Kim
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 49 
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Post by Kim on Jan 20, 2019 18:58:34 GMT 11
My Leaf was hit in a public carpark and they didn't leave a note. There is no video footage either and no witnesses as far as I know. I don't really want to put it through my insurance if I don't have to and pay the excess. Any ideas on getting it repaired, have heard of places like "Touch Up Guys" but don't know if it's a good idea going with them or go to an actual smash repairer. Photo here imgur.com/a/15VIfZd |
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mickey
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 17 
LEAF OWNER?: Yes
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Post by mickey on Jan 20, 2019 19:16:55 GMT 11
I don't have my Leaf any more but if that part of the body is plastic pouring boiling water over it and pressing out from inside should get it to pop into it's original shape. I've done this on a couple of my cars and it's been successful.
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Post by Feng on Jan 20, 2019 19:50:38 GMT 11
That sucks, sorry it happened! No harm in getting Touch-Up Guys or similar to quote you on the job and only accept it if they're confident that they can fix it. Depending on your insurance deductable I'd try them first before taking it to a smash repair which can cost a lot more. At least the bumper looks salvageable.
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Post by EVangelist on Jan 20, 2019 20:32:06 GMT 11
I don't have my Leaf any more but if that part of the body is plastic pouring boiling water over it and pressing out from inside should get it to pop into it's original shape. I've done this on a couple of my cars and it's been successful. Boiling water probably wouldn’t transfer enough heat to allow reshaping of a plastic bumper. I dinged the bumper on my Camry a few years ago (not quite as badly as the OP) and used a heat gun from the outside to soften the plastic and a stick from the inside to push it out again. You need to be careful to not burn yourself (wear suitable work gloves) or put the heat gun too close. The paint bubbled a little when the plastic softened but it went taut again once the plastic cooled. The end result was pretty good, although the paint scrapes remained and I couldn’t be bothered touching it up. |
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Post by brunohill on Jan 20, 2019 21:31:53 GMT 11
i just finished fixing mine a couple of hours ago. I had a kick and hop. The bugger tried to headbutt me through the drivers window, bounced off the door, and then kicked 1/2 rear bumper off from under the rear right wheel arch.
I think there must be a serious drug problem is some of our national parks. This fellow was about 200cm tall about 100 kg with dark grey hair. I would have challenged him but he comes from a long line of family of kick boxers.
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mickey
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 17
LEAF OWNER?: Yes
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Post by mickey on Jan 20, 2019 22:48:44 GMT 11
The boiling water does work. Using a heat gun gives localised heating and is not what you need to push a big ding out. I backed into a post a few months back in my Volt and the dent was pretty deep. It took a fair bit of effort pressing with a gloved hand after applying the water but once it popped back it went back to its original shape. Granted some minor scratches are still visible but it didn't cost me anything.
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Kim
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 49
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Post by Kim on Jan 22, 2019 7:51:21 GMT 11
I don't feel comfortable using hot water and pulling it out myself. And I also want a professional fix. Touch up guys quoted $440 but would be more if it is pearl paint which I think it is. Also the crease difference would still be there.
A smash repairer a friend recommended said around $1.5K (verbal quote after assessing in person) and suggested I put it through insurance.This particular smash repairer are no longer a recommended insurer for NRMA so I could only use them if I have "choice of repairer" option which I don't.
I have an assessment booked this morning at an NRMA's recommended insurer nearby.
I hope karma bites the person that did this without leaving a note.
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jin
Half Charge
Posts: 54
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Post by jin on Jan 22, 2019 11:51:04 GMT 11
This isn't a great situation to be in.
Understandably you want the best results for minimal cost to yourself, only DIY will give you the cheapest option along with the potentially worst result, with professionally done at smash repairer being the vice versa at the other end of the scale.
The latter of which should include a full respray and entire bumper replacement judging by the cost. Check if it was including this, if so, cost of a bumper repair instead +respray.
Cost of repairing a bumper would be less than replacing the whole thing.
And your bumper is still intact.
Either way repairs would be similar whether you try DIY within reason or not.
Within reason being not bashing it with a hammer or blowtorching the dent out.
Worth trying imo personally.
Steps are
Recommending gentlely heating up from behind to avoid the paintwork.
Pushing dent out
Sanding down with fine wet sandpaper until the scratches are blended in
Tape off headlight and undamaged areas in prep for painting etc
Spraying colour matched coats with blended edging around the repair area
Repeat for final clear coat layer.
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Post by zuuutoootuuu on Jan 23, 2019 12:35:51 GMT 11
The majority of that eyesore will pop out, you can use a foot heater as it's quite a large area that needs to be heated, most of the black marks will clean off, all you should be left with are the cracks in the paint.
Time to buy a dash cam with parking mode.
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Kim
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 49
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Post by Kim on Jan 23, 2019 12:44:09 GMT 11
My other half and I definitely don't want to DIY for fear of making it worse.
So we are trying to decide if we should continue with NRMA claim at excess of $695 (also increasing future premiums on the other cars as well) or go with Touch Up Guy quote of $570 (due to pearl paint).
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Kim
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 49
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Post by Kim on Jan 23, 2019 12:46:50 GMT 11
The majority of that eyesore will pop out, you can use a foot heater as it's quite a large area that needs to be heated, most of the black marks will clean off, all you should be left with are the cracks in the paint. Time to buy a dash cam with parking mode. I have a dash cam but haven't worked out how to do parking mode as I think that involves purchasing something called Black Magic Pro and then hooking it up to the fuse box. Wish I spent the time on researching that a bit more when I got the dash cam! |
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Post by Feng on Jan 23, 2019 13:57:32 GMT 11
My other half and I definitely don't want to DIY for fear of making it worse. I doubt you can make it worse by gently warming it up and pushing it out from behind. I think you can undo a few clips in the wheelarch to get behind the bumper. Given there's already cracks and chips they'll have to do some form of painting anyway. If there's paint transfer you can rub it off with product. Something like this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5pQa_8oA3w |
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jin
Half Charge
Posts: 54
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Post by jin on Jan 23, 2019 18:02:15 GMT 11
Fwiw this only involves tapping into the appropriate circuit in the fuse box. Only a fuse tap, spare matching fuse, cigarette lighter socket, crimper tool needed. I did configure this in my leaf and ended up with a dead battery one morning.. see my other thread. Requires more maintenance keeping the battery charged to keep up with the dashcam. |
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