We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

need to fix the body of the car - help!

one side of the front of my car is kind of hanging... also the sensors on my back bumper are all broken.
my husband tells me to get it fixed.
where do i go? and any tips to find a garage that wont charge me through the nose.
my husband had done a service once in a bmw garage (we have a bmw x3) and paid 3 times more than what i would have paid for at kwick-fit...
im keen to avoid the bmw garage then..

Thanks for your help
«1

Comments

  • I would suggest you ask your friends and neighbours for the name and address of a local garage that can be trusted and take it from there.
    "There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe a 'Princess Coronation' locomotive in full cry. We shall never see their like again". O S Nock
  • fivetide
    fivetide Posts: 3,811 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Would find a decent body shop. Damage front and back? sounds like a smash and therefore worth getting checked out properly for any hidden damage (if that isn't the case then ignore).

    Given the car and the value and how a dodgey repair will be pricey anywhere, I'd be tempted to claim on the insurance and bite the premium hike.

    You'll lose a lot of money on the car anyway if you try to bodge it.

    5t.
    What if there was no such thing as a rhetorical question?
  • maninthestreet
    maninthestreet Posts: 16,127 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    Hanging???
    "You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"
  • andygb
    andygb Posts: 14,655 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Images of the damage would be helpful. It is like asking - "how long is a piece of string?"
  • tostaky
    tostaky Posts: 130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    papa smurf - none of my local friends know anything about garages... most dont have a car - we are in london

    sorry for the explanation... english is not my first language and i dont understand anything about cars anyway! so it is hard for me to describe whats wrong.
    but basically i did reverse (slowly) into someone once and damaged the sensors on the bumper at the back.
    and my husband did bump into a concrete bollard and the front part of the body looks like it is hanging and is about to fall...
  • maninthestreet
    maninthestreet Posts: 16,127 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    tostaky wrote: »
    papa smurf - none of my local friends know anything about garages... most dont have a car - we are in london

    sorry for the explanation... english is not my first language and i dont understand anything about cars anyway! so it is hard for me to describe whats wrong.
    but basically i did reverse (slowly) into someone once and damaged the sensors on the bumper at the back.
    and my husband did bump into a concrete bollard and the front part of the body looks like it is hanging and is about to fall...

    We need to see a picture
    "You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"
  • fivetide
    fivetide Posts: 3,811 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 19 January 2012 at 2:52PM
    We need to see a picture

    No we don't.

    You should be able to get a quote from a bodyshop. You might even be able to get another bumper from a scrapyard and fit that or off eFence http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X3-SPORT-FRONT-BUMPER-GENUINE-1208-/190628268299?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2c6254890b obviously one in better nick than that but still, you could flog the old one!

    Still, if it has caused the bumper to come away I'd be very tempted to think about the insurance route.

    At least that way it'll go to BMW and get new genuine bits fitted so you know it will be ok.

    Edited to add axtrixblue posted abotu the same time. good guide for costs below. If you've got a low excess it'll save you a few grand which you'll pay back over time in a higher premium.

    5t.
    What if there was no such thing as a rhetorical question?
  • tostaky wrote: »
    papa smurf - none of my local friends know anything about garages... most dont have a car - we are in london

    sorry for the explanation... english is not my first language and i dont understand anything about cars anyway! so it is hard for me to describe whats wrong.
    but basically i did reverse (slowly) into someone once and damaged the sensors on the bumper at the back.
    and my husband did bump into a concrete bollard and the front part of the body looks like it is hanging and is about to fall...

    front: headlamp, bumper, cross member, bmw X series use of pattern parts paint and prep, looking in the region of £600-£1200.

    rear: (BMW dont sell singles) new pack of BMW parking sensors £100+ from BMW £80.00 online, rear bumper insert, rear bumper, rear bracket, painting and prep, £500-£800.

    add labour to both prices.

    could be looking at in excess of £2500 for a decent job, more for a professional BMW apporved body shop.
  • daveys_2
    daveys_2 Posts: 108 Forumite
    I'd be tempted to google BMW Specialist and the first part of your postcode, or area where you live, and see what comes up.

    A decent specialist will have a website, and many will manufacturer or main dealer trained, but without the main-dealer mark up. I'm sure that being in London there's plenty of choice for you. If you're confident that it's cosmetic damage, have a drive round and see what they say, and entrust the work to whoever treats you best, or you're happiest with.
  • Strider590
    Strider590 Posts: 11,874 Forumite
    fivetide wrote: »
    Damage front and back? sounds like a smash and therefore worth getting checked out properly for any hidden damage (if that isn't the case then ignore).


    Sounds like a case of "car is too big for the driver", to me.
    “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”

    <><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.5K Life & Family
  • 258.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.