[///M///]

Just curious if there is an insurance that uses OEM parts only? Someone mentioned farmers but their quotes are ridiculous in my area (Philly burbs). Most insurances use aftermarket parts inducing GEICO which is my current insurance.

Also does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? Are the aftermarket replacements not to spec? Just wondering.

Thanks.

[doogee]

Being an F80, or almost any M car in general you're safe because there are no aftermarket parts available as far as body panels go.

Insurance is forced to use OEM.

Also, aftermarket parts I find are 99% junk usually.

[SuspectisHatless]

I would ask a reputable auto body shop in your area for which insurance companies are easier to work with.

[Arcades]

If i remember correctly, Mercury and AAA are the two companies my friend at the BMW Certified Collision Center recommends.

[08njSTEP]

I work at an insurance driven bodyshop. Fully 1/3 of the aftermarket parts we recieve get returned. Nissan factory parts are almost as bad. BMW and MB aren't really supported by the aftermarket. We only see OEM for those 2 brands. Used parts are also commonly used, but again not for BMW/MB. The best way to guarantee OEM parts is to take your car to a BMW certified collision/refinish center for any claim. They will get your insurance to pay for OEM parts.

[JohnnyCanuck]

Generally speaking, you're going to need a replacement cost policy or endorsement for any type of assurance that OEM parts will be used where used/jobber alternatives exist. Even then, it is dependent on policy wording. Ask your agent to do the legwork on this.

[oolas3]

Amica. I pay an extra $30 a year to guarantee OE parts. Never had to use it.

[dgoldenz]

I believe Liberty Mutual guarantees OEM parts unless they are not available.

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by dgoldenz

I believe Liberty Mutual guarantees OEM parts unless they are not available.

No.

I have Liberty Mutual and they will reuse/repair damaged parts instead. Although it is OEM it isn't new OEM parts.

[dgoldenz]

Originally Posted by Arcades

No.

I have Liberty Mutual and they will reuse/repair damaged parts instead. Although it is OEM it isn't new OEM parts.

That's not what I was told when I filed a claim last year.

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by dgoldenz

That's not what I was told when I filed a claim last year.

They can tell you different things but I have 1st hand experience with Liberty Mutual with multiple claims on my family's cars. They prefer to repair your current damaged part than completely replace it with an OEM piece.

This is why my friends at BMW Certified Collision doesn't like working with Liberty Mutual because it is a huge hassle for them. In fact I'm going through my comprehensive damage on my 328i right now so I know this as a fact. At least for me on the West Coast.

I was also rear ended past year on my 328i and Liberty Mutual took 1 month and a half plus to finish the claim so I was without my car for that long period of time.

If Liberty Mutual did indeed replace your damaged car part (door, fender etc) then the repair would be a lot faster. But they don't, not as least what I have been experiencing.

[JohnnyCanuck]

Originally Posted by Arcades

They can tell you different things but I have 1st hand experience with Liberty Mutual with multiple claims on my family's cars. They prefer to repair your current damaged part than completely replace it with an OEM piece.

This is why my friends at BMW Certified Collision doesn't like working with Liberty Mutual because it is a huge hassle for them. In fact I'm going through my comprehensive damage on my 328i right now so I know this as a fact. At least for me on the West Coast.

I was also rear ended past year on my 328i and Liberty Mutual took 1 month and a half plus to finish the claim so I was without my car for that long period of time.

If Liberty Mutual did indeed replace your damaged car part (door, fender etc) then the repair would be a lot faster. But they don't, not as least what I have been experiencing.

Not necessarily true. It depends on the parts cost and the re&re time vs bench time vs estimated time. Actual repair time is not considered. If the estimated repair time from ADP or Mitchell is 8 hours and the part is less than $1000 (for example) the insurer will always opt for replacement as it costs them less. OTOH, your shop will always push for repair because they get paid estimated time and if their techs are good they'll repair it in less and the difference is pure profit. The bench time for most good techs will consistently beat book times by 20% or more and repair shops will always prefer repair over replace if it's anywhere close in cost. There's a lot more profit to be made from good bench times than on parts markup.

Your shop is blowing smoke up your backside if they're telling you that they would prefer to use replacement parts and the insurer is saying no. The shops always prefer repair if its feasible because there's a lot more $$$ in it for them.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

Generally speaking, you're going to need a replacement cost policy or endorsement for any type of assurance that OEM parts will be used where used/jobber alternatives exist. Even then, it is dependent on policy wording. Ask your agent to do the legwork on this.

Be careful on "replacement cost" policies. Have seen this a couple times at our body shop. Two year old car that had been rolled end over end. At first, adjuster was going to write it off as the repairs were worth more than the car, but then they noticed it had replacement cost coverage. In that case, they keep going until the repairs are worth MORE than the price of a new car. So, two year old car with $65k in damages was fixed because the new one was $70k. Car has been a nightmare of rattles, squeaks, electrical issues since.

[JohnnyCanuck]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Be careful on "replacement cost" policies. Have seen this a couple times at our body shop. Two year old car that had been rolled end over end. At first, adjuster was going to write it off as the repairs were worth more than the car, but then they noticed it had replacement cost coverage. In that case, they keep going until the repairs are worth MORE than the price of a new car. So, two year old car with $65k in damages was fixed because the new one was $70k. Car has been a nightmare of rattles, squeaks, electrical issues since.

Very true in some cases. In my case, my replacement cost policy is actually with a different insurer from my comp/collision (happenstance more than good planning).

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

Very true in some cases. In my case, my replacement cost policy is actually with a different insurer from my comp/collision (happenstance more than good planning).

Oh I didn't know that.

Honestly when it comes to Insurance companies I might not be 100 true with things but that is my experience so far. I would say people have different experiences with different insurance companies so

[RC Pilot]

Most insurance companies use LKQ (like kind and quality) or used parts. You are free to pay the difference in cost if you want OEM parts. As pointed out by 08njSTEP, if you take your vehicle to a high-end certified BMW shop your odds are better to get OEM parts. Repairs may take longer as your shop argues with the insurance co appraiser, but in the end the shop will not roll over as easy as your everyday shops.

I was not aware of any carriers that gave you the option to pay extra premium to guarantee OEM parts. $30 a year is not bad for that. m3m3mr, do you have a copy of the endorsement for that coverage? Curious to read what it says.

[takrdown]

Originally Posted by m3m3mr

Amica. I pay an extra $30 a year to guarantee OE parts. Never had to use it.

The body shop I have used in the past told me that the Amica people will not sign off on the job unless I'm happy with the parts used. I've never had anything even close to a experience with Amica. They are amazing.

[arsenal6]

Wish I read this before hand. But I got OEM. Will have to check with AAA on that endorsement.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by ///M///

Just curious if there is an insurance that uses OEM parts only? Someone mentioned farmers but their quotes are ridiculous in my area (Philly burbs). Most insurances use aftermarket parts inducing GEICO which is my current insurance.

Also does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? Are the aftermarket replacements not to spec? Just wondering.

Thanks.

OEM is not necessarily the same as OE (factory). That is while the OEM part may be made by the same company that makes the OE part the OEM part does not come with the *factory* part number.

I have gone through several car repairs and insisted the at fault driver's insurance use *factory* parts. While there was some objection I insisted. And in a couple of cases the body shop helped me.

Even the time after hitting a mule deer and I filed a claim my insurance company I insisted it supply factory parts. The car was under warranty (CPO warranty) and this warranty would have been voided with the use of non factory parts.

Sure the insurance company said it would warranty the part and maybe so. But for instance if the non factory AC condenser failed I'd have to jump through hoops to get it repaired under the insurance company's warranty. And if the A/C system suffered a problem the dealer could claim the non factory condenser was to blame. And odds are the insurance company would claim the non factory condenser was not to blame.

Easier in the long run to just have factory parts used.

With the above mentioned car the mule deer encounter happened not even 3 weeks into my ownership of the car. (Which I bought used with a 2 year/100K mile CPO warranty.)

After the car was repaired several problems developed with the car. In one case a radiator fan motor shaft snapped. This happened to be on the side which suffered the mule deer impact which the resulting damage required a new condenser, radiator, and radiator fan motor (and assorted hardware) being installed.

At the dealer the tech went right to work on the problem and all the work was covered by the CPO warranty.