Optra Damaged in Rain and Estimate from National Garage, Bombay

CarsPG · 25th July 2009, 13:41

A relative's Chevy Optra stopped working due to rains/floods in Bombay last week. They pushed the car to a side and had National Garage (NG) tow it back to the workshop. It took NG 1 week to submit a quote. Also they didn't contact the insurance company. Once I came to know of this I contacted the insurance company on my relative's behalf. A couple of days had already passed since the car had been towed. It doesn't look like the claim will be passed since National had already opened the engine to give an estimate.

The car is 5 years old and has run only 30,000 kms. Does the attached seem like a fair estimate. Should they take the car elsewhere to get a second opinion. It might be difficult to move it since the engine has been opened already. Is it worth spending Rs. 61,000 on a car not worth much more than Rs. 2.5 Lacs?

Thank you for your help!

CarsPG

profold · 25th July 2009, 15:26

IMHO, if the engine got drenched for a prolonged interval, say three days, (i) it is advisable to change all the filters, seals and gaskets, (ii) some sensors might get damaged and may require change.
It is difficult to understand why change of exhaust valves (1k) and connecting rods (19K) would be necessary. Only under very special cases water would enter in the cylinder and change of piston (3K) would be called for.
May be more knowledgeable BHP-ians would be able to advise.

GTO · 25th July 2009, 17:58

5 year old car suffering substantial damage is better treated by an after-market specialist. In nearly all cases, it works out atleast 50 - 60% cheaper. Get a second opinion from an independent garage before arriving at a decision.

k2max6 · 25th July 2009, 19:45

Its better to go with the aftermarket option only.I dont think it would cost you more than 30k for the same.
My friend's NHC's engine got ceased and he was qouted around a lakh for the overhaul by the Honda A.S.S. The car had done around 80k.
So he went for an after market option and his job was done for 25k.
It would be similar in your case too.

As far as spending 61k is concerned on a car with this resale value is concerned, you can say it is not worth but sometimes you dont have an option.I dont think some one would buy the car in this condition.Go for the After market option,then if you want you can sell of the car.

Moreover in delhi people tend to buy 2nd hand engines from the Mayapuri market which cost even lesser and are generally in good conditions.I dont know if you have something like this in pune.

Thomas8700 · 25th July 2009, 19:55

dude dont go for aftermarket option. you can kiss reliability goodbye.
no matter what. A.S.S guys will do the job PROPERLY..its costly but yes reliable.

ImmortalZ · 25th July 2009, 20:29

Not really. There are aftermarket workshops who do jobs with equal or better proficiency compared to the dealerships.

anujmishra · 25th July 2009, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas8700

dude dont go for aftermarket option. you can kiss reliability goodbye.
no matter what. A.S.S guys will do the job PROPERLY..its costly but yes reliable.

GTO is not suggesting roadside mechanics. There are many garages in town who can do structured word and their efficiency is equal or greater that Authorised Service Center. He should definitely go to some other garages who can do these jobs almost 40% less than quoted price.

ashthedivx · 25th July 2009, 20:55

I would say best option is to get it repaired from after-market specialist. However, do consider sourcing damaged parts from mayapuri or some accidental optra.

Next step, Sell it off. It might sound stupid but still a better suggestion rather then selling off the car as scrap.

akshay4587 · 25th July 2009, 21:00

A friends optra was damaged in a similar way last year in rains.
and he got the work done outside for around 25K

Thomas8700 · 25th July 2009, 21:17

the workmanship will be top class. that depends on the mechanic. where trouble happens is in sourcing the parts. the A.S.S guys will never sell the parts alone. thats the practice usually..

if fake or second quality parts are used, car will be unreliable and yes the afgtermarket guys wont be available to rectify it. i have seen several cases where the after market guys themselves ruin a car and finally advice the customer to get the job done from A.S.S.

and as far as i know you will have to go after the original parts supplier( the same guys who supply to OEM guys. this will be a difficult job.

moreover there wont be all the tools necessary with the aftermarket guys. unless you are talking about reputed aftermarket guys like say for example Castrol bike zone for bikes. Etc.

i didnt mean to disrespect any forum members

please do know that optra be it 1.6 or 1.8 are pretty costly to maintain should something go wrong.

CarsPG · 26th July 2009, 10:43

Thank you for all the feedback

. Do these charges look OK? Any suggestions on some reliable after-market garages in Bombay?

rjvora_2000 · 28th July 2009, 11:58

1. When you had informed insurance company?
2. Which is the insurance company?
3. Since when this is the insurance company for your this car?
4. When the surveyor had done the survey?
5. Did this place is known for heavy Rains?
6. Can you post some photos?

CarsPG · 28th July 2009, 14:59

1. 3 days after the car was towed.
2. Bajaj Allianz
3. I'm not sure. I think it's been at least 3 years. I will check and get back on this point.
4. 1 week after the car was towed
5. Yes
6. Sorry, I don't have any pictures.

Thank you for your help!

rjvora_2000 · 28th July 2009, 16:29

Claim information has to be within 7 day's (or may be 15 day's a BOOK RULE) of the loss. (You have done it in 3 day's) Bajaj is a good customer friendly company. (As we all know in T-BHP) You are good client to insurance company (3 year's with same insurance company. Surveor was late in arriving (He should have come on 4th day, may be a day more)

I don't see a reason for rejection of a claim.

vasudeva · 28th July 2009, 16:32

Having experienced GM service in Delhi/NCR since Oct 2003, I can say that a decent aftermarket specialist would be worth considering. My experience suggests that GM service's solution to problems is to replace rather than check whether or not the expense is justified.

25th July 2009, 13:41	#1
CarsPG BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 352 Thanked: Once	Optra Damaged in Rain and Estimate from National Garage, Bombay A relative's Chevy Optra stopped working due to rains/floods in Bombay last week. They pushed the car to a side and had National Garage (NG) tow it back to the workshop. It took NG 1 week to submit a quote. Also they didn't contact the insurance company. Once I came to know of this I contacted the insurance company on my relative's behalf. A couple of days had already passed since the car had been towed. It doesn't look like the claim will be passed since National had already opened the engine to give an estimate. The car is 5 years old and has run only 30,000 kms. Does the attached seem like a fair estimate. Should they take the car elsewhere to get a second opinion. It might be difficult to move it since the engine has been opened already. Is it worth spending Rs. 61,000 on a car not worth much more than Rs. 2.5 Lacs? Thank you for your help! CarsPG Attached Thumbnails Last edited by CarsPG : 25th July 2009 at 13:51.
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 15:26	#2
profold BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 44 Thanked: 0 Times	IMHO, if the engine got drenched for a prolonged interval, say three days, (i) it is advisable to change all the filters, seals and gaskets, (ii) some sensors might get damaged and may require change. It is difficult to understand why change of exhaust valves (1k) and connecting rods (19K) would be necessary. Only under very special cases water would enter in the cylinder and change of piston (3K) would be called for. May be more knowledgeable BHP-ians would be able to advise.
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 17:58	#3
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,688 Times View My Garage	5 year old car suffering substantial damage is better treated by an after-market specialist. In nearly all cases, it works out atleast 50 - 60% cheaper. Get a second opinion from an independent garage before arriving at a decision.
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 19:45	#4
k2max6 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 523 Thanked: 183 Times	Its better to go with the aftermarket option only.I dont think it would cost you more than 30k for the same. My friend's NHC's engine got ceased and he was qouted around a lakh for the overhaul by the Honda A.S.S. The car had done around 80k. So he went for an after market option and his job was done for 25k. It would be similar in your case too. As far as spending 61k is concerned on a car with this resale value is concerned, you can say it is not worth but sometimes you dont have an option.I dont think some one would buy the car in this condition.Go for the After market option,then if you want you can sell of the car. Moreover in delhi people tend to buy 2nd hand engines from the Mayapuri market which cost even lesser and are generally in good conditions.I dont know if you have something like this in pune. Last edited by k2max6 : 25th July 2009 at 19:48.
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 19:55	#5
Thomas8700 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: back in gods own country :) Posts: 118 Thanked: 0 Times	dude dont go for aftermarket option. you can kiss reliability goodbye. no matter what. A.S.S guys will do the job PROPERLY..its costly but yes reliable.
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 20:29	#6
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	Not really. There are aftermarket workshops who do jobs with equal or better proficiency compared to the dealerships.
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 20:55	#8
ashthedivx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,356 Thanked: 24 Times	I would say best option is to get it repaired from after-market specialist. However, do consider sourcing damaged parts from mayapuri or some accidental optra. Next step, Sell it off. It might sound stupid but still a better suggestion rather then selling off the car as scrap.
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 21:00	#9
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	A friends optra was damaged in a similar way last year in rains. and he got the work done outside for around 25K
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 21:17	#10
Thomas8700 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: back in gods own country :) Posts: 118 Thanked: 0 Times	the workmanship will be top class. that depends on the mechanic. where trouble happens is in sourcing the parts. the A.S.S guys will never sell the parts alone. thats the practice usually.. if fake or second quality parts are used, car will be unreliable and yes the afgtermarket guys wont be available to rectify it. i have seen several cases where the after market guys themselves ruin a car and finally advice the customer to get the job done from A.S.S. and as far as i know you will have to go after the original parts supplier( the same guys who supply to OEM guys. this will be a difficult job. moreover there wont be all the tools necessary with the aftermarket guys. unless you are talking about reputed aftermarket guys like say for example Castrol bike zone for bikes. Etc. i didnt mean to disrespect any forum members please do know that optra be it 1.6 or 1.8 are pretty costly to maintain should something go wrong.
	() Thanks

26th July 2009, 10:43	#11
CarsPG BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 352 Thanked: Once	Thank you for all the feedback . Do these charges look OK? Any suggestions on some reliable after-market garages in Bombay? Last edited by CarsPG : 26th July 2009 at 10:45.
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 11:58	#12
rjvora_2000 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai/Mulund Posts: 1,658 Thanked: 56 Times	1. When you had informed insurance company? 2. Which is the insurance company? 3. Since when this is the insurance company for your this car? 4. When the surveyor had done the survey? 5. Did this place is known for heavy Rains? 6. Can you post some photos?
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 14:59	#13
CarsPG BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 352 Thanked: Once	1. 3 days after the car was towed. 2. Bajaj Allianz 3. I'm not sure. I think it's been at least 3 years. I will check and get back on this point. 4. 1 week after the car was towed 5. Yes 6. Sorry, I don't have any pictures. Thank you for your help!
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 16:29	#14
rjvora_2000 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai/Mulund Posts: 1,658 Thanked: 56 Times	Claim information has to be within 7 day's (or may be 15 day's a BOOK RULE) of the loss. (You have done it in 3 day's) Bajaj is a good customer friendly company. (As we all know in T-BHP) You are good client to insurance company (3 year's with same insurance company. Surveor was late in arriving (He should have come on 4th day, may be a day more) I don't see a reason for rejection of a claim.
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 16:32	#15
vasudeva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,221 Thanked: 212 Times	Having experienced GM service in Delhi/NCR since Oct 2003, I can say that a decent aftermarket specialist would be worth considering. My experience suggests that GM service's solution to problems is to replace rather than check whether or not the expense is justified.
	() Thanks