Subject: Material type classification, Boron Steel

Make: All

Model: Volvo XC90, Saab, BMW E60, Porsche Cayenne, VW Toureg and others

Year: All

Operation: R&R panels made out of Boron Steel

Time allowance: Mitchell

Motor

ADP

CCC

Date of Inquiry: March 16, 2004

Inquiry (as stated by inquirer)

As Boron Steel becomes more commonly used, it is paramount that the data base identifies what panels are made of this metal. Boron is difficult to repair and required special repair methods, equipment and tools. As an example; “Boron spot welds” require a special drill bit (average cost per drill bit $50.00), with a maximum life of no more than 40 spot welds.

http://www.wielanderschill.co.uk/html/boronsteel.htm

Suggestion to all data providers:

Please, identify in the data base what panels are made with Boron Steel.

Response:

Mitchell - 3/26/2004: We are working closely with the vehicle manufacturers to identify panels constructed of Boron steel. With this information in-hand, we are utilizing notes in parenthesis next to the panel text to identify their material construction as Boron.

MOTOR: 09/20/2004

USIBOR-BTR known as Boron steel is just one of many new type of materials being introduced a vehicle construction. Boron may be added to steel in several areas and the OEM may not identify all components that contain boron. Not only are there are many other new steels all with differing strengths, there are also many new coatings which the steel has been treated with. Coatings such as Zinc, Bonazinc, Granocoating, Aluminated sheet metals etc. This all adds to the confusion over the steels as well as the difficulty in repair.

The identification of plastic components proved to be a very difficult project as these materials were not clearly identified by all OEM’s.

MOTOR supplies crash estimating data for estimating purposes, which includes labor time, part numbers, part pricing and component classification. MOTOR does not include considerations for materials in its labor times; labor time does not take into consideration any allowances for tools and equipment.