Thanks for the support!

Went to my Indi mb mechanic this afternoon. I should state that this is more than an Indi, in fact it is soley a mbs place but it is big and the guy I dealt with there was no better than the claims adjuster. Wanted to order the parts immediatly and set up an appointment.

Some interesting tid bits:

The quoted $43/hour body labor and $43/hour paint labor is state driven and any auto repair business has to accept those rates by law. However, the labor estimate seem excessive. How long would it take to put a new tailgate on a wagon? They quote that as 6.5 hours!!! I think I could do that job within an hour if I had a friend to help. The rear bumper is quoted as a 2.5 hour job. Again, I think I can do better but then again everything takes longer than expected.

The indi garage takes the actual claim adjusters quote and following it's guidlelines so that it can make as much as it can from the "Estimate of Record".

The indi did say that the frame was most likely fine that the door probably got knocked at of whack and that a hing adjustment was needed.

I'm thinking of getting the parts re-evaluted by the claims adjuster and doing the tailgate, bumper and lights myself. Already have quotes and the parts come to $300 for a perfect Tailgate, $40 for the bumper impact strip and $50 for the lower molding. Add in the paint job on the tailgate and I'll still have plenty of money to fix everything else that got messed up.

But first I'm going to find someone to check the frame.

I'll let y'all know the outcome and hopefully will have an after picture.

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1994 Toyotal Landcruiser 220k (Sold)

1987 300TDT 278K My Addiction (Going Going Gon...)

2001 Volvo V70 (New Ride)