If the A-pillar can't be replaced, to retain the structural integrity, the car would have been a write-off.

The whole point of insurance funded repairs is to repair the car to the same condition as pre-accident - unless you've grounds for alleging an incompetent repair then you'll have to accept that the insurers liability is ended, whether it's 3rd party or your insurer that's paying.

Are you sure they are replacing the A pillar and not just pulling out some damage or putting a skin on it? That seems too structural to be replaced IMO but anyway...

The thing is that, while all repairs will done correctly and by trained and competant people (usually....bodyshops vary wildly and some are downright shocking) the cars value will always be affected by repairs like that. If people HPi and it appears for example. To the vast majority of people who would buy it, it will be worth less...no getting around it unfortunately. If it doesnt appear on checks, and buyers arent told, its a grey area of honesty frankly! The insurance company will not compensate you for the difference in value between yours and an unrepaired example because they believe it will have been corrected to 100% standard.

My dad sold a Carlton years ago when it was 4 years old because of similar damage, the car never 'felt' right afterwards.

Edited by countryroads on 06/01/2013 at 19:15