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Smashed Light
morcus - 20/2/11 at 07:05 AM

I've come out this morning to find someone has broken the tail light on my car. The bottom of the stack is broken but from the pieces I've collected it seems that only the cover and reflectors have actually broken on the light and theres a scuff on the bumper and a small dent on the corner of the car which is mostly in a postion that would have been behind the light. The Worst this is though it's sunday so the service section of the dealers isn't open so I can't actually get anyone to look and see if there is anything worse hiding behind it. What should I do?

Should I phone the dealer anyway or will that just be a waste of time?


ReMan - 20/2/11 at 07:55 AM

By the sounds of that there's unlikely to be anything else hiding, but I guess your next step depends very much on the vehicle.
If its shiney and new and you want to get it all sorted by taking it in and claiming on your insurance, then presumably you need to spk to the insureres now and they may tell you where to take it

The locost version would be to ring round the breakers and see if they have a light unit today then get the paint sorted at leisure

Failing that call the dealers parts dep on Monday

Else tape the bits back with sellotape and forget it!


Ben_Copeland - 20/2/11 at 08:10 AM

Don't bother with the dealers or insurance both will cost your a fortune.

The dealer monkeys are just going to look for extra work and insurance will cost you, your excess which will probably be more than the repair.

Have a check of your neighbours cars and see if there is any matching damage. If so you know what to do.

If not, get onto eBay buy a new light and then t-cut the bumper, if it's doesn't make it better get some paint on it.


morcus - 20/2/11 at 08:18 AM

The car is less than 2 years old and on HP so I don't want to bodge it, though I'd rather just pay to get it fixed and not tell the insurer. Will it cause problems if I wait till it's been looked at to tell them? Is there anything else I should have a look at to see if it's alright?

I had a quick look online for parts cost and the whole unit costs about £75 quid, and it looks as though I can't just buy the top bit (And the one on the other side is only about £50).

Thanks for the reply, I feel a bit better having someone else say theres not likely to be much else to sort out. As I say I'm hoping To do it without claiming as I've got a huge excess so it would probably mean I'd still pay all of it and then pay extra insurance costs for the privellidge. It's just so annoying the way everything adds up as if it had been yesterday I could have sorted it straight away. So dose have a look in the light, tape over it and forgett about it till tomorrow morning sound like a plan?

We posted at the same time, unfortunatly it didn't happen at home, but while I was at work, And I checked all the cars around for any kind of damage. I would normaly agree on dealers but I get on very well with mine (Benefits of buying from familly).

[Edited on 20/2/11 by morcus]


morcus - 20/2/11 at 08:47 AM

I've had a look in the light. the bumper is cracked and the rear quarter panel is mishaped around the corner and theres a hole in the paint to bare metal so it's going to need sealing but it doesn't look as though theres anything wrong underneath at least.


Ben_Copeland - 20/2/11 at 08:55 AM



Sounds like one of your neighbours needs a good kicking if they've done that much surface damage.

I'd buy the light then unfortunately get it down a bodyshop.

Worth a check to see if anyones cars are also damaged. Also see if anyones got CCTV


ReMan - 20/2/11 at 09:32 AM

quote:
Originally posted by morcus
I've had a look in the light. the bumper is cracked and the rear quarter panel is mishaped around the corner and theres a hole in the paint to bare metal so it's going to need sealing but it doesn't look as though theres anything wrong underneath at least.


Oh dear that sounds worse now, bad luck, it's going tohit the beer fund that is


Mark Allanson - 20/2/11 at 09:41 AM

Costing out accident repairs is what I do during the day - post a pickie and I will tell you what an insurance company would pay and the max you should pay if dealing with it yourself.


morcus - 21/2/11 at 12:57 AM

Thanks, I'll try to post one tomorrow.