[JRoyce]

Bit of a coincidence, I picked up my M550 on 10/16/2020 and just last night had my first accident hitting a deer.

I'm in VA and have a claim opened with GEICO under comprehensive coverage. Looking for advice on whether I should let GEICO repair and handle everything, or if I should take it to BMW certified repair shop (I'd go to BMW of Fairfax).

It's a lease if that makes any difference...



Here's the original

[VAB5]

Geico can steer you to one of their authorized repair centers. Let them handle it.

[TacticalGunnarM550]

Originally Posted by VAB5

Geico can steer you to one of their authorized repair centers. Let them handle it.

I've always had great luck with Geico repair centers..my friends shop is now one which is awesome.

Dealerships tend to take forever on your car..but typically will give you a rental until you get it back.

With Geico, who I've had for 15 years, you only get a car if you pay for it in your policy…and even then they may only give you a rental for xx amount of days.

[HerkHealer]

Yummmm..........Backstraps.

Go with your insurance. The repair shop will find EVERYTHING you need fixed because they're getting paid big bucks. Pun intended.

[cclcal]

how's the deer?

[LogicalApex]

I guess since it is a lease does it matter?

I would take it to a BMW CRC, but I don’t lease.

Glad you are safe and the car did its job keeping you safe.

Did the car safety alert systems help in anyway to scrub speed or anything else?

[SteveinArizona]

Someone hit my passenger side when my car was parked and put dents in both doors. I also have GEICO. I live in a city with several BMW dealerships. According to the GEICO web site, the one closest to me, where I purchased my car, is not on the list but another one about 10 miles away was. So I took my car to that dealership.

For whatever it is worth, after attempting to repair the doors the collision center, on its own, decided that the aluminum doors just don't repair correctly and replaced both door skins.

You probably have several BMW dealerships in reach. See if any are on the GEICO list.

[JRoyce]

Thanks for all the advice! I've submitted my claim and photos to GEICO. Will ask them if any BMW CRCs are on their shop list.

Originally Posted by cclcal

how's the deer?

No idea. There was a herd of them crossing the highway on my way back from Skyline Drive. Right around here based on where my camera tagged the location after I stopped. It's a divided highway so couldn't turn around and check.

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Did the car safety alert systems help in anyway to scrub speed or anything else?

I had auto-high beams and adaptive cruise enabled at 60 or 65 MPH. I didn't hear any warnings and by the time I saw the deer it was too late. Probably a good thing I was using adaptive cruise so I wouldn't have swerved to avoid.

Odd thing is the drive recorder didn't save the recording and I had forgotten to. With the damage to front lights I would've expected it to sense some type of accident and trigger recording.

[H_T]

Originally Posted by JRoyce

Thanks for all the advice! I've submitted my claim and photos to GEICO. Will ask them if any BMW CRCs are on their shop list.

No idea. There was a herd of them crossing the highway on my way back from Skyline Drive. Right around here based on where my camera tagged the location after I stopped. It's a divided highway so couldn't turn around and check.

I had auto-high beams and adaptive cruise enabled at 60 or 65 MPH. I didn't hear any warnings and by the time I saw the deer it was too late. Probably a good thing I was using adaptive cruise so I wouldn't have swerved to avoid.

Odd thing is the drive recorder didn't save the recording and I had forgotten to. With the damage to front lights I would've expected it to sense some type of accident and trigger recording.

I've had the drive recorder stop working after a software update, and then had to accept terms/conditions and set it up again.

Now I always check my settings along with the AC remote start settings after an update.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by JRoyce

Thanks for all the advice! I've submitted my claim and photos to GEICO. Will ask them if any BMW CRCs are on their shop list.



No idea. There was a herd of them crossing the highway on my way back from Skyline Drive. Right around here based on where my camera tagged the location after I stopped. It's a divided highway so couldn't turn around and check.



I had auto-high beams and adaptive cruise enabled at 60 or 65 MPH. I didn't hear any warnings and by the time I saw the deer it was too late. Probably a good thing I was using adaptive cruise so I wouldn't have swerved to avoid.

Odd thing is the drive recorder didn't save the recording and I had forgotten to. With the damage to front lights I would've expected it to sense some type of accident and trigger recording.

Makes me glad I got nightvision.

[alex2364]

I have Geico and live in the area. I would take it to D&V Masters in Sterling. They're one of the best in the area and fix it up right. I would avoid any shop on Geico's preferred list since the whole reason why they're on the list is to work with Geico on pricing.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Someone hit my passenger side when my car was parked and put dents in both doors. I also have GEICO. I live in a city with several BMW dealerships. According to the GEICO web site, the one closest to me, where I purchased my car, is not on the list but another one about 10 miles away was. So I took my car to that dealership.

For whatever it is worth, after attempting to repair the doors the collision center, on its own, decided that the aluminum doors just don't repair correctly and replaced both door skins.

You probably have several BMW dealerships in reach. See if any are on the GEICO list.

Hmmmm....any BMW CRC should know you can not repair aluminum, so I am not sure I would pat them on the back for sourcing skins on their own.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Hmmmm....any BMW CRC should know you can not repair aluminum, so I am not sure I would pat them on the back for sourcing skins on their own.

My guess is that GEICO made them try.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

My guess is that GEICO made them try.

Probably right. It's a matter of process. Try first, knowing it can't be done, get the adjuster back out and get approval for new pieces. I personally would have insisted from the get go. I am pretty sure the insurance standards call for 100% OEM replacement for parts damaged in a car under two years old.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Makes me glad I got nightvision.

Makes me a bit nervous that I skipped it!

[JRoyce]

Originally Posted by alex2364

I have Geico and live in the area. I would take it to D&V Masters in Sterling. They're one of the best in the area and fix it up right. I would avoid any shop on Geico's preferred list since the whole reason why they're on the list is to work with Geico on pricing.

Ah, wish I would've seen this earlier. I got the GEICO estimate back and booked an appointment at 9AM tomorrow with Capital Auto Shop in Fairfax. Anyone here have experience with them?

Here's the estimate from GEICO. Appears they may be using OEM parts? I was expecting them to try A/M first but don't see that indicated on the estimate anywhere. Could it be there are no A/M for 2021 model yet?

$12k total estimate

[cclcal]

12K...wow
you are not committed, you can still take it to other shop for estimate.

insurance recommended shops - there is usu some backroom deal. just like AAA approved shops, etc...

[JRoyce]

Originally Posted by cclcal

12K...wow
you are not committed, you can still take it to other shop for estimate.

insurance recommended shops - there is usu some backroom deal. just like AAA approved shops, etc...

Yeah I’ll call in the AM to tell them I’ll come in another time. Have submitted estimate email request to D&V recommended by alex2364. They seem to have good reviews. I’m most worried about the paint job, want the Bernina Gray done right. Also noticed the GEICO estimate was for a Shadowline grill when I had a frosted/aluminum grill.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by JRoyce

Ah, wish I would've seen this earlier. I got the GEICO estimate back and booked an appointment at 9AM tomorrow with Capital Auto Shop in Fairfax. Anyone here have experience with them?

Here's the estimate from GEICO. Appears they may be using OEM parts? I was expecting them to try A/M first but don't see that indicated on the estimate anywhere. Could it be there are no A/M for 2021 model yet?

$12k total estimate

<images snipped for brevity>

Much cheaper than I expected to be honest.

Just make sure you're using a shop you feel will do a good job. My comprehensive deductible is $250 so anything above that I don't care about cost wise

I just want it done as close to factory as possible!

[Dephead2004]

Note that 7,000 of the total is for the headlamp assembly. Ouch.

In the uk, bmw warranty their bodywork for 10 years free at their own workshops Good deal. So I insisted that damage after 1,500 miles ( campervan drove into the empty car luckily I was within earshot) was repaired at a large BMW REPAIR SHOP.

The work was substandard with 19 blemishes from pinhead bubbles to smudges of paint. Needless to say it went back, all on a trailer. Second time around it was perfect and remains so.

I'm mentioning this because it all depends on who in the shop gets the job, the mechanic or the oily rag.

[AP]

Doesn't look like it will be cheap, it'll be deer.

I'll go and get my coat……

[JRoyce]

Is it unrealistic to expect an identical paint job? I’m concerned the shop may not be able to get the metallic finish right. Is the repair shop able to order the paint direct from BMW instead of trying to recreate it?