Well this just happened - Toyota Yaris Forums

bigjmeister · 12-25-2014, 04:52 AM

I had a Opel Corsa B (Vauxhall Corsa B in the UK, doubt it came to the US) that had similar damage. My insurance also repaired it. The company didn't do a good job. I could see the panel was misaligned and I knew that a pirate part was used as it had a slightly different shape. After a few months, the weld on the C pillar started bubbling with rust. The insurance company who wanted me to take it back to the same shop but I refused and they eventually allowed me to take it to another shop who redid the job (cut out the entire panel and replaced it) and this time it was much better and they even matched the paint colour better this time around.

This is what you need to look for:
1) Make sure that the insurance company is sending it to a reputable panel shop. Check the consumer watch boards online and ask around. Also you will get a general feeling about the quality of the shop by visiting them and seeing the cleanliness of the shop and also that the clientele that they have. Generally, cleaner is better, late model cars being repaired is a good sign and shops that have a good quality courtesy car (not a repaired write-off) are all goods signs. Shops approved by manufacturers (not necessarily Toyota) is also a good sign.
2) Ensure that the quarter panel being used is genuine Toyota. A pirate might fit, but it will be obvious that a fake part was used after paint. The first one I had was perfectly blended in at the corners but the centre bulged out more and it just didn't look right... thats what happens when they fit fake parts. The shop can skimp on other parts, but ensure that the quarter panel skin is original. I can't stress this enough. You won't be able to inspect the welding that they do so at least ensure that it is original.
3) Check that the paint is matched correctly.
4) When the car is ready for collection, get the wheel alignment done immediately. If the car did require chassis straightening and it wasn't jigged, the technicians doing the alignment will immediately pick this up.

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12-25-2014, 04:52 AM	#26
bigjmeister Drives: 2009 Yaris TS Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 8	I had a Opel Corsa B (Vauxhall Corsa B in the UK, doubt it came to the US) that had similar damage. My insurance also repaired it. The company didn't do a good job. I could see the panel was misaligned and I knew that a pirate part was used as it had a slightly different shape. After a few months, the weld on the C pillar started bubbling with rust. The insurance company who wanted me to take it back to the same shop but I refused and they eventually allowed me to take it to another shop who redid the job (cut out the entire panel and replaced it) and this time it was much better and they even matched the paint colour better this time around. This is what you need to look for: 1) Make sure that the insurance company is sending it to a reputable panel shop. Check the consumer watch boards online and ask around. Also you will get a general feeling about the quality of the shop by visiting them and seeing the cleanliness of the shop and also that the clientele that they have. Generally, cleaner is better, late model cars being repaired is a good sign and shops that have a good quality courtesy car (not a repaired write-off) are all goods signs. Shops approved by manufacturers (not necessarily Toyota) is also a good sign. 2) Ensure that the quarter panel being used is genuine Toyota. A pirate might fit, but it will be obvious that a fake part was used after paint. The first one I had was perfectly blended in at the corners but the centre bulged out more and it just didn't look right... thats what happens when they fit fake parts. The shop can skimp on other parts, but ensure that the quarter panel skin is original. I can't stress this enough. You won't be able to inspect the welding that they do so at least ensure that it is original. 3) Check that the paint is matched correctly. 4) When the car is ready for collection, get the wheel alignment done immediately. If the car did require chassis straightening and it wasn't jigged, the technicians doing the alignment will immediately pick this up.