Minor scratch on bumper

pineapple*soul

Hey guys, wonder if you can help me out here.

I had a very minor 5mph collision with into the back of a fairly new VW and caused a small mark on their bumper. I took the blame and we exchanged insurance details, but I said I'd pay the cost of the repair myself.

A few days later I get a call saying that the repair shop recommended to her by the dealership would fix the damage for €360, all in all I'm to pay her €400 when you factor in the cost of renting a car.

Now I'm thinking this is a bit much, and having viewed a few videos online I think I could probably repair the mark myself for a fraction of the cost. As long as I get the correct colour code from under the bonnet of the car I'm golden.

What do you think of the €360 repair cost? And do you think a pleb like me could do a proper job on it?

Shane732

pineapple*soul wrote: »

Hey guys, wonder if you can help me out here.

I had a very minor 5mph collision with into the back of a fairly new VW and caused a small mark on their bumper. I took the blame and we exchanged insurance details, but I said I'd pay the cost of the repair myself.

A few days later I get a call saying that the repair shop recommended to her by the dealership would fix the damage for €360, all in all I'm to pay her €400 when you factor in the cost of renting a car.

Now I'm thinking this is a bit much, and having viewed a few videos online I think I could probably repair the mark myself for a fraction of the cost. As long as I get the correct colour code from under the bonnet of the car I'm golden.

What do you think of the €360 repair cost? And do you think a pleb like me could do a proper job on it?

Did you take a picture of the damage?

I don't think she'd let you near the car anyway....

For €360 you could nearly get a new bumper put on to it. The repair prices from main dealers are a joke.

Owen

Please don't try to repair it yourself, it'll look terrible. And I'm not saying that to be an asshole, but it honestly will look terrible.

Shane732 wrote: »

For €360 you could nearly get a new bumper put on to it. The repair prices from main dealers are a joke.

360 sounds about right from a normal bodyshop. If they were supplying a new bumper and painting it, you'd be talking a lot more. A main dealer didn't quote him, a bodyshop recommended by the dealer did, so the price isn't a main dealer rip off. In fact, it's better than some places I've heard quoting recently.

Atlantic Dawn

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Please don't try to repair it yourself, it'll look terrible. And I'm not saying that to be an asshole, but it honestly will look terrible.



360 sounds about right from a normal bodyshop. If they were supplying a new bumper and painting it, you'd be talking a lot more. A main dealer didn't quote him, a bodyshop recommended by the dealer did, so the price isn't a main dealer rip off. In fact, it's better than some places I've heard quoting recently.

Exactly, also consider you have to return the car to it's state pre accident, you will not be able to do this yourself, even the pros don't always get it 100%. €360 sounds good to me too.

Nonoperational

Not much more needs to be said - paintdoctors post is spot on. Not a bad price for a bodyshop. The only chance is if she'd let one of the lads like paintdoctor at it. Would work out cheaper.

pineapple*soul

PaintDoctor wrote: »

360 sounds about right from a normal bodyshop.

I don't see how the 1 hour or so of work + materials could possibly equate to €360.

Owen

pineapple*soul wrote: »

I don't see how the 1 hour or so of work + materials could possibly equate to €360.

Well, there's a lot more than 1 hour for a start. And you're forgetting time, materials, labour and profit have to be factored in.

The bumper will have to be dismounted, and all the trim pieces taken off. 20 minutes for that on it's own. Then comes colour identification, least 10 mins for that - just because there's a colour code doesn't mean you have the exact colour, some colour codes have up to 20 individual shades over the lifetime of the colour code. Then the damage has to be sanded away, filled - 20 minutes for each coat of filler to dry, and it may take 2/3 coats of filler to get the finish just so. We're up to a minimum of an hour already, and the bumper hasn't been primed, paint hasn't been mixed or sprayed, or dried, lacquer hasn't been mixed, or applied, and the bumper hasn't been left to bake in an oven either. And the ovens cost a fortune to run.

Then, there's the flatting and polishing after the lacquer has dried to get the glass finish, and remounting it all up.

Honestly, you get what you pay for. There's a world of difference between an aerosol for 5 euro sprayed onto a glossy lacquered panel that then dries matt and can be seen a mile away with a colour that might not even match, and a job done professionally, slowly, and meticulously.

anewme

I have a new car and if someone damages it, I would expect it repaired by my nearest main dealer to ensure the car is put back to its brand new state. If it needed a new bumper so be it.

I would not be arsed ringing around the houses either and would certainly not let an amateur next or near it.

I am fussy about my car as have paid a lot of money (35k)for it and want to keep it perfect! Not going to let someone with a 5 aerosol start spraying it.

They would be given the option to pay directly or go through insurance. Prangs happen of course, but on a new car would expect repair to be carried out by main dealer.

With all due respect to the OP, it is not really your place to start saying well it would not take me an hour, etc, unless you work directly as a body repairer and are qualified to fix the damage.

Personally, 360 does not seem expensive to me either.

Andrew Campbell

Bad idea to be fixing other peoples car in situations like this. If they nominate someone to repair it and they make a mess of it or have problems down the road then its between the two of them, don't saddle yourself with that possibility....
Sadly its time to pay up and mark it down to experience.

Vain

If someone hit my car and said they would fix it themself, i wouldnt leave them near it and prob lose the head at them. You hit the other persons car so it should be fixed to a high standard not some cheap home job. Also 360euro doesnt seem too bad.

bazz26

Vain wrote: »

If someone hit my car and said they would fix it themself, i wouldnt leave them near it and prob lose the head at them. You hit the other persons car so it should be fixed to a high standard not some cheap home job. Also 360euro doesnt seem too bad.

+1.

If it were my car I wouldn't leave anyone near it to do a cheap DIY repair job on it. I'd get it done properly somewhere where I know they will do the job right and put the car back to the way it was before the accident. If the other party doesn't agree with this there would be no debate, I'd just tell them to deal with my insurance company instead.

OP, if the shoe were on the other foot and you had a fairly new car would you want someone having a go at repairing it themselves?

anewme

If someone even mentioned to me that they had watched a video on you tube and armed with a cheap spray were coming near my car, there would be killings.

To be honest if someone phoned me and suggested that, I would be onto the insurance like a light!

EPM

anewme wrote: »

I have a new car and if someone damages it, I would expect it repaired by my nearest main dealer to ensure the car is put back to its brand new state.

I'd be very picky about main dealers in this regard. Fair enough if they have their own bodyshop on site, but often they just ship the car down the road to the cheapest bidder for a quick job and whack on a hefty margin.

OP, please don't even suggest doing it yourself. If someone said that to me after damaging my car I'd probably floor them. €400 all in is ok to be fair. It's not as if they're trying to shaft you for a new bumper.

pineapple*soul

Thanks guys. Fair enough.

Just €400 really is a LOT of money to me, being two weeks wages, and in my impoverished world it's nowhere near worth this tiny scuff. But I understand that I just have to take it on the chin.

djimi

anewme wrote: »

I have a new car and if someone damages it, I would expect it repaired by my nearest main dealer to ensure the car is put back to its brand new state. If it needed a new bumper so be it.

I would not be arsed ringing around the houses either and would certainly not let an amateur next or near it.

I am fussy about my car as have paid a lot of money (35k)for it and want to keep it perfect! Not going to let someone with a 5 aerosol start spraying it.

They would be given the option to pay directly or go through insurance. Prangs happen of course, but on a new car would expect repair to be carried out by main dealer.

With all due respect to the OP, it is not really your place to start saying well it would not take me an hour, etc, unless you work directly as a body repairer and are qualified to fix the damage.

Personally, 360 does not seem expensive to me either.

I agree with your sentiments, but dont be fooled into thinking that just because someone is a main dealer they are going to do the best job; quite often that is not the case.

Andrew Campbell

If you really think you are being ripped off you could tell your insurance company and get their assessor to inspect the car and agree the figure. Then pay off the claim with the insurance company. I know its better for your insurance company to know as little about this as possible but if you really think you are being over charged this will give you some peace of mind

rebel.ranter

I got my rear bumper done for €250 about 3 years ago but that was only because I removed it from the car myself & also removed things like trim, parking sensors, etc. Your quote of €360 seems about right if you ask me. The chap with the car you hit didn't ask for his car to be damaged & all the inconvenience that goes with it.

dub7_2010

You damaged her car so she is entitled to have it repaired to the highest standards. Even when repaired the car will be devalued as any repair will be seen by someone that knows what to look for. Most dealers dont do bodywork repairs themselves but subcontract the job. They use good bodyshops and will stand over the repair. The min. for mixing paint alone is usually 120 + vat.

Its not a bad price in all fairness.