Like I said, I wish it didn't happen, but what are you going to do. I had my car fixed by a Honda dealer's bodyshop and they did a good job. Everything was replaced with OEM parts and the paint turned out really nice (luckily black is easier to match than some other colors).

My front lip wasn't damaged in the accident luckily. I did have my front lip repainted at the same time though so it would match perfectly since the paint on the lip was 3 years old or so.

As much as it sucks getting in a wreck, my car looks better now after the wreck with brand new paint up front, two brand new OEM headlights that I did blackhousing on.

 

"Like I said, I wish it didn't happen, but what are you going to do. I had my car fixed by a Honda dealer's bodyshop and they did a good job. Everything was replaced with OEM parts and the paint turned out really nice (luckily black is easier to match than some other colors)."

Yeah, see, thats the key-----I had my car fixed by a Geico authorized shop, and dont get me wrong----they did a great job on the paint work, as you cant even tell the car was in a wreck --- it's just that I get the feeling, because my OEM skirts WERE smashed in the wreck --- that Honda OEM parts were not used here because I can tell where the skirts just looked different to me after the accident......

"My front lip wasn't damaged in the accident luckily."

Yeah, I noticed that in the pic......

"As much as it sucks getting in a wreck, my car looks better now after the wreck with brand new paint up front, two brand new OEM headlights that I did blackhousing on."

I guess you can look at it that way too, as we get "new paint" after a wreck, but sometimes when Im detailing the car --- just sometimes --- I can see where the repainted areas dont shine QUITE as well as the remainder of the car, but its hardly noticeable; my shop used DePont paint, by the way.

 

Wow John that did come out really nice...when I got in my fender crushing accident I got estimates from $2000-$2500...I replaced the fender myself, don't give a shit about the slightly scratched bumper and wheel and headlight, and had it painted for $150. I think I made like $1900 or something since the other driver was deemed 80% at fault (he caused the accident but wasn't involved). I'm not going to cry myself to sleep because the fender is slightly lighter than the rest of the car and you can kind of tell in artificial light. That's some good future S2000 money.

 

Well I don't know about the other parts, but who makes aftermarket OEM lip kits? There are none that I know of, otherwise people would be getting them because OEM lip kits are getting more rare.

Thanks, yeah, I was happy with the way it came out. I researched out the local honda dealers and these guys seemed to be the ones that knew their stuff. The replaced both front headlights with new OEM ones even though only one was damaged, and gave me back my old undamaged one.

That's cool you were able to pocket some cash with your repair, and you'll care even less about the slight imperfections after you get rid of it and get a new car.

 

Nah she'll never be far...the resale value doesn't reflect its true worth and as long as the tranny holds out it'll be my winter car for a looong time. If I get 250k without more major work (such as another tranny) I'll be happy and probably well sick of it by then.

Had I wanted to do it correctly I would have gone straight to the dealer...but my car is showing her age and the front bumper makes me weep everytime I wash it. It's almost speckled looking from all the little stone chips I've gotten...my next car gets a 3M clear bra. Plus I have a tid bit of rust where the spoiler bolts to the trunk h: I've gotta work on that one.

 

"Well I don't know about the other parts, but who makes aftermarket OEM lip kits? There are none that I know of, otherwise people would be getting them because OEM lip kits are getting more rare."

I dont know, J, but I'll tell you one thing: if these OEM kits come ONLY from Honda direct, something is off because ESPECIALLY in the rear, I can tell, when they redid my rear bumper and had to add the back skirts when the Pathfinder rear ended me, I was CLEARLY able to see how the tailpipes stuck out more after the accident and their "fixed" skirts in back, where I wasnt before the accident.....the pipes were "tucked in more"......can you explain that?

Now I see why Coupe wanted me to post in the Basement.......that was a clever little gag you guys have going there. Thumbs up on that one!

 

You know, John, that was another thing I was going to ask you......when a body shop needs to order something like an OEM skirt kit when it's damaged in an accident, do these kits COME from Honda or are they SUPPOSED to, or where do they in the end come from? Are they genuine and authorized, or is there another company body shops possibly deal with that make "fake" OEM kits? Is this possible? I can SWEAR my kit, in certain places, doesnt look like it did originally......

 

let me clarify. 3rd brake light = the one in the center of my rear windshield.

 

I'll add my 2 cents,

1st

if you want an OE quality replacement windshield.

I have been using www.89glass.com they use AP-Tech glass on the 6th gen Accords, the same glass honda uses. I'm on windshield number 3 now. All of my AP Tech logos and glass look identical to my sister's still OE Honda windshield. except I don't have a Honda logo. This is as stock as you can get, way better then the PPG glass I had on the last windshield.

2nd
The key to making any car last along time is mental.

What do I mean, if you really like a car and truely like the car you can make that SOB last as long as you want, period. Look at the guy that put 1-million miles on an Accord. Hey it had some issues over life, but he must have liked the car....

But if you don't truely like the car and deep down want a new one, you will eventually have to get a new car because you already gave up on the one you have.

So when someone asks me what used or new car should I buy, I tell them the one they truely have always wanted and can afford with in reason.

Why do I say this? I can tell anyone to buy a Honda per the numbers and reviews. I can sell an Accord on logic.

But if you truely don't like the car every little bug will piss you off, but if you always wanted a Miata for example, and you get one...that SOB could leave you dead on the road 5 times but if you truely love the car, odds are you won't give crap period, you will fix it an love it. I love my Accord to death, I'd replace the engine before getting a new car.

This is my car buying advice to you.....

 

Sometimes your insurance can autherize salvage parts too. A good body shop can make anything look like new. It has nothing to do with the age of the parts. Bumpers and side skirts are plastic, age is almost meaningless to them.