Question about small dent

Question about small dent/chip

Monday evening I was rearended. Nothing horrible, but I know it is there. While I buffed out the scratches, there is still one dent with paint chipped that I cannot live with. I went and got an estimate and they want $385. While I will make the woman who hit me pay for it one way or another, I am not sure what I really want to do with this. The guy at the bodyshop said that if it was his car, he would not have it fixed, because the chances of it bubbling and/or something else happening was not worth it for such a small dent.

So I was trying to think of possible other solutions. My first thought was, "I was going to get racing stripes, I could just touch-up paint it and then put the stripes over top". Well it turns out the dent would end up just outside where the stripes would end. So it looks like my options are as follows:

1. Have the work done and deal with the future chances of it bubbling or whatever else he was worried about (obviously it is something if he is turning away business).

2. Go to newtakeoff.com and order a new takeoff bumper to replace it.

3. Pocket the $385 and spend them on other things like the stripes while using advice from other stangnet members on how to make it a little easier to look at. i.e. how to pop out the small dent (if possible) and if it can be fixed with touchup paint.

BTW - I wouldn't nail her to the wall like I am going to if she hadn't been such a B%$@& to me for no reason! Ummmmm..... she rearended me then proceeded to call me names because I didn't accept a $50 payoff and not call the cops.

Thanks for any help in advance.

View attachment 388242

Since the image didn't come out very big here is the URL to a bigger version:
http://picasaweb.google.com/BryanSFord/SmallDentOnBumper/photo#5057501848957009634

Any way to maybe pop it out myself? I figure I will just fill it in with my touch-up pen and take the cash, like everyone said.

bigcat said:

use a heat gun or dryer on it, and push from the back. it will work best if you have something hard and flat on the outside holding the shape as you push from the back. get it pretty hot, but not too hot. keep feeling, when its just too hot to touch, thats the best time to push. too hot and it will bubble the paint.

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I don't have a heat gun, so I guess the hair dryer will have to do. Should I heat it from the inside or out before I push?

No experience myself, but I found out about them because they are a sponsor of the site and I saw their add at the top of the page.

And of course when I called her today to give her the estimate. She one more time said she could have it fixed for "free" by one of her friends at some autoauction. I said "hahahahahaha not your choice". Long story short she is now saying she didn't hit me and since there wasn't a full police report she won't have to pay.

While there wasn't a full police report, there was an exchange of info by the cop and at the bottom he wrote that it was her fault. Why do people have to be so stupid and draw things out forever?

stanmckinney said:

Why is there not a "full" police report? If the cop was there and the report says it was her fault, there should be no question about it. Did she have insurance? If so her company should pay it without any problem. I had a similar problem but the police report made it clear that it was the fault of the woman who hit me. I had a check within three days.
I would repair it.

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It wasn't a full poice report because it was only minor damage. But at the bottom of the triplicate forms I was given, it says "her fault". It would be funny to see her try and fight it in court. She does have insurance and I called them today. It was weird because she filed the report that night even though she was saying she wanted to pay me out of pocket that night. I have to wait til next Thursday before I can get it estimated because the only place around here only does estimates on Thursdays..... sigh.


-On a positive note, my window louvers came in today!!!!! woot!

bluecar said:

Aaaaack!! You should have left it alone. Now there are no marks that might identify the damage from her car. No wonder that betch will try denying hitting you. You've just buffed out evidence that she hit you. Not to mention, any damage underneath? All you have now is the police info saying it was her fault. What sort of insurance do you have and what kind of insurance does she have?

It would have been best to take the info from the cop, notify your insurance company and persevere for a new bumper. Your insurance company could then pursue her insurance company. Also, it is not good to correspond directly with the other party.

I know you were trying to be the nice guy by trying to fix something only to find out there is something there you cannot live with. Also, it really hits a nerve when a person tries to fold back an incident upon the person to which the damage was inflicted.

Based on what I am reading, I think you would be best off with a new bumper. Is there some way you can still arrange that thru your insurance company?

If its any consolation, all I can see in the picture is your knee and camera. If I look harder I see the mark. Probably larger in real life.

Yes, I'm ranting, but this is a 'talk' forum.

Good luck.

-Kevin

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Well I still have pictures of everything, the scratches were very minor, hence why I just rubbed them off. The dent/chip is rather small, yes it is bigger in person, but I don't know if it is big enough to run myself ragged over. Regardless, I just wanted reimbursed for having to look at it and know that it is there (and for her being a B@#%!). I still don't understand why she filed with her insurance on Monday evening if she said there is no damage to her car?!?!