X6M Hit, but something fishy.

[duchozen]

Hey all,
I own a 2011 X6M, AW.
I lent my baby to a close friend who was visiting.

Long story short:
I lent my car on Saturday, and met again with her on Sunday at church. It's only been, more or less, 12 hours since I lent it to her but she showed up with a frontal damage on the car. When I pointed it out, she seemed surprised and shocked and said she didn't know until now. In other words, she told me that it must have been hit while it was parked somewhere.
As a 4-year-owner of the car, I also noticed that the front left wheel was also damaged. The scratch on the circumference of the rim is in the direction from the inner wheel to the outer wheel.

I got my car back from her yesterday, Tuesday. I reexamined the damages, and asked her again what happened. She said she has no fault in it.
Her story was that she went to LA, parked the car in her friend's apartment, and drove back home, and came to church. No valet during the course.
But seriously, that color of the paint. How many cars nowadays have that kind of paint job? That color only reminds me of structures and light poles.

Please view the pictures and let me know what you all think. And how I can go about to solve this problem. The money isn't the issue. I smell something fishy and I'm not too happy with paying something that I was cheated into.
(I don't want to go through insurance because of the already-too-high premium).

Thank you all.

[RaceTruk]

100% parking structure pole

[TB8715]

Definitely looks like a perimeter pole...not likely the color of any car I've ever seen.

[Rob NY]

Try to buff it out most of it should come off. Also fiind a new friend, just saying.

[upstate650]

If she shows up, you let her borrow your M, and she goes out and crashes into something, I certainly hope something more than "church" occurred on Sunday

[motex]

Since the car is white, it must be an easy polish job, depending how much skill you may have polishing a car.
I will use these 3M products I usually stock in my garage
Stage 1 is the strongest for polishing, stage 2 is the one I use most and and stage 3 just for minor swirl scratches.

Links:
stage 1: http://3mcollision.com/products/buff...und-36058.html
stage 2: http://www.shop3m.com/3m-perfect-it-...qt-946-ml.html
Good luck!

[imsag]

Originally Posted by upstateX5M

If she shows up, you let her borrow your M, and she goes out and crashes into something, I certainly hope something more than "church" occurred on Sunday

Sorry to hear about the damage - regarding 'how you solve this?' .... I guess it depends on your relationship with the lady!

Any pics of wheel damage?

[Samurai of 2day]

Originally Posted by RaceTruk

100% parking structure pole

I agree with this. Looks like she grazed a light pole with a cement "root" typically found in shopping mall parking lots. It does look like it can be buffed out at any of your local detail shops.

[Tailwinds]

If the wheel damage is definitely new and guessing the two events happened the same time, the car was in motion. Either she was unaware or lying. I would confront her with the "facts" as you seem them and ask herself what she would think in your shoes. That will see where the friendship goes. Good thing the damage is minimal.

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by upstateX5M

If she shows up, you let her borrow your M, and she goes out and crashes into something, I certainly hope something more than "church" occurred on Sunday

You beat me to it! The M wouldn't be the only thing with "frontal damage" if it were me... just saying.

[motex]

Next time will be cheaper to rent her a car.....lol

[duchozen]

thank you everyone for your input. I couldn't stop second guessing that this car had to be in motion (the car alarm would've gone off if hit while unattended) and the color of the paint is just so significantly revealing as to what happened.

I told her that I'm retrieving CCTV footage from the parking structure where she allegedly parked and had the car hit. She responded with several phone calls, that I missed, and a text message saying "please call me asap, I'm in a panic mode".

Damage is minimal, and yes I can buff this out without much trouble (except the side camera and the sensor would need bumper removal). But, I really wanted to let her know that truth always prevails (actually, not quite so often anymore) and that she should never risk throwing over a friendship for a fault that you can easily hold responsible for.

I LOVE YOU BIMMER COMMUNITY!

[doug_999]

And while it sounds like she might actually know more than she is letting on (based on her panic mode), it is quite possible she did not know she hit something. It is also possible she knows you are kind of crazy about your car (just a hunch btw) and is afraid to tell you the truth and/or expects the damages to be in the thousands because of how much the car costs.

Either way, I can't wait to hear what she has to say.

[airshaq20]

Here's my take on this. Before sharing, helping, lending or loaning to a friend, family or relative - ask your self this, "if something goes wrong, will it ruin my relationship with this person"? If yes, then think of an alternative way to share, help, lend or loan.

BTW, what kind of eyelids and lip do you have?

[Diesel X5]

Just thinking!!! I would ask her again in church on Sunday and bring up the video.

[igorbmwx6]

How many times can one learn same lesson? !!! Do not let your wife (or girl friend in your case) drive your BMW X6M !!!!

[motex]

+100

[ddk632]

Poor baby.

Yes, the main problem is you lent your car to a woman. Women can't drive. This is a scientifically proven fact, beyond dispute. (Ok maybe that's a bit strong... nah, it's not.)

The sad part of the story (other than the damage to your baby) is you consider this woman a close friend, and she is 100% lying to you. No one is that oblivious to scrape the car and not know it happened.

Hope it buffs out and looks brand new. +1 to the advice by Motex on polishing.

I've only let 2 other people (my wife was not one of them; they were two male close friends) ever drive my X6M and when I did so I figured if something happened, I would take responsibility. But I also know that they wouldn't lie to me if something happened while the car was in their care.

Sometimes the silver lining in these things is you uncover some knowledge you otherwise would not have had about a person's character, that can help make future decisions regarding trusting that person with anything important much easier than previously.

[aas5]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Poor baby.

Yes, the main problem is you lent your car to a woman. Women can't drive. This is a scientifically proven fact, beyond dispute. (Ok maybe that's a bit strong... nah, it's not.)

The sad part of the story (other than the damage to your baby) is you consider this woman a close friend, and she is 100% lying to you. No one is that oblivious to scrape the car and not know it happened.

Hope it buffs out and looks brand new. +1 to the advice by Motex on polishing.

I've only let 2 other people (my wife was not one of them; they were two male close friends) ever drive my X6M and when I did so I figured if something happened, I would take responsibility. But I also know that they wouldn't lie to me if something happened while the car was in their care.

Sometimes the silver lining in these things is you uncover some knowledge you otherwise would not have had about a person's character, that can help make future decisions regarding trusting that person with anything important much easier than previously.

FWIW, my Mom never remembers where some of the similar damage comes from on her leased Accord, it's always a mystery. I wouldn't be surprised if your friend wasn't paying attention and didn't know about it. It does't seem plausible but may actually be true. In any event, don't let her drive your M again!

[deepred_natz]

For me, if you borrow a vehicle from someone, you are responsible to any damages that occured while you had the vehicle, eventhough its your fault or no fault at all. No questions asked. Thats the responsibility of the borrower. And there will no next time for sure. Just sayin.

[dmlgc]

When I lend anything to anyone ( don't do it that much) I say " it comes back in the same condition it is now or you replace it , no stories no excuses" either they agree to that or they borrow from someone else.

[marlbore]

consider buying a driver recorder. it will reveal everything.