[LRS]

Hi All

I feel a bit guilty as I seem to only talk to you good people when something dire has happened to the old 335d!

This time it has involved a Portuguese lorry driver wanting to use the same lane as mine - at the same time!! The dozy prat merged right into the side of my car and completely wiped out the passengers door! Tell you what, if I had my way, I would put the whole dam lot of them on rail during daylight hours and allow them on the roads only in the middle of the night! The old lorry drivers code of “ Signal, Manoeuvre and then Mirror, to see what carnage they have lift behind them” still holds true!

The car will be repaired by a BMW garage (not the insurance companies repair centre), so at least genuine BMW parts will be used and warranties will be maintained.

My question is whether anyone has any good general advice - from experience, to ensure that the repair gets done to a high standard - no colour mismatching or new rattles following the repair and re-spray?

Maybe I should be more trusting of a BMW body shop, but then again, my dear old Dad always said that I was a natural born cynic!

Time for a beer now to help sooth the pain….

[M3-FAST]

Sorry to hear that, and hopefully using a BMW body shop, car should be tip top after. Is it just panel damage or more serious?

[SixDegrees]

My mate has his Mini t-boned by someone coming out a petrol station. The reapir job was done by BMW and was very good by all accounts.... but he knew it was repaired and didn't like the fact.

I too am of that ilk, once it been dinged bad enough, even if the repair is good I'll move the car on.

[CD]

ive just had my door replaced a few monthes ago by a BMW approved body shop , they did an excellent job, the colour and fit is perfect.

my tip ? ... in the worst case scenario if its not right and your not 100 % happy with the job , dont accept it back till its perfect. It wasnt your fault, dont accept anything but perfection !!

hope everything goes well

[LRS]

Luckily it appears that only the door skin will need to be replaced. But as SixDegrees says, it’s knowing that the car will no longer be pristine. And speaking as a true dedicated ‘detailing compulsive’ it will never be the same as when I first got the car.

But then you really must put things into perspective - “at the end of the day it’s only a car and it can be fixed” My god did I really say that?!!! The beer must be taking effect, time for another….

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by LRS

Luckily it appears that only the door skin will need to be replaced. But as SixDegrees says, it’s knowing that the car will no longer be pristine. And speaking as a true dedicated ‘detailing compulsive’ it will never be the same as when I first got the car.

But then you really must put things into perspective - “at the end of the day it’s only a car and it can be fixed” My god did I really say that?!!! The beer must be taking effect, time for another….

sorry to hear whats happened.
BMW dont do door skins mate, well never used to.

CD what happened with yours?

[marriedblonde]

Not wanting to put down on things as I would imagine your already gutted. I had a slight ding in my old coupe and it needed anew wing and front bumper. I took it to BMW to be fixed as they came highly recommended.

They did an ok job but if your anal about your car you will be able to tell.

My best advice would be to make sure you pick the car up in daylight and check the paint match. Freshly valeted and in anything but perfect light will make the car look great but you may find a slight colour difference in sunlight or bright light.

Good luck in getting it fixed as well all know what a ball ache having a ding can be!

J.

[CD]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

CD what happened with yours?

i was overtaking 2 vehicles and a old pickup just pulled accross the line onto my side and straight into the side of me he obviously didnt check his mirrors before pulling out to overtake

this was back in october, needed a new door and new sideskirt !

[RichardM]

Sorry to post another negative comment but good luck trying to claim of his insurance. It seems to take forever to resolve claims with foreign drivers.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by CD

i was overtaking 2 vehicles and a old pickup just pulled accross the line onto my side and straight into the side of me he obviously didnt check his mirrors before pulling out to overtake

this was back in october, needed a new door and new sideskirt !

Really, any pics of the damage? Before your trip to espana?

Did you claim off him alright? id imagine a situation like that could be hard to fight. Or was he a decent guy?

Originally Posted by RichardM

Sorry to post another negative comment but good luck trying to claim of his insurance. It seems to take forever to resolve claims with foreign drivers.

What have you experianced in the past then buddy?

[RichardM]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

[FONT="Arial"]What have you experianced in the past then buddy?

A good friend of mine was hit in the same way on the M25 by a Polish lorry. Her insurance have been very reluctant to even try and reclaim the costs as they hold out little hope.

[LRS]

My main worry is the fact that the driver is non-UK although he did seem like a descent guy.

When it comes to insurance claims It’s most likely that I will end up getting fully hit for the claim, even when it was 100% his fault! Insurance companies will always do the minimal amount of work, but still charge you the maximum amount of money – legalized corruption alive and kicking!

I’m hoping that things go OK regards the claim. The Highways Agency new exactly what info to get from the driver:

• His Green Card No
• His Insurance Company Name
• His Drivers License details – home address
• His company Name and address

If my insurance company even tries to do the quick 50/50 settlement, I will fight them to the end. Done this before some years ago, took 8 months, with the Insurance Ombudsman agreeing in our favor.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by LRS

My main worry is the fact that the driver is non-UK although he did seem like a descent guy.

When it comes to insurance claims It’s most likely that I will end up getting fully hit for the claim, even when it was 100% his fault! Insurance companies will always do the minimal amount of work, but still charge you the maximum amount of money – legalized corruption alive and kicking!

I’m hoping that things go OK regards the claim. The Highways Agency new exactly what info to get from the driver:

• His Green Card No
• His Insurance Company Name
• His Drivers License details – home address
• His company Name and address

If my insurance company even tries to do the quick 50/50 settlement, I will fight them to the end. Done this before some years ago, took 8 months, with the Insurance Ombudsman agreeing in our favor.

You not considered using one of the accident management companies? Accident Xchange, Angel Assistance etc.

BTW I witnessed the driving skills of a foreign driver today. I was loading my trailer at one of my suppliers and I heard the revesing siren of a lorry further down the road, glancing quickily I saw a parked car behind him. Unfortuantely the driver did not, so he carried on reversing and moved the empty car about 10 metres up the road. Car owner was not happy.

Hope you get yourself sorted LRS.

[LRS]

I’ll have to wait and see how Privilege Insurance behalves regards foreign claims.

If they try to take the easy route or prejudice my case in anyway by being lazy because it‘s a foreign driver, I’ll be going straight to the Insurance Ombudsman.

Did this some years ago with another insurance company after a motorcycle ran straight into my wife’s car, 100% the motorcyclists fault. The insurance company was so scared and paranoid because the incident involved a motorcycle that they immediately paid him £5000 to fully fix his bike even though it was 100% his fault!!! I took the case to the Insurance Ombudsman stating that my insurance company had now prejudice my case. It took about 8 months to conclude, but when it did the Ombudsman ruled in our favour.

Persistence will eventually bring justice. Bring it on!!!

335d goes in for repair on Monday - new door required with a respray blending in on the front wing and rear quarter panel. Fingers crossed all goes well - may the force be with me...

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by LRS

I’ll have to wait and see how Privilege Insurance behalves regards foreign claims.

If they try to take the easy route or prejudice my case in anyway by being lazy because it‘s a foreign driver, I’ll be going straight to the Insurance Ombudsman.

Did this some years ago with another insurance company after a motorcycle ran straight into my wife’s car, 100% the motorcyclists fault. The insurance company was so scared and paranoid because the incident involved a motorcycle that they immediately paid him £5000 to fully fix his bike even though it was 100% his fault!!! I took the case to the Insurance Ombudsman stating that my insurance company had now prejudice my case. It took about 8 months to conclude, but when it did the Ombudsman ruled in our favour.

Persistence will eventually bring justice. Bring it on!!!

335d goes in for repair on Monday - new door required with a respray blending in on the front wing and rear quarter panel. Fingers crossed all goes well - may the force be with me...

good luck mate but watch for the respray.

It may well match: door wing rear quarter.

But check the wing to the bonnet which wont be sprayed.