Jump to content

Someone just hit the back of the 323..REPAIR UPDATE 14.06.08


retrogeezer

Recommended Posts

Luckily not too hard and minor damage as my girlfriend was driving with my daughter in the back.

 

The guy has said that he doesn't want to go through the insurance and to get a quote. I'm not really sure what to say to him, a garage would write it off and it's not really very noticeable.

 

Shall I tell him I'll get a 2nd hand bumper and fit it myself and ask for £150?? Or is that too much?

 

He'll probably change his story and say my girlfriend reversed into him, no witnesses unfortunately.

 

Posted Image

 

Posted Image

 

Posted Image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shouldn't get written off if it's his fault, you can demand a proper job back to how it was. Have to dig your heels in though as both insurance companies will try to bum you. Or just tap him for £100 and go for a decent night on the lash (and bollocks to fixing it) :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bummer chap. At least no-one was hurt.Suggest you go with £150 and then leave it as is. Might be worth enquiring at a Mazda dealer how much a new one lists at (even if they are no longer available). If he baulks, then tell him to find a secondhand one for you...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bugger! Exactly in the same place as my Galant, wonder if it was the same driver?

 

Posted Image

 

I'd just leave it as is for now and wait for a nicer one to appear on a scrap car.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shouldn't get written off if it's his fault, you can demand a proper job back to how it was. Have to dig your heels in though as both insurance companies will try to bum you.

Dosn't matter who's fault it was - they can, and probably would write it off if you went through insurance (whos is insurance company?) If you go through insurance insist on a cash settlement and state you do not want it written off. If it gets CAT C'd you have the hassle of taking it for a VIC check at a cost of I think £40.So personally i'd push for £200 (TP has excess / no claims etc) Get a quote from a repairer to back it up. Always go down to £150 if necessary.Clearly more damage than just a bumper.Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it gets CAT C'd you have the hassle of taking it for a VIC check at a cost of I think £40..

Only if you sell it on - otherwise you get your V5c back - marked that its a Cat c and you get to swan around in it to your hearts content until you sell it on, then it needs a VIC - happened to me with the wifes Fiesta, stolen, recovered, written off, £2.50 of chubb door lock fitted to drivers door and driven round till the engine blew up some 6 months later - cost me £250 to buy, got £400 off the insurance, bought it back of the insurance for £30 so all told I got nearly 12 months of motoring for -£120 (which was the road tax, so free motoring really!)

 

I must get my old shitter stolen more often!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted Image

The rear panel looks as though its pushed in a bit too... at the left hand number plate light.

 

Make sure you report the accident to the police - its law that you must do so within 24 hours of an accident I believe.

 

Get a quote from a bodyshop & take it from there. Suggest (if this is what you want to do...) that you'd accept 'X' amount to not go through the insurance as you'll know the car will most likely be a total loss. Find out from the bodyshop what the costs will be to ascertain what is an acceptable settlement.

 

If you choose to go through insurance make a third party claim to save it messing with your NCB or... at the least, a record of a non-fault accident going against your policy which may push up your premium for the next 5 years!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Make sure you report the accident to the police - its law that you must do so within 24 hours of an accident I believe.

Not sure about that?? Someone hit my Mondeo last November (still going through insurance now) and there was no mention of informing the Police.Good advice about accepting X to not go through the insurance.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, rang the chap up and said that a garage had informed us it would be written off but they would repair it for £200 as a cash job. He was happy to pay the £200 and the cash is now in the bank.The rear panel is very slightly pushed in I think but nothing to worry about. I will remove the bumper at the weekend and see what I can do.He was pretty fortunate it was an old car really, had he hit a new Audi or something, a new bumper is likely to be £500 plus....and there probably would have been more damage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Result!My old 323 had a similarly-dented rear bumper (damn those original elderly owners - the wheelarch lips were creased too!) but I didn't worry about it.Pull bumper off - straighten out metal strengthening member (if it needs it, might get away with some hairdryer action*) - lump hammer on the rear panel - job done.* And those of you who have met us both will know that RG has far more need for a hairdryer than I do :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Make sure you report the accident to the police - its law that you must do so within 24 hours of an accident I believe.

Not sure about that??
:oops: Having checked into this ie. looking at the road traffic act, I have to admit I was incorrect with this comment. You have to report an accident to the police within 24hrs if an exchange of details did not take place - ie. if you hit a parked car or perhaps if a driver of a vehicle refused to provide adequate owner/insurer details.Good that this is all sorted out now!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

All fixed, less than 2 hours fiddling about.....main culprit was the metal bracket which saw the brute force of a mallet. :twisted:

 

I'll still grab a bumper if I see one in a scrapyard but I don't think anyone would notice now. :)

 

Posted Image

 

Posted Image

 

Posted Image

 

Posted Image

 

Posted Image

 

The best comparison from before my handywork:

 

Posted Image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And you'd have carried out an invisible repair with gaffer tape like most owners?

Unfortunately thats what my front bumper looks like at the moment after a bloke towing a trailer cut me up on a roundabout last November.....claim still not sorted out!

 

Posted Image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...