Fire Damage

[milby3183]

Not strictly ID3 related but it is a VW

My partners Polo was parked next to a car that caught fire last night and it wasn’t a EV! Shock

Fire brigade were amazing and managed to get here and stop the fire before the fuel tank exploded but there is heat damage to her car.

No flames touched it just heat I think.

Insurance is dealing with everything, but anyone had something similar before. Do you think they will repair it or just write it off as could be hidden damage. Doesn’t look to bad on the surface just damage to offside panels and doors and rear bumper and lights.

We’ve owned it since new in 2018 and it’s only done 25000 miles it’s pretty much a new car. Don’t want a crap insurance payout.

Thanks in advance if anyone has any ideas

[Boattrainman]

Its all about the numbers, book value of the car v cost of repair. It looks to be mostly plastic trim parts, the light and bumper, as its a fairly low mileage newish car it should be a repair (VW Polos hold their value really well after the initial depreciation cliff). Crash damage is usually harder to assess as it involves a bit of work under the body work, underframe damage, reinstating crumple zones, checking chassis aligmment, repairing or replacing panels etc.

Having looked at parts, unless there's something not in the pics or under the damaged parts, you're looking at around 1.5 - 2.2k in parts, I usually triple that with labour and VAT, so somewhere around 4.5 - 6.5k for an insurance job. Don't take my word for it, its just a best guesstimate.

Of course, you could prob get it repaired a lot cheaper from a generic car repairer for cash. If you do go down this route use an auto repair shop that someone you trust has used and would recommend, and ask to see the removed damaged parts when the job is complete.

I would be very surprised at an economic write off, but then again nothing surprises me with insurance companies these days.

Rob

[id3_life]

Well it was pretty much a new car until one side melted. If the trim/bumper melted what about what you cannot see? Brake hoses or the fluid inside the hose are they compromised? Electrical wiring & plastic connectors inside the doors/boot have they deformed? Will they cause a short down the like or ground faults? What about the tyres, has the rubber dried out prematurely and is in need of replacement? What about the paint, what if it lifts in 6 months? Anything rubber or plastic even if it looks ok today may become brittle in the future. Maybe insurance treats it like flood damage and write it off, maybe they replace the trims & bumper and consider it fixed. It will be interesting to know.

[milby3183]

Thanks both for your responses, interesting to see your thoughts. I’m on the side of they will just write it off to get rid of any liability they have in the future. Like you said never know the future effects of it.

Insurance is such a pain to deal with ….

[TimF]

Thanks both for your responses, interesting to see your thoughts. I’m on the side of they will just write it off to get rid of any liability they have in the future. Like you said never know the future effects of it.

Insurance is such a pain to deal with ….

I suspect you are right about it being written off. I just hope that the car is then either fixed and sold on as a repaired insurance write off (rather than simply "used") or efficiently stripped for spares. Latter could be quite lucrative given the way many spares seem to be difficult to get hold of?

[milby3183]

Just an update. It was repaired and got it back today good as new! Page Automotive in Reading sorted it and did a great job and got it done in 4 days!

[MotMot]

Wow! thats great.

[Boattrainman]

Good result.

Any idea on costs?

Rob

[milby3183]

No idea they haven’t disclosed anything yet. It had new rear bumper, new tyres on that side, new rear lights, new windows and all door rubbers and plastics replaced. Paint work on both doors and wing and bit of the roof. They have done a great job but just hoping no horror stories later on in its life with the paint.

[id3_life]

Sounds like a win and a proper job although hard to believe insurance would replace tyres on one side!!

[Midgex]

If they didn't replace the tyres, and one delaminated at speed, they'd {be in a difficult position|feel bad about it}
If a chunk of paint lifts, or a window leaks, you come back and grumble and they can take a position. A blown tyre is different.

[id3_life]

If they didn't replace the tyres, and one delaminated at speed, they'd {be in a difficult position|feel bad about it}
If a chunk of paint lifts, or a window leaks, you come back and grumble and they can take a position. A blown tyre is different.

Clearly insurance had to replace all 4 tyres unless same axle you can get away by replacing 2. You missed my point.

[Midgex]

...
Clearly insurance had to replace all 4 tyres unless same axle you can get away by replacing 2. You missed my point.

I see what you mean. Depending on the wear, one might put the cool side on the rear axle, and new ones on the front, perhaps.

[milby3183]

It had two new tyres on rear axle with matching spec to front ones which were better than OEM. So happy with that!