Front bumper Q?

[off-road runner]

So I hit a deer and destroyed the front bumper and satoshi grill and hood is damaged. I was wondering if anyone has weighed the price difference from OEM vs a decent looking aftermarket bumper? I'm not looking to fraud my insurance company but if I can get a more-aethetically-pleasing-to-me bumper and dish out a couple more benji's I'd do it.
Also I'm not sure how much auto body shops and insurance companies are willing to do that? Or if anyone's had a similar issue?
Any guesses on damage? 5-6K? Coolant was leaking.

 

[STX4Runner]

I don't have the answers to your questions, but the aluminum bumper looks like it is unscathed. Must have been below the body mass of the deer.

 

[off-road runner]

I should have described it as the plastic surrounding the bumper is destroyed cause yea the aluminum bumper is fine. I was looking at Shrockworks and for $1500 it might be cheaper than factory OEM plastic. And probably less man hours for install???

 

[jwkilgore]

My preliminary research (my wife rear-ended a boat trailer and damaged several pieces of plastic, but nothing structural), the prices will at least be fairly close.

Take it to a body shop(s) recommended by your insurance company and get a quote for OEM parts. Get a quote from the same body shop for the work to install your aftermarket bumper of choice.

If the aftermarket bumper is cheaper your insurance company will save a few bucks. If the aftermarket is more expensive you will have to pay the difference.

Keep in mind that most aftermarket bumpers have a significant lead time, and with leaking fluid you can't exactly be driving it around right now. Factor in the fact that your ride may be in the shop for several weeks (rental car? borrow a ride?), or else the price may go up for a temporary fix of the fluid leak now followed by a permanent fix later.

 

[off-road runner]

My preliminary research (my wife rear-ended a boat trailer and damaged several pieces of plastic, but nothing structural), the prices will at least be fairly close.

Take it to a body shop(s) recommended by your insurance company and get a quote for OEM parts. Get a quote from the same body shop for the work to install your aftermarket bumper of choice.

If the aftermarket bumper is cheaper your insurance company will save a few bucks. If the aftermarket is more expensive you will have to pay the difference.

Keep in mind that most aftermarket bumpers have a significant lead time, and with leaking fluid you can't exactly be driving it around right now. Factor in the fact that your ride may be in the shop for several weeks (rental car? borrow a ride?), or else the price may go up for a temporary fix of the fluid leak now followed by a permanent fix later.

This all makes sense and I hate to be without the t4r for any length of time. I'm going to pick up a rental ford focus while the 4runner is down.:sad:
I'll probably opt for the option that gets my vehicle back quicker.

 

[e60ral]

You are not frauding your insurance, they are going to give you a value that is the cost to make it as it was before regardless of what you want to do with that money

If you find a bumper that costs less you can keep the difference, if you want a bumper that costs more you can pay the difference, your insurance company doesn't care.

 

[Jhalko]

I got rear ended and the other persons insurance did an estimate and cut me a check. I replaced the bumper with a CBI on their dime, but didn't get around to it for a year or two. You've got too much damage to drive around so I would guess it's whether you want to wait on a new front bumper and be without a car, doubt the insurance company is going to pay for a rental for an extended period.

You'd practically have to buy another car if you wanted to wait for a shrockworks product that's for sure...

 

[off-road runner]

You'd practically have to buy another car if you wanted to wait for a shrockworks product that's for sure...

This is also helpful, I didn't realize the wait time on their products. Probably just get OEM and then maybe redo the satoshi down the road. Thanks for the quick, reasonable responses.

 

[Jhalko]

This is also helpful, I didn't realize the wait time on their products. Probably just get OEM and then maybe redo the satoshi down the road. Thanks for the quick, reasonable responses.

If you are serious about wanting the aftermarket it couldn't hurt to look at and call folks like CBI or Demello. When I got my rear CBI they actually had one made and it just needed to go to powder coating, want to say it was about 4-5 weeks until delivery. That is for sure the EXCEPTION, but can't hurt to call and see what is laying around, you never know.

 

[e60ral]

I'll also point out that if you want to get a steel bumper you will have to get one that does not involve cutting and using part of the factory bumper cover, and that's not all of them.

(or pay for both a new cover and your new bumper)

 

[Jhalko]

I'll also point out that if you want to get a steel bumper you will have to get one that does not involve cutting and using part of the factory bumper cover, and that's not all of them.

(or pay for both a new cover and your new bumper)

Demello does have filler pieces available.