Sideswiped my door today....

[BMWSportXXX]

Anybody have some recommendations on what to do for getting a new exterior door skin and rocker panel? Should I claim on my insurance or just bite it? Is there a place to buy a used e92 coupe door? Please help.

[ziggypup]

Was your car parked at the time? If so, I'd call your local Police Department and make an accident report (Hit & Run). They can't raise your rates if your car was parked. You can still make an accident report and not make a claim. But you do need an accident report number to make a claim. After the report just a get few estimates as to what the repair will cost. Then decide if you are going to make a claim. More than likely it would be better to make a claim.

[SocratesBMW]

Plus you can always cancel your claim if you find its not worth your while (deductible etc)

[Grumpa72]

I would at least take it in and have an appraisal. They are free and not reported to the insurance company. Fwiw, my wife sideswiped the door on her Lexus and it was over $2400. If you want to avoid the insurance issues and this cost doesn't set you back, then go for it.

Gary

[Gig103]

Isn't this why we buy insurance? So that when something goes wrong we just get it fixed?

I ask that facetiously because I think car insurance might be the biggest racket in the world - they charge you more for using it. Thank goodness my health insurance can't do that!

[greenie99]

Was your car parked at the time? If so, I'd call your local Police Department and make an accident report (Hit & Run). They can't raise your rates if your car was parked. You can still make an accident report and not make a claim. But you do need an accident report number to make a claim. After the report just a get few estimates as to what the repair will cost. Then decide if you are going to make a claim. More than likely it would be better to make a claim.


If its parked, the CANT raise your rates? I thought that rates were raised when the insurance co. has no one to subrogate against i.e: car hit while parked and NO ONE TO GO AFTER!

[BMWSportXXX]

The car was not parked. I pulled along a steel pole at the gas station. Not Good!

[Ty Vil]

Was your car parked at the time? If so, I'd call your local Police Department and make an accident report (Hit & Run). They can't raise your rates if your car was parked. You can still make an accident report and not make a claim. But you do need an accident report number to make a claim. After the report just a get few estimates as to what the repair will cost. Then decide if you are going to make a claim. More than likely it would be better to make a claim.
I think there's a name for that...

Wait it's escaping me.

Oh it's close.

Oh yea:

FRAUD.

[mryakan]

I think there's a name for that...

Wait it's escaping me.

Oh it's close.

Oh yea:

FRAUD.
It is hardly fraud if the car had been parked :stickoutt. But I agree if it was the OP fault and he followed this advice it would be fraud, but to be fair both the OP and ziggy seem to have honest intentions from what I read.