Repair Advice (2017 Mazda 3)

LlookingforTV on 10/06/2019 - 16:15
Last edited 10/06/2019 - 19:50 by 1 other user

Hi Ozbargain,

On 16th May, I crashed my car into my colleague's car in the car park as I was driving coughing and sneezing. It damaged my passenger side light, side bumper and front bumper. My car was meant to be ready for pick up tomorrow.

Unfortunately, I just got a call saying that they have replaced everything with new genuine Mazda parts but the front bumper is not available until end of July. I was given a choice of waiting for the part or have my front bumper taken off and reconditioned, which would make the car ready by end of next week.

Long story short, what are the quality differences between a new part and reconditioned front bumper which is made out of plastic?

Edit: Fixed a link and the image

Automotive Car Mazda

Comments

  • Melb69 on 10/06/2019 - 16:20
    +2

    I suspect the smash repairers is trying to make a bit on this alternative through your insurance. Ie get you to accept the re-conditioned repair as apposed to what has been allowed as new. IMO a re-conditioned bumper will never be as good as a new one. They may bog it up and respray only park of it where damaged. Then over time the paint will likely flake off. I know its a pain, but is there an opportunity to get your car back to use and just wait for the new part to come and get that put on then. You would need to get it all in writing. Just a thought.

    • lookingforTV on 10/06/2019 - 16:29

      Thank you for your advice. They told me that the assessor approved it to be done that way, I am not sure the validity of it. I will seriously consider just waiting.

      • Melb69 on 10/06/2019 - 16:35

        Do you have a loan car or alternative transport. End of July is forever IMO. If you can wait that would probably be the best. As I say if there is way to get the car now and then go back at least you have your car back while the part is on order. Didn't they give you alternative to wait for new part. So that has been approved by assessor as well, but suspect the re-conditioned part is just an alternative from smash repairers. If you haven't already suspected. I don't trust smash repairers.

        • lookingforTV on 10/06/2019 - 17:52

          Thank you. I don't have a car but I can walk to work which takes 30 minutes or Uber meanwhile ($8-$9). I will ring them tomorrow and see if I can get the car now without the front bumper and pop it back, but I doubt they would do that. Worth a try. Thank you for the suggestion. I will also check with the insurance company and see if they are aware of the repair place suggesting an alternative way.

          • Melb69 on 10/06/2019 - 19:52
            +2

            @lookingforTV: Get them to put the old bumper on while the other is on order is your option. If they let you take the car that way. But get anything in writing that they will replace it with new once available. Yeah check with insurance first I would suggest to get approval it's possible.

          • Shaun R on 11/06/2019 - 10:02

            @lookingforTV: 30 minute walk would be a 15 minute leisurely bike ride?

            • lookingforTV on 11/06/2019 - 18:17

              @Shaun R: I don't have a bike unfortunately and never rode one!! hahaha

  • Euphemistic on 10/06/2019 - 17:22

    Two ways to look at it.

    If you wanted to save money as you were paying for it yourself and the repair shop was reputable and reliable it might be better to go reconditioned. The repair should be almost as good as new, but cheaper. If you don’t intend to keep your car for a long time this is a suitable alternative, a good panel shop should make the repair unnoticeable.

    If you are a stickler for perfect presentation of your car and prepared to wait for longer or pay more then it is worth waiting for the new bumper

    Edit: I couldn’t open the image to see the damage

    • lookingforTV on 10/06/2019 - 17:51

      Excess is the same for me either way. I have uploaded the file again. Thank you for letting me know.

      • Euphemistic on 10/06/2019 - 19:14

        Doesn’t look that bad to me, assuming there are no splits in plaatix and that none of the clips in the back are broken reusing the bumper seems reasonable - but then I prefer to repair than replace as a general rule. If nothing is broken, they’ll be smoothing and painting. If you get a new bumper it’ll have to be painted anyway.

  • jzdhgkd on 10/06/2019 - 19:17
    +1

    I would wait for the new one.

    I've had a bumper replaced with a reconditioned one. Over time (admittedly quite a few years… maybe 5 or more) the paint started flaking away due to rock chips on the highway and silver paint was visible beneath the white paint.

  • chumlee on 10/06/2019 - 19:54
    +1

    End of July seems ridiculous for a common vehicle model.

    Complain to your insurance company if they sent you to this particular repairer

    • lookingforTV on 10/06/2019 - 21:45

      Thank you. I have raised it as an issue but seems like they really won't do much. With Suncorp.

  • resubaehtgnolhcs on 10/06/2019 - 21:41
    +1

    That wait time is BS - call them on it! They gave you a time frame to have your car fixed (with new parts) and I would hold them to that. If they want to play games and make you wait longer than they originally stated, then they should provide you with a courtesy car.

    • lookingforTV on 10/06/2019 - 21:45

      I have looked up relevant regulations and it seems like taking over 45 days is considered to be unreasonable. Next time, I will get my policy, I will upgrade it so it includes a rental car.

      • Never Pay RRP on 11/06/2019 - 11:10

        Check with the repairer whether they have a courtesy car. They might give you one for free, or may give you a price that is cheaper than a rental. It's worth asking

  • ThatKiwiFella on 10/06/2019 - 21:42

    A recondition of your bumper will be fine.

    Looking at it, there's next to no damage except cosmetic.
    If there's anything broken on the inner, they'll likely do something along the lines of plastic weld and bog it

    The repair should be adequete enough that you probably wouldn't notice the difference between a new and reconditioned bumper, if they're a good repair shop

    • lookingforTV on 10/06/2019 - 21:44

      Thank you. Hopefully that's the case. I am leaning towards just getting it reconditioned.

      • ThatKiwiFella on 10/06/2019 - 21:49

        It looks as though it was a small hit, unfortunate positioning for the light to be broken.
        All mounting points of the bumper look intact and if they weren't the body shop would fix them and reinforce that area.

        I don't think you'd have any issue in the future having your bumper reconditioned. Being plastic and mounted with clips they allow for movement which can help minimise damage

        Nonetheless, all the best with whichever route you decide to take!

  • Mrbean007 on 11/06/2019 - 11:21

    By looking at the pictures I would go for new bumper bar as when there is damage near the guards you will have problems in the future with your bar coming of the sides new cars are fragile around edges as there only held on by plastic striping clips.

  • nep on 11/06/2019 - 14:17

    I'd go for a new one. As there might be a chance of colour difference over the period of time.

    • Euphemistic on 11/06/2019 - 18:43
      +1

      There is a chance of collie difference even with a new one. It will most likely be delivered to the panel shop without the top coat colirbappied and will need to be painted on site. The skill of the painter will determine the colour match.

  • Stevoh on 12/06/2019 - 11:33

    Hi,
    Ask the repairer if they could put the new headlight in and you can bring the vehicle back to finish the repairs when the new bumper bar arrives, this shouldn't be such a problem, I'm a panel beater 30 years.
    We often do such things to help our customers.

  • MechEng on 17/06/2019 - 20:20

    That bumper seems fine.
    Another option would be to find one on a wrecker, that can be as good as new.
    Why don't you call your Mazda dealer and ask if they have a bumper for your car and then communicate with your insurer?
    You should not bear the additional burden because the insurance wants to save a couple of bucks.

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