Someone Hit My Zed Today :(

[Alex Funnell]

Someone hit my Zed parking, luckily they left their details and I happen to work at the same company. Unfortunately the tow bar of a Discovery has dented my bonnet right in the middle and broken both plastic vents. Not had a chance to look at it in detail to see if anything else was damaged.

I'm dreading that the insurance company right off the car as I believe the bonnets are quite expensive to replace.

What do I need to do? Do I advise my insurance company my car was damaged? Will it then be marked CAT D? The company insurance they have on the fleet cars has a card which says to contact them directly in case of an accident.

Edit: pics added

 

[Low Rider]

I'm sorry to hear this news. Don't except the insurance companies first offer and if you want to keep the car make sure they understand that.

 

[BMBabe]

W$$kers!!!
Get a quote and give the third party an option to pay you direct without insurers getting involved
1- it stops the insurers saying your Zed is a total loss ( bye bye Zed) Not an option you want!!
2- it helps the third party at renewal not having a fault claim against them which will put up their premiums

Hope that helps
Stacey

 

[t-tony]

Good advice Stacey, just what I was going to suggest!

Tony.

 

[Althulas]

Beware that if you inform your insurance even if you don't make a claim from my experience they Mark it down as a non claim incident and try and put your premium up that why I told Elephant to jog on.

I hope you are able to get this sorted without incident.

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Everybody's worst nightmare! At least you know who did it. I think it is better to park with the bonnet facing away from the traffic as it at least is then protected, Its easier and cheaper to repair the back than the front.

Mike

 

[hard top]

I believe the bonnets are quite expensive to replace.

Try @spurs fan in a coupe for a second hand one, I did at the time I was looking at buying one but transport to get it over here knocked that idea on the head.
Think I was quoted €1100 for a new one.

 

[Brian4]

Agree with all that has been said unless the company insurance has to be used.
When ours was damaged with a hail storm I discussed with my insurers and they eventually agreed that I could use a second hand bonnet. So if you have to go down the insurance route there are still options available.
Quite a few bonnets on eBay from £150 to £300. They are very big so would need a big van to transport it and new they are £1100 and then have to be painted.

Sorry to hear of your damage but it can be fixed.

 

[Alex Funnell]

Pics added to first post

 

[Brian4]

That could be difficult to straighten. .

Montreal blue one here but no Topaz blue ones at the moment. All z3 bonnets are the same.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-BO...139959?hash=item41a5b77cf7:g:SrAAAOSwL7VWrlC9

 

[BMBabe]

Pics added to first post

Hasn't @Synclare got a Zed he is breaking?

 

[hard top]

That could be difficult to straighten. .

Don't think so, they got this out of mine.....

As good as new

 

[littlefeller]

unfortunately insurance repairs will only use new parts, however all may not be lost, this happened to me about 3 years or so ago. someone drove into the back of my honda at a roundabout, it was a jap import and as such the repair was more than the value of the car, i spoke to the insurer (tesco) and they agreed to pay me the value of the car for me to repair then they get it back from the 3rd parts insurance, no wright off and even better it wasn't categorized either. a cheque arrived in the post and i fixed the car with ebay parts, win win cash left over (almost £1000, yipee BACK OF THE NET

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

It is quite surprising that some of the better body shops are quite capable of pulling out dents really easily. Find a good Body-shop and see what can be done. You may be surprised how inexpensive it actually is, in comparison to buying new parts. By the looks of your pictures, the dents really aren't that bad.

Mike

 

[t-tony]

Dent pulling kit which spot welds little spikes to the dent are brilliant. A skilled operative can get most dents back to a thin skim of filler. Most insurance repairers have to use new panels to save on labour costs, which is where the money is. If they can give you money to go away and D.I.Y. all the better for them.

Tony.

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

I think I would be able to repair that dent. I have repaired much worse.

Mike

 

[Shelly]

O my goodness
How awful

 

[Synclare]

That will repair without too much problem and could also do a SMART repair on the paint without necessity to paint the whole bonnet. Remember it is your choice where you have it repaired although insurance companies will try and push you to use their appointed repairers as they get preferential (low cost) rates, You are the one signing the satisfaction slip so you choose where to have it repaired. Try giving sean d (in progress thread) a jolt and seek his opinion.

 

[DavidM]

Sorry to hear about the damage to your car! A good BMW approved body shop should be capable of doing a first class repair and paint job and include a warranty with the work! Here's hoping the car is back to normal soon.

 

[Bazza]

sorry to hear that,