Frame Damage

[MunG35]

Hey all,

Looking to buy a used 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R

Frame Damage reported on the car but title is clear. Owner says it was hit in the right reat quarter. Only 37k on the clock.

How should I go about getting this car? Getting a good deal on the price!

Posted in Nissan thread... got mixed results...

What should I do to ensure the frame is properly aligned and if not, how hard is it to get back to manufacturer spec?

Also, once back to manufacturer spec, is it fair to assume that it will behave as a un-damaged frame would?

Thanks in advance.

[chevcamaro_86]

wow how cheap. i really wouldnt recommend it im sure the car will never be the same no matter what the cost. as an example my uncle rolled his 05 envoy a little more dramatic than getting minorly hit but still screwed up the frame and it was covered by insurance fully so it has been sent in several times to be fixed and every time showing another problem. and it is not the same as before, my aunt and uncle bought the suv new and have had an actual gmc mechanic work on it while they had a loner envoy they really could tell the difference. just my opinion.

[MagicRat]

Often, collision damage varies from one car to the next, so it's difficult to advise you on this specific case.
You can reduce the risk by taking it to a really good body shop, one that has the tools and equipment to straighten and repair unit body cars.

A good shop can measure the car at certain critical points to see exactly where the crash has distorted the structure. Often, the structure can be pulled into alignment, essentially by reversing the forces of the crash.

However, cars are structurally complex and its difficult or impossible to fully correct for all distorsions. Furthermore, straightened metal is permanently fatigued and 'work hardened' which may (but not always) produce future problems. It all depends on the severity of the initial impact.

IMO take the car to three body shops which have the equipment and expertise to do this kind of work. Call your insurance company and ask them which shops they recommend. Get an estimate for each and have a serious discussion with them on the cost of repair, the severeity and the expected results of any repair.
Any decent body shop is familiar with the financial implications of crash damage and should be able to give you an idea of the car's market value, as-is, so you know how much $$$ to offer.

Also, if you have any doubts, do not buy the car...... it's not worth the hassle unless you are sure of what you are getting into.

[MunG35]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

Often, collision damage varies from one car to the next, so it's difficult to advise you on this specific case.
You can reduce the risk by taking it to a really good body shop, one that has the tools and equipment to straighten and repair unit body cars.

A good shop can measure the car at certain critical points to see exactly where the crash has distorted the structure. Often, the structure can be pulled into alignment, essentially by reversing the forces of the crash.

However, cars are structurally complex and its difficult or impossible to fully correct for all distorsions. Furthermore, straightened metal is permanently fatigued and 'work hardened' which may (but not always) produce future problems. It all depends on the severity of the initial impact.

IMO take the car to three body shops which have the equipment and expertise to do this kind of work. Call your insurance company and ask them which shops they recommend. Get an estimate for each and have a serious discussion with them on the cost of repair, the severeity and the expected results of any repair.
Any decent body shop is familiar with the financial implications of crash damage and should be able to give you an idea of the car's market value, as-is, so you know how much $$$ to offer.

Also, if you have any doubts, do not buy the car...... it's not worth the hassle unless you are sure of what you are getting into.

The laser inspections alone are $150-180 per shop... that's pretty steep to do 3 times...

[KiwiBacon]

Originally Posted by MunG35

The laser inspections alone are $150-180 per shop... that's pretty steep to do 3 times...

It's always a tough call buying stuff that needs work.
Will the discount over buying a straight version of the car pay for all needed repairs?

If not, don't touch it.

[UncleBob]

its mainly a question of whether the damage is to bolt on components, or/and to the unibody. Bolt on components are very easy to replace. Damage to the unibody is very difficult to fix.

Also depends on the severity of damage. If the unibody is only slightly tweaked, then you very well might be able to adjust the alignment adjusters to compensate for it.

IMO, you don't need to go to a frame shop to know this, any shop with an alignment machine and a tech that knows how to use it could tell you how bad it is. But its going to be a crap shoot without more details.