Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

A few of you know of my problem with the dodgy white paint job on my (flareless) GX bumpers. After thinking about replacing it with a DIY steel number, the wife backed into someones magna the other day (black car, parked in shade, tinted windows on Prado, plus sunnies on and looking through cargo barrier... :roll: )

Ripped off LHS bumper and stuffed the rear one.

Benefit: I get it all fixed under insurance and will have a nice looking car again .

Questions: how do insurance companies generally take to other suggestions, i.e. doing a deal replacing bumper with steel bar instead (will cost me more of course) I assume all companies will be different - I'm with AAMI.

Are there any commercially available bars which are at a reasonable cost? I'm talking sub $2000. I'm not after a wheel carrier, I just want better protection under the rear.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

Hi Phil,

I am contemplating the same thing as we speak.
I got the three quotes as required by my insurance company. The last two shops.... I asked the guys about fitting a Kaymar or similar bar in lieu of replacing the Toyota Tupperware.

Both guys were happy to take the cheque from my insurance company (Lumley General) and then fit the Kaymar for the same price as ARB. ($425.00) I would obviously have to pay the difference in price from repair to supply and fit the Kaymar. What I am say is.. talk to your repairer and go from there.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

If you're with AAMI you will probably be forced to take it to their repair centre where they will fix it with non genuine parts to factory spec.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

Have to say D4D, I have had the exact opposite from AAMI..... My choice of repairer....and happy to discuss alternate options as well, including upgraded suspension on a previous 80 series,.... go figure :?:

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

Have to say D4D, I have had the exact opposite from AAMI..... My choice of repairer....and happy to discuss alternate options as well, including upgraded suspension on a previous 80 series,.... go figure :?:

How long ago was this?

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

First one with the 80 was around 2002, (may be irrelevant now) But, the 2nd was last February, (2009) with daughters Car

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

Hi,

about 7 years ago my wife shortened our Rodeo twin cab by about 10 inches after a very unpleasant discussion with a very large Kangaroo at 100kms an hour, AAMI paid the claim after getting 1 quote from our local crash repairer (small country town). any way when we got it fixed instead of fitting a new Alloy roo bar the crash shop fitted a second hand one they had and used the money saved to do a few other repairs for me. The morale of the story, AAMI didnt know and therefore didnt care, so speak to your repairer and see what they are willing to do.

Cheers Andrew

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

Hmmm then he could be in luck with AAMI

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

Hmmm, thanks guys.

AAMI have asked us to get 2 quotes - 1 from an "AAMI preferred" shop and the other our choice. Funny thing is, all repairs are guaranteed for life, so I'd imagine AAMI would want to be sure it's done right (i.e. repair to genuine specs etc etc).

I'll talk to a few and let you know how I go.

[chester Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

Normally if you can go to a repairer of your choice and they are happy for you to pay the difference most times the insurance company will never know. However make sure you update your policy once you have it fitted or standard bumper for you if you do it again

[lofty Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lofty]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

I tried to have a ARB steel bar fitted when our sovereign bar was damaged, I was happy to pay the difference between the repair cost and the new bar. Unfortunately the repairer wasn't interested. Different insurer, but he just gave a atraight "no" when i asked.

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

Update: had quotes done - $1200 for new bumper. Opposite lock will do a steel bar for $1750 (haven't bargained yet). Haven't personally spoken to repairers about that option yet. OL are the only option where the wings go right to the tyre. My side bumpers are stuffed so this is a must.

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Re: Bumpers & bars & insurance etc.

With JustCar I had someone run into the back of my commodore.

I could go to the repairer of my choice and I fitted a rear bodykit instead of the standard bumper, I just had to pay the difference.


Kinda hoping that someone runs into the back of the prado so I can find a steel replacement!