Shop Talk
Welcome to the Gold Coast Auto Body “Answer Blog,” where we periodically post news updates, technical articles, and other items of interest to our customers and friends in the luxury car community.
Winterizing your car, Chicago style
Chicago is a city with its own style. We’ve got Chicago style pizza. We’ve got Chicago style hot dogs. And Lord knows, we have Chicago style weather – especially in the wintertime.
Yes, from blinding blizzards to bone-chilling cold, the severity of winter in Chicago is legendary. Which means if you want to keep your car not only running, but also healthy for the long term, you’ve got to winterize your vehicle, Chicago style.
Of course, in the event of an accident, Gold Coast Auto Body is equipped to get you back on the road in like-new condition. But wouldn’t it be better to avoid the accident all together?
One thing to keep in mind as you debate how detailed you want to get in your winterization of your vehicle is that many winter collisions that could result in damage to your automobile are easily preventable if your car is truly road worthy for winter driving.
Fluids
The first thing you should do in winterizing your car is to be sure to fill your windshield wiper fluid with a winter blend. These blends contain a heavier balance of alcohol to water, translating to a lower freezing temperature.
If you can’t see the road clearly, you’re inviting an accident. Making sure your windshield wiper fluid is working properly despite winter temperatures and conditions is vital to preventing auto collisions that could find you bringing your vehicle to GCAB for repair.
According to this article in The Columbus Dispatch, the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration lists the inability to see the road clearly is a leading cause of automotive accidents.
As its name suggests, antifreeze is specifically formulated to regulate your engine during extreme temperatures. Whether you are talking about extreme heat in the summer, or extreme cold in the winter, it ensures that the engine block stays at an even operating temperature.
You should check your antifreeze (more commonly referred to as “coolant) at least twice a year – at the start of summer and at the start of winter. And be sure to flush the radiator on a regular basis. As a general rule of thumb, flush and fill service is recommended every 30,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. For more information on engine coolant and considerations you should check out this article from Cars.com.
Your gas line can also benefit from its own type of antifreeze. Putting special fuel-line antifreeze in the gas tank during winter will help eliminate water from the fuel line to prevent freezing. It’s also a good idea to keep your tank at least half full during the winter months to prevent a fuel line freeze.
Finally, don’t forget to change the oil. For Chicago winters, you’ll want to use an oil with a lower viscosity – that is, the relative thickness. A lower viscosity oil will be more fluid and flow better at lower temperatures. For information on oil types and viscosity read this FAQ from Valvoline.
Rubber Belts and Wipers
Like fluids, rubber products can be adversely affected by cold weather. Your serpentine belt (also referred to as the “S belt”) has grooves like a tire. If these grooves are worn out and cracked it’s a good idea to have the belt changed to avoid having it snap in the winter. Older neoprene rubber belts typically last about 50,000 miles. By contrast, newer ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber belts can last up to 100,000 miles.
Windshield wiper blades also feature a partial rubber construction. Properly functioning wiper blades are just as important as having the right windshield wiper fluid. According to the Federal Highway Administration, visibility is associated with almost 50% of fatal crashes.
You may want to consider installing winter wiper blades, which are generally bigger and have a sturdier frame. The rubber is typically constructed of synthetic materials such as Teflon and silicone to stand up to the harshest temperatures. For information on the difference between summer and winter wiper blades, read this article from Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
Tires
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tire problems are associated with 35% of accidents studied for the administration’s Traffic Safety Facts Crash Stats report. While Gold Coast Auto Body will always be ready to repair any collision damage to your car, obviously you are going to want to avoid collisions whenever possible.
Some people change their entire wardrobe from summer to winter; it can be a good idea for your tires, too. Don’t be misled by the term “all-season tires.” The truth is, such tires generally don’t measure up in snow and ice. Winter tires are constructed of a softer rubber to enhance grip, and feature superior tread patterns that are specifically designed to achieve better traction on ice and snow. For a more detailed explanation of the advantages of winter tires consider this article from AutoBlog.com.
Tire pressure is another important point. When the temperature drops by as little as 10 degrees, it can cause a 10 percent loss of tire pressure. Since having the correct tire pressure is vital to ensure proper handling, it is very important that you check your tire pressure frequently during the winter and adjust accordingly.
Battery
Typically, it is recommended that you replace your battery every three years. While you can push that timetable to up to five years in some parts of the country, in Chicago three years is the safe way to go.
Even if it’s not time to replace it, you’ll still want to inspect the battery for corrosion, which usually shows up as a white powder around the nodes and clamps. While this can be cleaned with baking soda and water (usually with a toothbrush or similar soft bristled device), you may want to just replace the battery early and give yourself peace of mind that you’re not going to get stranded in the middle of a Chicago severe weather situation.
While checking your battery, make sure you ensure the cables are nice and tight. You should also take the opportunity to replace your spark plugs.
Of course, even a brand new battery can fail you in the face of a subzero cold snap. So while you are winterizing, make sure you have a working set of jumper cables in your car. You can never be too cautious. Other winter items to have onboard include a first aid kit, kitty litter or rock salt, emergency flares, gloves and hat, a blanket, possibly a shovel if you have space, extra windshield washer fluid, and a sturdy ice scraper and snow brush.
In summary, even “mild” Chicago winters can be brutal for your car. Make sure you take all of the proper steps to winterize your car in advance. If you don’t have the time or know-how to do it yourself, take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic to handle winterization for you. Just make sure you do it. Better safe than sorry!
For more information on the specifics of winterizing in the Windy City, take a look at this Chicago Tribune article.
Beware of Hidden Collision Damage
When you’re in a full-blown accident, obviously you’re going to bring your vehicle to a trusted body shop like Gold Coast Auto Body in Chicago. But even if your car, truck, or SUV is in a low-speed collision it is still advisable to bring it in because there could be damage beyond what’s detectible with the naked eye.
Even low-speed accidents like backing into another car or bumping into a pole in the parking lot can cause unseen damage to your car. A trained collision repair specialist can give you piece of mind if the damage is just cosmetic, or advise you of internal problems that could be costly if not attended to.
Examples of potential problem areas:
Cooling Hose/Transmission
That “little bump” may not affect your transmission directly, but it could damage the cooler hose. And if the hose is restricted, it will interfere with the flow of essential fluids necessary to cool the transmission. Driving without a functioning cooling hose can lead to a total transmission failure – a very costly and potentially dangerous scenario.
Wheel Alignment
You wouldn’t know it by looking, but wheel misalignment can come from just about any impact, including at extremely low speed. Misaligned wheels lead to tires wearing unevenly, which in turn will require you to replace them earlier than under normal circumstances. That’s money out of your pocket you didn’t have to spend.
Diagnostic Codes
As you probably know, virtually everything in your car is computerized. Modern vehicles have up to 100 sensors onboard; soon that number could top 200. Even with a small fender-bender, these systems can become damaged. A quality body shop like GCAB has specialized equipment that allows us to check your vehicle’s diagnostic codes. This is important even if your check engine light isn’t on because you may have pending codes. It’s worth the trip to the shop to be sure.
Body Frame
Damage to the frame of your vehicle can be serious, even if you can’t see it or feel it. If the frame of your vehicle is bent, the car won’t operate properly. Frame damage can lead to wheel alignment issues, and worse, may interfere with airbag deployment. Again, it’s worth your while to have an expert take a look.
Bumpers
Gone are the days of bumpers being little more than welded-on slabs of metal absorbing the impact of a bump. Modern bumpers often are filled with energy-absorbing materials like plastic or Styrofoam. When the bumper is hit with enough force to trigger its energy absorption characteristics, it needs to be replaced because it has served its purpose; it won’t work a second time. Of course, this wouldn’t be evident to a casual observer. An expert assessment is essential.
Vehicle Monitoring Systems
Bumpers also often house components for vehicle monitoring systems. As such, impact to the bumper can affect blind spot monitoring, parking and back-up cameras, and airbag deployment.
Trunk Malfunctions
According to this article from the Carwise.com website, rear-end collisions, even minor ones, can cause a litany of potential problems particular to that kind of impact. These problems can include trunk malfunctions such as water seepage during inclement weather or even the trunk popping open while driving.
Electrical
The article cited above also notes that electrical problems can happen long after a seemingly innocent bump. This is due to the impact loosening wires that can then eventually come detached. Loose wires can cause brake lights to go out unexpectedly, or result in a dead battery.
So that’s the pitch. For your safety, for your wallet, and for your piece of mind, have those minor fender-benders checked out by a qualified autobody shop like GCAB. And if you have cosmetic damage, you know we handle that too.
For more information on hidden damage, read this report from MotorWeek automotive magazine.
Sun Damage: Prevention and Restoration Tips
Who doesn’t love the summer sun? Well, for one, your car.
Oxidation is the chemical reaction that occurs when heat and oxygen combine. This results in a breakdown of the molecular structure of paint.
While we love basking in the sun at the beach or the ballpark, that beautiful ball of fire in the sky oxidizes the paint on your car, leaving it with a faded or whitewashed appearance over time.
Can you prevent it? Sadly, no; there is no absolute when it comes to preventing sun damage to your vehicle’s paint job. However, by using a UV-resistant clear protective coating at the time of the paint job, it can slow oxidation. In terms of the original factory paint job, different automotive manufacturers have exhibited different levels of success with UV clear coat. And that’s out of your hands.
So quite frankly, the best way to avoid sun damage to your car is to keep it out of the sun whenever possible. Not only should you store your vehicle in a garage or other sheltered area, but you might also consider using a car cover when it is going to be parked in the sun for any length of time.
But some oxidation is inevitable. So what can you do when it does occur?
Well, you always have the option of living with the faded, hazy paint. But when you are someone who invests in a higher-end vehicle, chances are you want your ride looking as cherry as possible.
As a preventative measure you should regularly wash and wax your auto. Use a wax that incorporates a UV protectant. Washing and drying regularly will also remove pollutants such as bird droppings and dirt that can also harm the car’s paint.
Depending on the level of sun damage, hand or machine buffing with a rubbing compound may improve the look of oxidized paint to a degree. But this DIY approach isn’t going to completely solve those trouble spots on your hood, roof, and trunk.
The one true way to really renew your car’s finish is to invest in repainting.
For flawless results, auto painting requires professional equipment and specialized training. This is the appearance of your prized baby’s paint we are talking about, so you don’t want to take it to some fly-by-night, coupon-in-the-mail shop.
Your friends at Gold Coast Auto Body are experts in restoration and painting. What’s more, we use BASF paints and coatings, the highest quality money can buy. So when the time comes to repaint, do yourself a favor and bring your vehicle to GCAB, a shop you can trust.
You want your vehicle looking like new. So do we.
For further information on prevention of sun damage, give this article a read.
If you are interested in learning more about restoring your car’s paint, check out this article.
And for more about BASF refinishing materials and techniques, log onto Refinish BASF.
Hail Damage? Do NOT Do It Yourself!
Chicago. It’s our home. And there’s nowhere like it.
But for auto owners, Chicago living comes with its own unique challenges – one of those being Chicago weather. Of specific concern right now is the prospect of hail damage.
Certain parts of the world are more prone to hailstorms than others, and Chicago is definitely one of them. So it only makes sense to maintain a relationship with a quality autobody repair shop like Gold Coast Auto Body that can handle any damage in the most cost-effective and reliable way possible.
Of course, there are always those adventurous types who want to take the “do-it-yourself” route. And if you scan the Internet, you’ll find no shortage of DIY repair techniques. But do they work? Let’s take a look.
One popular DIY approach to hail damage repair is through the use of heat and cold. It’s a little more technical than applying ice and heat pads to a sprained ankle, but the principles are the same. Basically, the theory is that applying the right amount of heat will cause metal to expand. This will, in turn, theoretically cause small dents to “pop out.”
Dry ice is another method that is rumored to work to a certain degree. The story is that the extreme change in temperature from applying dry ice can sometimes result in dented metal popping back into something approaching original condition – with emphasis on the word “sometimes.”
Even if these methods work, keep in mind that the work will almost always require an expert touch-up by a body shop professional. It’s equally likely you’ll make the damage even worse and wind up with a lot bigger repair bill.
If you’re like most GCAB customers, you want your vehicle returned to showroom condition and that will involve bringing it in for expert repair.
The hood, roof, and trunk are the most likely places to absorb damage from a hailstorm. In most cases the preferred remedy is paintless dent repair, which we’ve covered extensively in an earlier Shop Talk post.
Of course, there’s also the reality that the hail damage to your car may be so severe that it will require repainting. In some extreme cases, entire panels may have to be removed and replaced. Obviously, that’s no job for a do-it-yourselfer.
According to this article in Auto Trends magazine, the average cost of repair for a passenger vehicle damaged in a hailstorm is $2,500. The article also reiterates the fact that Midwestern states are most prone to hail damage.
You may also want to reference this video from Excel Dent Removal in Blaine, Minnesota. It does an excellent job of showing how an experienced, professional shop like GCAB will repair hail damage the right way.
What to do in the event of an accident
Getting into an accident is an unnerving experience. Accidents are never planned or expected, but the best way to handle such an event is to be mentally prepared and know the proper steps to take.
Be prepared!
First of all, you need to ensure that your vehicle is emergency-ready by having flares or emergency signage handy. You should also make sure that you have a pad of paper and pen conveniently on board for documenting the other vehicle’s license plate and insurance information.
Another important thing is to make sure you have the proper amount of auto coverage with your insurance carrier. Aside from physical injuries, few things sting more after an accident than to discover repairs will be coming out of your own pocket.
Also, make sure you have your registration and proof of insurance in a place where you can easily access them. Today most states, including Illinois, allow the use of digital insurance cards – check with your carrier to see if they have an app for this purpose. You should also have important medical information on hand about you and other potential passengers – allergies, primary care physician contact info, and so on.
At the scene
Now, let’s talk about the accident itself. The first thing you’ll want to do is pull your vehicle to the side of the road, if possible. Turn off the engine and turn on your hazard lights or use road flairs to ensure you are visible to other vehicles.
You don’t want a fender bender to ever be the source of physical danger. If you suspect that the accident was caused by another driver experiencing road rage, or that you’re being set up for a carjacking, make sure to take extra precautions when engaging the other driver. If necessary, call 911 and wait in your vehicle until the police arrive.
The next step you will want to take is triage – that is, assessing possible injuries. If there are serious injuries, call 911. You can never be too safe when it comes to your health. In the event of serious injury, try not to move the injured party. Let the first responders be the ones to determine if those injured can be moved.
Even if there are no serious injuries due to an accident, you’ll still want to contact the police. They will fill out an accident report and document the scene. If the police are not able to come to the scene of the accident, you can go to the nearest police station and file the report yourself. Chances are you’ll need a copy of the police report when you file a claim with your insurance company.
What about insurance?
Speaking of insurance companies, exchanging information with the other driver is one of the most important things to do when you have an accident. Make sure you get their full name, phone number, and address; insurance company and policy number; driver’s license and plate information; make, model, and color of the other vehicle; and location of the accident.
You will also want contact information on all passengers involved in the crash. If there are any witnesses to the crash, make sure to get their contact information too.
Be sure to take pictures of the accident scene, including damage to all vehicles involved. This will help the insurance adjusters in determining fault.
Do not discuss fault when going over the facts of the accident with the other driver. Fault will be determined by the insurance adjusters based upon the damage, any pictures of the scene, and information gathered on all parties involved.
Finally, you’ll want to notify your insurance company and start the claims process. You should contact your rep while you are still at the scene of the accident, so they can help walk you through what they will need in order to process your claim. Again, if your carrier offers a smartphone app, this is the time to use it.
Unless your safety is at risk, do not leave the scene of an accident until all of these steps are taken. In the event that your accident was with an unattended vehicle and you can’t locate the owner, leave a note with your name, address, and phone number and record the details of the accident for filing a police report and a claim with your insurance carrier.
Body repair and other considerations
If there is physical damage to your vehicle, you are obviously going to want to schedule repairs with a quality body shop like Gold Coast Auto Body. In fact, you may want to keep our contact info in your phone (312.787.0333), just in case. If your car isn’t drivable, it’s a better idea to have it towed directly to us rather than an impound lot or a shop you’re unfamiliar with. You may also want to take photos of your car at the scene to provide a visual record of the damage.
For more information on the steps to take when you are involved in an accident, read this article from the Insurance Information Institute.
If there are serious injuries to you or your passengers, you may want to contact a personal injury attorney. For information on when it is recommended that you secure the services of an attorney, see this Legal Zoom article.
Knowing the proper steps to take in the event of an accident can save lives, reduce injuries, and expedite the insurance claim process.
Preparing Your Vehicle for a Summer Road Trip
Summer is almost here. That usually means a little freedom from the office. Dare we even say: vacation?
When you have a high-end car or SUV, it’s not uncommon to eschew plane travel and hit the open road for your vacation. With that in mind, we’d like to offer you a few tips about prepping your vehicle for a summer road trip.
Let’s start with the obvious. Before you take any long road trip, you’re going to want to make sure your car is in good working order. You don’t want any unforeseen surprises when you’re on the road – miles away from the mechanics you trust.
Here’s what to check: battery, brakes, fluids, wipers and tires (check pressure and measure tread – make sure you have a working spare tire too.) Depending on your knowledge base, you might be able to check these criticals yourself. A better idea: take it to your mechanic to guarantee road worthiness.
Next up you’re going to want to check your navigation tools. In today’s day and age, most of us rely pretty heavily on GPS, whether on your phone or in the dash. However, technology doesn’t always work, especially in rural areas that you might travel through or to for your vacation. It’s advisable to have an old standby map with you for peace of mind and safety’s sake.
As much as you prepare your vehicle for a smooth summer ride off into the sunset, breakdowns and accidents are always possible. To this end, you’re going to want an emergency kit in your car. Kits are available pre-made or you can assemble one on your own. If you choose the latter, your kit should contain: blanket, flashlight, flares, first aid kit, motor oil, coolant, jumper cables, tool kit (screwdriver, pliers, adjustable wrench, pocket knife, tire pressure gauge), Fix-a-Flat (or comparable tire inflator), spare key, phone charger, and car jack.
Your car isn’t the only thing that may need attention in the case of a breakdown or accident. You’re going to want to have a stash of nonperishable healthy snacks (such as granola bars) and bottled water.
The last thing you’ll want to make sure you have is roadside assistance service. Chances are it’s included with your insurance policy. If not, look into AAA coverage.
Finally, the most important thing to remember about a summer road trip is that it’s meant to be fun. Set yourself up for fun by making sure your car or truck is not going to be the source of any stress. Make sure it’s in good working order and that you have all the supplies needed for emergency situations.
For further assistance with your summer road trip plans, this article on DoItYourself.com offers details on advisable preparations you should take.
For information on how to put together a quality Emergency Kit, read this article from Edmunds.com.
Once you have all that prep done, it’s time to enjoy the open road. We’ll see you when you get back!
OEM Parts: Another Look
If you’ve been following this blog for awhile, you’re familiar with the argument for using only OEM parts in body repair and where we stand on the issue. Nevertheless, insurance companies continue to encourage repair shops to use aftermarket parts in an effort to cut costs. Is it really worth the risk? Check out this video and judge for yourself. Saving money is one thing. Saving lives is another.
OEM Parts: The Video
This isn’t our first blog post about OEM parts. And you can bet it won’t be the last.
As you probably know, Gold Coast Auto Body uses only OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts in every repair we do. The reason is simple: OEM parts save lives.
That’s been borne out by mountains of research and dozens of independent studies. One of the latest comes from national safety advocate Todd Tracy, who conducted a series of crash tests to measure the difference between OEM and aftermarket parts.
The results are detailed in the embedded video. We strongly encourage you to watch, learn, and remember. The difference is significant. It just might save your life.
Paintless Dent Repair – Getting Rid of the Blemishes
Let’s face it. Even the slightest dents aren’t pretty – especially when you are talking about a true luxury vehicle. You want it to look its best all the time. That’s only reasonable. And while little “dings” may seem trivial to the guy driving the car he inherited from his grandmother, for you they’re simply unacceptable.
The good news, though, is that minor dents are relatively easy to repair via paintless dent repair, or PDR for short. As the name suggests, it’s a practice that involves removing dents without requiring a new paint job.
The process is performed by high-end repair shops like Gold Coast Auto Body. The most common kinds of minor dents that can be easily remedied using PDR come in the form of hail damage, creases, and door dings. In some cases, larger dents and bodyline damage can also be fixed with PDR; even dents several inches in diameter can be candidates if the metal and paint have not been stretched.
The way our technicians perform PDR is to massage the dent from behind the panel with specialized tools. Both the metal and the paint are put back to pre-dent condition. Sometimes pushing too hard can result in high spots. Fine tuning of the repair involves tapping these high spots down to a uniform blend with the rest of the panel.
PDR is suitable for either steel or aluminum panels. As long as the original factory finish is preserved, there is no need for grinding the paint off, or filling with body filler, primers, or sealers.
There is a caveat. If your vehicle had previously been in a serious accident that required re-painting of panels, those areas may not be suitable for PDR because of an increased likeliness of cracking or chipping.
However, most high-end vehicle manufacturers now use refined automotive paint finishes that allow for PDR.
If you’re thinking this sounds like just pounding out the dents from the inside, think again. That may have been the case when the technique was first pioneered way back in 1960 by a Mercedes employee working at the International Motor Sports Show in New York, but it’s far from the reality of PDR today.
Precision is the keyword now.
The actual repair all comes down to skill. An average technician will do an average job. At shops like GCAB where technicians are highly trained and experienced, you get the precision you want.
So why is it important that quality repair shops like GCAB offer paintless dent repair? Simply put – it is a less expensive method of repair. This is because PDR is far less time consuming and there are no high-priced paint material costs that are associated with conventional repair approaches.
If those dings on your vehicle are preventing you from fully enjoying your ride, come see GCAB. We’re here to help.
In this article from the National Alliance of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians you can learn more about the paintless dent repair process.
This article from NAPA gives added insight into the history and techniques involved with PDR.
How We Diagnose your Vehicle: Pre- and Post-Repair Scanning
One of the biggest fears that a luxury vehicle owner faces in the aftermath of an accident is the unseen damage. You can see the dents, but what about the things you can’t see?
Enter diagnostic scanning.
Scanning the vehicle is the only way to identify “diagnostic trouble codes, or DTCs.
Just like doctors use MRI and CAT scans to look inside the patient, autobody repair technicians use scanning to see all the functions of the vehicle.
Scanning is performed by hooking up an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) device to the vehicle and generating a computer report of everything in need of repair.
By doing a pre-repair scan and post-repair scan of the vehicle, a high-end body shop like Gold Cost Auto Body can diagnose virtually all components of the auto. We use a pre-repair scan to see what is wrong with the vehicle and determine what repairs to make. With a post-repair scan, we make sure there aren’t any lingering problems that still need to be addressed, and that all the technology we took apart during the repair has been properly reassembled.
If that sounds simple, well, it really isn’t. In many ways today’s luxury vehicles are computers on wheels. In fact, there is so much technology that Malfunction Indicator Lights (MILs) on the dash can’t even come close to reflecting all the DTCs that can be triggered by an accident.
For instance, a 2017 Honda Fit – the automaker’s entry level vehicle – contains 510 DTCS. By contrast, Honda’s top of the line Odyssey Touring Elite features in the range of 1,000 DTCs. Imagine a dashboard that could fit 1,000 indicator lights. That would be overwhelming.
What’s more, vehicle owners are wanting more and more technology worked into the car. And the more technology there is, the more things that could need repair after a collision event.
Let’s talk about bumpers as a “for instance”. Back in the day, bumpers were simple metal pieces mounted on the front and rear of a car to absorb impact.
No more. Now we’re talking about bumper covers that host “Blind Spot Monitoring devices,” “Collision Avoidance Systems,” and other high-tech features.
And that small example says it all. It is no longer a question of if a shop can perform scans on your vehicle, it is truly the only way to offer a complete repair.
This video from Honda (below) provides an excellent definition of pre- and post-repair scanning by comparison to visiting an eye doctor.
This January 2018 article by Rhode Island based Reliable Collision offers a run down of why pre- and post-repair scanning is needed.
Tech Shop Magazine offers their insight, that further explains the details of pre- and post-repair scanning.
And finally, this article in Collision Repair Magazine notes how pre- and post-repair scanning in now becoming a manufacturer requirement of body shops.
Performing pre- and post-repair scans is part of GCAB’s ongoing pledge to our customers to provide the best and most comprehensive service possible. Nobody wants to take their car to the auto body shop, but when you have to go, you want the best bumper-to-bumper diagnostics available. That’s what GCAB delivers.
What to Consider When Insuring Your Dream Car
When you’re a high-end car owner, one of your key priorities is to keep your precious gem properly insured. If anything goes wrong, you want it taken care of to like-new conditions.
With a seemingly endless number of insurance agents to choose from, finding the one that truly has your best interest at heart can be hit or miss. And with a luxury car like yours, you don’t want to miss. For luxury vehicles, off-the-shelf insurance plans are less likely to lead to satisfaction than a personalized policy from a premium agency.
So, where do you find the right one?
In the automotive world the saying ‘birds of a feather, flock together’ is often applicable. Gold Coast Auto Body (GCAB) is a shop you have faith in to do your repairs with premium parts and highly skilled labor. It stands to reason, then, that if asked, GCAB will refer you to an insurer that is every bit a trustworthy.
Thomas Ward Insurance Group is just such a broker, one we at GCAB truly enjoy doing business with.
Thomas Ward isn’t affiliated with a single insurance company, but rather works with several companies to get you the right coverage for your vehicle at the best price possible.
“The reason I am an independent agent is because I am customer-focused. Rather than chasing the mass market, I concentrate on luxury car owners and serving their needs,” states Thomas Ward agent Michael Rice. “I still want to save you money, but I want to do it by providing the kind of coverage that’s right for you and your vehicle.”
There’s that term again: “right coverage.” What is the “right coverage” for a luxury vehicle owner who does a lot of city driving? GCAB owner Dominic Martino weighs in.
“We see way too many people coming in who are frankly underinsured for the kind of cars they’re driving,” he points out. “They get caught up in the ‘lowest price’ game and don’t see the shortcomings of their coverage until it’s too late.”
Michael Rice agrees. “If you crash and total that new $120k Porsche, don’t you want your $120k check?”
This leads directly to all of the factors Thomas Ward Insurance Group recommends high-end vehicle owners take into consideration when selecting an insurance plan.
The first priority for insurance shoppers is the freedom of choice – allowing you, the owner, to go to any body shop you want.
Equally important is the quality of repair. This ties into the freedom of choice of shop. You always want to use a repair facility like GCAB that uses OEM parts – the parts required to repair your vehicle to pre-crash condition.
Finally, you want peace of mind. You want to make sure the premium you are paying each month is for your vehicle’s “Agreed Value” – not Blue Book Value. Agreed Value is a term in the insurance industry wherein the policy specifies the worth of the vehicle up front. That’s something a quality broker like Thomas Ward Insurance Group will ensure you have in your policy.
Also of note, when your car is at GCAB for repair, you’re probably going to want a rental vehicle comparable to the luxury vehicle you are accustomed to. Premium insurance carriers will put you in that same quality of vehicle.
All of which is why GCAB recommends Thomas Ward. Because their agents, and the premium insurance providers they represent, are simply the best fit for our customers.
For additional information on what Chicago drivers need to specifically consider in selecting an insurance plan, see this article on the Thomas Ward website.
If you’re in the position of buying a new luxury vehicle, or replacing a damaged one, see this Thomas Ward blog post on “How to Buy the Right Car For Your Needs.”
Total Loss and Diminished Value Claims: What they mean to you
Overall, auto insurance is a good value proposition for every car owner. The premise is that for an affordable monthly sum, you get peace of mind that if anything happens to your vehicle it will be repaired or replaced.
But for all the benefits they provide, insurance companies can be frustrating when it comes to getting a fair appraisal for total loss claims and diminished value claims.
Understanding these two terms is the first step to getting the most value from your insurance claim after an accident. So let’s take them one at a time.
Total Loss Claims
Insurance companies label a vehicle as a “total loss” when the estimated cost to repair the car or truck exceeds what they deem the vehicle is worth.
According to Auto Claim Specialists, a national public insurance adjustor agency with whom GCAB works on a regular basis, at least 50% of the cases determined to be total losses by insurance companies are incorrectly ruled. This is because of the way that the perceived value of the vehicle is calculated by insurance companies. Remember, they are in business to make money, so sometimes you need to take extra steps to ensure they are doing right by you in all ways possible.
In the case of an accident that insurance companies advocate as a total loss, we highly recommend getting a comprehensive auto appraisal report by an independent appraiser. Such reports provide in-depth analysis of what your specific car was worth at the time of the accident, rather than what cars like yours are generally worth.
The difference can be substantial. In fact, 25-30% of the time your vehicle may actually be deemed repairable and not a total loss. And even if it’s not repairable, you’ll know the real replacement value to ask for.
Diminished Value Claims
“Diminished value” refers to the loss in market value from a vehicle’s pre-wreck fair market value due to damage that requires cosmetic and/or mechanical repairs.
In layman’s terms, this boils down to the fact that a vehicle that has been wrecked and repaired will not sell for same price as a like-kind vehicle that has not been in an accident.
According to Robert McDorman, founder and proprietor of Auto Claims Specialists, 43% of people surveyed would not buy a car that has been in a wreck and repaired. More to the point, 45% would only buy a post-wreck car if the price were deeply discounted.
Which is why in case of an accident where your car has been damaged and the other driver has been deemed at fault, you may be entitled to the monetary difference between the value of your vehicle prior to the accident and what the diminished value of the car is after repairs.
Of course, any accident can be traumatic, whether it is your fault or not. The last thing you need is for your insurance company to add to the trauma. Remember, part of what you’ve been paying them for is peace of mind. Make sure they deliver by correctly calculating the total value of your loss, and paying the full amount you are entitled to.
This article can help you understand your options in the case of a total loss. Similarly, this article will help you understand how to get an insurance company to pay the full amount due in the case of a diminished value claim. If you still have questions, contact GCAB. We’ll be happy to help you navigate the process.
Direct Repair Programs: We Don’t Do Them. Here’s Why.
In our ongoing discussion of auto insurance issues, today’s topic is DRPs, short for “direct repair programs.” In case you’re not familiar with the term, a DRP is a relationship formed between an insurance company and autobody shop in which the insurer guides business to the shop in exchange for adherence to certain service guidelines involving, among other things, labor rates and limits and replacement parts.
The benefits to both parties are self-evident: the insurer is able to control costs, while the shop receives a steady stream of customers. The benefit to those customers, however, is less clear.
The biggest problem is quality. Many shops find the rate structures and labor limits of many DRPs to be incompatible with doing the job right. The same holds true for OEM replacement parts, which few DRPs require.
Another problem is the estimating process. We’ve already covered the inadequacies of photo-based estimating, which nearly all major DRPs rely on. But beyond that is the practice of systematically underestimating work in order to land a given job – often at the direction of the DRP insurer. According to a recent article in Body Shop Business, many shops will write artificially low estimates to “get the keys.” In other words, they are focused on getting your car in your shop and then upping the cost.
That’s not to say that all DRPs are inherently unethical or incompatible with quality work. But we’ve found most to be incompatible with our way of doing business, the caliber of cars we work on, and customers we serve.
Which is why GCAB does not participate in any direct repair programs that in any way compromise our ability to deliver the best possible work at a fair price. We simply want to do every job right – not as defined by a third-party insurance company, but according to the standards of auto manufacturers, our technicians, and of course, our customers. It’s not the easiest way to do business these days. But it’s the best.
The Reality of Photo-Based Estimating
When it comes to repairing your car, you want the best work you can possibly get. But let’s face it: your definition of “best” probably isn’t the same as your insurance company’s. If they’re like most, they’re less interested in quality than they are in speed – or efficiency, as they like to call it. Which can lead them to do things that are downright detrimental to the integrity of the repair process.
Case in point: photo-based estimating.
In photo-based estimating, pictures are taken of the damaged vehicle and submitted for a virtual repair quote. Seldom is the photographer a trained claims adjuster. More often it is you, the car owner, taking the pictures yourself.
While there is the benefit of not having to take your automobile in for an estimate, the positives of photo-based estimating pretty much end there. The process only captures the most obvious damage, and doesn’t measure such important details as angle of impact and energy path at all. And the more expensive the car, the more costly the unseen damage is likely to be.
Of course, that hasn’t stopped more and more insurance companies from jumping on the photo-based estimating bandwagon and using it to help them cut costs – and people. Last year, Allstate alone eliminated more than 500 claim adjusters from their payroll.
During the Collision Industry Conference in Palm Springs earlier this year, naysayers took to the mic to decry the shortcomings of photo-based estimating and claims that it increases efficiency. Several articles in the industry press back them up. According to this report in Body Shop Business, Clint Marlow, director of claims innovation for Allstate, acknowledged that the best way to gain a full scope understanding of what damage has been done is to disassemble the vehicle – not just take a picture. And this piece in Autobody News points out that while a photo estimate may be effective to get the ball rolling, it should by no means be seen as an end-all, be-all solution.
The bottom line is this. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it can’t compare with a hands-on expert inspection of a damaged vehicle. If you’re like most GCAB customers, you’ve made a very significant investment in your car. If it has to be repaired, you want it done right.
Real News About Fake Repair Scheme
It’s that time of year again. No, not the holidays. We’re talking about the fake auto body repair scam that is once again targeting drivers on Chicago’s Near North Side, with phony repairman taking their money and performing “repairs” that do far more extensive damage to their vehicles.
A Channel 2 news team caught the scammers in action and filed a full report that ran on the evening newscast last Thursday (Dec. 20) – their second such report in just a little over a year. Of course, the scam is nothing new to GCAB, as co-owner Dominic Martino points out in the Channel 2 clip. We’ve been alerting city authorities, as well as our neighbors and customers, about the problem for years.
You can watch the Channel 2 clip and read their complete news report here. In the meantime, be extra careful driving around the city this holiday season.
Car Insurance 101
Here at GACB, we always have a lot to say about auto insurance, sometimes good things, sometimes not so good. Suffice to say, it’s a complicated subject.
But you’d never know that from the ads and TV commercials most insurance companies run. The focus is always on the price, never on what you get for it – the quality of service, company reputation, coverage details and so on. All policies are pretty much the same, the thinking goes, so the best one must be the cheapest.
The result, at least from our experience, is that few drivers seem to actually know what’s in their policy. And that can be a huge problem when you have to make a claim.
Consider what Consumer Reports has to say about that in their most recent Car Insurance Buyer’s Guide:
“Claims payment is where the rubber hits the road in car insurance. Your insurer might push you to use shops in a direct-repair program (DRP) or use cheaper replacement parts, rather than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. Tests by Consumer Reports and others have found that some non-OEM parts fit poorly, are more prone to rust and corrosion, don’t always meet federal safety standards, and may not provide good protection in a crash.”
Of course, we’ve already had plenty to say about the OEM problem as it relates to the integrity of the work we do. And in the coming weeks and months, we’ll be using this space to explore some of the other issues we think every driver should be aware of regarding their insurance coverage.
But for starters, we strongly advise everybody who owns a car to get educated about their auto insurance. Start by reading the Buyers’ Guide, then read your own policy, talk to your agent, and if you feel like it, come in and talk to us. It may take more than 15 minutes. But it’ll save you a lot more than that 15% on your next premium, too.
Saving Money vs. Saving Lives
The case for OEM parts and procedures in auto body repair just keeps growing and growing. The latest comes from this report on a series of crash tests conducted as a follow-up to last-year’s historic $42 million jury award against a Texas body shop for their liability in a horrific crash involving a 2010 Honda Fit.
GCAB was among the financial supporters of the tests, which compared new, OEM-repaired, aftermarket-repaired and improperly repaired Honda Fits. The results bore-out what we’ve long believed: that inferior quality parts and repairs can be downright dangerous.
“When there is a 400-800 percent difference in the results, it’s staggering. This could be the difference between broken bones, permanent injuries, life or death,” said Jerry McNee, a New Jersey-based shop owner who also helped finance the tests. Of course, most repair professionals already knew that, he said; he just wishes insurance companies would catch on.
“They make comments like, ‘It’s just a fender,’ ‘It’s in their policy’ and ‘LKQ parts are the same,’” he said. “They’re dictating what they’re paying for to unjustly enrich themselves, but numbers and test results don’t lie.”
“The biggest takeaway of this presentation is that we’re beginning to define what ‘like kind and quality’ means,” said Burl Richards, President of the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) and another test supporter. “We now have scientific proof that shows vehicles are safer when they’re repaired using OEM parts and OEM procedures.”
OEM Certification & Blueprinting
If you wonder why we’re constantly harping about the importance of strict adherence to OEM guidelines, consider the alternative:
In a recent Texas court case, a jury found a local body shop liable for some $42 million in damages, due to faulty repairs that resulted largely from their failure to follow OEM procedures.
That’s something that will never happen with GCAB, thanks to what we call a
“blueprinting process” designed to alleviate friction, prevent failures, and virtually guarantee the proper repair is done to each and every vehicle, each and every time.
That process includes two “non-negotiable” steps that are part of every repair we do, without exception.
1) First, we scan the vehicle before starting a disassembly of the damaged area.
2) Next, we research and gather OEM repair procedures, specifications and bulletins for the vehicle being blueprinted.
As a shop that is OEM-certified in many brands, GCAB enjoys direct access to the best technical information through OEM websites. And we are 100% committed to using only OEM parts and following OEM procedures and recommendations on every job we do. Because in the end, there is simply no substitute for OEM collision repair certification and repair methodology.
COLLISION REPAIR FRAUD ALERT!
A fraudulent auto repair scam has been reported to us by several people along the Elston Avenue / Logan Blvd corridor.
The perpetrators ARE NOT current nor former employees of Gold Coast Auto Body – they claim to deliver repair services at a fraction of the cost of conventional collision repairs.
This is not a legitimate service – please don’t be a victim!
These people ARE NOT employees of Gold Coast Auto Body!
Gold Coast Auto Body will offer a reward to anyone that can provide information, photographs of vehicle, license or perpetrators.
If you are approached by this group, we urge you to report it to the Chicago Police Department as soon as possible.
Scanning Myths Debunked
Are scanning and recalibration the same thing? Does no dash light guarantee no electronic or mechanical problems?
The fact is, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about onboard diagnostics in today’s cars, particularly the high-end vehicles GCAB services. The short video included here tackles a few of the most prevalent scanning myths and offers tips on what to do – and what not to – to avoid potentially costly problems. For more in-depth information, read Mitch Becker’s recent cover article on scanning for Body Shop Business.
Onboard Diagnostics 101: Scanning vs. Recalibration
Since the integration of computer technology into cars began in the 1970s, onboard diagnostic equipment and procedures have played an ever-increasing role in every kind of automotive service, including body repair. Depending on the vehicle’s make and model as well as the type and extent of damage, a given repair job may require a pre-repair scan, post-repair scan and/or recalibration of affected systems.
The key word is may. Not every job requires all three procedures; in fact, some may not need any of them. To understand why, you must first understand the difference between scanning and recalibration on one hand, and pre- and post-repair scans on the other. The short video included here will give you the basics. For more in-depth information, read the following article from Body Shop Business.
GCAB joins in donating to hurricane relief efforts
In a couple of months, when the snow starts to fly and the prospect of another Chicago winter looms, remember Harvey, Irma, and how much more brutal the weather can be.
As our nation contemplates the carnage left in the wake of these two historic hurricanes, the need for emergency relief continues unabated for millions in need throughout Florida, Texas, the Gulf states and beyond.
For our part, GCAB last week made a donation of $5,000 to the American Red Cross in support of the critical lifesaving services they provide to those in need. We strongly encourage you to follow suit by donating to the Red Cross or one of the many other worthy organizations involved in the relief effort.
Please give what you can. Remember, every little bit helps. And every bit of help deserves all of our thanks.
To donate to the Red Cross, click here
GCAB finds big-time value in state-of-the-art frames required for Mercedes OEM certification
“These days, OEM certification is a common direction for shops [facing the] many challenges presented by advances in vehicle technology. For Gold Coast Auto Body in Chicago, IL, OEM certification is a way of life.”
So begins a recent AutoBody News feature showcasing GCAB and Celette, the shop’s supplier of choice for state-of-the-art frame machines required for Mercedes Benz and Tesla OEM certification. The article includes in-depth commentary from GCAB owner Dominic Martino about the value of Celette equipment not just for Mercedes and Tesla repairs but other luxury auto brands, as well.
Read the entire article here
25 Years and Counting
In August of1992, a new auto collision repair business opened in a pair of buildings on North Avenue just East of Sheffield on Chicago’s Near North Side. The name, Gold Coast Auto Body, reflected the shop’s close proximity to the fabled lakefront neighborhood of the same name as well as the caliber of automobiles that would be serviced there. Mercedes-Benz. Porsche. Audi. The “gold standard” of automobiles.
Owner and proprietor Lorenzo Martino knew the territory. Since 1963, he had run the body shop for Loeber Motors, one of Chicagoland’s oldest and most successful Mercedes dealerships. His loyalty was rewarded in 1991 when the Loeber family, needing the body shop space for expansion, supported GCAB’s startup and gave Lorenzo the opportunity to turn his dream of owning his own shop into reality.
He certainly made the most of it. Together with sons Dominic and Mario, who joined the business shortly after opening, Lorenzo soon built GCAB into one of the most successful collision repair facilities specializing in luxury cars. By 2000, they had outgrown the original space on North Avenue, and in August of that year, GCAB moved to a new 50,000-square-foot facility at 900 West Division Street.
And that is where Gold Coast Auto Body remains today. While their father retired in 2002, Dominic and Mario Martino continue to carry on the family tradition of providing Chicagoland’s best collision repair service for the finest automobiles on the planet. They’ve been at it for 25 years – and are looking forward to 25 more!
What’s the significance of “I-CAR Gold Class” certification?
I-CAR is one of the most important organizations in the technical certification field, and inarguably one of the most demanding. I-CAR Gold Class is the highest designation an auto collision repair business can attain, one that assures you that the shop is equipped, trained, and prepared to handle repairs on vehicles incorporating the latest materials and technologies. Only 10% of body shops nationwide currently qualify for Gold Class designation, and Gold Coast Auto Body is one of only a handful in the entire Chicagoland area.
What does it take to become Gold Class? To give you an idea, check out I-CAR’s training regimens for each of the following positions: Refinish Technician, Steel Structural Technician, Non-Structural Technician, and Estimator. As a Gold Class shop, we are required to have technicians on staff who have achieved “Platinum” status – I-CAR’s highest individual training level – in each of those areas. That represents an enormous investment of time and money on our part, but one that’s well worth it for any body shop that aspires to be the best in the business.
What’s the significance of “I-CAR Gold Class” certification?
I-CAR is one of the most important organizations in the technical certification field, and inarguably one of the most demanding. I-CAR Gold Class is the highest designation an auto collision repair business can attain, one that assures you that the shop is equipped, trained, and prepared to handle repairs on vehicles incorporating the latest materials and technologies. Only 10% of body shops nationwide currently qualify for Gold Class designation, and Gold Coast Auto Body is one of only a handful in the entire Chicagoland area.
What does it take to become Gold Class? To give you an idea, check out I-CAR’s training regimens for each of the following positions: Refinish Technician, Steel Structural Technician, Non-Structural Technician, and Estimator. As a Gold Class shop, we are required to have technicians on staff who have achieved “Platinum” status – I-CAR’s highest individual training level – in each of those areas. That represents an enormous investment of time and money on our part, but one that’s well worth it for any body shop that aspires to be the best in the business.
What Makes Working on Tesla Vehiclas So Much Different From Other Cars?
If you own a Tesla, you already that it’s a very unique automobile in many ways, from its unrivaled range and performance among electric vehicles, to its unprecedented perfect 5-star NHTSA safety rating – the highest in the history of automotive safety testing. Both are made possible in large part by Tesla’s aluminum structure and aluminum panels.
Few auto body shops are equipped to work with aluminum, and very few of those are certified to work on Teslas. When the company launched its certification program in 2013, they literally hand-picked the body shops they wanted to work with in each market. Gold Coast Auto Body was an obvious choice for Chicago, thanks to our experience with Mercedes, Audi, and other high-end luxury vehicles that incorporate aluminum structural components.
Even so, earning Tesla certification was a challenge. We had to invest in new equipment and update our aluminum area, and (two) of our auto body technicians spent several weeks in California undergoing intensive training in Tesla’s facilities. Now, as one of the only Tesla Approved Collision Repair Centers in the entire Chicagoland area, we are the clear choice to fix your Tesla.
Is Your Work Covered By A Warranty?
Yes. In fact, GCAB’s lifetime warranty is as exceptional as the work it covers. It guarantees the integrity of all workmanship associated with your job for as long as you own the vehicle, and also honors the manufacturer’s warranties on all parts and materials utilized.
Our warranty terms are unsurpassed in the Chicago area, which is just one more reason to call Gold Coast first for all your auto body needs. Schedule an appointment for a free estimate today, or just stop by to find out more.
Can you help me with a rental car?
We deal directly with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, whose local office is at 930 W. Division, and encourage our customers to contact them a few days in advance of your scheduled work. Their phone number is 312-475-2000.
We also advise you to check your auto insurance policy for rental car reimbursement coverage when your vehicle is in the shop due to an accident. Even if you have such coverage, keep in mind that it may not cover the cost of a vehicle that is a direct equivalent of your own, nor will it necessarily cover the entire period your car is in the shop. In most policies, the dollar amounts stated are “policy limits,” which may or may not apply to your specific situation.
Our best advice is to talk to your insurance agent before you book a rental car. And again, call our friends at Enterprise for service you can trust.
What does your insurance really cover?
If you can’t really answer that question, don’t feel bad. You’re far from alone. It’s been our experience that most drivers know very little about the terms of their auto insurance policy – even what coverages they have – because they haven’t read it.
The good news is, we have – in fact, we’ve seen just about every kind of coverage from every major company over the years, and we can help make sure you get everything you’re entitled to.
That said, you really should read through your policy before you call us to arrange a service appointment. Pay particular attention to the terms of rental car reimbursement. If you have any questions, bring a copy of the policy along when you come in.
Do you use only OEM replacement parts?
The answer to this question really starts with your insurance policy, which is another good reason to read it thoroughly. The fact is, many carriers and policies sanction the use of non-OEM and/or aftermarket (i.e. reconditioned or rebuilt) parts in order to minimize costs. Which is perfectly fine, provided the use of substitute parts doesnʼt pose a safety risk or otherwise compromise the integrity of the work.
In the rare case where thereʼs a conflict between what the insurer will pay for and what we believe is necessary, our technicians will call it your attention and do our best to resolve it with your insurance agent before we start the job. Thatʼs the Gold Coast way.
What Does Certified Really Mean?
If you can’t really answer that question, don’t feel bad. You’re far from alone. It’s been our experience that most drivers know very little about the terms of their auto insurance policy – even what coverages they have – because they haven’t read it.
The good news is, we have – in fact, we’ve seen just about every kind of coverage from every major company over the years, and we can help make sure you get everything you’re entitled to.
That said, you really should read through your policy before you call us to arrange a service appointment. Pay particular attention to the terms of rental car reimbursement. If you have any questions, bring a copy of the policy along when you come in.
Our Customers Weigh In
We take great pride in the work we do here at Gold Coast Auto Body, and we’re not the only ones. Read a few of the recent endorsements we’ve received from thousands of satisfied customers who know first-hand the quality and commitment we bring to every job we do.
