Ouch!

[iampivot]

Had a rather unpleasant meeting with a triton a couple of days ago. I was backing out, slowly. Then the female driver decided to do the same. Even if the sensors went off and I stopped the car, I couldn't prevent her from backing into me.



That particular parking sensor still seems to work.

Edit: It's a passat wagon.

[team_v]

Let us know who you decide to go with for repairs and if you think the cost is appropriate.

[The One]

Assuming you both are accepting fault and paying for your own repairs each?

[iampivot]

Yes it's really hard to prove I was at a standstill when she hit me. $575 excess.

[iampivot]

Took off the bumper last night, there's a small internal dent, with some paint coming off where's there's some foamy seal covering a weld. Wondering if it needs to be sealed up with something?





Otherwise thinking a panel beater might get the bumper back into shape fairly cheaply?

[wai]

If the ding is not visible, then there is little to be gained by getting a panel beater to beat it out. Trying to make something concealed look perfect could see you exposing other issues and that will end up costing more.

As for the seal, clean it out and use some neutral cure silicone sealant to make sure that water cannot get in and cause damage.

[iampivot]

sorry, was thinking about the dent in the bumper itself, if it would come out easily.

[Guest001]

sorry, was thinking about the dent in the bumper itself, if it would come out easily.

If its creased probably not Got a Toyota bumper popped back out but had no sharp edges in the bump Still was a bit knarly.

[wai]

sorry, was thinking about the dent in the bumper itself, if it would come out easily.

For the bumper itself, the problem is that the plastic will have stretched and so even when popped back out will be a little wrinkled.

Bumper reconditioners do use appropriate heat as some plastics have "memory" and will shrink back. If you have resolved to get a new bumper, then you could try pushing it back out and then applying some heat via a hair dryer and see if that helps shrink back. If it does not work, then you were going to get a new bumper anyway

[Guest001]

Yes it's really hard to prove I was at a standstill when she hit me. $575 excess.

Dont know about the Passat bumper price but a few years ago a Berlina front bumper was about $380 and $250 to paint it So might pay to not claim and fix it yourself

[Buckets]

Try using a heat gun and some gentle pressure on the inside of the dent. ABS plastic should pop back. Worst case, you don't like the outcome and you replace the bumper.

[iampivot]

I tried with a hair dryer and seems to have gotten the bumper mostly back into shape. You can still see there's been an impact, and there's now a few cracks, and one particular damage point that might still need to be sanded and painted.







Am thinking damage to the bumper is bound to happen again, and that I should rather spend that excess on a front and rear camera.