Model 3 Bodywork repair near Market Harborough/Leicester

[dbtor]

My girlfriend reversed my new to me red model 3 into a parked car and has done extensive damage to the nearside rear.

Spoiler: Damage to my model 3

Spoiler: Damage to other car

The panel below the charging port is bent, but the charging port does still open.

We are due to drive this to the south of Spain for 3 weeks on 23rd September so need it repaired as quickly as possible. My girlfriend is a named driver on my insurance policy and the voluntary excess is £750.

What is the best course of action? Tesla approved bodyshop? Tesla Approved Bodyshop and Accident Repair Centre - Individual Specialist Cars, Birmingham is about an hour away. Will they be able to match the red?

Could it be worth going through insurance for this, as the damage to both cars could be well over £750?

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

 

[SteelmanMFC]

My girlfriend reversed my new to me red model 3 into a parked car and has done extensive damage to the nearside rear.

Spoiler: Damage to my model 3

View attachment 851606

View attachment 851607

Spoiler: Damage to other car

View attachment 851608

The panel below the charging port is bent, but the charging port does still open.

We are due to drive this to the south of Spain for 3 weeks on 23rd September so need it repaired as quickly as possible. My girlfriend is a named driver on my insurance policy and the voluntary excess is £750.

What is the best course of action? Tesla approved bodyshop? Tesla Approved Bodyshop and Accident Repair Centre - Individual Specialist Cars, Birmingham is about an hour away. Will they be able to match the red?

Could it be worth going through insurance for this, as the damage to both cars could be well over £750?

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Repairs will definitely be over £750 I see no reason that your Model 3 can't be repaired at any approved bodyshop, should be able to easily repair that Qtr panel and bumper depending on what assessor agrees with Bodyshop etc

If time is an issue just tidy up the panels by T cutting the damaged paint to remove the paint that has been swapped, if affecting charge port try a dent removal specialist who should be able to improve it a lot until it can be repaired properly.

Pop down to a local bodyshop for a free estimate and see what they say etc?

Good luck

 

[SpanishJ0n]

There is at least 2 weeks work there due to quarter panel. Usual bookiing time for insurance work is at least 2 weeks. It won't be done until at least mid Oct

 

[dbtor]

I think we might have to get it done after we're back from Spain.

If I went through insurance would the car always have to be classed as a Cat N, therefore reduce the resale value?

 

[SteelmanMFC]

I think we might have to get it done after we're back from Spain.

If I went through insurance would the car always have to be classed as a Cat N, therefore reduce the resale value?

Highly unlikely to be Cat N, just classed as normal repair etc

https://www.carveto.co.uk/write-off-categories/cat-n/

 

[SpanishJ0n]

This will be an expensive claim. My estimate is 8-10K total. You will need to use a tesla approved shop due to the proximity to the charge port of the primary damage. Red is one of the most difficult to mstch so they will blend with all the adjacent panels. I suspect they will order a new rear bumper.

 

[pgh69]

I am down the road from you in Kibworth and used shorades in cannock recommended by my insurer) for hail storm damage, fantastic service and great job.

Homepage - Shorade

Established in 1968 Setting the standard in prestige vehicle care Shorade is a multi-award winning bodyshop group, approved by leading vehicle manufacturers. Our teams at each site are dedicated to delivering market leading accident repair and vehicle personalisation services to our customers...

www.shorade.co.uk

I your covered for courtesy car you may get lucky and get one of the taycans.... nice novelty drive but I was pleased to get my m3p back!

Also FYI you can get a separate insurance for the excess for less then £20 (my company car excess was £1200).

I'd agree with spanishJon...I think your easily looking at £5+++

 

[GlynG]

Best course of action - (In priority order)

1 - Ex Girlfriend
2 - Insurance job - make claim and let the proceedings just take their natural course
3 - T Cut or machine polish the damaged area to substantially improve the appearance until its properly repaired
4 - Inside the boot remove or pull back the lining and see if you can push by hand the panel outwards - it looks like a good push and most of it will spring out
5 - You can get a spray rattle can to the proper paint colour in a few days online - mask off the rest of the car and spray the bumper - just lots of light coats - The car will look reasonably OK and Insurance will simply fit a new bumper anyway so you're not going to be causing a greater repair even if you don't make a brilliant job of it.
6 - enjoy Spain and pick up a local for holiday romance

 

[Kenners]

I had a minor ding on those two panels and Tesla quote was a bit over 3k, that included new bumper, which it didn’t need. Tesla approved was £900. But I don’t think that will buff out! So you would be probably looking at something similar to the big number I would guess. So insurance job. Parts might also be an issue based on your timeframe!”.

 

[dbtor]

I had a quote of £4.5k from Wyndon Motors (Tesla approved body shop in Coventry), who were happy to quote outside of insurance. I've already started the process of going through insurance though, because I spoke to 3 body shops on the day of the accdient and 2 out of 3 immediately said go through insurance, as it will cost a lot.

Best course of action - (In priority order)

1 - Ex Girlfriend
2 - Insurance job - make claim and let the proceedings just take their natural course
3 - T Cut or machine polish the damaged area to substantially improve the appearance until its properly repaired
4 - Inside the boot remove or pull back the lining and see if you can push by hand the panel outwards - it looks like a good push and most of it will spring out
5 - You can get a spray rattle can to the proper paint colour in a few days online - mask off the rest of the car and spray the bumper - just lots of light coats - The car will look reasonably OK and Insurance will simply fit a new bumper anyway so you're not going to be causing a greater repair even if you don't make a brilliant job of it.
6 - enjoy Spain and pick up a local for holiday romance

This seems like a reasonable list! Fortunately I already have a Tesla mobile service appointment booked for tomorrow, so while they are here fixing a rattling B pillar I'll see if they can pop out the panel as you suggested.

 

[Rustybkts]

Ouch but the car must have been screaming at her. My reversing camera has failed due to the solid core cable fault known on older M3's which is due to be replaced shortly by a Ranger.
It's surprising how much you rely on it and is scary when reversing in tight situations even with the beepers.
My sympathies!

 

[Tfcprospect]

had something similar to my car, Tesla body shop quoted £2k+VAT

 

[dbtor]

Ouch but the car must have been screaming at her. My reversing camera has failed due to the solid core cable fault known on older M3's which is due to be replaced shortly by a Ranger.
It's surprising how much you rely on it and is scary when reversing in tight situations even with the beepers.
My sympathies!

The parked car would have been very clear in the cameras, and it would have been making loud beeping noises. She said "she didn't hear them", I was not impressed. She has probably become too accustomed to hearing them, becuase they beep the whole time we reverse into the narrow drive way.

Best course of action - (In priority order)

1 - Ex Girlfriend
2 - Insurance job - make claim and let the proceedings just take their natural course
3 - T Cut or machine polish the damaged area to substantially improve the appearance until its properly repaired
4 - Inside the boot remove or pull back the lining and see if you can push by hand the panel outwards - it looks like a good push and most of it will spring out
5 - You can get a spray rattle can to the proper paint colour in a few days online - mask off the rest of the car and spray the bumper - just lots of light coats - The car will look reasonably OK and Insurance will simply fit a new bumper anyway so you're not going to be causing a greater repair even if you don't make a brilliant job of it.
6 - enjoy Spain and pick up a local for holiday romance

You were right, the damage doesn't look quite as bad once it's been cleaned:

The mobile technician was not able to help with the dent though. There is something like an inner frame, so you cannot reach that body panel from inside the boot.

 

[GlynG]

Looks a lot better, You could also try one of the sucker plunger type things to the outside of the panel - place it on the panel, push over the lever to suck onto the car and give it a pull, wont all come out as the metal is creased but it will improve it quite a bit more.
If I were you, I would get some touch up paint and just paint in where the paint is missing - It will look a great deal better for your trip.

I guess priority order list num 1 and 6 are out then as you didn't comment - you clearly must like her --- a lot.

 

[dbtor]

Accidents happen, I can't be stay mad. She is paying the £750 insurance excess and was happy to pay even when I was given a quote of about £7k. She is also going to pay up to £400 for paint correction as an apology; I am the second owner, the original owner didn't care or didn't know how to wash properly, so it has multiple swirls and scratches.