Why You Shouldn’t Put off Auto Glass Repaired
You’ve probably been there yourself: You get a rock chip or small crack in your windshield and figure there’s no need to repair it right away. After all, it’s very small and likely isn’t hurting anything.
What you might not know is driving with even the smallest damage to your auto glass can be both costly and dangerous. Below are just a few reasons you shouldn’t wait to have your damaged auto glass repaired or replaced.
The Dangers of Not Repairing Auto Glass
A chipped or cracked window is more than just a cosmetic blemish. It can actually be really dangerous.
Damage to a window can impede your vision while driving. Rock chips and cracks often start out small and expand over time. And if the crack was to find its way into your line of sight or blind spot, you could be putting the safety of yourself and your passengers at risk.
Airbags count on the windshield to absorb impact upon deployment, so compromised auto glass can cause airbags to not work as efficiently.
The Costs of Replacing vs. Not Replacing Your Auto Glass
You may elect not to repair or replace your auto glass right away because you don’t want to have to pay for it. But not repairing or replacing it could actually end up costing you more money in the long run.
Small chips and cracks are often fairly inexpensive to repair and can often be fixed without having to replace the entire windshield. But if you wait until the damage gets worse — which may only take a week or two — it may reach the point to where it needs a total replacement.
Plus, driving with a cracked windshield is a ticketable offense in many states, and you may end up with a fine to pay on top of the cost of repairing the damage.
Auto Glass Repair at Zimbrick
Zimbrick Body Shop does more than just dent and scratch removals. We offer full auto glass service that includes both repairs and total replacements at our Madison, Wisconsin, locations.
Schedule your appointment today for an easy solution to your auto glass needs, and return to the driver’s seat with a clearer picture of the road ahead.
The Truth Behind 5 Common Winter Driving Myths
Winter driving can be difficult, and a car load of the wrong information can make it even more so. Below are five winter driving myths and the real truth behind them.
Engines need time to warm up
Many drivers remain convinced that their engine needs some time to warm up before the drive. But most modern vehicles are perfectly fine to drive within seconds of the engine being started. The reason is that most auto manufacturers have replaced carburetor engines with fuel injection systems that circulate oil and other fluids much quicker upon startup.
You should let air out of the tires
Logic says that a tire with less air will have more rubber on the road at all times and therefore better traction. But science says cold weather will lower tire pressure on its own, and that under-inflated tires are more prone to blowouts, faster wear, and diminished handling. Keep your tire pressure the same as the manufacturer’s recommendations no matter the weather.
There’s no reason to wash your car in the winter
Your car is just getting cleaned throughout the winter with all the snow and ice accumulating on it, right? Not exactly. Your vehicle is constantly getting hammered with corrosion-causing road salt in the winter, which should be washed off regularly. And the snow and ice that accumulates on your car is often full of dirt and sludge from the road, so “wet” doesn’t always mean “clean.”
All-season tires are just as good as winter tires
As their name suggests, “all-season” tires should be plenty sufficient for wintertime use. But in order to cater to all four seasons, compromises have to be made in the design of all-season tires. So while they provide improved traction in light snow and mild winter conditions when compared to standard tires, they are not designed for deeper snow, ice, and near-freezing temperatures in the same way that dedicated winter tires are.
4-wheel drive is winter-proof
There’s no doubt that a 4-wheel drive vehicle can have an easier time fighting through unplowed roads. But a 4-wheel drive vehicle has no better stopping abilities than a 2-wheel drive car, and braking is the most important quality in winter conditions. Too many drivers allow themselves to have a false sense of security with their 4-wheel drive vehicle, which in turn leads to even more dangerous winter driving.
Call on Zimbrick
One thing that’s no myth is the quality of service and craftsmanship you’ll find at Zimbrick Body Shops. Should you happen to get in a fender bender this winter, call on the experts at Zimbrick Body Shops in Madison, Wisconsin, to restore the damage and get you back on the road safely and as soon as possible.
With our contactless estimate, you can get a quote for your car’s damage right from your smartphone. Let Zimbrick dispel the myth that good service is hard to come by.
How to Winterproof Your Car
Winter weather presents a range of driving challenges. But it’s not just road conditions to be aware of. Your car also needs protection from the weather itself. Below are some ways to winterproof your car to protect it from the elements and escape the winter unscathed.
Park inside
If at all possible, park inside a heated garage or at least under a carport. The more you can limit your car’s exposure to cold temperatures, damaging sleet and moisture, the better. You’ll reduce the risk of rust and damage and extend the life of your battery and other parts. If you have no other option, consider using a car cover.
Wash and wax
Take advantage of the days when the Mercury rises above 32 degrees. Winter is not often seen as the season for washing and waxing vehicles, but it’s the best way to rid your car of corrosion-causing salt that accumulates on the body while driving on winter roads.
Replace your blades
Your windshield deserves some protection, too. Invest in a new set of winter wiper blades, and don’t forget the back window if you drive a hatchback or SUV. A cold weather washer fluid will ensure your wiper blades don’t freeze up when you need them most.
Inflate your tires
Tire pressure decreases in cold temperatures, which can lead to a decreased lifespan of the tires and poor fuel economy (not to mention the safety risks). Check your tire pressure once a month, and top off as necessary.
Top off with antifreeze
Antifreeze keeps the water in your radiator and engine from freezing up in winter and helps prevent damage to engine parts. Oil changes are a good time to top off your antifreeze level.
Get Help From Zimbrick Body Shops
Should you encounter any damage to your car’s body or paint resulting from freezing rain, rust, or a wintertime fender bender, lean on Zimbrick Body Shops for help. Our experts can assist with dent removals, car paint, collision repair, and more.
Learn more about our services or schedule an appointment today. Winter only comes once a year, but Zimbrick Body Shops are always here for you.
Why You Should Choose a Certified Repair Facility
You might consider the location, price quotes, or turnaround time of various collision shops when deciding where to take your car for repairs after damaging it. But the thing you should really be considering is certification status.
A certified repair facility is one that’s specifically trained by a vehicle manufacturer to repair cars according to that manufacturer’s recommended specifications. And there are several reasons why you should choose a certified repair facility like Zimbrick Body Shops following a collision.
Reasons to Choose a Certified Repair Facility
Below are five reasons why you should choose a repair facility that’s certified by your vehicle manufacturer.
The work will be done correctly
You never know what kind of improvisations or cut corners you might find at a facility that’s not certified. Technicians at these shops are typically finding a way to perform the repair any way they know how. And their way of doing things may go against what is determined to be the proper way of doing it according to the very manufacturer who designed and built the car to begin with.
Certified technicians, on the other hand, will repair the vehicle exactly the way the manufacturer wants it, ensuring the car is as good as new when it leaves the shop.
The proper parts will be used
A certified repair facility will only use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts or those approved by the manufacturer. This guarantees that your vehicle will be outfitted with parts that are certified for performance standards and fit exactly as they are designed.
A collision shop that’s not certified might use parts from other makes and models and just “make them fit.”
Warranties are kept in place
In many cases, a warranty is voided if any repairs are performed by a technician who isn’t certified by the manufacturer or if any uncertified parts are used. Visiting a certified repair facility can help keep your warranty valid.
Certified technicians have the proper training
Certified technicians undergo training at various intervals to keep up to date with the repair standards of the latest makes and models on the road. If you have a newer vehicle, a repair shop that’s not certified by the manufacturer may not know exactly how to fix it and could open you up to risk.
Safety and performance will be protected
Having your car repaired at a certified repair facility ensures the safety and performance of the vehicle are kept intact. When repaired at a shop that’s not certified, you may be getting back on the road in a car that’s less safe and less efficient than before.
Choose Certifications. Choose Zimbrick.
The three Zimbrick Body Shops in Madison, Wisconsin, are all certified to repair the following makes of vehicles:
- Acura
- Audi
- BMW
- Buick
- Chevrolet
- GMC
- Honda
- Hyundai
- INFINITI
- Mercedes-Benz
- MINI Cooper
- Nissan
- Volkswagen
Schedule an appointment at your nearest Zimbrick Body Shop, and rest assured that your vehicle will be repaired the right way and returned to you safe, efficient, and good as new. Because that’s the Zimbrick way.
Observe Fall Car Care Month With Us
Just like we dig out our cool weather clothes and bring in the patio furniture, there are certain steps to take with your car each fall in order to prepare for the changing season. October happens to be Fall Car Care Month, so it presents the perfect time to do a little annual maintenance.
How to Observe Fall Car Care Month
Below are some of the things you can do to observe Fall Car Care Month and prep your vehicle for the cooler weather.
Repair Any Paint Damage
It’s advised to repair any chips or scratches in your vehicle’s paint job as soon as possible. At the very least, have those blemishes fixed before winter rolls around. When paint is stripped away, the bare metal of the body is left exposed to the elements. Two of the biggest causes of vehicle rust — moisture and road salt — are both heavily present during winter.
Fix or Replace Broken Glass
Cold causes everything to contract, and glass is no exception. Any rock chips or cracks that you may have picked up over the summer can become susceptible to breaking even further when the mercury drops and the glass becomes more stressed. Inspect your windows and mirrors and address any damage.
Find a Trusted Body Shop
Finding a trusted body shop is even more critical when the weather starts to turn. Dent repair can be more challenging in cooler temperatures because cracks to the paint or the metal itself can occur if dents are pulled up when the body is too cold. Find a good collision repair service provider like Zimbrick Body Shop that can perform paintless dent repair and fix any body damage the right way.
Schedule Your Appointment in Madison, WI
Kick off Fall Car Care Month with a trip to Zimbrick Body Shop on Beltline Highway in Madison, WI. We’ll help your car recover from summer and prep for the cold, all in a way that’s easy and affordable. You can even receive a contactless estimate for your vehicle’s damage without ever leaving home.
Schedule your appointment today so we can take great care of your car this fall.
How We’re Putting the Safety of Our Customers First
At Zimbrick Body Shops, we’re always working to repair your car and make sure it is safe to drive. And now we’re making the way we work is safer as well.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has called on changes to the way we all live, we’ve answered by changing the way we work. Read about all the things we’re doing here at Zimbrick to keep our customers safe.
Contactless Service Procedures at Zimbrick
Masking Up
All of our employees are wearing face masks in accordance with local mandates and CDC guidelines, and customers will be reminded to wear a mask upon entering the building.
Keeping Our Distance
We’re practicing social distancing and using appointment times to limit the number of people in our facility at any one time. When you sit down with one of our friendly associates, you will be separated by a Plexiglass barrier for added protection.
Disinfecting
We are continually disinfecting the high-touch areas of our facility along with every vehicle that is handled by a customer or employee. Vehicles in our rental or sales fleet are properly sanitized before each test drive. Our service department is disinfecting every vehicle they repair upon receiving it and again before returning it to the customer.
Virtual and Touchless
You can request a repair estimate simply by sending us photos of your car’s damage and filling out a short damage report right from your smartphone.
Following CDC Guidelines
All of our employees have been educated on the CDC’s guidelines for safe business practices and are adhering to the advice of health experts at all times.
Collision Repair the Safe Way in Madison, WI
The pandemic has gotten in the way of a lot of things. Don’t let it get in the way of you repairing your vehicle. Contact our nearest body shop today to see how you can receive safe and quality service. At Zimbrick, we remain committed to the safety of our customers and are here to serve you by whatever means necessary.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
Dealing with a car accident can be an overwhelming and scary experience. Not only can they cause an immense amount of damage to your personal property, but some auto accidents can even result in injury.
In the heat of the moment, there is so much to think about, and so little time to do so. That’s why we at Zimbrick Body Shops took the time to assemble this list of six things to do in the unfortunate event you’re in an auto accident.
6 Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Make the scene safe
Once it’s safe to do so, get your vehicle out of the line of traffic and park somewhere safe, such as the shoulder of the road. If your car is unable to operate, put your hazards on so you can alert other drivers to steer clear of the accident area.
Check for injuries
After you’ve stopped your vehicle and moved to a safer location, take a breather and check on everyone involved in the accident, both in your vehicle and the other driver’s. If you’re unsure of the physical well-being of the accident’s participants, call an ambulance.
Exchange information
Once the safety of the vehicles and its passengers have been accounted for, you need to exchange information with the other driver. The necessary information includes, but is not limited to:
- All names of involved passengers and drivers
- License plate numbers
- Insurance information
- Make and models of the cars
- Location of the accident
- Information from any eyewitnesses
If you need help remembering, feel free to print out and keep our accident checklist in your glovebox.
Call the police
Even if there are no serious injuries, you’re sure you’re not at fault, and you’ve already exchanged information, you need to call the police. The police will help provide an official, accurate record of the accident for insurance providers, as well as help maintain the safety of the situation.
Document the accident
Whether it’s from a mobile phone or a dashcam, having pictures of any incurred damages to your vehicle and person will be invaluable going forward. Taking photos of the accident scene is also a good idea, as it will remove the burden of having to recall such details later for insurance providers.
Don’t be too hard on yourself
Car accidents are a very stressful situation for those involved, so mistakes and missteps are bound to happen. If you feel like you didn’t do enough in taking care of the situation immediately after the accident occurred, don’t worry — it’s not the end of the world.
The most important step in all of this is for you to trade insurance information with the other driver. If you don’t, you’re unlikely to get assistance from either person’s insurance company in paying for damages.
Call on Zimbrick Body Shops in Madison, WI
We know the feeling. That’s why we’ve made the process of getting auto repairs as seamless as possible.
If you’ve just had an auto accident, bring in your vehicle to our technicians at Zimbrick Body Shops. We not only repair vehicles after collisions, but we treat them to a full, original-factory condition restoration.
Current events are changing the way we do business. Our main goal is to provide you with excellent customer service while maintaining the safety of you and our workers. That’s why we are now offering contactless estimates and repair services. Continue reading to learn more.
Our New Contactless Repair Services
How to Request a Body Shop Estimate With Your Smartphone
Using your smartphone or mobile device, access our website — www.zimbrickbodyshop.com — and scroll down until you see our 3 body shop locations. Choose the location that is most convenient for you and find the “Request an Estimate” button for that location. Once you select this link, you will be prompted to fill out a series of fields.
First, you will need to accept the terms of use and privacy policy of the Carwise website. There is no app to download — everything is processed through this website, typically opened through the Chrome Browser. It only works through a mobile browser with authority to use the device camera.
Next, you need to provide your name and have access to your vehicle so you can locate the VIN (vehicle identification number). A guide will help you find this number, typically found inside the driver’s door. Once you find it, you can scan it with your phone camera or you can type it in manually.
Then, you will be asked the location of the damage and prompted to start taking pictures of your vehicle. The system is very helpful with guiding you through the photo process. It will lay out a silhouette to line your car up with as you take photos of all four corners of your vehicle.
After the corner photos are taken, a prompt will ask you to take photos of the damage you wish to have assessed. First from the center, then from the left, and again from the right. These photos are to help our estimators see the depth of the damage. Remember, what you can see in person (or 3D) does not always show up on a photo (or 2D).
Finally, it will ask if you have any more comments to share with your estimator. For example, how the damage occurred, what you want fixed, or even how you want it fixed. You will also be asked how you want to receive the estimate and if you have a preferred method of contact.
Once we receive this information, we will quickly assess the damages. We will then call, text, or email you with your estimate so that you can review and schedule an appointment at one of our locations.
What to Do on the Day of Your Appointment
On the day of your appointment, pull directly into the body shop drive but remain in your vehicle until instructed to step out. If you would prefer to drop your car off after hours, please leave your keys in the night drop box. Your estimator will keep you updated via phone, text, or email. Payments can also be made over the phone to minimize contact between you and the staff.
Schedule Contactless Repair Service in Madison, WI
If you need to schedule glass or body repairs for your car, contact us at Zimbrick Body Shop. We will continue to adapt as conditions change to ensure we can still serve you effectively while keeping you and our service team safe. Give us a call or schedule an appointment online today.
Zimbrick Takes Home Gold in “Best of Madison” Poll
News Release
Madison, WI
Madison Magazine readers have spoken, and the decision is unanimous: good as gold. Zimbrick Body Shop, a member of the Zimbrick family of dealerships, was recently awarded a gold star for the category Auto Body Repair in the 39th annual “Best of Madison” readers poll.
This year’s poll was themed in the spirit of the Roaring Twenties to coincide with the year 2020. With this distinction, Zimbrick joins the company of 572 other winners throughout Dane County.
On behalf of the entire Zimbrick family: Thank you to everyone who voted this year.
About Zimbrick
At Zimbrick Body Shop, we take this honor as an obligation to serve our community to the fullest. We’re proud to address the collision repair needs of our customers in a courteous, timely, and cost-effective manner. Whether you need dent removal, glass repair, car painting, or something else, we’re there for you from estimate to delivery.
Our locations at Fish Hatchery Road, High Crossing, and Stoughton Road are ready to assist you today.
The current health crisis is changing the way we do auto body repair. To ensure we’re providing the safest services possible, we’re complying with all CDC regulations and will continue to adapt as the situation unfolds in the months ahead.
Continue reading for a detailed look at what changes are taking place to protect the health of our staff and customers.
Touch-Free Estimates, Drop-Offs, and More
How to Request an Estimate
If your car is in need of repairs due to a collision, weather damages, or other circumstances, you can schedule an estimate appointment at any of our three locations, or you can request an online estimate from the convenience of your own home.
Simply access our online tool by using a compatible mobile phone device, and the tool will walk you through every step. First, it will request your contact information and some basic information about your car. Once this step is complete, it will allow you to enter details about the damage and will even let you submit pictures of the affected area.
Once your request is received, our team will assess the damage and respond to your request via call, text, or email with your free estimate.
What To Do When You Arrive
At the time of your appointment, pull into the body shop drive but remain in the car until given further instructions. You may be asked to step out to allow our technicians to check your VIN number and mileage while maintaining safe social distance.
If you would prefer to drop off your vehicle for repairs after hours due to a scheduling conflict or to help minimize contact with staff and other customers, then please drop your car key in one of our night drop boxes.
You will receive updates regarding your estimate or repairs via email, text, or phone call so that you can stay up to date on the timeline of your repairs. Even payment can be completed over the phone to ensure as little contact as possible for the safety of you and our staff.
Schedule an Estimate or Repairs in Madison, WI
Take advantage of the convenience and safety precautions available to you today at Zimbrick Body Shops. Our top priority is to provide excellent customer service while maintaining the health and safety of you and our staff. Schedule your next appointment today.
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
- Windshield Repair in Madison: When a Chip Can Still Be Saved vs. When You Need a Full Replacement
- Paintless Dent Repair vs Traditional Dent Removal: Which One Do You Need?
- 5 Signs Your Car Needs Professional Dent Repair in Madison, WI
- The Complete Guide to Auto Body Repair: What Every Driver Should Know
- Why Choose Paintless Dent Repair for Your Car in Madison, WI