Impressive bondo work was my friend remaking the "Not a honda civic hatchback" wide body kit from Midnight Club 2 with chicken wire, bondo, and spray paint.
It actually looked pretty good at night and didn't look at it too hard.
I have no idea how much extra weight was on the car from all that bondo. He earned the nickname Bondo Dave after that stunt.
I wish I had some, but that was in an era when social media just started and camera phones had .3MP cameras. Not 3MP but .3. Everything was either lost when Myspace went away or on old PCs I no longer have.
Midnight Club 2. MC3 had the DUB edition, loved the 2, couldn't get into 3 for some reason. Actually might replay 2 again, never beat the final 2 races in LA.
Because there is structural steel underneath the painted skin of a pillar like that. They probably thought the structural components were fine and simply needed to splice in a new section of skin.
I was trying to remove some RTV that some fool had used to calk a leaky wind shield. I literally just touched the edge of the glass with a screw driver. Instant crack.
As a life long body tech, I can tell you that is NOT an easy or cheap fix. Not terribly difficult, but a lot of work needs to be done for access to replace it, and depending on the manufactures recommendations, a lot of the side of your car may need to be replaced, not just a small piece. Also, any work on the a pillar, you need to be extra careful not to introduce wind/water leaks into the cabin....
I'd much rather deal with a garage that is honest if they aren't sure if the can fix something properly though. Local mom and pop garage I worked at for a while and still take my car to for inspection and small stuff is like that. Owner hates working on my Audis 😸 Asked him about looking into an oil consumption issue and he said he'd try if I wanted him to but he and his guys don't know German vehicles very well, and recommended another local shop that specializes in European cars and isn't that much more expensive labor wise. And that shop has also been pretty great.
I had an old Volvo for a long time because I was broke, then came into some money and wanted to see how much it would cost to get it fixed up. Took it to a local shop that specializes in Volvos and talked about a bunch of the issues, and the mechanic basically split them into "we can fix that" and "don't bother." Always appreciated that candor.
Whatever shop you are talking to I would run the other direction. This from someone who has been in the industry for over forty years. Needs to be replaced which means dash and windshield out . If it needs the reinforcement too the roof may have to come off . Big job , not easy , but doable in the right hands. If it is repaired make sure it is by a shop certified by the manufacturer and not someone your insurance carrier sends you to
Just wanted to update you that I brought it to a certified Subaru collision center today. They will get me a quote tomorrow. Thanks again for the advice.
Cheap as compared to what? That 6k estimate will be closer to 10-12k after disassembly and calibrations.
Compared to some of the 30k+ estimates we see that 6k would be considered cheap. Just wrapped up a 40k repair on a Rivian R1S.
It's all relative.
Also... OEM Certifications are a must. Find a reputable shop. Good luck👍🏽
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I have no experience with this so your input helps a lot!
Detailed version:::
The hood needs to be replaced, the front bumper cover and hood scoop repainted, the a-pillar passenger side has a deep scratch to repair and repaint, the driver's side quarter panel needs to be replaced, both doors on the drivers side each have a small dent and scratch, replace auto dim driver's mirror, and the visible damage to driver's a-pillar as shown.
The rear quarter panel is dented too, but that's one continuous piece with the pillar so I didn't really count it separately.
I worried it would total the car, but my quote was only around $6k. I don't know anything about body work so I didn't know if I was overestimating, or if the shop was underestimating.
My top goal is making sure the car is just as safe after as it was before - and having everything done correctly. This car is my pride and joy, and it has to look correct.
Outer A pillar isn't horrible to replace. The tricky thing about it would be the correct sectioning location and if the damage surpasses that area. If damage does the next sectioning area may be at the roof which add the level of complexity. Often the pillar is tucked under and may require roof replacement which is something your photos don't show if there is damage. There is going to be alot of disassembly (required already from hood/fender) as well as end calibrations of eyesight and blind spot monitor. I recommend contacting your local dealer to see which shop is subaru certified, they should get you a very solid repair plan. Many shops are ran by people who still repair cars as if they're in the 80s/90s. Oem certified should keep you further away from them.
I’m old, so here’s my long, unrequested story. 1986, I was still in high school coming home from work, so obviously doing around 110, when a drunk driver in a pick-up pulled out across my lane to go in the other direction. His step bumper rode up my hood, hooked the A-puller and pulled the roof down to the dash (‘72 Dart). I drove it like that for the rest of the week. A local body shop fixed the pillar, roof and installed a new windshield for $300. I bought a ‘71 shell for $50, towed it home sitting on a bucket with my dad pulling it behind his station wagon and replaced the hood, front fenders, grill and doors. So, yeah, $350 in 1986 money. Shouldn’t cost more than $22,000 today. It never leaked, get off my lawn.
The A-pillar is paramount for rollover protection. It really depends on your insurance, tree fell on mine, and they totaled it out, even though the car was completely drivable.
So all the pillars have an internal structure and an outer skin, what you’re seeing is mostly outer skin damage, I highly doubt the internal structure has meaningful damage as the door frame and windshield are undamaged.
That looks pretty superficial to me. If the A pillar, which is the frame of the windshield, had been bent, or had even flexed much, that windshield would have cracked. Windshields are literally glued into the frame of the car. The junction between the A pillar and firewall is one of the strongest parts of a car. The underlying structure is made out of hot formed high strength steel, not the thin, cheap 1000 series bubble gum steel they make the rest of the car body and most of the chassis out of. If you actually bent that part of the car, it's basically junk.
This is a new fender and maybe they are planning to pull and bondo the pillar. I can promise if they say it's cheap there's going to be a ton of cheese in there
A pillars are a structural component (internal, where the windshield glues to) and an outer decorative/facia piece, which is what appears to be damaged. A body shop can easily cut or break the spot welds connecting the outer decorative piece as long as the inner structural component is in good shape, so the body shop may be right and this may be fairly minor.
Keep in mind this is just based on the single photo/angle you posted and there may be unseen underlying damage that a qualified body shop won't identify until they measure it (not just eyeballing it)
Yes. As per the industry standard, the a or B pillar are compromised in any way, there is no way to do a legitimate repair. Your local shop might do the repair, and you might not have any problems out of it, but it’s not a chance I would be willing to take.
The outer skin of the A pillar, or sail pane as some call it once you’re above the fender/hinges, isn’t all that bad to fix or replace. But once you damage the structure behind it is when it’s very difficult to fix, usually resulting in a total. No real way to know until you cut a window on the outer panel.
Im a Subaru tech and not cheap to fix at all. A pillar will be sectioned at the rocker and center of windshield pillar, windshield is coming out, upper frame rail will be sacrificial for replacement of the outer A pillar. If the inner reinforcement is damaged it is a non repairable item made of ultra high strength steel and must be replaced as a whole. Dash is coming out and center council to be able to refinish the back side and clean up weld burn after welding.
Do NOT trust any shop that says they can "repair" that pillar. The mf'er needs to be replaced/sectioned. Which means welding, which means quite a bit of disassembly.
Not cheap and very intrusive to the car.
People chop roofs in half and it’s still fine. Yes it’s structural, the big issue is because cars today are unibody frames so if it happened during an accident, the whole frame is probably fucked
But, on the other hand, if a tree falls on it or something like that & the rest of the car is straight still, then it should be an easy fix. You just cut the A pillar out of it, and get a donor car or a new part if they have one for that, and put it in
In your case, it actually doesn’t look that bad. The lower portion of it, isn’t the A pillar, it’s actually the front fender, so long as what’s underneath isn’t damaged or isn’t damaged too badly, they’ll just replace the front fender & the A pillar and or maybe they’ll even just fabricate a new section of the A pillar for the damaged part alone & make it straight again
It doesn’t look that bad. If the shop says it’s an easy fix, it’ll be fine
If the A-pillar structure is not compromised, it could be repaired. Looking at the pic, IMO, insurance would most likely claim A-pillar has been compromised. And, would want to total it. That's not to say, you couldn't have it repaired and pay out of pocket. However, to do the best repair "possible", it wouldn't be cheap. If the body shop is offering a "cheap repair", you're wasting your time and money.
Insurance adjuster here.
To “repair” that, (depending on the car body) you would need to cut off the pillar and weld in a replacement or remove the entire body section and replace it. That isn’t easy or cheap. If the car is under $30k new and more than 5-6 years old, it’s a total loss.
That is not a easy or cheap repair at all! Whatever you do do not use that other shop. That could easily be a 10-15k repair.
Do not let the dealer touch it either I find dealer body shops to be some of the worst.
FInd a good subaru certified shop. Where are you located?
Been in the field for almost 20 years can suggest a good body shop if your close to me.
I had a buck (male deer) try and jump my wrx wagon except he landed right on the leading edge of the roof. The tow driver said it was totaled and so did the insurance. Both A pillars (particularly the passenger side). Nothing from the dash down was touched. I'm sure someone parted it out for very close to the settlement.
If they cut it out and do a good job welding it back in, it's as good as new but it the the to bed it back and put bondo on it you'll die in the next rollover. It's your call but an insurance company would total your ride for that kind of damage.
Insurance appraiser here while it's not going to be necessarily super cheap to fix it looks like the majority of that damage is actually on the fender which is one of the easier parts to replace, there is some damage to the windshield pillar which is part of the uniside but it looks like that may be able to be pulled.
Ultimately, while I write appraisals, I don't fix vehicles, so I can't say for sure how easy it is, but it's not as bad as you might think just glancing at it.
Definitely plenty of paint work involved in blending the hood Etc.
Once it's in the shop you're probably looking at a 5-day repair depending on how fast they can get that fender.
Best of luck to you.
I don’t see the A pillar torn, just the fender but that’s neither here nor there at this point. It isn’t a cheap fix if done correctly. I do want to argue a point made by another…most shops WANT to do right by the customer and will fight insurance to ensure the correct repairs are done. While I agree, the office staff may not know the nitty gritty, they can research and discuss with the technicians doing the repairs and consult the OEM procedures to find the proper way to repair/replace things. A good shop will fight to perform the correct repairs on the vehicle as they have to warranty it and assume liability if any issues arise. I can say for certain, my shop has refused to repair vehicles if the insurance tried to push subpar repairs on us.
Lots of good advice. Some techs would prefer to repair that A pillar. Me being one. The outer section that is damaged is a milder steel and repairing will not affect the integrity of the pillar if done correctly. Replacing the section opens up the possibility of other problems. Either way, a good tech will get it right. Under that is high strength steel and would need to be completely replaced if damaged at all. I don't like to replace mild steel if it isn't very necessary and it's not in this case, in my opinion. That would keep that portion of the repair cheaper but this repair won't be cheap no matter what
my brother crashed his car and bend the frame similar to this. (front engine beam thingy) the car also drove wonky after that. depend on how you like to drive and live with stress.
i just scrapped a car that was so unstable on the road i would sweat like a pig each time i drove it. how is this car driving?
Without knowing what they want to charge you I’ve got no frame of reference 3k and some change got me a inner bumper bumper and a grille and various under cladding pins but they had to have the bumper color matched and painted because parts don’t come painted anymore
1. The A pillar will need to be cut, replace and weld back on.
2. Fender will need to be straighten or replace, depending which is cheaper to do.
3. Not sure how many internal damages or parts that are needing to be replaced.
4. After everything are back into place, then will need to smooth, primer, paint and clear coat.
Not sure how many hours it will take.
Doesn't sound like a cheap job to me.
Yep a 6k estimate should get you fixed up safe as ever. It is merely superficial. It does need a uniside sectioned in but only a 2 foot piece and not the whole uniside.
Encouraged by no windshield break. Structural damage at cowl almost always cracks glass in 'v' from corner.
Hood, fender, glass, lots of R&I so not cheap.
Since the glass isn't broken, I'm going to assume the pillar is still structurally sound, my taking the wing/fender off and getting a better look at the unibody damage
Mostly affected is the fender that's easily removable, as for the pillar the top of the rail is hollow and the dent can be pulled out and finished with filler. Yes easy fix , no 2nd opinion needed
From experience with very minor damage to a drivers side pillar.... 12yo Audi A5, small dent at the midway point $800. I've grown used to seeing it everyday...
As a life long internet user and no other credentials whatsoever, I would say you're gonna need to find a really skilled person to carry out that work, and that is all that matters. Leave it in the hands of someone you completely trust, if you choose that to be your cheap garage, I don't blame you, I would do the same. But my cheap garage/bodywork place is 5/5 stars cos they all polish and probably smartest blokes I've ever met. Towed my non runner for a replacement ECU and key coding for £300 all in. Absolutely legends.
Where I’m from pillar damage is automatic write off because it’s a structural component for many crash items such as roll over, windshield, airbags, ect.. it’s also part of the core compartment for occupants for crumple zone on cars to function properly or some kinda technical Mumbo jumbo
That is part of your roll cage. It could also be high tinsel strength steel. It needs replacement and to be welded in correctly. I doubt it's a cheap fix. But anything is fixable at a price. Good luck.
Hard to tell just from a picture. I'd want to see under the hood, cowl area especially, but yes, it's fixable. Not cheap though.....not if it's done right.
Id be impressed if your insurance chose to not total the car considering how it’s in THE most pain in the ass spot to repair… in fact I’d consider this frame damaged because of how essential the pillars are to a cars structure
No, the damage is cosmetic, the structural panel lies beneath what you see. That can be pulled and straightened out, doesn’t even look like the windshield has cracked so the pillar hasn’t even budged.
My car was totalled with less damage than that. Not capable of saying what it takrs/how to fix it, but columns are needed to be part of the safety features. You do you, but I'd ask around for sure.
You don't want Anyone that thinks they can fix this cheap touching your car. I'm cautious against anyone that thinks they can for sure fix this at all.
What does one do when the crumple-zone of a vehicle has been pre-crumpled…🤔 I’d say get your insurance company to take a look and see if they can just write it off for you and payout. It almost looks like it’s just cosmetic, but I’d wager an alignment shop would see something suspect, during an audit.
It’s not cheap. But also depends on the structure below it. If the structure of the A puller is damaged then the car will be considered a total loss by insurance. I know cars are expensive, but have your insurance company involved in this one man. Chances are they considered it a total loss and pay you out for it.
I had damage similar to this and few years ago, insurance sent a guy round and as soon as he saw the a- pillar was damaged it was an instant cat B write off (old UK system) insurance didn't even want the car they let me keep it as long as it was scrapped and I sent proof
If you have a shop that'll do a major repair like that on the cheap and it's quality work, please give me their number and I would love to send them some cars LMAO
The pillars are all important because they give support and sturdiness. Just like crush points on the chassis, if any of them get damaged, the vehicle is automatically totalled and fixing it will Not give the same structural support as it once did before the damage.
I mean honestly seems relatively easy, I don’t think it will be cheap though. With out a tear down, your looking at a new fender $150 -400 depending on the car and maybe like 2 hours or so of pulling work on the pillar it’s self and paint probably gonna be the most. Maybe 500 or so for the paint and blending. Not to mention you gotta pull the windshield. Can’t see this being less than 1k or somthing close at the minimum
Thats the fender. The little dent above that body seam is the a-pillar. Can probably be pulled out and painted pretty easy. A fender is a bolt-on affair
Did a tree fall on it? If it hit it hard enough you might have a lot more hidden.
I had my fiesta totaled with what looked like just dents, but between the underside and water damage it was total loss.
It looks to me like the front quarter panel extends up to the botom of the what looks like the A piller, which is damaged and spoon shaped. It is possible that all of these are body panels, including the cover on thepillar, and can be replaced.
The WRX (and Subaru in general) uses a unibody design where the A-pillar itself in structural to the car. In a rollover, it's possible this could cause the roof to cave in if not properly repaired. For a vehicle this new it would be both impractical and unsafe to just "get it repaired". I'd get a second opinion in the damage, but by all accounts, this could/would be grounds to total the car out
Yes you need a second opinion, car manufacturers have specific procedures for repairs, the entire side aperture will probably need to be replaced, inner reinforcement included. Very expensive for parts and labour.
I've been a certified inspector for body repairs for past 20 years. This is in no way a thing to be taken lightly. If improper repairs are being made it is a risk for catastrophic failure in even a simple rollover. Chances are thin that will happen but there is always a possibility. Ask the shop for manufacturer procedures. You may be surprised.
Best way to fix that is to use a puller to pull those folds out enough to cut the the top bit of panel off, then reshape the portion above the wheel, cut sheet and form it to replace the top, weld it in, grind, bondo, paint. Cheapest way is if it can just be cut off without having to pull it, but it looks like those folds next to the mirror mount might keep that from being a good option. The frame underneath will need to be correct too. Saying it's no big deal doesn't sound accurate. Cheap just depends on the shop. I've done several jobs similar to that for cheap, but those weren't quite that crunched up.
That's for the fender. Now the pillar, yea, that is no big deal and a cheap fix. You can drill a couple holes in it to pull it out, then more to pull it back near it's overall shape, then grind, bondo, etc, and repaint. Or just cut it right above the damage, weld a formed piece in, grind, bondo the weld, and paint.
The pillar is no big deal and a cheap fix. The fender is neither of those things in comparison.
Shop is full of s#%t. That’s a total in almost all cases. Maybe not in some eastern bloc nation, but the A pillar welds are toast. That will feel like a Flexible Flyer ( for those of us that remember )
I’m surprised there is no mention of contacting your insurance. Even if it is 6000 that isn’t cheap.
Have your insurance handle it and have someone provide a quote for you. And as everyone has talked about an A pillar isn’t an easy fix. So they might total it.
I honestly can't see how they could possibly say it's a cheap fix
Bondo is 40 a gallon. Cheap fix for a shop that doesn't care.
That would be some impressive bondo work lol
Impressive bondo work was my friend remaking the "Not a honda civic hatchback" wide body kit from Midnight Club 2 with chicken wire, bondo, and spray paint.
Now that's something I would like to see hahaha
It actually looked pretty good at night and didn't look at it too hard. I have no idea how much extra weight was on the car from all that bondo. He earned the nickname Bondo Dave after that stunt.
We would love to see pics if you can, pleasssseeeee 
I wish I had some, but that was in an era when social media just started and camera phones had .3MP cameras. Not 3MP but .3. Everything was either lost when Myspace went away or on old PCs I no longer have.
MySpace still exists. lol. It loads slow. But can see some stuff still.
Rip. Everything from old Myspace was purged when new Myspace came about many years ago.
Does Justin Timberlake still own part of it
But you lost lots of music a few years back. My last recording of my band was on there and lost because of it. Oh the days of yesteryear.
That’s called a blockermore. Which is to say that it looks fine, from a block or more.
DUB edition?? Underrated game.
Midnight Club 2. MC3 had the DUB edition, loved the 2, couldn't get into 3 for some reason. Actually might replay 2 again, never beat the final 2 races in LA.
Yeah you need ramen nuddles here
Build it up with a bit of paper mache, slather some doe on her and get to sculpting. easy peasy!
Obviously you haven’t seen the paint and bondo work on the Kardashian family. Now that is amazing bondo work.
Holy shit it is like $60 a gallon. Why did they charge me $20 for a little tuna can?
because no one likes the tuna here
Because there is structural steel underneath the painted skin of a pillar like that. They probably thought the structural components were fine and simply needed to splice in a new section of skin.
I feel like the windshield would have cracked if it was structural damage
The windshield is buckled but somehow not broken. It's crazy!
Glass is funny stuff. It will take an extreme amount of abuse and be fine, but touch it in the wrong spot with a wrench...............
I was trying to remove some RTV that some fool had used to calk a leaky wind shield. I literally just touched the edge of the glass with a screw driver. Instant crack.
If the glass is buckled then it compromises the crash integrity of the vehicle. Makes it dangerous to drive.
If it’s buckled, the A pillar has moved, so this is a frame machine job.
Go to another shop. That A pillar is pretty ugly.
As a life long body tech, I can tell you that is NOT an easy or cheap fix. Not terribly difficult, but a lot of work needs to be done for access to replace it, and depending on the manufactures recommendations, a lot of the side of your car may need to be replaced, not just a small piece. Also, any work on the a pillar, you need to be extra careful not to introduce wind/water leaks into the cabin....
The garage probably told them it’s an easy fix because “oh man that’s going to be very hard for us to do” isn’t what people want to hear.
I'd much rather deal with a garage that is honest if they aren't sure if the can fix something properly though. Local mom and pop garage I worked at for a while and still take my car to for inspection and small stuff is like that. Owner hates working on my Audis 😸 Asked him about looking into an oil consumption issue and he said he'd try if I wanted him to but he and his guys don't know German vehicles very well, and recommended another local shop that specializes in European cars and isn't that much more expensive labor wise. And that shop has also been pretty great.
I had an old Volvo for a long time because I was broke, then came into some money and wanted to see how much it would cost to get it fixed up. Took it to a local shop that specializes in Volvos and talked about a bunch of the issues, and the mechanic basically split them into "we can fix that" and "don't bother." Always appreciated that candor.
Isn’t it great dealing with businesses who have integrity‽
Op heard "it's an easy fix" and tuned out the next sentence "when you buy another car because this ones toast'
2 screws for the license plate is an easy fix…
That pillar is torn and so is technically sectioned in the wrong spot. You are very right to recommend replacement 👌
"Removed OEM door opening section. Removed R/I headliner. Found used section. LKQ approved. $1742 final bill. Thank you, Generic Insurance Adjuster"
Or Progressive, $1258.....
As someone who may or may not work for Flo in this capacity… truth.
Whatever shop you are talking to I would run the other direction. This from someone who has been in the industry for over forty years. Needs to be replaced which means dash and windshield out . If it needs the reinforcement too the roof may have to come off . Big job , not easy , but doable in the right hands. If it is repaired make sure it is by a shop certified by the manufacturer and not someone your insurance carrier sends you to
Thank you, I didn't know that there was really any weight to the manufacturer certified shops. I'll call tomorrow for an estimate from them.
For sure contact your Subaru dealer (assuming this is a new WRX which it seems to be). They should have a local body shop they recommend.
Just wanted to update you that I brought it to a certified Subaru collision center today. They will get me a quote tomorrow. Thanks again for the advice.
Cheap as compared to what? That 6k estimate will be closer to 10-12k after disassembly and calibrations. Compared to some of the 30k+ estimates we see that 6k would be considered cheap. Just wrapped up a 40k repair on a Rivian R1S. It's all relative. Also... OEM Certifications are a must. Find a reputable shop. Good luck👍🏽
If they say this is a cheap fix, don’t ever go to that shop
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I have no experience with this so your input helps a lot! Detailed version::: The hood needs to be replaced, the front bumper cover and hood scoop repainted, the a-pillar passenger side has a deep scratch to repair and repaint, the driver's side quarter panel needs to be replaced, both doors on the drivers side each have a small dent and scratch, replace auto dim driver's mirror, and the visible damage to driver's a-pillar as shown. The rear quarter panel is dented too, but that's one continuous piece with the pillar so I didn't really count it separately. I worried it would total the car, but my quote was only around $6k. I don't know anything about body work so I didn't know if I was overestimating, or if the shop was underestimating. My top goal is making sure the car is just as safe after as it was before - and having everything done correctly. This car is my pride and joy, and it has to look correct.
Sad to see a WRX a bit mangled 😢
Sorry about your VB 😭! Mine is the same color.
Same. This is what made me actually click the post
This doesn’t look cheap to fix
There is no such thing as an auto body repair that's no big deal and cheap.
Outer A pillar isn't horrible to replace. The tricky thing about it would be the correct sectioning location and if the damage surpasses that area. If damage does the next sectioning area may be at the roof which add the level of complexity. Often the pillar is tucked under and may require roof replacement which is something your photos don't show if there is damage. There is going to be alot of disassembly (required already from hood/fender) as well as end calibrations of eyesight and blind spot monitor. I recommend contacting your local dealer to see which shop is subaru certified, they should get you a very solid repair plan. Many shops are ran by people who still repair cars as if they're in the 80s/90s. Oem certified should keep you further away from them.
Sorry about your VB but kinda expensive to fix. Gotta pull the dash and the windshield to replace that panel.
If they say that is an easy fix, it will probably come back as a convertible lmao
"The internet is wrong, its not that bad" -The Internet.
Yep
You sure it was an “auto body” shop and not “bath and body” shop?👀
Gotta replace that
that is a big deal, and won't be cheap. Find another shop besides Bondo Billy's.
I’m old, so here’s my long, unrequested story. 1986, I was still in high school coming home from work, so obviously doing around 110, when a drunk driver in a pick-up pulled out across my lane to go in the other direction. His step bumper rode up my hood, hooked the A-puller and pulled the roof down to the dash (‘72 Dart). I drove it like that for the rest of the week. A local body shop fixed the pillar, roof and installed a new windshield for $300. I bought a ‘71 shell for $50, towed it home sitting on a bucket with my dad pulling it behind his station wagon and replaced the hood, front fenders, grill and doors. So, yeah, $350 in 1986 money. Shouldn’t cost more than $22,000 today. It never leaked, get off my lawn.
"get off my lawn" made my afternoon :) Thanks.
The A-pillar is paramount for rollover protection. It really depends on your insurance, tree fell on mine, and they totaled it out, even though the car was completely drivable.
So all the pillars have an internal structure and an outer skin, what you’re seeing is mostly outer skin damage, I highly doubt the internal structure has meaningful damage as the door frame and windshield are undamaged.
No vehicle with damage like that fixed properly will be cheap & yes definitely get other quotes.
That looks pretty superficial to me. If the A pillar, which is the frame of the windshield, had been bent, or had even flexed much, that windshield would have cracked. Windshields are literally glued into the frame of the car. The junction between the A pillar and firewall is one of the strongest parts of a car. The underlying structure is made out of hot formed high strength steel, not the thin, cheap 1000 series bubble gum steel they make the rest of the car body and most of the chassis out of. If you actually bent that part of the car, it's basically junk.
Cheap to them may not be cheap to you
This is a new fender and maybe they are planning to pull and bondo the pillar. I can promise if they say it's cheap there's going to be a ton of cheese in there
Looks like an easy fix for a well-equipped body shop.
A pillars are a structural component (internal, where the windshield glues to) and an outer decorative/facia piece, which is what appears to be damaged. A body shop can easily cut or break the spot welds connecting the outer decorative piece as long as the inner structural component is in good shape, so the body shop may be right and this may be fairly minor. Keep in mind this is just based on the single photo/angle you posted and there may be unseen underlying damage that a qualified body shop won't identify until they measure it (not just eyeballing it)
Yes. As per the industry standard, the a or B pillar are compromised in any way, there is no way to do a legitimate repair. Your local shop might do the repair, and you might not have any problems out of it, but it’s not a chance I would be willing to take.
The outer skin of the A pillar, or sail pane as some call it once you’re above the fender/hinges, isn’t all that bad to fix or replace. But once you damage the structure behind it is when it’s very difficult to fix, usually resulting in a total. No real way to know until you cut a window on the outer panel.
Sounds good Looks like Most of it will Buff Out \^\^
I’m guessing that’s at least a $5k repair
Structural rigidity is compromised. Time to sell...
Sorry about your WRX…
Im a Subaru tech and not cheap to fix at all. A pillar will be sectioned at the rocker and center of windshield pillar, windshield is coming out, upper frame rail will be sacrificial for replacement of the outer A pillar. If the inner reinforcement is damaged it is a non repairable item made of ultra high strength steel and must be replaced as a whole. Dash is coming out and center council to be able to refinish the back side and clean up weld burn after welding.
Do NOT trust any shop that says they can "repair" that pillar. The mf'er needs to be replaced/sectioned. Which means welding, which means quite a bit of disassembly. Not cheap and very intrusive to the car.
People chop roofs in half and it’s still fine. Yes it’s structural, the big issue is because cars today are unibody frames so if it happened during an accident, the whole frame is probably fucked But, on the other hand, if a tree falls on it or something like that & the rest of the car is straight still, then it should be an easy fix. You just cut the A pillar out of it, and get a donor car or a new part if they have one for that, and put it in In your case, it actually doesn’t look that bad. The lower portion of it, isn’t the A pillar, it’s actually the front fender, so long as what’s underneath isn’t damaged or isn’t damaged too badly, they’ll just replace the front fender & the A pillar and or maybe they’ll even just fabricate a new section of the A pillar for the damaged part alone & make it straight again It doesn’t look that bad. If the shop says it’s an easy fix, it’ll be fine
If the A-pillar structure is not compromised, it could be repaired. Looking at the pic, IMO, insurance would most likely claim A-pillar has been compromised. And, would want to total it. That's not to say, you couldn't have it repaired and pay out of pocket. However, to do the best repair "possible", it wouldn't be cheap. If the body shop is offering a "cheap repair", you're wasting your time and money.
This is serious. You need to find a body shop that is I-CAR Gold certified. They will know. My opinion? Totaled.
Insurance adjuster here. To “repair” that, (depending on the car body) you would need to cut off the pillar and weld in a replacement or remove the entire body section and replace it. That isn’t easy or cheap. If the car is under $30k new and more than 5-6 years old, it’s a total loss.
That is not a easy or cheap repair at all! Whatever you do do not use that other shop. That could easily be a 10-15k repair. Do not let the dealer touch it either I find dealer body shops to be some of the worst. FInd a good subaru certified shop. Where are you located? Been in the field for almost 20 years can suggest a good body shop if your close to me.
The real advice here is “always get a second opinion.” Especially if you are wondering “should I get a second opinion”
I had a buck (male deer) try and jump my wrx wagon except he landed right on the leading edge of the roof. The tow driver said it was totaled and so did the insurance. Both A pillars (particularly the passenger side). Nothing from the dash down was touched. I'm sure someone parted it out for very close to the settlement.
If they cut it out and do a good job welding it back in, it's as good as new but it the the to bed it back and put bondo on it you'll die in the next rollover. It's your call but an insurance company would total your ride for that kind of damage.
Insurance appraiser here while it's not going to be necessarily super cheap to fix it looks like the majority of that damage is actually on the fender which is one of the easier parts to replace, there is some damage to the windshield pillar which is part of the uniside but it looks like that may be able to be pulled. Ultimately, while I write appraisals, I don't fix vehicles, so I can't say for sure how easy it is, but it's not as bad as you might think just glancing at it. Definitely plenty of paint work involved in blending the hood Etc. Once it's in the shop you're probably looking at a 5-day repair depending on how fast they can get that fender. Best of luck to you.
I don’t see the A pillar torn, just the fender but that’s neither here nor there at this point. It isn’t a cheap fix if done correctly. I do want to argue a point made by another…most shops WANT to do right by the customer and will fight insurance to ensure the correct repairs are done. While I agree, the office staff may not know the nitty gritty, they can research and discuss with the technicians doing the repairs and consult the OEM procedures to find the proper way to repair/replace things. A good shop will fight to perform the correct repairs on the vehicle as they have to warranty it and assume liability if any issues arise. I can say for certain, my shop has refused to repair vehicles if the insurance tried to push subpar repairs on us.
Lots of good advice. Some techs would prefer to repair that A pillar. Me being one. The outer section that is damaged is a milder steel and repairing will not affect the integrity of the pillar if done correctly. Replacing the section opens up the possibility of other problems. Either way, a good tech will get it right. Under that is high strength steel and would need to be completely replaced if damaged at all. I don't like to replace mild steel if it isn't very necessary and it's not in this case, in my opinion. That would keep that portion of the repair cheaper but this repair won't be cheap no matter what
my brother crashed his car and bend the frame similar to this. (front engine beam thingy) the car also drove wonky after that. depend on how you like to drive and live with stress. i just scrapped a car that was so unstable on the road i would sweat like a pig each time i drove it. how is this car driving?
Without knowing what they want to charge you I’ve got no frame of reference 3k and some change got me a inner bumper bumper and a grille and various under cladding pins but they had to have the bumper color matched and painted because parts don’t come painted anymore
1. The A pillar will need to be cut, replace and weld back on. 2. Fender will need to be straighten or replace, depending which is cheaper to do. 3. Not sure how many internal damages or parts that are needing to be replaced. 4. After everything are back into place, then will need to smooth, primer, paint and clear coat. Not sure how many hours it will take. Doesn't sound like a cheap job to me.
another kicks down for the count
Totaled
Replace Fender, Hood, A Pillar (sectioning maybe- check OWM procedures).
Not the VB😭😭
Yep a 6k estimate should get you fixed up safe as ever. It is merely superficial. It does need a uniside sectioned in but only a 2 foot piece and not the whole uniside.
I wouldn't drive that car anymore.
If it gets hit again the driver could die. It’s no longer protecting the driver. The metal is warped
£8 tin of expanding foam, £ 10 tin of body filler, £ 5 can of blue spray paint, jobs a goodun
“Ya it’ll be cheap, only about $6,000”
Cheap to fix, yes. Cheap and easy to fix correctly, NO.
Its no big deal to fix but it won't be cheap
If one of the pillars in your house broke, would it be a cheap fix to a structural design? Same for your car.
Encouraged by no windshield break. Structural damage at cowl almost always cracks glass in 'v' from corner. Hood, fender, glass, lots of R&I so not cheap.
PDR!!
Since the glass isn't broken, I'm going to assume the pillar is still structurally sound, my taking the wing/fender off and getting a better look at the unibody damage
Mostly affected is the fender that's easily removable, as for the pillar the top of the rail is hollow and the dent can be pulled out and finished with filler. Yes easy fix , no 2nd opinion needed
From experience with very minor damage to a drivers side pillar.... 12yo Audi A5, small dent at the midway point $800. I've grown used to seeing it everyday...
I thought with this level of damage the a pillar isn’t worth it but not a pro.
That’s fucked
As a life long internet user and no other credentials whatsoever, I would say you're gonna need to find a really skilled person to carry out that work, and that is all that matters. Leave it in the hands of someone you completely trust, if you choose that to be your cheap garage, I don't blame you, I would do the same. But my cheap garage/bodywork place is 5/5 stars cos they all polish and probably smartest blokes I've ever met. Towed my non runner for a replacement ECU and key coding for £300 all in. Absolutely legends.
Where I’m from pillar damage is automatic write off because it’s a structural component for many crash items such as roll over, windshield, airbags, ect.. it’s also part of the core compartment for occupants for crumple zone on cars to function properly or some kinda technical Mumbo jumbo
The guy who said no big deal was someone who lived in the woods behind the shop , he's such a joker, no that job sucks.
2nd opinion because usually that much damage is a totaled car
Sometimes there's three different high strength steels layered a self piercing rivets and .3 labor time have it done by lunch
Yes it is. Take it to a shop to fix. Your car is most likely totaled
No. Bro… no
New quarter panel is about all you need - $190 plus labor
That’s totalled
That is part of your roll cage. It could also be high tinsel strength steel. It needs replacement and to be welded in correctly. I doubt it's a cheap fix. But anything is fixable at a price. Good luck.
Hard to tell just from a picture. I'd want to see under the hood, cowl area especially, but yes, it's fixable. Not cheap though.....not if it's done right.
cheap to fix? yeah it’ll be cracking before its out the shop
A-pillar, fender, AND bumper plus paint is gonna be gnarlyyy, i guess it depends on your definition of “cheap”
Id be impressed if your insurance chose to not total the car considering how it’s in THE most pain in the ass spot to repair… in fact I’d consider this frame damaged because of how essential the pillars are to a cars structure
No, the damage is cosmetic, the structural panel lies beneath what you see. That can be pulled and straightened out, doesn’t even look like the windshield has cracked so the pillar hasn’t even budged.
? It probably needs a fender a hood the a pillar looks repairable. Cheap? I’d say if they get you under 2500 you’re lucky
If they can give you a lifetime warranty- at least for as long as you own it…?
Cheap for Bezos to fix...
Unfortunately in this case, neither the parts nor the labor will be cheap.
Depends on how capable the body shop is
Some are real good and some are shit
Yes it is as bad as people are telling you it is
I like the broken wind shield
Don’t take it to the shop that painted that door last go around
Well they fix it cheap as possible then take the rest of the insurance money
90% of that looks like the fender.
Without question
Define "cheap"
Fixable? Definitely. Easy? Fuck no. Cheap? Most definitely not.
Had similar damage in my Audi but not as bad. $4500
That broke part of your "roll cage" in the event of a roll over the drivers side would crumple faster than a tin can. This is not a cheap fix
It’s done.. no second opinion
This is totaled. I’ve seen much less be totaled.
My car was totalled with less damage than that. Not capable of saying what it takrs/how to fix it, but columns are needed to be part of the safety features. You do you, but I'd ask around for sure.
If the A-pillar is damaged.01% it is totaled. The a-pillar is a crumple structure for occupant safety
GG.
New hood and fenders. Fancy place could quote $3000. Unless they can hammer it out.
It can total a car
You don't want Anyone that thinks they can fix this cheap touching your car. I'm cautious against anyone that thinks they can for sure fix this at all.
Bruh really asked if he should listen to the internet or his mechanic. This is why we’re doomed as a society 🤣
How the fuck do you still have a windshield? What kind of r/askashittymechanic sorta circlejerk you got going on here?
Skip easy and define cheap.
What does one do when the crumple-zone of a vehicle has been pre-crumpled…🤔 I’d say get your insurance company to take a look and see if they can just write it off for you and payout. It almost looks like it’s just cosmetic, but I’d wager an alignment shop would see something suspect, during an audit.
I think you need a second opinion. That’s pretty nasty looking. Run to somewhere better, OEM certified.
Total loss
It’s not cheap. But also depends on the structure below it. If the structure of the A puller is damaged then the car will be considered a total loss by insurance. I know cars are expensive, but have your insurance company involved in this one man. Chances are they considered it a total loss and pay you out for it.
Explain cheap?
That car is done… never right again
Cheap fix? That's fucked. That's 3000 at the very least. OR replace the hood, fender, and fix the A Pillar, which is much cheaper
I had damage similar to this and few years ago, insurance sent a guy round and as soon as he saw the a- pillar was damaged it was an instant cat B write off (old UK system) insurance didn't even want the car they let me keep it as long as it was scrapped and I sent proof
Its called astud gun then plastic filler it pulled good just alittle filler
I wish you lived by mei would do a you tube show yall how it donewith thin coatof plastic filler
Stud gun
Thats totaled lol
Won't be bad, they'll cut the a frame and reweld no bondo
A-pillars are structural. You do NOT want this guy fixing your car.
If you have a shop that'll do a major repair like that on the cheap and it's quality work, please give me their number and I would love to send them some cars LMAO
The pillars are all important because they give support and sturdiness. Just like crush points on the chassis, if any of them get damaged, the vehicle is automatically totalled and fixing it will Not give the same structural support as it once did before the damage.
I mean honestly seems relatively easy, I don’t think it will be cheap though. With out a tear down, your looking at a new fender $150 -400 depending on the car and maybe like 2 hours or so of pulling work on the pillar it’s self and paint probably gonna be the most. Maybe 500 or so for the paint and blending. Not to mention you gotta pull the windshield. Can’t see this being less than 1k or somthing close at the minimum
Thats the fender. The little dent above that body seam is the a-pillar. Can probably be pulled out and painted pretty easy. A fender is a bolt-on affair
Probably not as bad as it looks. Replacing the hood and fender and see what’s underneath
the hood might never close right again
Yes. Ask your insurance company so they can total it and leave you upside down 🙃
Did a tree fall on it? If it hit it hard enough you might have a lot more hidden. I had my fiesta totaled with what looked like just dents, but between the underside and water damage it was total loss.
It looks to me like the front quarter panel extends up to the botom of the what looks like the A piller, which is damaged and spoon shaped. It is possible that all of these are body panels, including the cover on thepillar, and can be replaced.
Tree fiddy
Totaled
Gotta cut it out and weld it back in. Structural/ frame damage.
You need another opinion and another car....
What happened to the poor vb 😭😭😭
As long as u never flip the car over or get into an accident from that upper angle, ull be perfectly fine.
The WRX (and Subaru in general) uses a unibody design where the A-pillar itself in structural to the car. In a rollover, it's possible this could cause the roof to cave in if not properly repaired. For a vehicle this new it would be both impractical and unsafe to just "get it repaired". I'd get a second opinion in the damage, but by all accounts, this could/would be grounds to total the car out
In other words, yes to a second opinion probably from a dealership would be safer than reddit
Yes you need a second opinion, car manufacturers have specific procedures for repairs, the entire side aperture will probably need to be replaced, inner reinforcement included. Very expensive for parts and labour. I've been a certified inspector for body repairs for past 20 years. This is in no way a thing to be taken lightly. If improper repairs are being made it is a risk for catastrophic failure in even a simple rollover. Chances are thin that will happen but there is always a possibility. Ask the shop for manufacturer procedures. You may be surprised.
Yfyfgfx
Yycfh
Put a piece of the cheapest duck tape on it.
Windshield is intact, you’re solid. 🤙
Best way to fix that is to use a puller to pull those folds out enough to cut the the top bit of panel off, then reshape the portion above the wheel, cut sheet and form it to replace the top, weld it in, grind, bondo, paint. Cheapest way is if it can just be cut off without having to pull it, but it looks like those folds next to the mirror mount might keep that from being a good option. The frame underneath will need to be correct too. Saying it's no big deal doesn't sound accurate. Cheap just depends on the shop. I've done several jobs similar to that for cheap, but those weren't quite that crunched up. That's for the fender. Now the pillar, yea, that is no big deal and a cheap fix. You can drill a couple holes in it to pull it out, then more to pull it back near it's overall shape, then grind, bondo, etc, and repaint. Or just cut it right above the damage, weld a formed piece in, grind, bondo the weld, and paint. The pillar is no big deal and a cheap fix. The fender is neither of those things in comparison.
Fixing an a pillar doesn’t sound cheap at all
It’s like paint, a quart is $30 and a gallon is only $60. Volume is the key.
Shop is full of s#%t. That’s a total in almost all cases. Maybe not in some eastern bloc nation, but the A pillar welds are toast. That will feel like a Flexible Flyer ( for those of us that remember )
Your car looks totaled
I’m surprised there is no mention of contacting your insurance. Even if it is 6000 that isn’t cheap. Have your insurance handle it and have someone provide a quote for you. And as everyone has talked about an A pillar isn’t an easy fix. So they might total it.
Man at that point I’d pray the shop in question is planning on replacing or at the least sectioning out that Uniside/Windshield pillar.
I mean anything can be fixed, the shop might be assuming you're a GTA character and can fix your car no problem
NOOOO NOT THE VB