rear ended :-(

[bjd]

Hi all,

I've been a bit of a lurker around these parts and I was hoping to get round to putting some pics of my Z4MR which I got in June but unfortunately this situation has beat me to it.

Today, whilst stationary at traffic lights I was hit in the back, it wasn't a high speed impact but the driver who went in the back of me pretty much admitted responsibility and didn't want any of my details (I got all of his).

I now have small scratches and a 1cm crack in the rear bumper. I haven't tried out the parking sensors yet. My insurance company suggested getting their approved bodyshop to do it but I'm thinking I want it to go to a BMW bodyshop for a look over incase there's something more sinster. If I have a non-approved bodyshop do the work I have to get quotes and approval.

Given the car was in almost immaculate condition and the collision wasn't even my fault, should I be expecting a bumper repair or pushing for a replacement bumper?

Thanks muchy!

Ben

 

[Beedub]

Hey and sorry to hear Abt the car...
When my car had only 1500 miles it was parked in my apartment block, the old gent in the opposite space had a giant s-class and could not drive the bugger, in reversing into his space he caught the edge of my bumper and took a nice chunk off the corner!! I was livid !!! My insurance wanted the car to go to Thier body shop however I sent it to BMW ... I requested I want a new bumper skin, which I got obviously my bump was at park speeds so like under 1mph so I knew the damage was cosmetic only.... Send it to BMW IMO.


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[aquazi]

Hi!

I say take it to BMW and you'll get a new bumper. The approved will probably just plastic weld it.

Which imo will be as good as new but as it wasnt your fault just have bmw sort it for you, and get a replacement bmw from them too while its in repair.

Good luck.


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[Merrsh1]

When it happened to me I rang bmw and they got their agent to take over the claim / chase the other party etc. all I had to do was drop off my car and pick up the temp car at Bmw.

You can have the car repaired where you like it's not upto the insurance company (unless your policy explicitly says not)

It's an absolute pisser when it happens, condolences!

 

[jan_tekin]

When it happened to me I rang bmw and they got their agent to take over the claim / chase the other party etc. all I had to do was drop off my car and pick up the temp car at Bmw.

You can have the car repaired where you like it's not upto the insurance company (unless your policy explicitly says not)

It's an absolute pisser when it happens, condolences!

X2

BMW used Accident Exchanged in my case who were faultless. My own insurance wanted to use there own repairers who are not BMW approved.


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[Merrsh1]

When it happened to me I rang bmw and they got their agent to take over the claim / chase the other party etc. all I had to do was drop off my car and pick up the temp car at Bmw.

You can have the car repaired where you like it's not upto the insurance company (unless your policy explicitly says not)

It's an absolute pisser when it happens, condolences!

X2

BMW used Accident Exchanged in my case who were faultless. My own insurance wanted to use there own repairers who are not BMW approved.


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yup that was who my local dealers used. Very professional.

 

[bjd]

Thanks all, I'll give the BMW bodyshop a call later this morning and see what they say. It's annoying given the damage is quite trivial (I was expecting slightly more damage given the impact, just goes to show how solid these cars are).

I'll keep you all updated..

 

[bigdog]

Nice to hear of another party simply say sorry mate my fault.

 

[Dev]

See if you can get a replacement bumper, and be cheeky - if the damage really is trivial, ask to retain the damaged one as well (you never know unless you try). Being an M bumper, it'll easily sell on here/ebay and earn you a few quid.

 

[Sim_Simma]

Do you have any pics? Bumpers are really flexible and quite often pop back out showing barely any damage but there could be damage underneath. My mum once hit a car infront in a Vectra b, there was no damage on the bumper but it cracked the headlight! The bumper started a good 4 or 5 inches in front of the headlight.

 

[bjd]

I'll get some pics taken today.

I went to the estimators yesterday and they said it would be a new bumper. They pointed out, although subtle, the shape has been distorted which justifies a new bumper.

They also said I should consider using accident exchange which I am going to do as this takes away a large amount of the inconvenience (mainly getting quotes/approvals from my insurers).

All booked in for Thursday.

 

[DPG]

good result in the end. much better than a smart repair.

yeah see if you can keep your old bumper then the vultures on here can fight it out.

 

[jan_tekin]

I'll get some pics taken today.

I went to the estimators yesterday and they said it would be a new bumper. They pointed out, although subtle, the shape has been distorted which justifies a new bumper.

They also said I should consider using accident exchange which I am going to do as this takes away a large amount of the inconvenience (mainly getting quotes/approvals from my insurers).

All booked in for Thursday.

Thats good news

 

[DR-Z]

Similar thing happened to me a few months back (5 series, not Z). Insurance company inststed on using their approved repairer, but there was no question of a repair - new bumper fitted. There was hardly any visible damage to it, but maybe the crumple zone inside the bumper was damaged, as it was quite a whack.

I would insist on a new bumper. Good luck!

 

[GP06Roadster]

I'd check out the "approved repairer", I've had some good and some pretty crap body repairs done on my company cars over the last few years. Avoid those auto restore types who come and stick a tent up on your driveway, had them 3 times for parking dings and the finished result has been poor compared with a good body shop.

Good luck

 

[bjd]

Just wanted to update this thread incase this situation happens to a fellow Z4'er. I dropped the car into the BMW bodyshop and accident exchange delivered an M3 (2 hours late but who's complaining?).

No idea on timescales but I was told it won't be ready before Xmas. Anyone got any guesses as to when I might be able to pick it up? I've no idea on bumper leadtimes, re-spraying etc..

 

[Woots]

If id been given an m3 I wouldn't rush them.....

 

[srhutch]

Just wanted to update this thread incase this situation happens to a fellow Z4'er. I dropped the car into the BMW bodyshop and accident exchange delivered an M3 (2 hours late but who's complaining?).

No idea on timescales but I was told it won't be ready before Xmas. Anyone got any guesses as to when I might be able to pick it up? I've no idea on bumper leadtimes, re-spraying etc..

So many variables to give an answer, but as you have a set of wheels I would not worry. You don't want a rush job.

 

[jan_tekin]

Mine tock just over 3 and a half weeks but 1 and a half was waiting for liability even when the third party admitted responsibility.


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[mmm-five]

Just wanted to update this thread incase this situation happens to a fellow Z4'er. I dropped the car into the BMW bodyshop and accident exchange delivered an M3 (2 hours late but who's complaining?).

No idea on timescales but I was told it won't be ready before Xmas. Anyone got any guesses as to when I might be able to pick it up? I've no idea on bumper leadtimes, re-spraying etc..

Be careful about accepting a 'hire car' for periods longer than absolutely necessary, as the 3rd party can get shirty about you not 'minimising costs'. The M3 I was given for 2 weeks had a headline figure of £350 a day, but everything else was extra (e.g. delivery & pickup costs @ £100 each way, additional driver insurance @ £10/day, business use insurance @ £10/day). After speaking to the bodyshop, it looks like work wasn't even started for about a week (or about £2k of hire car charges have racked up).

If they're not going to get to it until after Christmas/New Year, and your car is driveable, then they should tell you to keep yours until they're ready to start work.

I had the same issue when mine went in for its little scrape, and in the end Accident Exchange settled for about 50% of the claimed hire car cost - and had about 12 versions of the court papers for me to check through over the course of a year. Most of the time even the basics were incorrect in the papers (e.g. county, car, 3rd party).

After it was settled they claim they'd 'forgotten' to add my losses onto the claim (despite me seeing it clearly on every copy of the court papers after the 3rd). But I think they were just trying to keep as much of the settlement as possible.

Also, the insurance policy (included, but at an additional cost) that they claim stops any costs coming back to you if the 3rd party denies liability (or wins the court case) has a little clause which says it's only valid if you support them in the court case all the way. So when little things are put into your statement in the court papers and you ask them to remove them (as they're false or misleading), then they warn you that if they lose due to that it may come back onto you - which means all their costs in the pursuit of a settlement, plus the original claim, will be sought from you.

In the end mine all worked out, but it was only 6-12 months down the line that things started to get a bit ropey, and it was another 6 months after it had been settled (just before court) that I finally got any monies back off them.