Hope it's not totaled (2003 Infiniti M45)

[nmgoodthing]

Friday night some punk kid was tailgating and flashing his brights at me, so I tapped the brakes a few times to let him know to get off my ***. They swerve to pass me and go by and then cut in front of me and slammed their brakes. I swerved to avoid a collision and the road was a little icy and the rear end swung out from behind me and 180'ed and hit the median curb. Mind you VCD was off. The car full of kids just took odd whil I lay there in the median with what might be a broken axle and bent rims. So ticked off. Hopefully there is no frame damage. It's a 03 M45, loaded with only 35k miles. This car is my baby. We'll see what the insurance adjuster, estimater, says. Heres a few pics. Front rim will need replacing also.

pic one

pic two pic three
Modified by nmgoodthing at 11:28 AM 1/15/2007

[szh]

Ouch!

Sure hope you can get it all fixed cleanly. Any chance you got their license and can report it to the police?

Z

[nmgoodthing]

Me too. The place I took it too has a pretty good rep. I should find out what the insurance estimate should be within 24 hours. They have me in a Mazda 6 right now. Makes me miss my car even more.

I didn't get a chance to get a plate. By the time I was spun out they took off. I partly blame the tires that are on the car. Don't ever get Essenza's. I htink they are made by Goodyear but they are not marked. Just cheapos. A very hard rubber tire.

[CakeDaddy]

what!! did you get the plate, color, make of the car. I'll be on the look out for you. What a shame man! Sorry to hear it, and what area of town was this in?

[nmgoodthing]

No Plate Cakedaddy, but it was one of those newer turd Neons with a big fart can on the back. It was a flat black and primer color. Happend right by my house off Osuna. I live in the Vista Del Norte Subdivision. Trust me if I see that car again, they will nto be so lucky to get away next time.

[CakeDaddy]

so. what is the deal? If you get a choice on body shops; take it to tri star collision. They do great work on high end lux cars. Someone rear ended my girlfriends Mercedes and they hooked it up. They also color waxed and color sanded my M. (near I25 and Alameda) near American Toyota.

[Q45tech]

Hopefully it is totalled, the last thing one wants is a blended paint job or a 85% repaired vehicle.

You'll need your own [paid by you] independent collision inspector to watch and inspect the repairs.

[nmgoodthing]

Well, I originally wanted to go w/ TriStar and as well could have. The process would have been longer I guess. That wasn't the problem. The issue was Farmers won't guarantee the work like they do w/ their select places. I took it to Danlar. I've heard nothing bad yet about them. At least there isn't any body damage where I need repainting.

I got the call today that it should be ready tomorrow. About 6 Gs in damage. All suspension, rims, tires, etc.. Can you believe those stock rims are like $790 a piece. Hopefully it drives perfect. If not, they guarantee their work for life time of the car. I'll have too see what kind of tires they throw on it. I'm sure it will be cheapos. What are decent quiet tires that are not an arm and a leg?

[szh]

I'll have too see what kind of tires they throw on it. I'm sure it will be cheapos. What are decent quiet tires that are not an arm and a leg?

Take a look at the Basic Specs sticky at the top of this forum zerothread/125907.

I have a post with an image of a spreadsheet on tires ... a good range of prices to pick from!

Z

[CakeDaddy]

Danlar! They go great work as well and good luck. As for the tires; I hope they stick with the oem bridgestones. Bridgestone are smooth.

[Q45tech]

Be sure to get an immediate alignment and make sure everything is at the exact midpoint of range.

They only guarantee what they replace if they didn't find it or replace it you are on your own once you accept the repaired vehicle.

I always find out of spec things that should have been replaced that's why they use captive shops to beat them down and minimize replacements because the owner doesn't understand or test things afterwards.

If they replaced $6,000 I'll bet there is another $3,000 not replaced.

The alignment [by an expert] will tell.

If it damages the wheels even the subframes will be bent, not just the arms and bearings.