Front bumper repair - Mercedes versus someone else

[notamercowner]

I do not own a mercedes (Sadly) but had the misfortune of gently hitting one while parking next to it. The car I damaged is Mercedes-Benz A Class 1.3 A200 AMG Line (Executive) Hatchback 5dr. I wrote a note for the owner and he has contacted me. He just called and said that he has a quote from Mercedes Benz of West London for £5000-£6000. I sent the photos to a merc approved repair centre and the guy said £250.
I am attaching a photo of the damage caused by me.
Can someone please tell me if this really the price difference to expect between Merc and Merc approved repair centres? Can someone recommend a Mercedes approved car repair centre which is very reputed and is in south west London?

 

[C16RKC]

It's impossible to be sure, because we can't know what is damaged underneath... However.... I think it is pretty safe to assume that's just cosmetic, and can be pulled out/filled/sprayed without too much fuss.

Mercedes are taking the Mickey (perhaps don't want the work) - they are probably proposing to replace the whole bumper with brand new. Possible more bits of trim. The new owner might try to insist on this, and it is a shame when someone hits your car... but that's life sadly, and it would be unreasonable to expect someone to pay £5K to repair this.

If I took this to a bodyshop to have repaired, I would expect a very high quality job for £500 or less. Any more and I would move on to somewhere else.

If the owner insists on Mercedes, then I would suggest going through your insurance. They won't let the owner have Mercedes do it either, but at least they can tell the owner "take it or leave it" legally.

But if they are being reasonable, then I'd suggest to them using the Mercedes approved repair center you have found.

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

You've done the right thing which is nice, I'd advise to go through insurance - yes it will be a bit of a PITA when it comes to renewal - they can deal with all the hassle

Popping it back out and spraying it is easy enough - it's the sensors, headlight and all the other bits that could be found at repair that add up - LED headlights are >£1,000 for even shopping trolleys these days so the bill mounts up very fast - Mercedes will have take the cautious option and priced to replace everything.

 

[Trev1964]

You are entitled to have your car repaired at a bodyshop of your choice.
If they are insisting Mercedes mend it, nothing you can do.
Hand the problem off to your insurer.

 

[C16RKC]

Sorry but that's a load of rubbish.

But if the owner is insisting Mercedes then I agree, let the insurance companies fight it out.

 

[notamercowner]

Thanks for all your replies. The quote from Mercedes is for bumper replacement. I will request to the sense of fairplay to the owner, and will pass it on to insurance if they continue to insist.

 

[Not_Anumber]

Its a plastic bumper on a little 1.3 litre front wheel drive hatchback at the end of the day. £ 5k for a bumper repair is just ridiculous. The owner is lucky you have chosen to do the right thing but all you can really do with someone with their attitude is to guide them to the approved repairer or tell them to deal with it as an insurance claim.

 

[peterws1957]

Thanks for all your replies. The quote from Mercedes is for bumper replacement. I will request to the sense of fairplay to the owner, and will pass it on to insurance if they continue to insist.

You may also get hit with a bill for car hire whilst the repairs are undertaken. Even more reason to let your Insurer deal with the issue. Beware of third party accident claims handlers contacting you as well. You are under no obligation to speak to them and I wouldn't!

 

[brandwooddixon]

For that money insist on going through insurance.
Don't assume that the other driver is being truthful. I've found in the past that often with drivers who suggest not going through insurance and then demand large payments that once you start down the insurance route everything magically goes away. (One car turned out to have a false number plate fitted - BMW with a plate registered to a Renault and wasn't actually insured).
In any case Mercedes Dealer won't repair the car they'll farm it out to a body shop.

 

[EmilysDad]

You are entitled to have your car repaired at a bodyshop of your choice.
If they are insisting Mercedes mend it, nothing you can do.
Hand the problem off to your insurer.

Not always the case. Some insurers insist that you use their authorised repairers .... part of the small print.

 

[grahamcol]

Not always the case. Some insurers insist that you use their authorised repairers .... part of the small print.

I've never heard of this before. Yes, they like to "encourage" the use of their repairer and will sometimes decline a courtesy car if you don't, but it's your car and l don't see that they could actually insist. Put it this way, I'd be fighting them tooth and nail on this. In my experience a so called authorised repairer exists to save the insurance company money, not to produce a first class job for the policyholder. And what if it's a new car under manufacturers warranty? Certainly not acceptable to me !

 

[C16RKC]

Have an accident and you will see how it works; I have had several and had cars repaired a few times, and you are pretty much limited to who your insurer (or the other persons insurer if they are arranging it) has on their list of "approved" bodyshops. If you decline their repair services there is nothing you can do about it.

Sometimes you luck out; my 5 series was repaired at the BMW main dealer 20 years ago. Sometimes it will be an independent bodyshop; and there is usually a choice of more than one. You can also insist on a particular garage, and they sometimes allow it, but only if the costs are sensible. I have always had a good standard of repair from an insurance approved bodyshop.

Insurance companies are not stupid - they won't allow you to take it somewhere charging a fortune. But I have to confess I think an insurance company bodyshop will replace that whole bumper anyway, so the £5K costs might stand if going through the insurance due to the costs of the parts from Mercedes. It would not be a surprise if that very same garage quoting £5K get used anyway

 

[grahamcol]

Have an accident and you will see how it works; I have had several and had cars repaired a few times, and you are pretty much limited to who your insurer (or the other persons insurer if they are arranging it) has on their list of "approved" bodyshops. If you decline their repair services there is nothing you can do about it.

Sometimes you luck out; my 5 series was repaired at the BMW main dealer 20 years ago. Sometimes it will be an independent bodyshop; and there is usually a choice of more than one. You can also insist on a particular garage, and they sometimes allow it, but only if the costs are sensible. I have always had a good standard of repair from an insurance approved bodyshop.

Insurance companies are not stupid - they won't allow you to take it somewhere charging a fortune. But I have to confess I think an insurance company bodyshop will replace that whole bumper anyway, so the £5K costs might stand if going through the insurance due to the costs of the parts from Mercedes. It would not be a surprise if that very same garage quoting £5K get used anyway

I'm hoping not to find out re today's situation ! Years ago l had an accident and my insurer at the time was OK with me taking the car to a repairer of my choice, with the proviso they wouldn't pay more than the estimated cost of repair by their approved bodyshop.

 

[EmilysDad]

I've never heard of this before. Yes, they like to "encourage" the use of their repairer and will sometimes decline a courtesy car if you don't, but it's your car and l don't see that they could actually insist. Put it this way, I'd be fighting them tooth and nail on this. In my experience a so called authorised repairer exists to save the insurance company money, not to produce a first class job for the policyholder. And what if it's a new car under manufacturers warranty? Certainly not acceptable to me !

I completely agree .... its what I heard from a local body shop. Last time I made a claim I took my car to where I wanted it repaired ..... which was not where my insurer wanted it repairing. We have enough cars here to decline a courtesy car ...

 

[Trev1964]

Google it.
Law now gives you the right to choose repairer.
Insurers can and do try and make it difficult. The law is still the law.

 

[Trev1964]

Cut and pasted from compare the market website, first place I came across the relevant information.


A repairer of your choice
You might decide to go with a repairer of your own choosing. It might be that they offer a high-quality service you’re happy with, or it could be that their location is easier to reach.

The right to choose your own repairer
Not only are you free to choose your own repairer, it’s your legal right to do so.

The Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations give car owners the right to freely choose any repairer or body shop to repair their vehicle. Under your UK car insurance repair rights, you’re not obliged to go with an approved repairer chosen by your insurance provider if you don’t want to.

 

[Trev1964]

All those saying different are just unaware the legislation is there.
Been quite a while now as well.

 

[rf065]

He just called and said that he has a quote from Mercedes Benz of West London for £5000-£6000. I sent the photos to a merc approved repair centre and the guy said £250.

Someone ran into the back of my daughters car two weeks ago, you could not see the damage if I showed a photo but close up it resulted in the slightest dent to the bottom of the bootlid, only a couple of inches long but it did crack the paint along the line of the dent. Otherwise you would never notice it.
A local bodyshop has quoted £795 to repair, so your quote of £250 appears far too cheap. Not sure I'd want my car repaired at a place quoting figures as low as that.

 

[C16RKC]

Cut and pasted from compare the market website, first place I came across the relevant information.


A repairer of your choice
You might decide to go with a repairer of your own choosing. It might be that they offer a high-quality service you’re happy with, or it could be that their location is easier to reach.

The right to choose your own repairer
Not only are you free to choose your own repairer, it’s your legal right to do so.

The Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations give car owners the right to freely choose any repairer or body shop to repair their vehicle. Under your UK car insurance repair rights, you’re not obliged to go with an approved repairer chosen by your insurance provider if you don’t want to.

OK I stand corrected, though that does not match the experiences I've had.

I also find it extremely hard to beleive an insurer will let you choose to spend their money on an expensive bodyshop when they can provide a cheaper one at a decent level of quality.

I suspect that article is bending the truth a little.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

 

[Srdl]

Cut and pasted from compare the market website, first place I came across the relevant information.


A repairer of your choice
You might decide to go with a repairer of your own choosing. It might be that they offer a high-quality service you’re happy with, or it could be that their location is easier to reach.

The right to choose your own repairer
Not only are you free to choose your own repairer, it’s your legal right to do so.

The Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations give car owners the right to freely choose any repairer or body shop to repair their vehicle. Under your UK car insurance repair rights, you’re not obliged to go with an approved repairer chosen by your insurance provider if you don’t want to.

LV allow me to choose a repairer but I have to pay a higher excess if I go with my choice rather than their approved one. Presumably within the letter of the law.