So it finally happened...

[captain slowly]

So yesterday on the way to work, while sitting in traffic, I feel a slight crunch. Look in my rearview mirror, see the grill of a Ford F550. Shit. Get out of the car, and sure enough, a MTA Long Island Railroad truck is on top of my rear bumper.… ask the guy wtf? Says the truck rolled, but is holding his phone, so maybe he was playing with it, I don't know. Anyway, 7 years with this car without incident... and my car is getting a bad Carfax over this...stupidity.

[chris_flies]

Sorry man, that's no fun.

[low135]

Is the bumper just dented a little? I'd fix that out of pocket instead of using insurance personally. PDR guy could get that dent out

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by low135

Is the bumper just dented a little? I'd fix that out of pocket instead of using insurance personally. PDR guy could get that dent out

If it's just that little dent, I agree.

[zx10guy]

I don't see how a PDR guy can fix that. It's a fiberglass bumper. Unless you heat that area to try to shape it back again or fill it with body filler, I don't see how else it can be repaired.

To counter any derogatories on a Carfax when you sell the car, I would take plenty of pictures and make sure you keep the insurance settlement paperwork from that guy's insurance company on hand to present to the buyer. I know it might not counter any possible value reduction, but I don't think it will hurt. Also, I would push for diminished value with the at fault insurance company to get compensated now.

[Esteban]

Forgot about the bumper not being metal... whoops! (brain fart)

[low135]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

I don't see how a PDR guy can fix that. It's a fiberglass bumper. Unless you heat that area to try to shape it back again or fill it with body filler, I don't see how else it can be repaired.

To counter any derogatories on a Carfax when you sell the car, I would take plenty of pictures and make sure you keep the insurance settlement paperwork from that guy's insurance company on hand to present to the buyer. I know it might not counter any possible value reduction, but I don't think it will hurt. Also, I would push for diminished value with the at fault insurance company to get compensated now.

If it's a stock bumper, it is not fiberglass, it's polypropylene. Very easily fixable by PDR

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by low135

If it's a stock bumper, it is not fiberglass, it's polypropylene. Very easily fixable by PDR

Had a PDR guy remove a couple of tiny dents on my hood where a tool or something was probably dropped on it. Thought they only worked their magic on metal. Learned something new...

[low135]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Had a PDR guy remove a couple of tiny dents on my hood where a tool or something was probably dropped on it. Thought they only worked their magic on metal. Learned something new...

Modern PP bumpers and paint are very respondent to PDR using heat. I've seen some very good repairs come from getting the plastic up to malleable temperature and working it back into shape without cracking the paint. Just depends how bad it is now (hard to see from pics). If its doable, I'd always take the PDR route over repainting

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by low135

Modern PP bumpers and paint are very respondent to PDR using heat. I've seen some very good repairs come from getting the plastic up to malleable temperature and working it back into shape without cracking the paint. Just depends how bad it is now (hard to see from pics). If its doable, I'd always take the PDR route over repainting

Mine happened at the dealer several years ago. The dealer sent a PDR guy (free of charge) to my house. This guy was great! You would never know those 2 little dents were ever there. Truly impressive!

[minirips2]

A good PDR guy is worth his weight in gold. I was amazed at how well the dents came out of my hood. One of them must have been a golf ball, or something. You'd never know it now. It's definitely worth having an expert PDR place evaluate it. Check the internet for reviews of PDRs. That's how I found mine. A local BMW dealer may be able to refer you to someone, as well.

[bm996tt]

Id rather pay for a repair or new bumper for that matter than go thru insurance along with Carfax ding= but that's up to op.

[JimVonBaden]

The older your car gets, the less a minor accident matters.

To the OP, bummer, I hate it when people damage my car, especially like that!

[YearOneOne]

Do our cars attract idiots to drive into them just wondering

[elitesales305]

sorry for ur loss... ur 1er is in our thoughts and prayers

[captain slowly]

I had no choice but to go with insurance, as the truck that hit me is owned by the city of New York. There's no "lets take care of this on the side" thing.
So the bumper is F'd. The dent on top, plus a giant dent in the middle that you can't really see in the pictures. I'm now fighting with his insurance company to pay for the damage as going thru mine requires that I pay $1000 deductible which I don't want to do yet, but if all else fails I will and move on.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by captain slowly

I had no choice but to go with insurance, as the truck that hit me is owned by the city of New York. There's no "lets take care of this on the side" thing.
So the bumper is F'd. The dent on top, plus a giant dent in the middle that you can't really see in the pictures. I'm now fighting with his insurance company to pay for the damage as going thru mine requires that I pay $1000 deductible which I don't want to do yet, but if all else fails I will and move on.

When I went through my insurance after getting hit a second time, and the at-fault party's insurance refused to take fault (even though their insuree said it was their fault), we paid the deductible to get the car repaired. A week later we had the deductible refunded about a minute after the agent called and said they were going after the other company. That was very satisfying.

[Mr Gasser]

hair dryer and a suction cup will pop out that ding.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by captain slowly

ask the guy wtf? Says the truck rolled, but is holding his phone, so maybe he was playing with it.

What's worse is the "zero fuks given" attitude.

[captain slowly]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

What's worse is the "zero fuks given" attitude.

yeah that did piss me off, but it is what it is. I may end up going with my insurance just so I can get the car fixed and move on

[captain slowly]

to update this- the insurance company of MTA/City of NY sent me a check to fix the bumper. I decided to buy a new bumper and send it out for paint, and I'll be installing it myself to save a few pennies. Tried filing a diminished value claim, but the city of NY told me to pound sand. Geico, who's my insurance company doesn't do diminished value claims either.... do I have any other avenues I can pursue? Also, I know it isn't particularly difficult to do, but does anyone have a DIY on rear bumper cover removal?

[YearOneOne]

Call your lawyer