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Faith0383
Novice
Mar 24, 2011, 3:29 PM
Post #1 of 11
(2480 views)
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FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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Today, I bumped into a lady in a parking lot. There was no damage to my car, and there was ALMOST no damage to hers. When my car tapped into hers, it created about three 2 inch HAIRLINE creases in her paint. Neither one of us saw it at 1st, until we got right on it. It appears my bumper pushed her paint upwards about 1/16 of an inch in this spot (about 1" by 2" total), causing the small creases. THEY ARE NOT CRACKS, AND THEY ARE NOT BUBBLES. She owns a brand new Toyota Camry, which, consequently is the reason that this is even an issue. Of course I would tap the BRAND NEW car, and not a 1992 Chevy Corsica.
She is going to talk to her husband, and see if he wants to push it and have me repair it. I need to know HOW MUCH I am looking at to repair it. I am a single mom, and a full-time student, so money is an issue here. I tried to take a picture, but the creases are so thin you can't see them on the pic, and I've looked all over the net for a fix for this, but there is nothing about paint creases. Can something like this be buffed out? Or am I looking at repainting the whole bumper?!?!?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2011, 3:48 PM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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Nobody can tell you that sight unseen. You just need to get a couple of estimates and compare them
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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oxracing
User
Mar 24, 2011, 6:07 PM
Post #3 of 11
(2462 views)
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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from past experience they are indeed cracks and will only get worse over time, its caused by the paint not flexing as much as the bumper cover, ie cracks. about only fix is to sand affected area and refinish. you didnt specify if it was front or rear bumper, computer calls for 3.2 refinish hrs for front bumper plus r & i and repair time (sanding and promeing affected area) figgure another 2.5 hrs at whatever the prevailing labor rate in your area is, then there is materials and color add an easy 150 to 200. rear bumper refinsih is 2.7 hrs plus all the same above.
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Faith0383
Novice
Mar 24, 2011, 7:20 PM
Post #4 of 11
(2455 views)
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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It is the rear bumper, but the thing is, there is NO visible sign of scratched or cracked paint. There is also NO dent, scrape, ding or anything... There is honestly nothing VISIBLY wrong with the area at all except these little creases. The best way I can explain it is this. When you are laminating something, and you don't run your driver's license or whatever you are using just right, and you complete the whole thing, then quickly run over the laminated area one more time, and as you do it an air pocket you missed catches and crinkles that part of the laminate. That's what the paint looks like, but it's STRICTLY PAINT. No BUMPER damage.
Probably way too much info, but it's the best I can do to give a visual. I just looked at the picture again, and it's really no help at all for you guys. SORRY.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2011, 7:52 PM
Post #5 of 11
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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Faith - can't speak for everywhere but if you have insurance and should it should pay if they really want it fixed. No doubt varies by location but where I live MA there's no surcharge if you can keep the damage payout under $500. Get estimates or they do. Ask your insurance what it might cost you in surcharges if any and how much over how long.
Stuff happens and that's what insurance is for. Mandatory to have it here but some places not like NH for example but only if the owner has zero infractions then it's required. Insurance has become very competitive at least here. Some can forgive a one time minor thing. I'm NOT an auto body person but have a clue what things can cost.
If it happened to my car I'd want it fixed. A new car I would freak and I know it was an accident (not a collision) but if they insist they do have some rights to get it fixed,
T
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oxracing
User
Mar 24, 2011, 8:15 PM
Post #6 of 11
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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if its not an actual crack now it probably will be in a short time, it sounds like its a delamination, where the paint physically seperates from the bumper surface, still going to require a refinish. i'm sure this isnt what you want to hear but just giving you my opinion as a bodyman.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2011, 8:59 PM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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oxyracing - Glad you are here for pro suggestions. Hard of course to know the extent of what via the web and what we are told by users for stuff. Pics can help when folks can,
T
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Faith0383
Novice
Mar 24, 2011, 9:03 PM
Post #8 of 11
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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Thanks, I actually offered to pay cash for the damages. Reason being, it was in a parking lot, no witnesses, no police, where I live, the parking lot makes it private property. That means each party is actually responsible to pay THEIR OWN PERSONAL damages. Found this out when a friend had an accident in a parking lot and the police came out. So technically speaking, I don't HAVE to repair her car, ONLY damages to my vehicle. BUT,,, I told her I would do what I could to make it right.
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Faith0383
Novice
Mar 24, 2011, 9:06 PM
Post #9 of 11
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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Thanks I appreciate that. I obviously am not THRILLED to hear it, but I assumed it would have to be done. Someone said maybe it could be buffed out, but I felt because it was not only the top coat, but all layers of paint, it would have to be sanded, primed, and re-painted. My concern is that it is going to have to be the ENTIRE bumper that is done, instead of just the effected area.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 24, 2011, 11:01 PM
Post #10 of 11
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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Again Faith - not my trade. If where you live you are not responsible on private property that's local to you. It's still the right thing to make it good if you did it IMO.
There was a time when my State went "NO FAULT" so no matter what happened anywhere or how bad you used your own insurance. Stunk because some idiot was going real fast and raked down the side of a mint 66 T-Bird. I had to deal with the damage which was the law at the time. Guy was going so fast around a bend on a side road his car was sliding on dry road. Didn't seem fair as I love my cars and many an near like new but very old.
I've bumped cars in a parking lot - not often (like twice in a lifetime) as I'm real careful but I drive HUGE cars and parking is tight and my mistake once and ran in the store to find the owner as it did break some clips on a bumper - no real damage but I wanted to pay for it. Shocked, the guy said NO - he'd take care of it! It did nothing to my car with real chrome bumpers but I felt like an idiot. I'm so bad I just hate folks who ding up cars shoving their doors open against another so always look for safe parking. My newest is 22 years old and that's what I drive!
Cars are expensive and folks should respect that of other's cars. It's nothing about body work but a morality issue as I see it. Money is tight for a lot of folks right now as we know.
Hopefully you and the other folks can be civil and work something out.
Good luck with solving it and make everyone happy
Tom
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Mar 24, 2011, 11:12 PM)
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Faith0383
Novice
Mar 25, 2011, 9:05 AM
Post #11 of 11
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Re: FENDER BENDER HELP!!!
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Well,, that's the plan. I am a very honest person, so I told her I'd do what I could to make it right. We'll see how it goes.
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