[Antartic]

I just got rearended today.... texas drivers are the worst! a lady on her cellphone in a suv rammed be in the back.

It seems that i can get away by replacing the rear bumper... but what do you all think? do you think there may be frame damage or some other serious issues?

i will be going through her insurance, so cost is not an issue, but i need to make sure i take it to a good body shop. Being new to houston, I have no idea of a good body shop- bmw's website says there are NO bmw certified collision centers!!!

The car drives funny and the head restraint of my seat didn't activate- i can move the headrest. No dashbord malfunction lights are on either.

I hope i don't have any frame damage... that will suck. My trunk lid opens and closes fine. The impact was hard, but seems like the damage is limited to bumper?

thanks guys!


MORE PICS AT POST NUMBER 15

[DaveL]

You won't know till your auto body specialist takes off the rear bumper......There might be and by the way that really really sucks.Make sure you use your own shop and use oem parts maybe even try to get the new 335is diffuser out of this.DO NOT go to there insurance recommended shops!!Fix it where you are comfortable that is the law by the way.

[bumere90]

I agree with Davel, do not go to the insurance recommended shops!
OP, I can 100% guarantee you that there is no damage to the frame. BMW's frame is ridiculously strong. The rear bumper is pretty much fixable.

[Inspired]

The damage looks minimal. Looks like a 5-10 MPH crash at most.

[dmurray14]

Ditto on what everyone else said. New bumper and supports. Paint and done.

[Antartic]

thats a relief! Yeah the collision wasn't more than 10mph. I was stopped, but the lady and her highlander were coming to a stop, but was not quick enough.

It would be nice to get the 335is bumper, but I think the dealership will get upset when I bring in for service or something... they may say it is not stock bumper so the warranty is void lol.

How hard is it to get the paint to match on metallic colors?

[bumere90]

They can't void your warranty, unless you put an aftermarket bumper. Matching the paint shouldn't be hard, your car is pretty new, blending is not necessary. Make sure they paint the bumper off the car lol.

[dmurray14]

Originally Posted by Antartic

thats a relief! Yeah the collision wasn't more than 10mph. I was stopped, but the lady and her highlander were coming to a stop, but was not quick enough.

It would be nice to get the 335is bumper, but I think the dealership will get upset when I bring in for service or something... they may say it is not stock bumper so the warranty is void lol.

How hard is it to get the paint to match on metallic colors?

Don't know if you were being sarcastic, but I promise you will have no issues with a different bumper.

[jafza412]

That sucks man. I also live in Houston and I think its just a matter of time before someone gets hit by a lady on a cell phone.

Master Autobody in the Bellaire area did a pretty good job on replacing my bumper. There is also a thread in the SW section that has some reviews on local body shops. Good luck.

[Antartic]

Originally Posted by dmurray14

Don't know if you were being sarcastic, but I promise you will have no issues with a different bumper.

I apologize if i sounded ignorant, but I really wasn't aware how the dealerships would react when they see an aftermarket part.

Heck they used to have a sticker on the top left of the windshield saying that my warranty will be void by having radar detectors and other non BMW electrical equipment.

[dmurray14]

Originally Posted by Antartic

I apologize if i sounded ignorant, but I really wasn't aware how the dealerships would react when they see an aftermarket part.

Heck they used to have a sticker on the top left of the windshield saying that my warranty will be void by having radar detectors and other non BMW electrical equipment.

Not at all, just wasn't sure if you were joking about some of the absurd things they WILL can your warranty for.

And that's not what the sticker said. It said the same thing as what's on your fusebox - basically, that they don't have to warranty any third party parts you add to the car, nor anything you affect by adding them. So for instance, they wouldn't have to fix your KW suspension or brembo brakes, and they wouldn't have to warranty your wiring harness if you short circuit it while putting in a radar detector or something. In most cases, simply adding things won't void the whole warranty on the vehicle.

[hipnotic]

sorry to hear like what others have said the damage does not look that bad

[Wingman335]

Geez man, talk about coincidence! I am also looking for a body shop (for when my time comes to get rear-ended) in Houston. I called my dealer -Advantage BMW- and they recommended Hanley Brothers on Sliber Rd.

I have no idea how good/bad they are. Looking at your pictures, the damage seems superficial, and wouldn't need a major job.

[slowSwede]

Have a close look at your rear side panels as well. I got rearended a while back, and found a dent close to the gas cap a couple of days later.
They fold pretty easily, I was hit at very low speed but still one of my panels budged.
Going in for repaint this monday.

[Antartic]

I got some more pics for you guys to see and comment on....

I think Im worrying more than I should... the damage does not look that bad. I just had felt the massive jolt when I got hit... I was expecting the trunk lid to be all crumpled up.. but the fact that the jolt of impact does show the damage... which makes me think that there maybe underlying damage that i cant see...

I cant go to the body shop until thursday, so until then i would appreciate your help in diagnosing how bad of a shape my new baby is in.

[FVM3]

not a big deal, go to body shop repaint it and i believe that they can repair it

[E90Graphite07]

There's very minimal damage from the looks of it; you should try out these, Hanley Bros (www.hanleybros.com & www.metropolitancollision.com). Again, don't go by the insurance's 'preferred program'...you'll likely get shafted w/ 'reconditioned' parts.

[Wingman335]

Originally Posted by E90Graphite07

There's very minimal damage from the looks of it; you should try out these, Hanley Bros (www.hanleybros.com & www.metropolitancollision.com). Again, don't go by the insurance's 'preferred program'...you'll likely get shafted w/ 'reconditioned' parts.

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but I just heard about Hanley Bros today from my dealer- they said that they use them for any body work.

Have you used it before? Can you give your thoughts on how good their work is?

[Bakeme521]

There is no damage done other than that bumper. I don't know how easy they can repair that where the tow cover is, looks pretty bent back. New cover and some paint you will be fine, looks like the diffuser made it alright.

[Bimmer This]

I agree with you there! Texas has a lot of the worlds worst drivers!

[InsanePineapple]

Having lived in TX until I finished undergrad and now living in MA. I can say definitively that Massholes are worse.

Sorry about your car, but the damage looks to be fairly superficial. I'd wager there is no frame damage. Have your bodyshop check it out just to be sure though.

[earny99]

Did your head rests pop up and SRS light on? If not it might just be cosmetic but definately get it checked out. I was rear ended at a stop light when the person behind me decided to go before I did and the damage looked very minimal but was a lot more. Look at the gaps between body panels and see if one is bigger on one side of the car than the other. My car had to be straightened out and the exhaust was bent.