[nub340]

So last Thursday I'm at work and someone comes over and says, "Hey man, what happened to your car? When did you get that big dent?".

My reaction, "Ahahaha, funny man, You ALMOST got me!".

After a few seconds of his poker face, I realized he was not joking.

We go outside and sure enough, someone or something left a big 'ole scratch + dent on my driver's side quarter panel starting just after the door all the way back to my wheel well.

Up until this point my ride didn't have a single dent and was all but perfect. I was parked in the last spot before a double handicapped spot that is never used. Plus the damage doesn't look like it could have been from another car.

I don't have any evidence or proof, but I think it was the construction contractors building out the suite next door to ours. I noticed that day they had a big white "moving" type truck parked there around lunch time and were unloading materials. The truck was parked diagonally and such that the rear opening was facing my car. I have a feeling they were unloading something heavy on a dolly and it rolled into the side of my car.

There are no cameras. I have no way of knowing for sure. I haven't brought it in for an estimate yet, but I'm sure it's going to be a pretty penny (my deductible is $1k).

If they were going to be using that area for unloading materials they should have coned it off in the morning like they usually do. Anyway I can get the building pay for it somehow? Anyone have any advice? The contractors are gone and are obviously going to deny it if they didn't even leave a note.

[Hey Ant]

I hate people that are like that!! makes me mad!

I'm pretty sure you can file an insurance claim, a hit and run would be the case, and just pay your deductible. Hope everything works out for you.

[benzo23]

It just amazes me that people do that shit, i would feel bad if i hit someones car like that. If i couldn't find the person i would at least leave a note apologizing and leave my phone number to work something out. But then again most people suck so it doesn't surprise me...

[GetSomeE92]

What you think happened sounds the most likely. Tell the contractors that someone saw what happened and informed you about it. That you would rather not have to get the police involved, but will if they make you. See if it scares them into confessing. If not, at least you tried.

[EQUANT]

Grrr! Seeing this makes me so mad! Damn idiots who don't know how to drive, hit your car and walk like nothing happened. I hope that guy finds his car totaled one morning with a note in the windscreen saying "oops, screw you!"

That's a nasty crease, but nothing that can't be fixed.

[Chuck]

I feel your pain. I'm in the middle of an insurance claim from a kid in a lifted Jeep smacking into my car at my job. Luckily one of our employees watched it happen and blocked him from leaving until I got out to see the damage.

[NoHedge]

Originally Posted by benzo23

It just amazes me that people do that shit, i would feel bad if i hit someones car like that. If i couldn't find the person i would at least leave a note apologizing and leave my phone number to work something out. But then again most people suck so it doesn't surprise me...

God help the person who hits your vehicle.... Last time I checked, a Lunar Rover was $19,000,000.

Hope you find whoever who did that OP.

[username604]

Originally Posted by e90Elvis

I feel your pain. I'm in the middle of an insurance claim from a kid in a lifted Jeep smacking into my car at my job. Luckily one of our employees watched it happen and blocked him from leaving until I got out to see the damage.

i hope you bought that employee a drink for all his/her hard work

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by davidkneiber

i hope you bought that employee a drink for all his/her hard work

Lucky we have a team atmosphere here at the shop, but I definitely owe him a drink or twelve!

[nub340]

Yeah, it's super frustrating not knowing who did it or having any recourse. Fortunately it's just cosmetic. At the end of the day, it's just a car and I'll get it fixed, but unfortunately it's gonna cost me a chunk of change.

Any ideas what it will cost to fix? I have an appointment this weekend for regular service (Long Beach BMW) and they're going to take a look at it for me and give me a quote. My insurance deductible is $1k so if it's under or near that I'll just pay for it and leave insurance out of it..

[tlow98]

eesh, that's a bad place for a dent. Really sorry to see this

[kelvin2010]

I got the same thing happened on me on my previous E90.
Same part of the car, but my case was even worse. I got my wheel all scratched and my rear bumper.
I know it was my neighbor when they moving out. But I had no evidence.

[neilhank202]

I had that happen to me – some guy hit my car and instead of taking responsibility, raced down the road before I could get his license. But I went through way worse than you did. My insurance company refused to pay a penny – said I couldn’t prove my claim. No witnesses. I dumped them. It was easy finding low cost car insurance with a company that has a better reputation.

[e92ben]

Ouch man! Hope you get it done fast! Perfect reason for M fenders now :-)

[cssnms]

Unfortunately you have few options. Aside from trying the scare tactic above, your only other option is to file a claim with building management. If there are security cameras in the area perhaps they caught something. I would let building management know they allowed the workers to use the space as loading/unloading zone and as a result they damaged your car while on their property. They will report it to their insurance company. Odds are against you without a witness but what do you have to lose at this point. Good luck!

[PINeely]

Your profile picture perfectly suits this story. While I was reading I noticed it and had a laugh! Sorry to hear about this though and good luck!

[Kolyan2k]

I obviously hate people like that too (well not really hate). I got hit & run TWICE this year (posted here as well) both times in the same parking spot right outside my window by my fucking neighbors funny because BOTH times I was looking right out the window and was able to catch the person the 1st time, 2nd time wasn't so lucky since it happened quick (now have a scratch on my rear bumper)

But laws dont make it easy for people to come clean. A small accident which will cost you $300-500 bucks deductible can cause a shitstorm for that person who hit you. They either have to pay out of pocket if they have money, or their insurance will go up for 6 years, and in some cases they can even loose their licence and/or a job because of this.

[nub340]

Originally Posted by e92ben

Ouch man! Hope you get it done fast! Perfect reason for M fenders now :-)

You're not the only one who has said this to me... unfortunately it's not my fender, but my quarter panel.

Originally Posted by cssnms

Unfortunately you have few options. Aside from trying the scare tactic above, your only other option is to file a claim with building management. If there are security cameras in the area perhaps they caught something. I would let building management know they allowed the workers to use the space as loading/unloading zone and as a result they damaged your car while on their property. They will report it to their insurance company. Odds are against you without a witness but what do you have to lose at this point. Good luck!

Yeah I tried this route actually. The building management contacted the contractors who were working there that day and of course they denied it. Unfortunately there are no cameras, so I have no evidence or witnesses. All I KNOW is that my car was fine when I arrived in the morning, and by afternoon it was damaged.

Originally Posted by PINeely

Your profile picture perfectly suits this story. While I was reading I noticed it and had a laugh! Sorry to hear about this though and good luck!

Haha, yeah I feel like I've been making that expression far too often lately!

[pits200]

OP, sucks big time, it's like those ethics classes in college. If you could rob a bank without being caught, would you do it. And there are lots of low-lifes in the world who dont want to be caught.

On a positive person note, about 6 months back I was getting into my car after work in a kinda dark parking garage. As im sitting in the drivers seat I see a piece of paper under my windshield. I reach out the window to grab it and it says, "Sorry, I backed into your car, here is my phone number give me a call"

Funny thing is, I got out of my car and looked at my bumper and sure as sh%t, my bumper was smashed in and I didnt even notice it! I was like, damn, imagine if someone didn't leave a note, I would flipped my lid thinking it happened somewhere else or like my wife did it, lol.

Either way, I called the guy and first thing I told him was thanks for being so honest, very rare these days.


Oh well, at least there is some hope for society I guess.

[John 070]

I too hate this kind of BS. What ever happened to you cause someone damage, you actually feel bad, apologize, and make it right? My 1998 Nissan got a big dent also in 1999, so back then I was angry, and then someone scraped it not too long after in an apt. Right now my '07 335 has zero dings, and our '11 car has zero dings. Want to keep it that way.

Seriously, if you really think the contractor did it, confront them. You may not get anywhere, but you will put them on notice and also make others aware. They do not want to lose their business at this office, so do one of those DeNiro's where your eyes are watching them (or Hall and Oates, whichever you prefer). Don't accuse them unless you are sure, so if you are, speak up. Good luck.

[magplate]

The problem with an insurance claim is that carfax will pick it up and your car will instantly lose resale value!

[Zebra99]

Fix it at a friends shop dude. Insurance claims for minor damage like that, when you have a $1000 deductible is never worth it.

Your insurance may go up, you'll end up paying most of the bill anyways and it's just not worth your headache.

Sry OP, you're sol