Need a repair shop - LotusTalk

Nathan · 07-17-2009, 07:29 AM

Had a lil accident last night, need a repair shop in dfw. One that can give insurance an accurate estimate. Damage looks minimal (but im sure its not).
Someone please suggest a good shop. Thanks.

jasperw4 · 07-17-2009, 08:43 AM

were you in austin recently?

Who in Austin Hit a Cow?

Seriously though, I know John Eagle Collision up there has done a bunch of Lotus work and they just opened the Aston/Bentley/Lotus store down here so they should be familliar with the car.

Nathan · 07-17-2009, 08:55 AM

nope, havnt been in austin

mrcarcrazy · 07-17-2009, 09:01 AM

And here I was hoping you'd solve the mystery

Morty · 07-17-2009, 09:29 AM

I use Stuarts Paint and Body and LOVE them! I wouldn't go anywhere else... unless I was paying out of pocket? They are the best but they are not cheap!

stuartspnb.com
tell Stuart Matt Mortimer sent you

Nathan · 07-17-2009, 12:23 PM

Thanks morty

Nathan · 07-17-2009, 08:51 PM

Pics

Shine · 07-17-2009, 09:28 PM

That does not look good. I would be very concerned about the upper and lower wishbone mounting points. If you haven't damaged those, the rest of the repairs should be pretty easy since it's just a matter of replacing bolt on parts. If the mounting points are damaged, it could be really, really bad.

Nathan · 07-17-2009, 09:32 PM

my biggest concern is the driver seat is hard to slide forward / backward now. Not sure if the seat rails got bent, or if frame got tweaked. Doors are fine though

jasperw4 · 07-20-2009, 08:28 AM

yeah, that looks pretty bad. especially the upper contorl arm mounts, have them checked very carefully.

CosmosMpower · 07-22-2009, 08:53 AM

Looks like it might be a total. I know of a shop in DFW that is competent but I really had to babysit my car when I used them so I don't know if I want to reccomend them.

That looks like you slid into a curb? If so I'd be very concerned about frame/suspension pickup point damage.

buzzy · 07-22-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

Looks like it might be a total. I know of a shop in DFW that is competent but I really had to babysit my car when I used them so I don't know if I want to reccomend them.

That looks like you slid into a curb? If so I'd be very concerned about frame/suspension pickup point damage.

You think so? From the photos it doesn't look as if the aluminum chassis is damaged. That's the rear subframe and just bolts on. Might be a very expensive and time consuming repair but there's no reason why it can't be perfect again. Have Lotus' been totaled for rear-subframe damage before?

jtj · 07-22-2009, 03:46 PM

the upper arm is completely housed by the crash structure, which is a replaceable item. not cheap, but certainly not what a chassis costs. the lower arm front bushing mount is a bolt in piece on the tub, but I have seen where they didnt give and tweaked the tub, you guessed it, right behind the drivers seat.... It is still likely that you bent the rails, as the seat mechanism isnt exactly industrial grade...

If this is insurance, I HIGHLY suggest you be involved EVERY step of the way thru estimate and repair, because More times than not when the tub is involved, they will try and hammer it back out etc to avoid the replacement/total loss cost. There should be plenty of copies of the tech service notes floating around to get the statement from Lotus that says the tub should be replaced for ANY damage if you have trouble with your insurance company. If it comes down to a fight, and your car is at a local shop, I will be glad to verify this for your insurance company, pm me and let me know whats going on... I have had to get involved a couple of times in the last 3 years on insurance deals like this, where they claimed the tub was fine, but it had stress cracks etc...

Jason

Nathan · 07-22-2009, 04:00 PM

The car is at Stuarts Paint and Body. There doing estimate tomorrow. And yes, this is going through insurance.

Morty · 07-22-2009, 04:20 PM

You are in good hands!

jtj · 07-24-2009, 12:27 PM

stuarts will handle it fine... If you had mentioned a couple of other shops, I would have been worried...

Shine · 08-16-2009, 08:13 PM

Nathan,

How are the repairs coming along? What was the extent of the damage?

Nathan · 08-18-2009, 05:12 PM

Parts are on order... heres summary of damage

front panel (not sure what exactly this refers to) - new
door seal - new
wheelarch - new
rear grille - new
heatshield - new
rear hub carrier - new
rear hub unit - new
rear wishbone - new
rear camber shims x6 - new
rear ball joint - new
rear wishbone - new
gas tank lower cover - new
seat frame - repair
front clam shell - repair
floor - repair
front bumper / clam shell - repair
rear clam shell - repair
2 rear belly pans - new
rear sub frame - new
left rear suspension - new
left rocker - repair
right rocker - repair
3m paint protection film - new
shear panel - new
rear diffuser - new
left rear wheel - new
left rear tire - new

plus a bunch of "remove/reinstall" bits, and hardware

$8,113.29 parts
$9,100.75 labor
$1,010.06 additional costs (disposal fees, alignment, towing, paint/materials)

$18,224.10 total

Aedo · 08-18-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

... Damage looks minimal (but im sure its not).
...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

...
$18,224.10 total

Well your first guess was right

Sorry to hear its taken so long to figure out whats wrong - how long to put it back together?

Seb · 08-18-2009, 07:43 PM

Holy ****!

What's the story behind that?

07-17-2009, 07:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
Nathan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 174	Need a repair shop Had a lil accident last night, need a repair shop in dfw. One that can give insurance an accurate estimate. Damage looks minimal (but im sure its not). Someone please suggest a good shop. Thanks.

07-17-2009, 09:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
mrcarcrazy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Midland, TX Posts: 690	And here I was hoping you'd solve the mystery __________________ 2005 Magnetic Blue Elise - "the Lotus" (original I know) 2001 Jeep Wrangler - "soul crusher". If you dont GET it after you drive it, then you dont GET it - serpent

07-17-2009, 09:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Morty I love Loyal Customers Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 563	I use Stuarts Paint and Body and LOVE them! I wouldn't go anywhere else... unless I was paying out of pocket? They are the best but they are not cheap! stuartspnb.com tell Stuart Matt Mortimer sent you __________________ www.myspace.com/teambluegoose www.bluegoosecantina.com www.awshucksdallas.com www.bigshucks.com Last edited by Morty : 07-17-2009 at 09:35 AM.

07-17-2009, 09:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Shine Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Central Texas Posts: 333 Images: 10	That does not look good. I would be very concerned about the upper and lower wishbone mounting points. If you haven't damaged those, the rest of the repairs should be pretty easy since it's just a matter of replacing bolt on parts. If the mounting points are damaged, it could be really, really bad. __________________ - Shine 2005 Elise, Ardent Red, Manual Winders

07-22-2009, 08:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
CosmosMpower Cone Magnet Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,029	Looks like it might be a total. I know of a shop in DFW that is competent but I really had to babysit my car when I used them so I don't know if I want to reccomend them. That looks like you slid into a curb? If so I'd be very concerned about frame/suspension pickup point damage. __________________ 06 Canyon Red Elise LSS, Touring, SS, Stg 2, HID, BWR swaybar 09 Mini Cooper S 6MT 2000 Grand Prix White S2000

07-17-2009, 08:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
jasperw4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 261	were you in austin recently? Who in Austin Hit a Cow? Seriously though, I know John Eagle Collision up there has done a bunch of Lotus work and they just opened the Aston/Bentley/Lotus store down here so they should be familliar with the car.

07-17-2009, 08:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nathan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 174	nope, havnt been in austin

07-17-2009, 12:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nathan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 174	Thanks morty

07-17-2009, 08:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nathan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 174	Pics

07-17-2009, 09:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nathan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 174	my biggest concern is the driver seat is hard to slide forward / backward now. Not sure if the seat rails got bent, or if frame got tweaked. Doors are fine though

07-20-2009, 08:28 AM	#10 (permalink)
jasperw4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 261	yeah, that looks pretty bad. especially the upper contorl arm mounts, have them checked very carefully.

07-22-2009, 03:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
jtj Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 266	the upper arm is completely housed by the crash structure, which is a replaceable item. not cheap, but certainly not what a chassis costs. the lower arm front bushing mount is a bolt in piece on the tub, but I have seen where they didnt give and tweaked the tub, you guessed it, right behind the drivers seat.... It is still likely that you bent the rails, as the seat mechanism isnt exactly industrial grade... If this is insurance, I HIGHLY suggest you be involved EVERY step of the way thru estimate and repair, because More times than not when the tub is involved, they will try and hammer it back out etc to avoid the replacement/total loss cost. There should be plenty of copies of the tech service notes floating around to get the statement from Lotus that says the tub should be replaced for ANY damage if you have trouble with your insurance company. If it comes down to a fight, and your car is at a local shop, I will be glad to verify this for your insurance company, pm me and let me know whats going on... I have had to get involved a couple of times in the last 3 years on insurance deals like this, where they claimed the tub was fine, but it had stress cracks etc... Jason

07-22-2009, 04:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
Nathan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 174	The car is at Stuarts Paint and Body. There doing estimate tomorrow. And yes, this is going through insurance.

07-22-2009, 04:20 PM	#15 (permalink)
Morty I love Loyal Customers Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 563	You are in good hands! __________________ www.myspace.com/teambluegoose www.bluegoosecantina.com www.awshucksdallas.com www.bigshucks.com

07-24-2009, 12:27 PM	#16 (permalink)
jtj Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 266	stuarts will handle it fine... If you had mentioned a couple of other shops, I would have been worried...

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08-16-2009, 08:13 PM	#17 (permalink)
Shine Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Central Texas Posts: 333 Images: 10	Nathan, How are the repairs coming along? What was the extent of the damage? __________________ - Shine 2005 Elise, Ardent Red, Manual Winders

08-18-2009, 05:12 PM	#18 (permalink)
Nathan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 174	Parts are on order... heres summary of damage front panel (not sure what exactly this refers to) - new door seal - new wheelarch - new rear grille - new heatshield - new rear hub carrier - new rear hub unit - new rear wishbone - new rear camber shims x6 - new rear ball joint - new rear wishbone - new gas tank lower cover - new seat frame - repair front clam shell - repair floor - repair front bumper / clam shell - repair rear clam shell - repair 2 rear belly pans - new rear sub frame - new left rear suspension - new left rocker - repair right rocker - repair 3m paint protection film - new shear panel - new rear diffuser - new left rear wheel - new left rear tire - new plus a bunch of "remove/reinstall" bits, and hardware $8,113.29 parts $9,100.75 labor $1,010.06 additional costs (disposal fees, alignment, towing, paint/materials) $18,224.10 total

08-18-2009, 07:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
Seb <3 QR25DE Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 750	Holy ****! What's the story behind that?