Been shunted side on

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hurfdurf

hurfdurf

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So I am sat in traffic when a pub landlord decides to reverse out of her drive way in hew two week old Range Rover, into the side of my car.

:(

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She has asked me not to go down the insurance route and all of her customers gathered round to try and convince me to go with their mate, who to be fair was a lovely guy, and have him do the work for cash to get the car right. He said it would cost £300 for the panel from BMW and he would do the work for her so her £500 excess wouldn't come into play and she would be better off.

As tempting as this was as I did feel sorry for her, my independant garage have said it'll be more like 900 where the side panel has been pushed into and folded over the bonnet and I took it to Dick Lovett BMW's new Bristol bodyshop who pointed out that whilst the door wasn't touched, the impacted panel has been pushed into the door a bit as well so that isn't perfect.

Anyone got any advice? BMW were very professional and pointed out loads of tiny things that the indy's missed. Cosmetically im sure it will be fine, but knowing nothing about cars mechanically, I am a little worried about the impact on the car. BMW also said they had an accident management company, should I take them up on that offer?
 
If she's reversed into you hard enough to cause that kind of damage, surely her brand new range rover won't have escaped unmarked? I can't see why she wouldn't be going through insurance for the sake of her car.
 
IF he can do a good job of it, go for it. It's always best to keep minor stuff off the insurance books if you can. Even though your not at fault they will still hike the premium for the next 5 years :/

There's probably no serious damage, those panels are designed to crumple easily like that. The real problem is if it has bent other panels around it. 300 sounds very low though, especially if they are going to paint it too (which is a job in itself).
 
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For a little scuff, settle it outside of insurance sure but that's a big enough dent that I wouldn't want to be relying on the nice guy who said he can do it cheap to put it back to a state you are happy with. Of course, through an insurer isn't guaranteed hassle free but you have a faceless corporation to harass into fixing it properly not some poor guy who was trying to do a mate a favour.
 
Ouch poor car.

Just ensure it is done properly and doesn't affect any warranties etc you might have. I understand your frustration, will it be done right or a mates "right".
 
Insurance all the way, that's what it's there for. As Kenai said, it's not really a small scratch or scuff.

If she can afford a brand new Range then surely she can't be fussed about the hike in insurance or the excess... unless she's not insured/it's not her car?

I'm surprised the Range didn't have parking sensors bleeping away, well, perhaps it did; scary :o
 
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So parking sensors didn't go off then ? Or is she deaf as well as blind ?

I would go with insurers. Once that panel is off they might find the chassis is bent. You have no comeback if the "mate" bodges it.
 
I'll echo the immediate above, insurance time I feel.

There could be a lot more which needs sorted than meets the eye.

Got to think of hire car and all sorts whilst your is in getting repaired. She probably didn't think of that and the time that you could need it for.
 
Poor car :-(

See...this is what happens when you give women rights hurfdurf! Heh heh. I jest. In seriousness I'd politely decline the offer of this chap doing the work and stick with an approved route you know and trust.
 
NEVER fall for the "my mate will sort it for you", it'll end in tears.

Going by the quote I had years ago for a minor scuff on the front bumper, BMW will charge you easily £2,000 to repair that as it looks like a new wing required, then all the blending in the adjacent panels. Add in the cost of a courtesy car while yours is in the shop.

The money you'll save having a bodge-job will be nothing compared to what you'll lose come to selling your car later, and that niggling thought in your head if the job was done right.

Also, don't be fobbed off with her insurer suggesting that you have it fixed anywhere else other than BMW, it's your rights.
 
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Poor Z4M :(

And insurance every time for something like this, its not a minor paint scuff. Is there any damage under the bonnet? Trying to think what's in that area (tank of something I think).
 
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