Neigbor hit my BMW - advice on repairs

[New York Trojan]

Neighbor hit my BMW - advice on repairs

I came home today to find a note in my mailbox explaining to me that my neigbor had hit my car coming out of his driveway. I park my 2004 electric red (read hard to miss) 330ci there everyday and he still managed to hit it (we don't have a driveway). I'm thankful that he was at least nice enough to leave a note, although his car would have been the first place I would have looked if he had not. The damage is a medium size dent to the rear quarter panel on the driver side. I don't know if it extents forward to the door or not - at least not by looking at it - but it doesn't appear to.
Anyway his insurance company, USAA, said that I can take it anywhere that I want. Does anyone have an opinion as to the best type of place if not a specific recomendation as to where to take it? I live in Staten Island and my plan right now is to take it to the dealer where I went once to have had a repair when the door lock didn't work and another time to have the software in the heater changed to prevent battery drain as per BMW. The dealer is Open Road in NJ. I actually bought the car at Pace in Ct, but it is farther away so that's why I went to Open Road for the previous repairs. They were really cool there: clean, efficient, friendly, seemed knowledgeable, and gave me a loaner car both times. Are dealers the best place for body work? I don't know any foreign car specialists so I don't know where else to go if there are better choices than a dealer. Are there any other concerns that I should be aware of like paint matching, etc? I really am worried that my car is not going to be the same as new.

Thanks,

 

[Dinan55]

Sorry I can't really help you... the only problem I've ever had with bodywork is actually going on right now. Some asswipe hit my front bumper from the left side at this hotel parking lot and just left, so basically I have to burn my own money to fix it. I'm def. not taking it to a shop to fix, I think I'm just going to buy the parts from BMW and do it myself, comes out to $604.25, you're pretty lucky the guy told you he did it.

 

[bmw046series]

My first BMW Brand NEW 1993 M3 was driving it back from the dealership - stopped at my then girlfriend’s house and her neighbor clobbered the driver’s side door as he was backing out of his driveway. $2000 damage! Insurance covered it.

Four BMW’s later accidents and scratches never get easier but you get over them – it’s just a car (a nicer than normal car though).

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

can you post some pics of the damage?

 

[New York Trojan]

I definitely agree that it’s just an object. That’s why I’m trying not to get to pissed. I can’t help but be a little angry. Like many of you, I wash the car every week and even park away from other cars in the parking lot. But some things you can’t do anything about. I was very cordial to my neighbor and even thanked him for the note. I didn’t find out until tonight, I’ll try and get a picture to post tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Dinan55]

Sure it's an object... but it's also art.

 

[New York Trojan]

Sure it's an object... but it's also art.

I AGREE. I guess I'm trying to keep myself from getting more pissed off.

 

[Tom]

Sorry to hear, you can contact your Service Advisor and ask him to recommend a shop to you.

 

[aNoodle]

Sorry to hear about that. Reminds me of when the gate of my apartment complex closed in my car the first year I had it. I was livid!! The landlord asked me if I hadn't seen the sign they hung saying they don't take responsiblity for the gate. LOL, needless to say, after I filed in small claims court, they paid the full price.

The gate scraped and indented the same place as you are decribing. The only advice I would give you is to make sure you get a full estimate of what it would take to everything to your car. For example, the place my BMW dealership recommended and does all the work for that dealerhip said that I could replace the door which would be more expensive. But, if the parts don't match the car, later when you try to sell it, people will assume the damage was much worse.
In the end they recommended smoothing it all out and repainting. Jet Black is easy to match, over the metalics. When they were done, I looked brand spanking new. I was really impressed, but that stuff is not cheap, they have to sand, refigure, paint, clear coat, and bake the car.

On thing I can say by way of advice is that you should count yourself lucky he has USAA. They always get insurance awards. They won't insist that you take the car to their place or try to rip you off and nickle and dime you. That's why I'm saying get a full estimate from a dealer recommended place and ask for that amount from USAA, even if you choose not to have all that work done. You can at a later date have the work done, or maybe at another place that is cheaper, or something less. I doubt not having it fixed is an option you'd consider, but you are entitled to the money for the damanges even if you never get it fixed.

 

[New York Trojan]

I have an update. Open Road BMW sends the work out to Garden State Auto Body. Garden State said that they will guarantee the workmanship for the life of us owning the car but they do not guarantee against corrosion or the paint fading. I called the dealer where I bought the car (Pace BMW which is farther away) and they will guarantee everything to the factory warranty. Looks like I'm leaning toward going to Pace.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Pace is in CT? I thought it was in NY (westchester area)

 

[Ghost]

That sucks, sorry to hear that.

IMO Pace all the way. After it's fixed, corrosion and fading are the two things that should be guaranteed.