Approved BMW repair or local bodyshop?

DarrenSL · 07-20-2018, 04:00 AM

In a moment of madness I managed to reverse my F30 into the trolley bay at my local supermaket! I haven't made an insurance claim in over 20 years so not sure what's best to do.

The car isn't exactly in pristine condition anyway (few minor scratches, front lower engine shield ripped off and lower front bumper damage) and I have £350 excess (plus protected no claims).

Do you think its worth putting through insurance and getting an approved bmw repair or just take it into a local body shop. The car is 2015 plate. What do you reckon the cost will be? Thanks.

pdk42 · 07-20-2018, 04:11 AM

Depends how fussy you are about your car. I'm sure a decent local repairer will do a pretty good job and the cabbage you have is only cosmetic. However, if you only want the best, then I'm sure BMW will give you more leave of mind.

shoestring · 07-20-2018, 04:52 AM

Well it depends...
The damage to that bumper looks bad so I expect a BMW repair shop would definitely want to fit a new bumper which will be very expensive wheras an indepedant bodyshop just may be able with a heatgun to perform a satisfactory, to you, pullout and repair of the bumper.

Why not get a quote from both a BMW repair shop and an independant and then depending on the quotes you get decide then if you want to claim off your insurance or stand the bill yourself.

KCH1984 · 07-20-2018, 05:56 AM

If you're not fussed maybe try sourcing a replacement rear bumper from eBay or a breakers and then have it painted. You might even get one in EB if you're lucky.

Russbmw · 07-20-2018, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCH1984

If you're not fussed maybe try sourcing a replacement rear bumper from eBay or a breakers and then have it painted. You might even get one in EB if you're lucky.

If you didn't want to go through insurance, that would be my preferred route.

Means you are also then not without your car, as you can drop the bumper at the bodyshop to be painted, then take the car in another time for them to swap it over.

ian332isport · 07-20-2018, 07:23 AM

If you can afford to fix it yourself, do so.

Protected no claims means bugger all these days. You may not lose your discount as such, but they WILL load your base premium before the discount is taken off, and you WILL pay more next year.

It also means nothing if you regularly change insurance companies. Protected no claims is just an agreement between you and your current insurer. If you change companies, it means nothing. You can't transfer it to the new insurer. Sure, you can pay for protected no claims with them, but the policy will already have been loaded due to the previous claim.

In my experience, you can't guarantee BMW will repair it better than any other decent body shop. You'll 100% get a new bumper from BMW, but the paint finish is only as good as the person painting it.

I'd be getting a good used bumper, and finding a well respected local place to paint it.

Don't even mention it to the insurance company, or you'll be paying inflated premiums for the next 5 years.

Ian.

evdok · 07-20-2018, 07:41 AM

A new genuine rear bumper fitted will be approx £1300-1500

E60525d · 07-20-2018, 07:55 AM

I would not go through insurance for that. You will have increase premiums for next 5 years plus its going to cost £350 excess.

Buy a 2nd hand M sport bumper for £150. Doesnt matter if its scratched or marked. A body shop will charge around £250 max to fit and paint.

E60525d · 07-20-2018, 07:56 AM

Loads on sale on ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-Ser...sAAOSwa69bI5O0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-Ser...kAAOSw-0RbI5mE

DarrenSL · 07-20-2018, 09:53 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. Pretty much confirmed what I was thinking.

teaston · 07-20-2018, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E60525d

I would not go through insurance for that. You will have increase premiums for next 5 years plus its going to cost £350 excess.

Buy a 2nd hand M sport bumper for £150. Doesnt matter if its scratched or marked. A body shop will charge around £250 max to fit and paint.

This^

Your car is still in it bodywork warranty, but as this isn’t metalwork there’s no need to worry about a genuine repair.

Hooded · 07-20-2018, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E60525d

I would not go through insurance for that. You will have increase premiums for next 5 years plus its going to cost £350 excess.

Buy a 2nd hand M sport bumper for £150. Doesnt matter if its scratched or marked. A body shop will charge around £250 max to fit and paint.

This again ^

jnismith · 07-20-2018, 03:03 PM

I had a pretty similar bang, actually worse. BMW quoted nearly £2000, got it done for £300. It’s not perfect but how often do you look at your rear bumper. Got all the other bits and bobs thrown in as well.

07-20-2018, 04:00 AM	#1
DarrenSL New Member 4 Rep 26 Posts Drives: F30 335d Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	Approved BMW repair or local bodyshop? In a moment of madness I managed to reverse my F30 into the trolley bay at my local supermaket! I haven't made an insurance claim in over 20 years so not sure what's best to do. The car isn't exactly in pristine condition anyway (few minor scratches, front lower engine shield ripped off and lower front bumper damage) and I have £350 excess (plus protected no claims). Do you think its worth putting through insurance and getting an approved bmw repair or just take it into a local body shop. The car is 2015 plate. What do you reckon the cost will be? Thanks.
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07-20-2018, 04:11 AM	#2
pdk42 Eh? Team member 514 Rep 1,190 Posts Drives: F31 335i Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Leamington Spa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 Audi TT Roadst ... [0.00] 2014 f31 335i M Sport [9.50]	Depends how fussy you are about your car. I'm sure a decent local repairer will do a pretty good job and the cabbage you have is only cosmetic. However, if you only want the best, then I'm sure BMW will give you more leave of mind.
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07-20-2018, 04:52 AM	#3
shoestring Private First Class 50 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2017 F31 320D Sport Auto Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: East Midlands iTrader: (0)	Well it depends... The damage to that bumper looks bad so I expect a BMW repair shop would definitely want to fit a new bumper which will be very expensive wheras an indepedant bodyshop just may be able with a heatgun to perform a satisfactory, to you, pullout and repair of the bumper. Why not get a quote from both a BMW repair shop and an independant and then depending on the quotes you get decide then if you want to claim off your insurance or stand the bill yourself.
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07-20-2018, 05:56 AM	#4
KCH1984 Major 949 Rep 1,445 Posts Drives: Tesla Model Y LR Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Glasgow, Scotland iTrader: (0)	If you're not fussed maybe try sourcing a replacement rear bumper from eBay or a breakers and then have it painted. You might even get one in EB if you're lucky. __________________ Gone: G05 X5 40d M Sport, F15 X5 30d M Sport, F30 330d xDrive, F21 M135i, E87 123d
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07-20-2018, 07:23 AM	#6
ian332isport Major 705 Rep 1,141 Posts Drives: F31 340i Shadow Edition Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	If you can afford to fix it yourself, do so. Protected no claims means bugger all these days. You may not lose your discount as such, but they WILL load your base premium before the discount is taken off, and you WILL pay more next year. It also means nothing if you regularly change insurance companies. Protected no claims is just an agreement between you and your current insurer. If you change companies, it means nothing. You can't transfer it to the new insurer. Sure, you can pay for protected no claims with them, but the policy will already have been loaded due to the previous claim. In my experience, you can't guarantee BMW will repair it better than any other decent body shop. You'll 100% get a new bumper from BMW, but the paint finish is only as good as the person painting it. I'd be getting a good used bumper, and finding a well respected local place to paint it. Don't even mention it to the insurance company, or you'll be paying inflated premiums for the next 5 years. Ian.
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07-20-2018, 07:41 AM	#7
evdok Lieutenant Colonel 818 Rep 1,907 Posts Drives: 330D M/SPORT xDRIVE INDIVIDUAL Join Date: May 2015 Location: WORCESTERSHIRE iTrader: (0)	A new genuine rear bumper fitted will be approx £1300-1500 __________________ Happy Motoring Evdok
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07-20-2018, 07:55 AM	#8
E60525d Lieutenant Colonel 278 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: 330d M Sport LCI Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I would not go through insurance for that. You will have increase premiums for next 5 years plus its going to cost £350 excess. Buy a 2nd hand M sport bumper for £150. Doesnt matter if its scratched or marked. A body shop will charge around £250 max to fit and paint.
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07-20-2018, 07:56 AM	#9
E60525d Lieutenant Colonel 278 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: 330d M Sport LCI Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Loads on sale on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-Ser...sAAOSwa69bI5O0 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-Ser...kAAOSw-0RbI5mE
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07-20-2018, 09:53 AM	#10
DarrenSL New Member 4 Rep 26 Posts Drives: F30 335d Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the replies guys. Pretty much confirmed what I was thinking.
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07-20-2018, 03:03 PM	#13
jnismith Captain 311 Rep 713 Posts Drives: Golf R, Maserati Gransport Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (0)	I had a pretty similar bang, actually worse. BMW quoted nearly £2000, got it done for £300. It’s not perfect but how often do you look at your rear bumper. Got all the other bits and bobs thrown in as well.
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