Facelift Gutted, but totally my fault...

[Tej13]

Went away for the weekend, just the wife and I - had a great time in Dorset and on the way home we stopped in a little pub just outside Bognor. Whilst I was turning the car around we were chatting and I wasn't concentrating as much as I should have been. There was a really thin post with a sign and board on it and I guess the sensors didn't pick it up until it was too late.

I'm really gutted and so annoyed with myself!! This is the first time in 20+ years I have done something like this...

I would be grateful for any advice.

I am guessing it will be a new diffuser, but is the bumper repairable?

 

[Jassyo06]

Went away for the weekend, just the wife and I - had a great time in Dorset and on the way home we stopped in a little pub just outside Bognor. Whilst I was turning the car around we were chatting and I wasn't concentrating as much as I should have been. There was a really thin post with a sign and board on it and I guess the sensors didn't pick it up until it was too late.

I'm really gutted and so annoyed with myself!! This is the first time in 20+ years I have done something like this...

I would be grateful for any advice.

I am guessing it will be a new diffuser, but is the bumper repairable?

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Damn sorry to see this best get someone who does body work repairs to really answer your question, but l think the bumper is really repairable, as for the trim not so????

 

[Pinky1959]

Find a dent removal specialist near you and get them to assess the damage and see if they can sort it , They are really good at their job.

 

[NHN]

Easily repairable by a body shop, don't worry too much, that's minor damage, fixable, no sweat needed.

 

[Tej13]

Thanks guys - I know its an easy fix, but I was (and still am) so upset with myself. The damn thing only has 3k on it and I've already bent it!

Me and the wife got away for the weekend now that the kids are old enough to be doing their own thing, and this put a dampener on the end of a cracking weekend...

going to drop in on a couple of body shops with good reviews and see what they say.

regards

 

[teamspb]

Where are you based? You may be able to get underneath the car with a some sort of flat surface and you might be able to push the dent out for now...you could also warm it up to help it mold back

 

[Tej13]

I'm in South London.

just been to one of the big body shops and got an estimator to look at it - he said if I want it spotless, it will need a new diffusor and maybe a new bumper! Just shy of £1k - wasn't expecting that!!

 

[Jbond312]

I'm in South London.

just been to one of the big body shops and got an estimator to look at it - he said if I want it spotless, it will need a new diffusor and maybe a new bumper! Just shy of £1k - wasn't expecting that!!

Blimey! I had very similar damage on my Golf R (I backed up into a concrete post ). I was quoted £420 for the repair to the bumper and they managed to do it without replacing the diffuser, this was with Balgores. The first quote I got was much higher as they insisted the diffuser needed replacing otherwise they couldn't get rid of all the damage.

I'd shop around for a few different quotes first and see if someone thinks it's repairable and still get a good finish.

 

[Tej13]

Blimey! I had very similar damage on my Golf R (I backed up into a concrete post ). I was quoted £420 for the repair to the bumper and they managed to do it without replacing the diffuser, this was with Balgores. The first quote I got was much higher as they insisted the diffuser needed replacing otherwise they couldn't get rid of all the damage.

I'd shop around for a few different quotes first and see if someone thinks it's repairable and still get a good finish.

Yes, that's my thoughts too - looking at it the diffuser will need to be renewed in fairness, its crunched in two places. On the bumper he said they could do a repair but it wouldn't be perfect so up to me.

Bl**dy hell this will teach me!!! The problem is it has to be perfect, I can't have it any other way. I have mild OCD and knowing the damage is there is like an itch in my brain!

 

[Jbond312]

Yes, that's my thoughts too - looking at it the diffuser will need to be renewed in fairness, its crunched in two places. On the bumper he said they could do a repair but it wouldn't be perfect so up to me.

Bl**dy hell this will teach me!!! The problem is it has to be perfect, I can't have it any other way. I have mild OCD and knowing the damage is there is like an itch in my brain!

haha I feel your pain. It was my first time having an accident. It makes it much worse knowing it was your own fault as well! Live and learn and all that. Even with a new diffuser it seems a bit steep, hopefully you find somewhere cheaper.

My knock was due to me reversing into a parking bay that backed directly onto wooden fencing with concrete panels. I left the car in reverse and thought "hmm, i'm a bit close to that fence, better move forward a bit". I felt the gear stick and assumed i'd left it in 1st gear (manual car and reverse is to the left of 1st), so I lift off the clutch and accelerate and soon felt the error of my ways. I still remember that feeling of sudden realisation as you know what you've just done. Nor do I know why after just reversing the car would I have thought i'd have put it into 1st gear for no reason.

 

[TYb]

Don’t beat yourself up mate, accidents happen and it will be repairable.

 

[Matt Titanium]

Ouch. A balance between quality of the job you're prepared to pay for yourself and the amount of insurance excess and possible rise in premiums.
If it's going to bug you if not perfect and your repairer can persuade your insurance company to cough up for a new bumper etc, I think I'd claim.
Unless you can find a spotless rear bumper in Ara from a totalled car that's had a heavy front ender...

 

[teamspb]

I'm in South London.

just been to one of the big body shops and got an estimator to look at it - he said if I want it spotless, it will need a new diffusor and maybe a new bumper! Just shy of £1k - wasn't expecting that!!

Is west london or possibly east london too far too travel? I know good guys in both places

 

[kalniel]

It's called 'added character' Same thing about noses in the north - they're bland until they've been broken at least once

 

[Tej13]

Is west london or possibly east london too far too travel? I know good guys in both places

No I could get to either - any recommendations gratefully received.

 

[Tej13]

It's called 'added character' Same thing about noses in the north - they're bland until they've been broken at least once

Haha agreed - I have broken my nose twice!

 

[teamspb]

Klear Autoworks is in west london - Southall 020 8571 9661 - He does more of the everyday cars, still a top quality finish and reasonably priced

Dynatek is in Barking - Herj 07944 695225 - He does most of our team/demo cars, quality is jaw dropping but expect to pay mid to top end money

 

[MikeParkin]

Try boiling water on it as that might push back out. I have done it before on much bigger dents in the past.

 

[oli356]

I had a crack in my bumper a few inches long, along with some bulges around the area.. Went to a few different body shops and how they interpreted the damage was all different. Prices ranging from £1.1k for a new bumper and cheaper options of about half that to try fix it somehow.

So just make sure to get plenty of opinions if you can and try make the best decision.

 

[Tej13]

UPDATE - It's all fixed!!

Its immaculate, even with my critical eye the repair is perfect. After calling around various body shops, I thought I would give the guys at Audi Coulsdon a call as I know the guys there as acquaintances. They put me in touch with a small body shop who does the corrections on their secondhand stock before it gets put out on the forecourt.

It was all repaired, he did think it may be a new diffuser, but they put heat on it and managed to reshape it. All for £350!!

 

[Sandra]

UPDATE - It's all fixed!!

Its immaculate, even with my critical eye the repair is perfect. After calling around various body shops, I thought I would give the guys at Audi Coulsdon a call as I know the guys there as acquaintances. They put me in touch with a small body shop who does the corrections on their secondhand stock before it gets put out on the forecourt.

It was all repaired, he did think it may be a new diffuser, but they put heat on it and managed to reshape it. All for £350!!

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Glad to see it’s fixed. Fantastic job, it’s all shiny and new again.

 

[Tej13]

Glad to see it’s fixed. Fantastic job, it’s all shiny and new again.

Thanks Sandra

Also thanks to everyone else for the advice and sympathy - I was traumatised in the days after I did it! The Wife is still taking the pi**....

 

[Scotty75]

Nice job there, obviously proper tradesmen that know their stuff. Bit different to paying £1k. You'd never knows it was damaged at all .

 

[NevMan]

UPDATE - It's all fixed!!

Its immaculate, even with my critical eye the repair is perfect. After calling around various body shops, I thought I would give the guys at Audi Coulsdon a call as I know the guys there as acquaintances. They put me in touch with a small body shop who does the corrections on their secondhand stock before it gets put out on the forecourt.

It was all repaired, he did think it may be a new diffuser, but they put heat on it and managed to reshape it. All for £350!!

View attachment 155937

nice one! Good result in the end. I know how it feels when you damage your car unintentionally of course.