[ViCosPhi]

Got rear ended by a Ford truck backing up with a giant tow hitch attached to it in a parking lot. Wanted to share the damage and cost of repair for science.



Total cost of repair: $3500


Parts (Repl= replaced, R&I=Remove/Repair and install)

REAR BODY & FLOOR
Rpr Rear body panel-CENTER UPPER
R&I Rear body trim
R&I RT Trunk side trim w/o navigation-SET BACK
R&I LT Trunk side trim w/o navigation-SET BACK
R&I Floor cover
R&I Storage compart

TRUNK LID
Rpr Trunk lid-2 BODYLINES AND UNDERSIDE
R&I W'strip on body-SET BACK
Repl Opt OEM Nameplate "428i"
Repl Opt OEM Emblem
R&I License bracket
R&I Trunk lid trim

REAR LAMPS
R&I RT Tail lamp
R&I LT Tail lamp
R&I RT Backup lamp
R&I LT Backup lamp

REAR BUMPER
Repl Rear bumper
Repl Opt OEM Bumper cover 428i, 430i w/o trim lines w/o prk sensr
Repl Add for park sensor
Repl Opt OEM Park sensor holder kit
Repl Opt OEM Adhesive kit
Repl Opt OEM Molding strip gloss black
Repl Opt OEM Center support
Repl Opt OEM LT Molding strip retainer
Repl Opt OEM RT Molding strip retainer
Repl Opt OEM Impact
Repl Opt OEM Lower reinf
Repl CORROSION PROTECTION

[SCS55]

Darn, sorry for your damage. Sounds about right on the quote. I'm dealing with a front left fender/bumper hit and Gieco is estimating $4600.00. Hang in there, it's amazing what good body shops can do.

[jd_perspective]

dont forget to go after them for Diminished Valued.

[ViCosPhi]

Originally Posted by SCS55

Darn, sorry for your damage. Sounds about right on the quote. I'm dealing with a front left fender/bumper hit and Gieco is estimating $4600.00. Hang in there, it's amazing what good body shops can do.

Thank you, sorry to hear about yours as well. I agree, good body shops is all one needs. I just got mine and they did a good job. Attaching picture below.

Originally Posted by jd_perspective

dont forget to go after them for Diminished Valued.

Sadly, there were no cameras and the other person is concocting a story....I have let my insurance provider know. Their insurance provider was a jerk and said it sounds like a 50/50 fault to him if there were no witnesses or cameras.

[heifetz17]

I'm an estimator for a body shop and I would never write that trunk for repair. Once the metal stretches to a certain point it loses its integrity. If you have the means, remove the lining and check the back side of the repair area for exposed metal that will corrode, and take a small magnet to the outside of the repair area. If the magnet will not stick you know they just filled it with body filler.

[ViCosPhi]

Originally Posted by heifetz17

I'm an estimator for a body shop and I would never write that trunk for repair. Once the metal stretches to a certain point it loses its integrity. If you have the means, remove the lining and check the back side of the repair area for exposed metal that will corrode, and take a small magnet to the outside of the repair area. If the magnet will not stick you know they just filled it with body filler.

I wish you were the estimator for my car. I had also expressed concern on reusing that trunk lid due the damage being at the curving portion but both shops I took my car to said that they will not replace it and it is perfectly repairable. One of them was the authorized BMW collision center so I figured they would be correct in their assessment.

Didn't remove the liner yet to check underneath, but checked by sticking the magnet as you mentioned and it barely stuck where the dent was. Is using filler bad for these type of damages?

[BWbimmer]

I am surprised that is was actually worth to repair the trunk lid. It needed to be resprayed anyway. or not?

[1QuikWS6]

I would not accept that trunk lid being repaired either - in fact my insurance company (Nationwide) would never pay to repair a panel (unless it could be done by Dent Wizard)

I've been told numerous times by their adjusters that no shop wants to repair panels with filler & such anymore - they all want to simply replace the panel with new

At the very least you should demand that they replace with a used trunk in perfect condition - esp. since they are gonna have to paint the entire trunk anyway...

[heifetz17]

Originally Posted by ViCosPhi

I wish you were the estimator for my car. I had also expressed concern on reusing that trunk lid due the damage being at the curving portion but both shops I took my car to said that they will not replace it and it is perfectly repairable. One of them was the authorized BMW collision center so I figured they would be correct in their assessment.

Didn't remove the liner yet to check underneath, but checked by sticking the magnet as you mentioned and it barely stuck where the dent was. Is using filler bad for these type of damages?

Body filler should only be used as a light skim coat to smooth the metal prior to painting. A dent should never be filled with so much filler that a magnet will not stick. You'd be surprised how many certified shops actually perform incorrect repairs. That much filler will eventually fail and begin to crack. When you can definitely look at the back side of the repair area. If you had it done at a certified shop, you might also consider calling BMWNA and filling a complaint about improper repairs. BMW will get involved and possibly make the shop redo it.

[MmmmmM2]

Bummer! I hate a$$holes!

[natesi]

I don't know jack about body repair, but it looks like you could replace the trunk and bumper cover yourself -- and call it a day.

[cfm56d7b]

ViCosPhi, thanks for sharing. Could not agree more with earlier comments. The trunk ought to be replaced.

This is a good time to consider a dual channel dash cam with a dedicated battery for parking mode, such as Cellink NEO. More than worth it to eliminate unhelpful 'he said, she said, they said' dialogs.

[thatBimmerBloke]

Sorry to know about this. Did the truck driver not see you back there? Some trucks around here are raised so high I would be surprised if they couldn't see a small car right behind them. Makes me want to install the Blackvue dual dash cam that I was thinking of selling, definitely need the battery pack to keep it running during parking.

[Chaos236]

Hang on to lots of pics for resale time, should but buyers minds at ease.

[ViCosPhi]

Originally Posted by BWbimmer

I am surprised that is was actually worth to repair the trunk lid. It needed to be resprayed anyway. or not?

Yeah, needed to be repainted, but they probably only painted it partially I think. I agree swapping would have been easier...

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

I would not accept that trunk lid being repaired either - in fact my insurance company (Nationwide) would never pay to repair a panel (unless it could be done by Dent Wizard)

I've been told numerous times by their adjusters that no shop wants to repair panels with filler & such anymore - they all want to simply replace the panel with new

At the very least you should demand that they replace with a used trunk in perfect condition - esp. since they are gonna have to paint the entire trunk anyway...

Thanks, tried but no luck

Originally Posted by heifetz17

Body filler should only be used as a light skim coat to smooth the metal prior to painting. A dent should never be filled with so much filler that a magnet will not stick. You'd be surprised how many certified shops actually perform incorrect repairs. That much filler will eventually fail and begin to crack. When you can definitely look at the back side of the repair area. If you had it done at a certified shop, you might also consider calling BMWNA and filling a complaint about improper repairs. BMW will get involved and possibly make the shop redo it.

Thank you, that makes sense regarding the paint wear on large area that has filler. I reached out to them again and they assured it was "within limits" and per BMW policies as they are a certified BMW facility and that it comes with "lifetime warranty"... I will call BMW NA to see what they say about it...

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

ViCosPhi, thanks for sharing. Could not agree more with earlier comments. The trunk ought to be replaced.

This is a good time to consider a dual channel dash cam with a dedicated battery for parking mode, such as Cellink NEO. More than worth it to eliminate unhelpful 'he said, she said, they said' dialogs.

Yeah always contemplated getting one, but in these COVID19 times, got my car broken into three times now(no window damage, pro job) so I am worried they'll just run with the Blackvue...catch22. Filed police report but they didn't seem to care much about it.

Originally Posted by thatBimmerBloke

Sorry to know about this. Did the truck driver not see you back there? Some trucks around here are raised so high I would be surprised if they couldn't see a small car right behind them. Makes me want to install the Blackvue dual dash cam that I was thinking of selling, definitely need the battery pack to keep it running during parking.

Yeah that could be it. Also I was parked far from the crowded spaces, so lots of empty spaces around me and the guy probably thought there was no car behind him.

Originally Posted by Chaos236

Hang on to lots of pics for resale time, should but buyers minds at ease.

Thanks. Got the pics and gonna put it all in the file with all service documents.

[ViCosPhi]

UPDATE:

Geico folks have been phenomenal in handling this case and they pursued this long enough to get a 50/50 judgment which softened the blow for me as half the cost was reimbursed by other party's insurance.

[BWbimmer]

I'm sorry for you since I can't believe the truck driver could fabricate a story which makes you pay 50%?

[ViCosPhi]

Originally Posted by BWbimmer

I'm sorry for you since I can't believe the truck driver could fabricate a story which makes you pay 50%?

Thanks. Apparently in a rear end collision they consider it 50-50 fault unless you have video proof or a few witnesses

[BWbimmer]

Does this mean you weren't stationary in the parking lot? It happened on the road?