[F30AM]

Went to the car this morning. Saw a lovely 1 inch scratch on the edge of the front bumper. Driver's side. Can see the black base. So very annoying. How and when it happened I don't know. Might have been the dustman on Monday as it does not look like parking damage. I had a premonition that this type of baptism would happen. It could have been worse.

No pictures, sorry. Car is at BMW for a smart fix. £100 cost. Will collect it on Saturday, even though it will be ready for tomorrow. Also, bought some touch-up for £24.50.

Unfortunately, one has to be stoic about these things when living in crowded London.

[dopper99]

These things do happen unfortunately, you need to get them fixed and move on.
I picked up a dent about 2 inches across on the passenger door on my E90 when it was a few months old and I was not happy. Got one of those local smart repair dent people out and did a fantastic job. I couldn't believe how well they fixed it and well worth the £80 or £90 to do it.
Its amazing what they can do these days without having to do major work.

[RobUK]

Really sorry to hear that. It always happens, brand new car then you have a short while during which it's pristine then some thoughtless or careless s.o.b. bursts your bubble. Likewise, I had a car that was just 2 weeks old and some idiot put a sizeable dent right in the middle of the passenger door which cost a pretty penny to fix. That wasn't so bad cos two years later some woman embedded her Fiesta in the rear of it!!

As dopper says, you have to resign yourself to it, open your wallet then move on - but enjoy the car when it's looking (and behaving) well

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by RobUK

Really sorry to hear that. It always happens, brand new car then you have a short while during which it's pristine then some thoughtless or careless s.o.b. bursts your bubble. Likewise, I had a car that was just 2 weeks old and some idiot put a sizeable dent right in the middle of the passenger door which cost a pretty penny to fix. That wasn't so bad cos two years later some woman embedded her Fiesta in the rear of it!!

As dopper says, you have to resign yourself to it, open your wallet then move on - but enjoy the car when it's looking (and behaving) well

Every new car I have had in the last 20 years gets an unbeauty mark more or less 4 weeks after delivery. It's a given and I've accepted it. Those you have perpetrated this will hopefully get very, very ill and won't recover ever.

There have been a couple of deaths on my street from sudden ill health, if you get my drift. I might have a 'black' tongue as the saying goes.

I have never damaged someone else's property.

[crazybones]

Originally Posted by F30AM

Every new car I have had in the last 20 years gets an unbeauty mark more or less 4 weeks after delivery.

Thank you! I thought it was just me!

Had my 328i MSport 3 days and got a small chip in the Windscreen. My previous Merc got its first chip within 2 weeks of delivery. Both times I was not following anybody close.

Now on day 5 of ownership and got caught in a pincer movement between 2 gritting lorries. They were travelling together and one left the dual carriageway on the slip road, only to re-join behind me and gain rapidly to catch his mate. I was following the first lorry at a safe distance and realised that if I stayed where I was, the 2nd lorry would slowly overtake me! You can probably guess the option I took!

[mtmcgavock]

It always happens, about 4 weeks after getting ours someone keyed the front of the bonnet and made a right mess. £600+ to get it repaired, as it needed bonnet, bumper and wings doing so we didn't bother.

About another 4 months later some woman in a Clio smacked her door into one of the rear doors, don't know how I managed to notice the dint as it was raining (Think I became paranoid after the first time). Luckily caught her returning to her car, on the plus side when it went in for repair I decided to get the bonnet done at the same time and they forgot to charge us!

[crazybones]

Please post some pictures of the smart repair - hope they do a good job.

[F30AM]

What can one do but be philosphical. It's so annoying for a new car to be baptised in this way. Damn them who did it.

I'll post a piccy of the smart repair. Hope they get it right. They've had 2 days to do a good job.

Collecting car tomorrow morning. A bit nervous, I must admit.

[dopper99]

I doubt if you'll see where the original scratch was.

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by dopper99

I doubt if you'll see where the original scratch was.

^This.

A perfect smart repair. Car given back in perfectly clean state. Impressed.

I was quoted £120 + VAT. I was presented with a bill of £150 + VAT. I paid them £120 + VAT with the provisor that if it is the latter, I'll pay up. I don't mind as the job was perfect.

[crazybones]

Glad it was a good job. I always think it is better to get the job done asap after the event as it only frustrates each time you look until it is fixed.

Useful to know that the smart fix gives a good finish. Many years ago, I used Chips Away and the job was terrible, so I've always avoided smart repairs since. What did they do - a local spray job?

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by crazybones

Glad it was a good job. I always think it is better to get the job done asap after the event as it only frustrates each time you look until it is fixed.

Useful to know that the smart fix gives a good finish. Many years ago, I used Chips Away and the job was terrible, so I've always avoided smart repairs since. What did they do - a local spray job?

Local spray job. You'd never know.
Chips Away totally rubbish. Seen their work. Car needs to be inside a building with a clean environment for painting and not on a street!

[Isow]

Originally Posted by F30AM

^This.

A perfect smart repair. Car given back in perfectly clean state. Impressed.

I was quoted £120 + VAT. I was presented with a bill of £150 + VAT. I paid them £120 + VAT with the provisor that if it is the latter, I'll pay up. I don't mind as the job was perfect.

Congrats on having a good job done.
Peace of mind is worth paying for.

[TMP]

Originally Posted by F30AM

A perfect smart repair. Car given back in perfectly clean state. Impressed.

Glad to hear that mate, and its back to being perfect and new! (Nothing worse than letting these scratches build up)

[F30AM]

Thanks all.
The joys of living in London especially on a dead end one way street.
All's well that ends well.

[F30AM]

Today I caught the Recycling Monkey Men in the act of scratching and denting my GTI! Complained to the Council and billing them for the repair. Cost them a fair bit!

They have given Enterprise the contract this year and they are dreadful. Street has been left in a terrible mess today.

[crazybones]

Trouble is that people just don't care these days.

On a positive note, at least you know who did the damage and how to claim. Nothing worse than finding damage and having to claim on your own insurance as the offender has not had the decency to own up!

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by crazybones

Trouble is that people just don't care these days.

On a positive note, at least you know who did the damage and how to claim. Nothing worse than finding damage and having to claim on your own insurance as the offender has not had the decency to own up!

They came back this afternoon and cleaned up the mess. Sh*t heads.