Hit and Run.

N

NeilP

Veteran
 North West London
So some scrote hits my mum's 335i yesterday and didn't bother leaving any insurance details.

Damage to the front bumper is reparable but it will need a new wing and possibly a new undertray as that's got a nice crack in it. There doesn't appear to be any structural damage, just cosmetic.

was wondering if anyone had any ideas regarding getting the car repaired.

Given that admiral want to charge me 85.90 to lower my car <5cm, I'm not sure how they'll react come renewal time even when NCB is protected.

edit: a picture after I attempted to push everything back.


Ouch. by NeilllP, on Flickr
 
Whether you claim or not, the premium will go up anyway as they ask for any claim or losses, which this one is.

So it is just a straight calculation on whether the excess exceeds the repair costs, and from your description that won't be the case.

In other words - claim.
 
I'd find a local bodyshop with good reputation and ask them to quote you for the work and get an idea of exactly what needs doing...

Then weigh that cost up against what the insurance excess is and the potential insurance premium increase for the next 3 years for what they will class as a fault claim. Although you don't lose your no claims, your premium will still be affected.

As a decent and relatively new car, I'd be inclined to get the job fixed properly though. Hit and run's are just a PITA :x
 
Had same a couple of years back in Newark station car park, someone reverses into me, then drives off. Ended up getting it repaired myself as it cost less (£150), but as I reported it to the Police (CCTV available, not pursued by Police... great) it had to be stored on my profile with the insurance company - am sure it bumps up the premium :roll:
 
All you good folk in Britain really need to get after your insurance companies and the politicians they buy. As the reason that folks do run after accidentally hitting someone's car is plain and simple. Your insurance climate in England seems to encourage hit and run. It seems to me that English auto insurance is there only to fulfill a legal requirement. Not to actually serve as a cover for accidents. And the insurance companies get apoplectic should you use the policy for what it was intended. In the US. I have never heard of one's policy going up because of a claim by a victim of a hit and run.
 
There's a place in Peckham, gold motors, give them a call and say Rob with the silver z4 put you onto them. Ask them for a cost to supply, paint and fit a new wing and blend repair the bumper. Say you're going outside of insurance so will be paying cash. They're quite reasonable.

You'll have to email them a few pics after you call.
 
it's in the High Street.

Go visit some of the shops, explain the situation & ask if it would be possible to view their security footage if it covers this area.

Even the Council may have a camera covering that stretch.

DO IT NOW BEFORE IT''S SCRUBBED & DELETED...
 
Thanks for all the advice!

We looked around at local shops and only one had CCTV, they said they'd look at the footage for us and get back to us later on today. Good shout on the speaking to the council Jembo!

bigdog, we had the same discussion on another forum after I said I felt violated for paying so much to lower a car less than 5cm when they'll just pay to return the car to standard.

Personally I've always viewed insurance as a legal requirement more than a useful tool.

Getting a quote from my bodyshop later on this week and will weigh costs up from there. There was a wing on ebay for £150 (right colour and such) so depending on how much the repair is on the front bumper it might be viable to fix privately.
 
This makes me so angry... Happened to me twice on my Z.

I would say at a guestimate its atleast £500 damage... Unless you can source the wing from breakers in the right colour... Save yourself alteast £350.

Also looks like the headlight may be damaged too... Its certainly got some clips misalligned/ broken.

Are the wings plastic? How did it break like that?

Depending on your excess maybe easier to go through the insurance though.


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Remember as well that a criminal offence have been committed (failure to stop). Report is to the police, they will have greater powers than you in requesting CCTV of the incident. Doesn't mean you shouldn't try to find CCTV fottage yourself though.

As other had said insurance is going up regardless as you have a loss even if you don't claim. Legally you should declare it, if you don't your insurance maybe invalid regardless of if you calimed or not. As you have protected NCB then it won't make a difference to that. Also be preapred to move insurance companies on renewal if you claim as your extisting insurance has a loss they will want to try and claim back, and a new company will not have that loss.

Another reason for claiming is that your insurance company will hopefully be motivated to reduce thier loss by attempting to pursue the offender. They may well request CCTV etc. At least they should is loss adjuster is doing thier job.
 
aquazi, the wing is plastic, pedestrian friendly and such. The headlight isn't damaged itself, just has poped out from its braket. Will be taking a proper look tonight.

Thanks for the advice Sketchley! Called up the council today and they said it would be £60 to look at the footage with no guarantee that the camera was facing the right way. We called 101 as soon as we found out the damage and filled in all the paperwork yesterday.

95% will be going via the insurance company now and come renewal time, there will be a lot of haggling with Admiral (as they've been consistently the cheapest for both our cars for a few years now - not to mention they are always happy to wave the admin fee whenever I've had to call them up! :rofl: )

Thank you to all for your input!
 
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