rear bumper got bumped at limerock park

[byroncheung]

i was at limerock park past weekend for car control clinic. while waiting in line to get onto the autocross track, the guy behind me rear-ended me.

he was in a c43 amg, said the car was new to him and he was confused by the shift stalk and thought he was in park...

nothing structural but some dents on the bumper and some paint cracks... i have got his contact info. do you guys know if his insurance would cover this, given that we weren't actually on the track when this happened?

[R3dliner]

did you get a police report or just contact info?

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

did you get a police report or just contact info?

no i didn't. i know it's not the safest course of action but at the same time i have quite a few other minor fender benders in which i didn't get police report and the other party have acted honest when i try to make a claim against their insurance...

[decaturdad]

Why not say it happened in the Lime rock parking lot? Safer for both of you.

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by decaturdad

Why not say it happened in the Lime rock parking lot? Safer for both of you.

good suggestion. i'm going to get an estimate on how much is it to respray / fix the dents and let the guy to decide if he wants to pay out of pocket or use insurance. definitely a good idea if we decide to use his insurance. thx!

[White 13]

Cost probably will be around $300. If you use insurance company it will show in a car fax report I believe. Cash should not show up on any report.

Might see if you can get $300 to $400 cash and leave insurance companys out of it.

[DSilk]

Even if his insurance doesn't cover it he is liable. It will be to his advantage to make an insurance claim, or risk getting a judgement against him in (presumably) small claims court.

[BOOF-M3]

Do not go through insurance. It will haunt you on CArFax when you go to sell it. Many threads discussing this on here.

[LVI]

Originally Posted by White 13

Cost probably will be around $300. If you use insurance company it will show in a car fax report I believe. Cash should not show up on any report.

Might see if you can get $300 to $400 cash and leave insurance companys out of it.

At a reputable body shop, it'll be closer to $1,500 or more. Dents in the bumper would require either body filler or replacement of the bumper cover. Body filler is likely not what the OP is looking for which means a new cover is in order.

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by White 13

Cost probably will be around $300. If you use insurance company it will show in a car fax report I believe. Cash should not show up on any report.

Might see if you can get $300 to $400 cash and leave insurance companys out of it.

actually i'm not sure about car fax.

i have a few times using other ppl insurance for fender benders and those weren't on carfax last i check...

i think if there is a police report it will most likely end up on car fax. but if it's just insurance then it might not.

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by lawrence1

At a reputable body shop, it'll be closer to $1,500 or more. Dents in the bumper would require either body filler or replacement of the bumper cover. Body filler is likely not what the OP is looking for which means a new cover is in order.

yea the other time i got a quote for respraying the bumper it was more like $1200 at a reputable shop around where i live.

replacement of bumper cover means replacing the bumper? last time the $1200 quote i doesn't even involve getting a new bumper, which i imagine will be just using body filler?

[kscarrol]

With such a low speed impact, likely just the bumper cover. Bumper cover is roughly $600 unpainted. Another $600 for paint... Had this happen as well and it was around $1,200 from the BMW certified body shop used by the local dealer.

[carenthuziast]

Pictures would be helpful.

Also, if you continue to track your car, do you think respraying is a good idea?

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by carenthuziast

Pictures would be helpful.

Also, if you continue to track your car, do you think respraying is a good idea?

well i mostly only get to go to the track 2 or 3 times a year. my car had seen more accidents on daily driving than on track for sure...

attached a picture. a few dents at the upper edge of the bumper and you can also see cracks on the paint, especially in the reflection off the trunk...

[DSilk]

Looks like minor damage to the bumper cap only. Either replace and paint or repair and paint. My choice would be the former.

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by DSilk

Looks like minor damage to the bumper cap only. Either replace and paint or repair and paint. My choice would be the former.

will the cost be about the same?

[kscarrol]

I doubt it. Cost to fill and paint should be less than buying a new bumper cover and paint. But if you think you might ever sell the car, you'd rather have the new painted cover documented rather than a fill and paint job.

[carenthuziast]

C'mon...you're in NY. You should have one of those floppy bumper guards like everyone and their mother.

[kimiraikkonen]

Originally Posted by byroncheung

yea the other time i got a quote for respraying the bumper it was more like $1200 at a reputable shop around where i live.

replacement of bumper cover means replacing the bumper? last time the $1200 quote i doesn't even involve getting a new bumper, which i imagine will be just using body filler?

Reputable shop will want to take the bumper off for sanding and any refiller correction on the plastic bumper. So depending on what zip code you live in, this is probably more in the $900-$1200 range as others have stated.

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by carenthuziast

C'mon...you're in NY. You should have one of those floppy bumper guards like everyone and their mother.

haha would be funny to see a car drive around track with bumper guard flapping around! dynamic aero!!!

[carenthuziast]

Originally Posted by byroncheung

haha would be funny to see a car drive around track with bumper guard flapping around! dynamic aero!!!

Call it a car cape.

[BMWNTHZST]

Originally Posted by byroncheung

i was at limerock park past weekend for car control clinic. while waiting in line to get onto the autocross track, the guy behind me rear-ended me.

he was in a c43 amg, said the car was new to him and he was confused by the shift stalk and thought he was in park...

nothing structural but some dents on the bumper and some paint cracks... i have got his contact info. do you guys know if his insurance would cover this, given that we weren't actually on the track when this happened?

Sorry to hear about this, it sucks I know. I came out from shopping to see my rear bumper was hit hard enough to crack the paint on it

I decided to pay this myself instead of going through the insurance (in Ontario if I don't go report this to the police the incident will be deemed my fault therefore effecting my insurance rate), I also didn't want a claim showing on the carproof for something so minor.
In Canada where everthing cost so much more I'm paying $3K for a new bumper, paint and repair. The repair will be done at a very reputable shop here in Toronto.