AVB Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 A few months ago a woman crashed into my Tesla while my wife was parked in the school car park. Turns out it was a polish lady who worked as a cleaner at the school who had only been driving three days. She was distraught and didn’t want to go through insurance and, as much as I was aware of the risks, also didn’t want to as knew it would bump my premium up. The cost to repair came to £950 for a new rear light and repaint the bumper. Unfortunately she couldn’t stump up the money on one go so agreed to pay. over three monthly instalments. I did wonder whether I would see any of it but she paid on time and paid the last instalment yesterday. Just waiting for repair shop to reopen so it can be fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) Nice that she has honoured your deal. Puzzled as to how a light cluster and repaint of bumper can cost £950 (not suggesting that isn't what they charge, but hard to see how that is justified by either cost of materials, or man hours) ........... but I know car makers take you for a ride for spare parts. Edited May 13, 2020 by JohnfromUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 it doesn’t car repair is a huge rip of i would supply the lens and bumper your self then farm out the paint flashing in a bumper should cost peanuts £950 for a small job like that is ridiculous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPP Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Audi are one of the worst, a friends S8 lost the front light cluster and dent to the body work courtesy of a skip lorry that didn't stop, £6K later ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Break a Range Rover wing mirror and you won't see much change from a grand!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Several years ago my neighbour scratched and dented my bumper. She wasn't bothered and didn't tell me. I saw it on replayed CCTV, yet she still denied it. I put my car into main dealers for repair and gave her name and address and CCTV to insurance company. I took a like for like hire car. I also reported it to The Police. It cost her just short of £8000, plus 6 points on her licence and the loss of NCB. A knock at the door and an apology would have been much cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 2 minutes ago, bruno22rf said: Break a Range Rover wing mirror and you won't see much change from a grand!! Yes, I had a door mirror on an X5 go (electrical fault which alledgedly required whole replacement unit under warranty thank goodness) - and they told me that was just over £1000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 my mates rates for spraying a whole bumper was £120 don’t any of you question where the cost is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 3 minutes ago, clangerman said: don’t any of you question where the cost is? Not when it is on warranty but if I'm paying - yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 2 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said: Not when it is on warranty but if I'm paying - yes. top man you should ALWAYS query the cost with vehicle repairs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 4 minutes ago, clangerman said: my mates rates for spraying a whole bumper was £120 don’t any of you question where the cost is? Not if it's someone who can't be bothered to tell you or admit to it. Like for like car hire, runs into 1000s, 7 seater LR Disco with towbar, they had to have towbar fitted "just in case I needed it". Having good insurance and a barrister as a friend helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bavarianbrit Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) Tesla parts come a long way before they hit UK shores. My wifes merc A class was the same rip off for a scratched bumper. Are you on an S, a 3. an X or a Y? I worked for 3 interesting months in the Fremont plant on the X falcon doors. Edited May 13, 2020 by bavarianbrit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted May 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Actually the quote of £950 is for a second hand light cluster as Tesla will only sell new parts to Tesla approved bodyshops. The rest of the quote was paint, labour and VAT. Perhaps I could have got it cheaper but this was at a bodyshop I have used before and didn't see why I should put myself out by searching for somewhere cheaper. I could have gone through the insurance but it would have probably worked out more expensive for her and more hassle/cost for me. 6 minutes ago, bavarianbrit said: Tesla parts come a long way before they hit UK shores. My wifes merc A class was the same rip off for a scratched bumper. Are you on an S, a 3. an X or a Y? I worked for 3 interesting months in the Fremont plant on the X falcon doors. I have an MX. Love the doors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bavarianbrit Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 They were the hardest technical challenge in my 50 years in the car business, Elon said if he had known how hard they would be to make work he would have dropped his demand, but we got there in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dipper Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Question asked by repairer is it insurance or private ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted May 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 5 minutes ago, bavarianbrit said: They were the hardest technical challenge in my 50 years in the car business, Elon said if he had known how hard they would be to make work he would have dropped his demand, but we got there in the end. What I like, and most people don't appreciate is that they vary the amount that they open outward by before pivoting up, dependant on the space available. So they will open, and you can enter in a space far small than you would be able to open and enter in a conventional door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Nice that she paid up, but I'd find another garage, seems a bit steep. 50 minutes ago, Centrepin said: Several years ago my neighbour scratched and dented my bumper. She wasn't bothered and didn't tell me. I saw it on replayed CCTV, yet she still denied it. I put my car into main dealers for repair and gave her name and address and CCTV to insurance company. I took a like for like hire car. I also reported it to The Police. It cost her just short of £8000, plus 6 points on her licence and the loss of NCB. A knock at the door and an apology would have been much cheaper. I'll bet they don't say hi when they walk by anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bavarianbrit Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 After my 50 years in the car business I still find it stupid to use painted plastic for bumper (no longer functions as such) material. It is not designed for function as they are held on with a few clips that spring off with any minor contact and scratches that will happen in a cars life become overly visible and cause such grief to owners. Bring back moggy 1000 gpo vans with rubber wings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 A few months ago wife and I were parked in a supermarket car park when a woman reversed into a correctly parked stationary car, got out and looked the damage over then attempted to get back into her own car and simply drive away. Needless to say we both had our mobile cameras pointed at her number plate as she fled. I then went in and managed to call the owner of the damaged car and inform her I was prepared to act as witness. It has taken months for her insurance company to contact us to write up a brief of what happened etc, - can’t believe how callous some are. Incidentally costs of repairing bumpers can vary enormously, £120 to fix scratches is one thing but the minute electrics are involved it really can run up to hundreds if not thousands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 £500plus vat for a wing mirror on a seat altea I had, paid the excess on my insurance instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 On 13/05/2020 at 15:33, clangerman said: my mates rates for spraying a whole bumper was £120 don’t any of you question where the cost is? It's impressive that you can gauge the cost of parts and labour without seeing the job, or knowing what the actual work entails 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 1 hour ago, Rewulf said: It's impressive that you can gauge the cost of parts and labour without seeing the job, or knowing what the actual work entails 1 minute ago, clangerman said: 1 hour ago, Rewulf said: It's impressive that you can gauge the cost of parts and labour without seeing the job, or knowing what the actual work entails it’s called experience comes from years of vehicle repair from a small scuff to serious collision damage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 5 minutes ago, clangerman said: it’s called experience comes from years of vehicle repair from a small scuff to serious collision damage Like I say, Im impressed . My 37 years of doing automotive bodywork repairs hasnt equipped me to accurately quote a job on a prestige car without seeing it, and with a description of the the job being 'a new rear light and repaint the bumper. ' You say the job was too expensive, yet... A. You have no idea how much the rear light cost. B. You have no idea of the car or year of manufacture. C. You have no idea of the colour (being so experienced you are aware that some paint systems are extremely expensive ?) D. And most important, you have absolutely no idea of the extent of the damage on this £80,000 worth of car, is the bumper cracked, distorted ? Requiring specialist plastic welding or heat treatment ? But I will bow to your experience, you crack on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 for someone who does not know what he’s doing it didn’t take me long to pay TWO mortgages of from the shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 9 minutes ago, clangerman said: for someone who does not know what he’s doing it didn’t take me long to pay TWO mortgages of from the shop Whatever works for you buddy 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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