the proper position prior to welding it this is to make sure it lines up well but screws must be removed and welded the hole that it left Well thats all i could say good luck and make sure they do this process properly even if you have to go in and check before reinstallation of trim panels and make darn sure they undercoat this well even tho they say they will check make sure cause this will rust!!!
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