Well, my 3-week old SWB was rear-ended by an inattentive woman behind the wheel of a GS300 AWD last Wednesday! I was at a light when I suddenly got pushed from behind. When I got out of the car, this woman goes, "I'm sorry but I stepped off the brake pedal while fiddling for stuff in my bag". I was very pissed off. The damage is quite significant with the entire upper part of her car's plate frame clearly imprinted on the bumper of my car. And looking at the bumper, the left corner of her plate frame pressed harder on to the bumper because there's a significant dent on it on the left side looking at it. To top it all off, she's with Geico, the worst insurer to deal with. In fact, when I went to see the Geico adjuster yesterday, he insisted that he will only write a check for a repair instead of replace. It really ticked me off. I also went to the body shop that my Lexus dealer uses and he thinks that it should be replaced and will try to work something out with Geico.

Oh, one other thing...she got pissed off coz I called the cops so there will be a report...LOL! I thought to myself, 'serves you right that you got a ticket'. She also kept insisting that it was just a paint scratch which further ticked me off.

Has anyone had any bumper repaired? I'm afraid that with a repair, I won't be getting a smooth finish with no wave at all. I think once plastic is deformed, it's hard to put it back to its original shape with the same smoothness in the finish.

Any thoughts on what I should do?

Thanks!

 

What a coincidence! I had someone rear end me too three weeks after getting my LS460L (Somy Granite). My bumper was replaced. For the LS460 it doesn't come painted although I think it does for some of the other models. The paint job was good, however. Impossible visually to tell from the rest of the car, IMO. I would find out how much a replacement bumper would cost and if the insurance doesn't pay the full cost, I would pay the difference. I think it's worth it.

 

Sorry to hear. File a claim through your insurance...let them deal with the PITA. I went through a bumper replacement recently and tried to be somewhat nice by not involving my ins. In the end, all it is going to do is **** you off. That is why you pay the ins premiums...to have them deal with such instances.

If the bumper was pierced like mine was...it needs to be replaced. Some can fix it but the odds are you will see it at some angle and it's a crime on a new 460. With my incident, it called for a repaired bumper. I told the body shop guy I preferred a new factory Toyota and he was able to get it. (Mercury Ins. was my guy's carrier) Aside from some smaller quibbles in the process, I was happy repair-wise.

 

Sorry for the accident for such a new car too, what a moron that woman looks to be Good luck with the repair.

 

Sue Geico or sue her for the difference; that'll get their attention...

 

i am very sorry to hear that, it's really sad i'd provide several tips (not that i am an expert, but i have some experience in how to deal with ese)

1) don't be pissed. it's frustrating and sad for sure, but if you are mad you tend to do the wrong decision. calm down first and especially if the adjuster is getting to your nerve. it's better in the long run
2) forget about the lady. you did the right thing. it's her problem not yours. don't let her get to you
3) forget about the geico adjuster, it's NOT his decision how to fix your car, it's body shop of your choice. worst of all, bring it to court
4) make sure the body shop you use is GOOD. lexus dealership all they do is out source to other body shops, that doesn't mean they are good.
5) if you want, try to stick with a body shop, talk to them first and make sure they insist on a new bumper. then have them fight with geico. you shouldn't be the one fighting with them
6) if things don't work out, involve your insurance. it won't affect your premium or so, but they will help you fight
7) usually it's MORE than just the bumper. a lot of times, the foam behind are all damanged, need to see if there are frame damage, exhaust bent, bottom covers, etc... never EVER listen to just the adjuster, he's working for geico not you, and he would be the last person i listen in the world. ask the body shop to take things apart and make sure they are all fixed and accounted for

when our car was rear ended, we didn't even bother to go straight to the other insurance company, they were slow in reacting (of course!). we talked to our insurance, adjuster there the 3rd day. looked at damage and immediately said new rear bumper, no questions asked. and later we found out that some stuff behind the bumper was damaged, all changed. body kits, all changed. later on they took the bill and just dealt with the other insurance directly.

guess what? we were rear ended looked like just a bumper and a little body kit. but together with medical bills? final came out to over 6 grands. you don't think the geico adjuster would want to pay more than 600

 

I called my insurance company, State Farm, and they've agreed to replace the bumper since the body shop is also on their preferred list. All I have to do is pay my deductible and they will collect all the monies back from Geico. I was told it will take awhile to get a refund of the deductible but it will happen. I think that's better than dealing with the cheapos over at Geico.

 

most definitely, good call!

we are with state farm as well, and at least here in cali, they are one of the best. i actually got my deductible back like one week after my car went into body shop

 

Make sure the shop paints high end cars. Their is a huge difference in what they do. Because the car is so new they should not have a problem matching the color. Make sure they are using a high end paint like Glasurit or Sikkens. Also make sure you are getting all Lexus's parts and not aftermarket.

Lexus actually wet sands the clear coat on our cars for higher gloss, make sure they do that. I would only use a shop that the painter has been trained by Lex or has taken a Toyota or Lex class.

 

Sorry to hear about it, but good thing you called the cops, the documentation should come in handy. Hope the insurance claims process and repairs work out.

 

And don't forget, Lexus cars have two clear coats...

 

Thanks, guys. The body shop is called Body Art in Garwood, NJ. Lexus of Bridgewater has used them and referred customers there. I've actually been in their shop and they are certified for a bunch of luxury cars including Lexus. They actually had some Lexus and Infiniti's in the shop when I went. I'd make sure to ask them to wet sand the clear coat so it matches perfectly. Now, just have to wait til Oct. 1 when it finally goes in for repairs.

 

best of luck, jettie, keep us posted how it goes!

 

Make sure they are using a high end paint like Glasurit or Sikkens. Also make sure you are getting all Lexus's parts and not aftermarket.

Unless things have recently changed, there are (fortunately) no aftermaket parts available for Lexus. I was told by an expert that the market is too small.

 

350dave,

Their are actually many aftermarket body parts available for Lexus in the bodyshop industry. Not much right now for the 460 but come October you will see more Chinese parts releases for 460. If the insurance companies can get their hands on them they will use them.

http://www.motorhomesonsale.com/auto...bodytechlexus/