Accident this morning. No injuries but painful damage to car.

I was in a fender bender this morning at a four way stop sign. Totally my fault and I feel like an idiot. It was very slow speed so there were no injuries to me or the other driver, but I'm in great pain over the damage to my wonderful car. It appears largely cosmetic but I won't know until the appraiser shows up. I can drive the car just fine but with the front bumper hanging loose that's not a good idea. Looking at the hood it does not appear to align properly so perhaps some damage to the hinges/mounts.

As the accident happened only 1/2 mile from my house I did manage to drive back home, where the wounded car is sitting.

Anyone want to guess at the cost of repairs? I'm figuring $5,000 to $10,000, likely on the high side of the range.

Johan said:

Ouch. I feel for you brother. Will you get the Service center to look at it?

Click to expand...

I've been in touch with Service. If there's no structural damage I can have it repaired any place I want. If structural I have to have the work done at a Tesla approved place in Rockville or Annapolis.

The frunk lid is slightly damaged at the lower right end but it works just fine. The guts of the frunk seem ok. The right headlamp cover is cracked. The crash bar behind the nose cone is slightly dented on the right side. Most of my mods survived intact -- radar and laser sensors, lighted T, Oznium controller for the T. My EZPass transponder, which was on the front of the crash bar, is toast.

On the bright side, now I get to see what's behind the bumper

I'll take some more photos.

Thanks everybody. I have to be grateful that I or the other driver was not injured. Most of the mods can easily be replaced. And there was no damage to the front camera. With the camera switch almost ready, I won't be adding parking sensors. With the front camera they won't be needed.

Vger said:

We had a fender bender to the rear recently. The cost was $6k+ at a Tesla-approved place in Vancouver. In our case the biggest cost was replacement of the whole lift-gate shell, even though it was just dented in several places. That was deemed required not just aesthetically, but because the crash structure inside the gate was damaged. I imagine you will have similar issues. If the steel bumper is considered compromised and could endanger you in a subsequent more violent front-end collision, Tesla will want it replaced.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I assume that the crash bar has to be replaced. If the appraiser didn't think so I'd insist on it. Still waiting to hear from the appraiser. While I've been waiting I've taken the opportunity to get all the ducks in a row for the repairs.

ibcs said:

My Signature S was hit in the driver quarter panel causing a cut in the aluminum. Final paint matching and repairs were $5,300. I'd say your pushing 10k from the pictures. On the bright side the insurance can only use approved service centers and they do a fantastic job making your Model S beautiful again.

View attachment 38296

Click to expand...

That's a nasty tear. Was the aluminum panel replaced or repaired?