Minor accident damage

polomints

I was recently involved in a low speed head on collision with a motorcycle, I was in the wrong mainly but I'd managed to stop and he went into me because I think he was going too fast, all I did was knock the guy off the bike and he was able to get up again, luckily I know him so we're working it out amicably. Anyway it seems to have pushed in my front cross member in literally a few millimeters, my cousin's BF who knows cars doesn't seem to think it matters as long as the car goes alright and it shouldn't effect the MOT and is not worth fixing on such an old car.
I was surprised such a low speed collision with a motorbike could do that but he says they're designed to go in quite easily, it still runs fine is this likely to fail the MOT, it only cost me £650 and I've done 10k miles in it and the clutch will need replacing soon, so I won't be too gutted if I have to scrap it.

OnanTheBarbarian

unlikely to fail the mot from the description you have given

polomints

The thing is me and my friend are sharing the cost of the repair to the bike, I was just going to pay him and avoid my insurance and pay him the £2-300 and put it down to experience, as for my car I intend to just run it until it won't run anymore, however if that needs serious work I would probably rather go through insurance.

OddballJamie

As no one on here can see the actual damage, the sensible thing to do is take to either your normal MOT place and ask the question or a local bodyshop for a quote and ask them.

straighttalker

As long as your car still drives straight, I can't see it being a problem. Modern cars are designed to crumple at the front so that they absorb the shock of the collision rather than transfer that shock to occupants of the cabin.

Inspecting the front crossmember isn't part of any MOT either so no problems there I should imagine.

bod1467

Has the biker notified his insurance at all? (Even though you're settling outside insurance). If yes then you probably need to notify your insurer of the accident (even though you're not claiming). This may increase your future premiums. (If you don't, and the insurer finds out, your policy could be null and void, and future insurance may be withheld or become very expensive).

If no then you can hope nobody finds out.

mcjordi

unlikely to fail but it could of knocked out the headlight alignment or snapped headlight brackets..

if you go down the paying private route.. get them to sign a full and final settlement agreement

polomints

It failed on the headlight alignment in MOT, it was a fix I wasn't even charged for.

Dr._Shoe

I guess it passed apart from that? If so, another year of happy motoring then.

colino

I'm sure you mean bumper bar or landing panel, but if your front crossmember did move in, in an impact with a bike (that the biker didn't die in), your car is scrap.

polomints

So if the biker did die then it wouldn't be scrap?