First Accident

[nusevad]

So i was just involved in my first accident, hopefully the last. Never been through this before so i figure i hear everyone's opinions and suggestions.

Was stopped at a light and the guy behind me rear ends me.

Hard to tell from the blurry picture but there are multiple puncture holes from his license plate and the tow hook cover is shot.



Any idea on how much it will cost to get it looking like new? Or if anyone knows how much a OEM bumper + paint will be?

I hate to go through insurance and have this on my carfax report. The other guys got insurance but neither of us want this on our histories.

[ES_TRADER]

Go on bmwusa.com and find a BMW certified collision center. Drive there to get your estimate. They will take him to the cleaners.

[Totti]

Sorry to hear mate. Some people simply CANNOT drive.

[KIS]

As I recall, a rear bumper cover and paint is approximately $1,200. If there was damage beyond the cover then it will add up quickly. Good luck.

[rwchrist]

That SUCKS!

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by richpuer

Go on bmwusa.com and find a BMW certified collision center. Drive there to get your estimate. They will take him to the cleaners.

Yea thats what im afraid of, a 4 figure bill the guy cant pay and then im going to have a accident on my carfax.

Originally Posted by Totti

Sorry to hear mate. Some people simply CANNOT drive.

He said hes been up since 4am and was zoning out and he needed to head into the city right after. I told him to go home and sleep. Sleep deprivation is no joke.

Originally Posted by KIS

As I recall, a rear bumper cover and paint is approximately $1,200. If there was damage beyond the cover then it will add up quickly. Good luck.

ouch...

[Martin_D]

Always file a police report and swap insurance. You never know how something so little can turn into something so BIG.

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by Martin_D

Always file a police report and swap insurance. You never know how something so little can turn into something so BIG.

I had a police report done but it was a non-filed report. I have the option to pick it up and send it to the insurance company. I got all his insurance details.


What would you guys do???

[Jaypod]

Sorry to hear. Hope you get it all fixed up without any issues.

[KIS]

Take it to a reputable, well regarded body shop and get an estimate. At this point you're flying blind. Once you have the numbers, you can have a conversation with the guy that hit you and see what he has to say. If he does anything other than reach for his checkbook, then file with your insurance and contact his as well.

[IFX]

Whatever the bumper cost is+ labor to take off the old one, paint and install new one..

It shouldn't be over 2k.

[crackberry]

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by shift@red

OK...i had a similar situation in my Z4M Coupe. Guy literally tapped me in bumper to bumper and couldnt have been going more than 3 mph...the damage was so minor, it wasnt very noticeable. He wanted to pay out of pocket, but I got a police report anyway, just to be sure as he admitted he was trying to get his coffee when he bumped me.
Here is what I did. After I got the estimate of like 3K, he wanted to go through insurance. I didnt call my insurance company, I called his and told them I was hit by one of their insured. Why should I pay a deductible when I am not at fault?
Basically, my body shop was good, and they got his insurance company to replace my bumper and even the hatch of the Z4M coupe. Total out the door was close to 10K for him. I didnt pay a deductible, and his insurance company paid for my rental car for 2 weeks as well.
I suggest calling his insurance company and not yours.

wow 10K?! I will def. me calling his insurance, we swapped insurance, should I have not given him my insurance info because i was not at fault?

I still cringe at the thought that my carfax will show that i was in a rear end collision.

[97X]

Originally Posted by richpuer

Go on bmwusa.com and find a BMW certified collision center. Drive there to get your estimate. They will take him to the cleaners.

JMK BMW's body shop in Springfield on Route 22 is a certified collision center. They did a very good job on my rear bumper cover on my current 328. They were a little out of the way for me, but I wanted to use a "certified" shop so I don't experience any problems when I do my lease return.

I haven't checked recently, but I don't recall seeing many other "certified" centers in Northern NJ. I find it amazing how many BMW dealers in the area have their own body shops, yet they are not certified by BMW.

As far as cost, the new bumper cover, paint and labor was about $1,200 (again, for a 328). As they were fitting the new bumper cover, they found out that my exhaust was whacked out of shape too, so that was another $800 or so. All handled by insurance, including rental of a newish, but bare bones 328 from JMK's on-site Enterprise franchise.

Good luck.

[GOLFFRR]

bummer, never like to see this stuff happen, hope it all works out for you

[mdosu]

$1000 if you keep the current bumper, the alternative is to just get a new bumper, which I would opt for. Either way it still needs to be painted.

The fix is going to sound painful:
1. pull off bumper
2. add filler for the holes and dents
3. sand down filler
4. respray full bumper
5. reinstall everything including your parking sensors and clips that may have broken when they pulled it.

[Seattle S65B40]

1. write a demand letter to his insurer alleging property damage in amount determined by the estimate you receive to do OEM bumper plus paint. Be sure to tell them their insured is 100% liable and that he admitted the same at the scene. Include a copy of the police report (he was cited right?). Include copies of the estimate, and any other costs you incurred (towing, rental car, etc).

2. If you feel even the slightest bit sore, allege in the demand letter that you are in pain and that you are entitled to some compensation for reimbursement of medical expenses in an amount to be determined at trial (go to the doc tomorrow to get checked out and begin treating if necessary).

3. Ask for the full repair amount, costs incurred, plus some amount in general damages.

4. Threaten to file a suit if they don't settle the clam within 15 days.

Obligatory disclaimer: **this advice does not create an attorney client relationship. Independently seek counsel to fully protect your interests**

Good luck and sorry to hear about this.

I think this will end up on carfax most likely, but if you can try to avoid it, do so.

My car was involved in a minor rear end collision before i bought it as the rear ending car (and it said so on the carfax) it was just a front bumper replacement. I got a bit of a deal on it, but it's a great car and didn't dissuade me from buying it.

Save this thread and email it to the future buyer some day. As long as it's all OEM replacement and it's done right, people should not care about this. Everything else is fine, right?

[ihyln]

You are going to definitely need a new bumper. I had my front bumper replaced for far less damage.

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by Seattle S65B40

1. write a demand letter to his insurer alleging property damage in amount determined by the estimate you receive to do OEM bumper plus paint. Be sure to tell them their insured is 100% liable and that he admitted the same at the scene. Include a copy of the police report (he was cited right?). Include copies of the estimate, and any other costs you incurred (towing, rental car, etc).

2. If you feel even the slightest bit sore, allege in the demand letter that you are in pain and that you are entitled to some compensation for reimbursement of medical expenses in an amount to be determined at trial (go to the doc tomorrow to get checked out and begin treating if necessary).

3. Ask for the full repair amount, costs incurred, plus some amount in general damages.

4. Threaten to file a suit if they don't settle the clam within 15 days.

Obligatory disclaimer: **this advice does not create an attorney client relationship. Independently seek counsel to fully protect your interests**

Good luck and sorry to hear about this.

I think this will end up on carfax most likely, but if you can try to avoid it, do so.

My car was involved in a minor rear end collision before i bought it as the rear ending car (and it said so on the carfax) it was just a front bumper replacement. I got a bit of a deal on it, but it's a great car and did didn't dissuade me from buying it.

Save this thread and email it to the future buyer some day. As long as it's all OEM replacement and it's done right, people should not care about this. Everything else is fine, right?

[jaehshim]

dang this's gotta hurt...
was it done at Fort Lee area?
btw... i only drive my NY commuter car in Fort Lee area...lol lots of shit happened to me there...also sneaky cops there too...

hope you find a good price to fix your ride!

[lorenzo12]

Howdee guys I'.m new here but here in the netherlands its al up to insurance just fill out the form and they will do the rest of the job. and done is the case that simpel,

[Caweran]

Sorry to hear that.

Call the insurance company directly, and not his/her agent. The agent will NOT be kind to you nor try to work with you.