"Definitely worth the hassle, though it took a few extra phone calls."
Yeah, good on you for sticking to your guns. Had something similar happen with my windshield last year—insurance kept pushing aftermarket glass, saying it was identical. But when I asked about the calibration for lane assist and sensors, they backed down pretty quick. Pays to question things sometimes...guess it's true that knowing your policy details ahead of time really helps. Glad you got it sorted in the end.
Had a similar run-in myself last summer:
- Got rear-ended near Little Rock, nothing major but bumper needed replacing.
- Insurance tried pushing a cheaper aftermarket bumper, claiming it was "just as good."
- Did some digging and found out the aftermarket one didn't match factory paint exactly, plus fitment issues were common.
- Took a couple extra calls and emails, but eventually got them to cover OEM parts.
Definitely pays to push back a bit and know your rights...especially when you're trying to keep your car in decent shape without breaking the bank.
Had almost the exact same issue a couple years back—insurance was pushing hard for aftermarket parts, claiming they'd be identical. I wasn't convinced, so I asked around and heard similar stories about paint mismatches and weird gaps. Glad I stuck to my guns because the OEM bumper fit perfectly and matched spot-on. Sometimes it really is worth the hassle of pushing back a little...especially when it's your daily driver and you have to stare at it every morning, haha.
"Sometimes it really is worth the hassle of pushing back a little...especially when it's your daily driver and you have to stare at it every morning, haha."
Yeah, totally get that. Curious though, did your insurance give you much trouble when you insisted on OEM parts, or was it pretty straightforward once you pushed back a bit?
"Sometimes it really is worth the hassle of pushing back a little...especially when it's your daily driver and you have to stare at it every morning, haha."
I see your point, but honestly, for minor stuff I've found aftermarket parts usually do the job just fine. OEM can get pricey fast—was the difference really noticeable enough to justify the extra hassle with insurance?
