ICBC repair - can I replace my trunk with an aftermarket trunk?
 

Hello members
I got in a rear ender last week - wasn't my fault, but its time to get it fixed. Apart from the trunk that needs to be replaced, the bumper needs to be refinished, quarter panels, etc. Prior to the accident, I have always wanted to eventually upgrade to a CSL style trunk for my E46. This trunk goes for about 700 dollars here. From what I have heard, an OEM E46 trunk will also go for about the same price.

My question: Is there any way possible that I can get JUST the trunk piece portion paid out so that I can supply my own trunk, and have ICBC cover the remaining for the other repairs and painting of the trunk?

I am more than happy to pay any difference if the trunk I want is more.

If this is possible, please chime in with how I should ask the estimator. Going in on Tuesday!

Thanks

u can get all of that and still get your aftermarket trunk.

All depends on your body shop. If theyre willing to do it for you.

depends on your body shop.

on my old car, icbc replaced my oem headlights, i bought aftermarket headlights,
just took the oem headlights and sold them

again it will be fine if you are pretty tight with your bodyshop, but they risk getting inspected by ICBC and they wil be fucked.

chances are slim, ICBC is pretty anal about that stuff, they will only replace "EXACTLY" what was on the car nothing different. Doesnt matter if the item you want to change costs less, the same, or more. They will not change

I had oem grills on my e46, replacing them cost $130 for oem, I bought carbon fiber ones for $120 and they wouldnt reimburse me.

Ask the bodyshop, don't as the estimator.

when i got hit in a parking lot, i supplied a Foresight bumper instead of an oem one, and icbc paid me for the bumper, and also painted it... so maybe it depends on your adjuster...

Yeah - I heard that when the shop sends the bill to ICBC they look at the parts ordered and are not happy when there are non-oem parts from performance shops.

I did read another member's post on e46fanatics.com in which he asked for the trunk to be paid out and used the money to purchase the trunk he wanted to install on.

Would I want to let the estimator do his thing first, and call back afterwards to see until I find someone who is willing to pay out the amount? Or do I have to tell the estimator while he is doing the estimate?

I'm with the people that say "ask the body shop". I did some upgrades when my car got jumped on... new fibreglass hood instead of a stock steel one. I paid the difference though...

I work at a body shop and have done this before....

As long as ICBC is not paying more $$ for the aftermarket part than the OEM part (and a recycled part is not available) they don't really care b/c they are saving $$ in the end.

Best thing to do is talk to the shop you choose and have a source for the other trunk-lid. Nothing is worse than someone who wants an aftermarket part but has no idea where to get it.

I did this with my old GTI. I just paid the difference through the body shop between the OEM bumper and the aftermarket.

i had it done before on my first car, OEM parts replace as aftermarket stuff

can anyone drop a few names? body shops that might be able to do it?

+1 Would also like to know some local shops who are ok with doing this and do a good job on repairs at the same time

a lot of shops will do it... they will bill ICBC for the OEM or replacement part and then will just order the aftermarket or different part you want... In most cases the replacement OEM part will cost significantly more than the aftermarket/upgraded part... (ex oem suspension can cost way more than replacing the entire suspension with coils etc)

Shops can actually get into a lot of trouble billing for 1 part and installing something different - its called fraud. The only way around it is to install an aftermarket part and note it on the ICBC claim as a cost savings that has been discussed and OK'd by the customer. Most times ICBC doesn't have any issues with things like this.

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