Car reversed into a lamppost

goz83

Miike wrote: »

His lights are LED, That's not the correct lamp. I linked the right lamp and he can transplant the LED Unit into it with 30 seconds work

Ah yes, that'll do the job. Didn't realise the one I linked was not LED. Some people are afraid to touch the stalk to turn their lights on, let alone pry the glass off the unit to do a repair. The OP could get that unit from Micks and then get a body shop to sort it.

Mary63

I wouldn't go through the insurance company if its less than a thousand euros.

I wouldn't go through the Audi dealer either, they will rob you.Can you not go to a good panel beater.

goz83

Mary63 wrote: »

I wouldn't go through the insurance company if its less than a thousand euros.

I wouldn't go through the Audi dealer either, they will rob you.Can you not go to a good panel beater.

Not sure a panel beater would be any good with plastic

delly

Hi OP. I think it's clear that the overwhelming consensus is not to go through the insurance, although I get the feeling that you might have a compulsion to do so for some reason.

Cheapest option is to fix the light yourself, then drive to a few places and get a quote for the bumper repair. Quotes over the phone are generally going to be higher than what they would be in person.

JoeA3

Main dealers generally don't do body work. Certainly not shiny Audi dealerships. So if you're pricing the job with "Audi", they will be sending the car down to their preferred local body shop. Possibly adding their own slice onto the price.

Go direct to a reputable local bodyshop. There's no way that job should cost more than €5-600 tops. If it wasn't for the taillight I'd say 300 would do it.

tart29016

Miike wrote: »

His lights are LED, That's not the correct lamp. I linked the right lamp and he can transplant the LED Unit into it with 30 seconds work

Miike, sorry for asking a dumb question. You are suggesting that I get the light you had linked in your previous post and transplant the lights in my car into the housing?

The lights in your link looked lightly different to what I have on my car, does this matter?

Sorry, think I am just being stupid.

tart29016

I've actaully been told that the whole tail light needs to be replaced by a carbody shop. Is this true? Or can they not just replace the outer.

MarkR

http://www.micksgarage.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=5449523&modelid=6418

I did it for a focus before. Same problem. Damn lamp poles!

Fix the light and get a dent doctor type guy to sort the bumper.

Miike

goz83 wrote: »

Ah yes, that'll do the job. Didn't realise the one I linked was not LED. Some people are afraid to touch the stalk to turn their lights on, let alone pry the glass off the unit to do a repair. The OP could get that unit from Micks and then get a body shop to sort it.

To be totally honest on second thought I think I'd be a bit scared of taking the glass off too incase it didn't reseal! :eek:

I think these untis can separated totally from the back without the need to tear the glass off.

Having looked around on the internet they are made as a totally sealed unit as some other poster has said. You need to removed the outer lens with a heat gun and then hope you can reseal the unit!

tart29016 wrote: »

Miike, sorry for asking a dumb question. You are suggesting that I get the light you had linked in your previous post and transplant the lights in my car into the housing?

The lights in your link looked lightly different to what I have on my car, does this matter?

Sorry, think I am just being stupid.

Without comparing the two units it's hard to say. Someone on here is definitely much smarter than I when it comes to this. I'd do a bit of googling and comparing before you make any purchases though

See what I said above about the sealing of the unit.

Kevwoody

OP you should definitely go to a car body repair shop for this, they will fix the light too. It's all very well people here suggesting you fix the light yourself, but I get the feeling you wouldn't be as hands on as some people here!

My mrs was parked up one day and came back to find a note on the widescreen. Someone had scraped the front corner while reversing into the spot beside her. Rang the number, she was all apologies and said she'd pay cash. The Mrs didn't tell me as I was away at the time, she went to the main dealer and got a quote for €750 to repair the scratch.
So she rings me and tells me what happened, and I rang my mate who works in the same main dealer as a mechanic. He told me they do the work but send it to a local crash repair guy.
I came home, took the car up to him and got it fixed to perfection for €150!

Do NOT go to a main dealer!

CiboC

OP, where are you based?

I can recommend these guys:

http://www.allensgarage.ie/index-2.html

Between myself and extended family we have used them on a number of occasions over the years. Always been very satisfied with their work.

At least get a quote from a body shop before you decide. As said above, your dealer will send this job out to a body shop anyway and just slap a margin on the cost for themselves, they will not be repairing it in their own garage so you may as well cut them out of the picture at least.