Thank you Delivery Truck Driver :(

[Foxpuppet]

For ruining my pristine van!

today parked outside a job site a truck delivering doors to the job raced past (i was a few cars back from the driveway) and took off my drivers side mirror. The heater and motor still work but the glass is toast and the alloy arm that extends back through the mirror body into the door was snapped all the way through. I was standing out there about to head home when it happened, and because he was stopping there I got the guy's details, rego licence number etc, i reckon he would have run for it if not for that, but he said he wants to pay for it himself rather than tell his work he has done it again (3rd time this year he said) The other guys on site reckon he might have been high on the wacky tobaccy at the time

what would you do? i rang my local dealer and they estimated between 7-900 ish for the mirror assembly and a few hours labour to remove the bits of the old one and put on the new one. all up about $1-1300

I'm happy to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and let him pay (without losing his job he reckons) but i seriously think he was the kind of dude to think it's like $300 or something.

But i also just want it fixed and could just call my insurance and not have to deal with the drama, it's already gonna waste my work time to get to fixed!

anywhere other than VW to source one? should i look at colour coding?



this tape job held up at 120 on the F3

[Transporter]

Oh mate, I feel your pain.
Don't take any chances with him, just go through the insurance company. He may go funny when you tell him how much it costs and you could be out of pocket.

Hope you get it repaired soon.

[Sunny43.5]

Afew hours labour to fit ?????? in the words of a famous dad in the Aussie movie The Castle " Tell them their dreaming " I have repaired mine twice after mirror glass was smashed and refitted the whole assembly when I caught it against a steel post . It is only held on with 3 screws just inside the window frame . If the plastics are all okay you can buy the individuall parts mirror / outer surround / main back housing/ etc all up maybe 15 minutes work at best . All the parts just clip together except for the main alloy frame which is screwed on , and 2 small screws that holds the bottom plastic in place .

[rob64981]

If its the THIRD time this year he deserves it to go through work insurance and teach him a lesson.

He should not be driving if he has had three bumps in a year.

What will he hit next?

Lady with pram waiting to cross the road?

I am one for giving a chance but he will be a cat in his next life!

Just my thoughts hope you get it sorted quickly.

Rob

[BlackSuperb]

Every time I've given someone the benefit of doubt it's turned around and bitten me. No more from me. Let the insurance company deal with it.

[JedR32]

If his work mates think he was high he probably was. In which case bring him down for it, no tolerance for that crap in my opinion.
He shouldn't be on the roads from the sound of it. Plus don't make life hard on yourself for his terrible driving.

Just my 2c

[mikinoz]

Contact his employer. They own the offending vehicle.

[VR6man]

As above
You got his details now let the insurance deal with it.

[Foxpuppet]

Thanks guys, the more i have thought about it, the more i feel this guy has used his chances.
As far as the fitment is concerned of a few hours, it was just a quick call to the guy in spare parts at McCarrolls in hornsby, he didnt talk about it with the guys in service, just gave me a figure for the mirror and then an estimate on time. I should take a pic of it without the tape... it's a mess. i could do it myself i suppose if i find a cheap spare and collect the cash I'm seriously thinking down the colour coded route... or chrome maybe Audi S style

[rob64981]

Mate of mine had the chrome ones on his T5.
The mirrored finnish came off them after a few months driving.
Better do the colour code in my opinion.

Rob

[IN2VWS]

I had exactly the same thing happen to my van.The shop that I was parked outside of when it happened was very helpful.
I asked them if they saw anyone hit my van. They told me they heard a loud crunch when the fruit and veg delivery driver went past my van.

.......so after some phone calls, I convinced the business owner to pay up.

My glass was not smashed, but the rest had to be replaced. It cost me just over $300 for the parts from Burwin's. Took me an hour to replace it myself.

The only fiddley bit was that all the antennas are located in that mirror.

John

[gecko2k]

Contact his employer. They own the offending vehicle.

True that. Don't waste any time and get on them. Spare spare parts might be cheap to find on the T4form or from ASV as they dismantle a T5 atm.

[Foxpuppet]

i'm looking at it from a few angles

1: it's got nothing to do with me or my driving, so i dont care who pays as long as it's not me, call his work and let them/him sort it out.
2: i go through insurance but lose the van for a day (van gone=no work, no pay, probably loss of about $1000 depending on Job) although i do have hire car option on my policy, but they probably wont give me a van... i'll get a getz or something!
3: i get a quote for replacement, hit him for the cost and do it myself, lose no money except some time on the weekend doing it.
4: undecided


i have had no response from the guy after repeated sms to him, so I called Nrma this morning, to advise them of the situation. they told me they cant proceed with out the guys last name even if i have his licence number otherwise i have to pay the $800 excess. the driver was a little shirty about letting me see his licence fully so didnt get it but i did get the full licence number and the rego of the vehicle. I called his boss/work just then, to try and get his last name, they knew exactly who i was talking about, but the boss reckons he couldn't remember the bloke's last name either. Said he will talk to him monday. He was trying to say was i somehow partially to blame... i mean seriously, a stationary vehicle gets hit and the person who parked it is responsible, come off it!!!! everyone parking in that street parks right to the kerb as it is narrow but i've seen much bigger trucks trundle through there without destroying everything in their wake.

i think now i'll call the Nrma back and give them the company name and let them chase it up.

[Cousin]

I must be lucky, I've had two mirrors in accidents, both came off pretty much scratch free

Another van drove past doing around 50ks, big bang and explosion of glass and plastic in front of me
Knew straight away the **** had hit my mirror with his (how friggin close was he driving!!?)
Got out, found absolutely nothing wrong with my T4 black plastic mirror, not even a mark
His was all over the road in front of me
His problem

Second one was a couple of months ago, trundling down a road in a new estate looking for a lot number
Right at the last second saw a security fence leaning out over the road
Smacked into it fairly hard with the left mirror
Got out and checked it all over, just the slightest of scratches over the edge of it
And given it's a painted Multi mirror, very surprised no more damage than that
After some washes it's now not noticeable

I'm pretty impressed with them so far


M

[Foxpuppet]

does anyone know a good and cheap place to source the auto folding mirrors?