Someone went into the back of my car. 1,500 to replace rear bumper

Lostinspace · 24-05-2016 07:53PM #1

I've a Seat Leon car. Someone went into the back of my car at a roundabout recently. I got their details as there was a crack in the bumper.

I contacted my insurance to let them know. I contacted Seat main dealer for a quote and was quoted over â‚¬1,500 to change the rear bumper (bumper cost, 10 hours labour, painting, cables, vat). It seems like an awful lot for a bumper.

I haven't contacted the person yet but I imagine they won't be too happy to hear the news. Am I right to go to a main dealer in this situation or should I go elsewhere for a quote?

punisher5112 · 24-05-2016 07:59PM

Lostinspace wrote: »

I've a Seat Leon car. Someone went into the back of my car at a roundabout recently. I got their details as there was a crack in the bumper.

I contacted my insurance to let them know. I contacted Seat main dealer for a quote and was quoted over â‚¬1,500 to change the rear bumper (bumper cost, 10 hours labour, painting, cables, vat). It seems like an awful lot for a bumper.

I haven't contacted the person yet but I imagine they won't be too happy to hear the news. Am I right to go to a main dealer in this situation or should I go elsewhere for a quote?

It's totally up to you. Ball is in your court.

If the person is genuine and you seem to be you could find a repair garage that is going to cost less but also do just as good a job once you know they are reputable.

Did they offer to pay or do they plan on letting insurance do it?

Is the car very old or new?

If it's recorded on insurance the car value will be less depending. There are a lot of things that can rise the cost also.

Lostinspace · 24-05-2016 08:06PM

It's a 2010 car. I want to sell it soon enough so maybe it's better to not go through insurance. I haven't contacted them yet but I will so in the next day or two to find out what way they want to do it. Would you know of any reputable body repair garages in Dublin by any chance?

Atlantic Dawn · 24-05-2016 08:09PM

Tell them the price as soon as possible to see what their angle is, some people will think a new bumper is €100 and painting is €29.50, they live in a sort of fairly land with regard to repair prices.

BorneTobyWilde · 24-05-2016 08:10PM

Best to repair the damage if its a crack only. Why dismantle it to fit new bumper and have the trouble of cables and man hours. I'm sure a top shop could repair it to as new with a repair and a spray.

punisher5112 · 24-05-2016 08:10PM

Nearly 6 years old it all depends what is there.

You can claim on insurance and even turn down to have repairs but you will be given the quote amount minus VAT.

Is the car immaculate low mileage etc.....

Its really up to you what way you go.

Did the other driver give any problems or have they been in touch. Did they offer to pay?

BorneTobyWilde · 24-05-2016 08:10PM

A picture would be great...

jluv · 24-05-2016 08:14PM

Not knowledgeable about cars at all but had similar happen.
Bought new Mondeo. 23 hours later someone hit it causing a rip in the bumper. As the car was so new the dealer wouldn't entertain repair and replaced with new bumper. Cost 1000. That was a year and a half ago..

Car99 · 24-05-2016 08:15PM

Had a dent crease from a very slow garage forecourt tip from a reversing car . Needed new door to put it back as was , looked like nothing but cost €1500 to get fixed by bodywork shop non main dealer.2010 astra. So depending on cost of bumper and colour of car, matching may require more than the bumper paint, €1500 isn't crazy .

colm_mcm · 24-05-2016 08:17PM

Back when I sold cars (around6 years ago) a new Toyota bumper painted and fitted was €750ish. Is their other damage or something?
10 hours labour is a bit excessive for a bumper.
A main dealer could very well be farming the work out and sticking a nice margin on top.

Lostinspace · 24-05-2016 08:26PM

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

A picture would be great...

colm_mcm · 24-05-2016 08:29PM

What cables are they replacing? Did they mention damage behind the bumper?

Lostinspace · 24-05-2016 08:34PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

What cables are they replacing? Did they mention damage behind the bumper?

Here is the quote. It's only based on a picture i sent them and subject to change if there is further damage:

Blazer · 24-05-2016 10:00PM

Lostinspace wrote: »

Here is the quote. It's only based on a picture i sent them and subject to change if there is further damage:

10 hours labour is bull****.
I had a tip recently and needed my front xenon light and ecu replaced along with the side panel and he front bumper with the built in washers etc.
Total labour quoted ?? 4.5 hours.

Benevolent Misanthrope · 24-05-2016 10:02PM

10 hours of labour to clip a bumper off and another on and fiddle with the lights. What a con.

barneygumble99 · 24-05-2016 10:07PM

Bumper won't be painted when it comes to the dealer. Probably has to be prepped and painted etc. Takes time to do it right. Maybe not 10 hours but it's not a rush job either.

24-05-2016 10:10PM

another story as to why people don't trust garages.

BorneTobyWilde · 24-05-2016 10:15PM

Looks like bumper flexed and cracked the paint, but bumper looks ok to me.
Needs a sand and paint, I see no damage, cracks or dents.

Squall Leonhart · 24-05-2016 10:19PM

Was rear ended recently, initially looked like just bumper damage, but boot door and boot floor got bent too (lock busted, door wouldn't close), it ended up costing nearly 3,500 in repairs (her insurance paid).

My point is be sure you know it's just superficial damage and that there's nothing else lurking underneath. Though, from your picture it seems pretty straightforward.

Rew · 24-05-2016 10:19PM

Someone hit my front bumper on an A3 a few years ago. They did a fair bit of damage so had I got a quote from Audi main dealer and (they were next door to each other) Soraghan on the Navan road. Turned out that Audi would only have ordered the parts and handed it off to Soraghan . The Audi dealer weren't setup to do anything more then servicing so they sub contract it all and add a margin on top. Soraghan are the people a lot of Insurance Companies use for repairs id give them a shout.

BorneTobyWilde · 24-05-2016 10:21PM

You could actually paint just the piece where number plate sits. There is a shape there, like a separate panel.

Nekarsulm · 24-05-2016 10:22PM

Why is Car Hire one hour thirty minutes, yet labour is ten hours?

How do they know you need fournew brackets, when they have only looked at a photo?

tuxy · 24-05-2016 10:25PM

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Why is Car Hire one hour thirty minutes, yet labour is ten hours?

It will take them 8 hrs 30 mins to paint the bumper before the OP arrives.

jelutong · 24-05-2016 10:30PM

€325 +vat for paint and sundries. Does that seem expensive?

Nekarsulm · 24-05-2016 10:30PM

tuxy wrote: »

It will take them 8 hrs 30 mins to paint the bumper before the OP arrives.

Either I'm stupid, or I'm missing the obvious......
They are hardly going to paint a new bumper and then tell the OP to drive in with the car to have it fitted.
And would any garage not have a "loaner" car for customers?

colm_mcm · 24-05-2016 10:31PM

jelutong wrote: »

€325 +vat for paint and sundries. Does that seem expensive?

that's a month of sundries

screamer · 24-05-2016 10:33PM

Jesus I've a seat Leon older but same shape as yours and id be lucky to get 1500 for the whole car! Id not be happy to fork out that kind of money for a cracked bumper on a 6 year old car.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 24-05-2016 10:35PM

Car hires a day and a half at €25/day, not 90 mins!

TallGlass · 24-05-2016 10:36PM

That could be fixed for less than 300€. A friend had a similar issue and got it sorted. Excellent job was done also. I'd be hesitant to hand over 1500€ for that.

SCOOP 64 · 24-05-2016 10:42PM

Wouldn't like to be that person getting a bill for €1500 and seen the very little damage they done to the bumper, maybe you should both visit a independent and see if it will be more reasonable , i know it was the other person fault but should you fleece them?

rizzodun · 24-05-2016 10:42PM

I think the OP has to be commended for second guessing the cost rather than ploughing right ahead as is their right seeing as the other person is claiming.

The cost looks excessive for sure, but plenty of others wouldn't give a toss as they're not paying.

I'd hate to have a genuine accidental tip in this country.

Someone went into the back of my car. 1,500 to replace rear bumper

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