AI DamageIn the side of a car there is almost nothing between the impact and the occupants, so the side structure is made of very strong steel and fitted with curtain airbags. The cost of a side impact is set not by the door but by whether the pillar and sill are affected.
Layers of the side area
| Layer | What it is | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Door, wing, mirror | Bolt-on parts | Replacement and paint |
| Door reinforcement | The beam inside the door | Together with the door |
| B-pillar, sill | High-strength steel safety cage | Sectional replacement to the manufacturer's procedure, welding, body measurement |
| Floor, crossmember, tunnel | The base of the body | Jig repair; often not economically viable |
| Curtain airbags, seat side airbags, sensors | Passive safety | Replacement of modules, headliner, often the SRS module |
Signs in the photos
- Door gaps: if the rear door is also out of line, the impact reached the B-pillar.
- The sill under the door: a dent or crease means body repair, not a door replacement.
- A dropped headliner or visible curtain airbags: the SRS has deployed.
- The wheel on the impact side sits at an angle: see Suspension and wheels.
- Compare the left and right sides from the same angles. A mirror comparison reveals displacement that is invisible in a single shot.
How the budget changes
An impact to the door alone is a predictable repair. An impact to the pillar or sill already means welding the safety cage, measuring the geometry and almost always airbags. More on measurement: Body geometry. On airbags: Airbags and SRS.