Neighbour Scratched My Car!
Discussion
Argh. My first post here (after lurking for a while) and it's a negative one.
To introduce myself, I recently became the proud owner of an OPC approved black 07 plate Cayman, which is in fact the first car that I have owned myself. I've had it for about 4 months now and have had no problems until this weekend, when my neighbour scratched the Cayman when parking. I live in London so unfortunately on-street parking is my only reasonable option, so you have to expect these occasional incidents, but that still hasn't stopped me being pretty damn irritated.
Unfortunately the neighbour is refusing to accept responsibility that it was his car although all the evidence points towards it being his car (including my paint in his licence plate screw). I'm hoping we may come to some arrangement to cover the costs of the repair, but I'm not optimistic. Anyway, there's not much I can do about that and it's not my reason for posting.
I was wondering what the likely cost of having the scratch repaired is. It is on the rear bumper and is quite small (maybe 1" in length) but is fairly deep given it was made by a licence plate screw. I've uploaded a picture below (please excuse the dirt!). What is the usual method of repairing a scratch of this nature, and could you recommend any bodywork shops in either West London or the Reading area (where my girlfriend lives)? OPC Reading told me that they use BodyTechnics in Slough. Also, do I need to go through a Porsche-approved bodywork shop to maintain my warranty?
Thanks in advance.
CSW
To introduce myself, I recently became the proud owner of an OPC approved black 07 plate Cayman, which is in fact the first car that I have owned myself. I've had it for about 4 months now and have had no problems until this weekend, when my neighbour scratched the Cayman when parking. I live in London so unfortunately on-street parking is my only reasonable option, so you have to expect these occasional incidents, but that still hasn't stopped me being pretty damn irritated.
Unfortunately the neighbour is refusing to accept responsibility that it was his car although all the evidence points towards it being his car (including my paint in his licence plate screw). I'm hoping we may come to some arrangement to cover the costs of the repair, but I'm not optimistic. Anyway, there's not much I can do about that and it's not my reason for posting.
I was wondering what the likely cost of having the scratch repaired is. It is on the rear bumper and is quite small (maybe 1" in length) but is fairly deep given it was made by a licence plate screw. I've uploaded a picture below (please excuse the dirt!). What is the usual method of repairing a scratch of this nature, and could you recommend any bodywork shops in either West London or the Reading area (where my girlfriend lives)? OPC Reading told me that they use BodyTechnics in Slough. Also, do I need to go through a Porsche-approved bodywork shop to maintain my warranty?
Thanks in advance.
CSW
Hi,
Being so low on a bumper you may get away with a "chips away" type of repair... I personally do not like them but it may be a good way forward if you have to stand the cost..?
I have just had the side of my diesel cayenne damaged by a flying gazebo and have had to pay for that and am now taking the guy to court as he will not accept liabilty and pay up ! Although at first he did offer me £300 !
Good luck.
Mike
Being so low on a bumper you may get away with a "chips away" type of repair... I personally do not like them but it may be a good way forward if you have to stand the cost..?
I have just had the side of my diesel cayenne damaged by a flying gazebo and have had to pay for that and am now taking the guy to court as he will not accept liabilty and pay up ! Although at first he did offer me £300 !
Good luck.
Mike
My bumper had a similar size scratch and I had a smart repair done. Big mistake. Because the repair cracked after a year, and recently I ended up respraying the whole bumper, because for that 1 inch repair the smart repair technician had blended the paint on half the bumper - and the adhesive stuck to my film.
Anyway following a respray by SL Restoration via OPC MS I now have a perfect bumper. Call Steven at OPC MS and ask him to quote you happy - be sure to go through the OPC do you get your guaranteed for life certificate. It will be as good as new.... From my experience I do things the right way otherwise I end up paying more in the long run.
Anyway following a respray by SL Restoration via OPC MS I now have a perfect bumper. Call Steven at OPC MS and ask him to quote you happy - be sure to go through the OPC do you get your guaranteed for life certificate. It will be as good as new.... From my experience I do things the right way otherwise I end up paying more in the long run.
Sorry to hear this but in all honesty I'd touch it up myself with OPC paint stick and leave it. It won't be your last scuff or scratch if you live in London and have to street park. I had the entire front bumper on mine re-sprayed only to have a Shogun revers right over it less than 24 hours later. You can minimize the risk to yourself but at the end of the day you can't stop some idiot parking in front or behind you.
For a bumper repair I don't think an OPC would ever know that you've had it repaired away from them. So long as you go somewhere reputable and their work is good you don't need to pay a premium for an OPC repair.
Sadly in London it's likely to happen time and time again.
As an alternative to an insurance claim, you could use moneyclaim (small claims court) which is quick and painless online process and likely to result in a cash settlement with the guy very quickly indeed. Even if it's not your fault, notifying your insurance company can get messy and jeopardise your no claims.
Good luck !
Sadly in London it's likely to happen time and time again.
As an alternative to an insurance claim, you could use moneyclaim (small claims court) which is quick and painless online process and likely to result in a cash settlement with the guy very quickly indeed. Even if it's not your fault, notifying your insurance company can get messy and jeopardise your no claims.
Good luck !
s_mcneil said:
Sorry to hear this but in all honesty I'd touch it up myself with OPC paint stick and leave it. It won't be your last scuff or scratch if you live in London and have to street park. I had the entire front bumper on mine re-sprayed only to have a Shogun revers right over it less than 24 hours later. You can minimize the risk to yourself but at the end of the day you can't stop some idiot parking in front or behind you.
+1+1 That will fix pretty well with just a touch up pen. No point in respraying until you have a more visible/bigger scratch... In London it's a fact of life, unless you stand by your car with a shotgun every time anyone parks next to you (and even that is not 100% foolproof)...
I was once chatting to someone in the street and saw some kids standing next to my old car (a brand new Alfa Brera), next thing I saw them running away. One of them had scratched his name into my bumper with a key... He was a neighbours kid. They paid up... That's why I now have a driveway... (also not 100% security!)
I was once chatting to someone in the street and saw some kids standing next to my old car (a brand new Alfa Brera), next thing I saw them running away. One of them had scratched his name into my bumper with a key... He was a neighbours kid. They paid up... That's why I now have a driveway... (also not 100% security!)
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