My Poor Baby!!!

A

Angie4m

Veteran
 Edinburgh
Today my car took a mighty bump, luckily the sound was worse than the outcome. I luckily live in Edinburgh City Centre, I unfortunately live in a flat and one of the flats in the block is a 'holiday let'. Supposedly they are advised to park up the top or round the back of the car park but this NEVER happens.

So this afternoon the young lads who had been staying over the weekend (who come from Edinburgh it turns out) go to leave and discover a very flat battery as the radio was left on. They let it roll out of the space, then it stopped. I looked out the window to watch two lads pushing it back and next thing, whack! My car stops it! Was fuming......sent the other half down whilst I phoned the police as I didn't know their intentions, add to that they've been on the drink since Friday night.

Anyways I go down stairs to find a popped bumper and a lot of scratches. I managed to pop the bumper back in but still need to adjust it by a small screw which I'll do. Lad has said he will pay for the damage but I've managed to sort most of it. Still a bit work needed on the scratch but a smart repair will be a last resort.

He was genuinely sorry for what happened. Seemed like a new driver and I even gave him a jump start. I'm clearly getting old and mellow. I'm going to phone him to say you don't need to pay for anything. I think he's learnt his lesson after the police arrived.

Not a bad job so far, still a couple of bits to do but I think I can get it all sorted myself.

How the paint was



Bumper still a bit out



How it should look



After a wee bit polishing - going to use something a bit different to hopefully get it out completely.

 
Very kind of you to let him off the hook. It seems superficial but I know how it can feel like a blow to the heart.. Dont worry it will be all nice and new again soon :)
 
That's poor luck :-( how's the fit of the bumper looking? Worth having a body shop check if there are any knackered clips/ brackets? Good work with the polish though.

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Fucking idiots,looks like you've got most of the scratch out,perhaps a very gentle flat with 2000 wet n dry and then a machine Polish will get that last bit sorted
 
He's a young lad, I'm sure the whole experience has taught him a lesson and he was truly sorry for what he had done.

I checked the bumper, clips are fine, managed to pop it back on, it's going nowhere. The adjustment is needed via the screw which I need to access from the wheel arch liner. Can see where it's moved but would like to do it when the light was better. It's been kak weather here.

Glad it's looking a lot better. I just know a smart repair might leave a not so great finish so I would like to try myself first.
 
Lynchy said:
f***ing idiots,looks like you've got most of the scratch out,perhaps a very gentle flat with 2000 wet n dry and then a machine Polish will get that last bit sorted
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That's what I'm thinking. The rest of my detailing gear is at my folks. I'll take it there this week and hopefully get it done.
 
And at least it was my car and not Mikes R32. That would of been smashed headlight as they are glass, damaged bumper and possibly wing and bonnet which is aluminium and I know there is no parts left to sort it. Also glad I wasn't parked too far back as is pushed the car a little and there is a wall behind me.
 
Adamski said:
Gutted for you :(
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Thanks Adam, at least I caught them in the act unlike your unfortunate incident. Just now wishing I had shouted out the window 2 seconds earlier but hey that's life. I've been waiting on it happening all weekend, sadly.

If I had been at the meet it may have been Mikes car and I'm sure they wouldn't have stayed to find out who's car it was.

It's just superficial, nobody was hurt. That's the main thing.
 
Oh no! It's lucky you spotted them and they seemed reasonable and apologetic.

Let us know how you get on with fixing the baby up.
 
What a bunch of dangleberries! You are getting soft in your old age, hope she gets better soon.
 
Thanks guys, I'm going to get it up and have another look underneath and behind the bumper just to be 100% sure nothing else is a miss before I tell the lad he's been very lucky.
 
Well after taking my socket set down with me I realised I needed the bigger kit with spanners. Now all sorted and it's back looking like it did yesterday morning. My neighbours are amazed with the results......they don't realise I've spent a lot of my life fixing cars inside and out and trained as a mechanic in my teens. My need to correct paint and how anal I am about stone chips etc. plus I HATE my car looking damaged, just don't want people thinking I don't care or making assumptions that it's my fault.

Looking good now and I called the lad to let him know he's off the hook, again so polite and apologetic. He even said he had never done that and he couldn't believe he had done it to such a nice car. I just couldn't believe he had made sure he didn't ding the 57 plate modus, then smacks the most expensive car in the car park! That little attention to not hitting the other car even thought the modus had parked sooooo close proved to me he clearly cared about his car even if it wasn't anything special.

 
inkey$ said:
Good job Angie. And kudos for the karma points with the young lad too :thumbsup:
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Cheers :thumbsup: just showing him that not everyone has to be a dick about these things. Good lesson for a young driver to learn and maybe in a few years if that happens to him he will hopefully remember this turn of events. It's not always about hitting someone financially, even though the lawyer across the way thinks it would teach him more of a lesson. Can't see how to be honest and it just wouldn't be right.
 
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