Bent rear bumper.

[skyship007]

She who must be obeyed reversed into our neighbours Opel van yesterday morning. Like good neighbours they insist on using the Opel stealer for the repair, so the quote is 2000 Euros for a new door etc.
The impact point was not the tow bar but the corner of the bumper and it looks good at the back, but one side of the bumber next to the wheel arch has pulled out slightly. I presume the clip or something broke, but I can't see it without removing the wheel and arch liner etc.
Any ideas on how tricky it will be to refit that part of the bumber or if I need a new clip or something for the section next to the rear wheel?
Volvo do make good bumpers as the Opel door was well bent, I fitted a parking mirror that works well ages ago, but she never looks at it, so I guess I will need a camera and would be interested to know what is the cheapest and most simple to fit rear view camera to buy, that works well?

[mcouchard]

Originally Posted by skyship007

She who must be obeyed reversed into our neighbours Opel van yesterday morning. Like good neighbours they insist on using the Opel stealer for the repair, so the quote is 2000 Euros for a new door etc.
The impact point was not the tow bar but the corner of the bumper and it looks good at the back, but one side of the bumber next to the wheel arch has pulled out slightly. I presume the clip or something broke, but I can't see it without removing the wheel and arch liner etc.
Any ideas on how tricky it will be to refit that part of the bumber or if I need a new clip or something for the section next to the rear wheel?
Volvo do make good bumpers as the Opel door was well bent, I fitted a parking mirror that works well ages ago, but she never looks at it, so I guess I will need a camera and would be interested to know what is the cheapest and most simple to fit rear view camera to buy, that works well?

You need to park the car elsewhere where she can't cause harm and put your foot down man, seriously 'she who sound be obeyed' this is the second incident you have listed in 6 months. My wife reversed into a neighbours car 9 months ago I invited the neighbour over for a cuppa we had a chat and she agreed to let me do the repair and then if she wasn't happy I would pay for a professional job she was happy so all good.

I told me wife who was pregnant at the time that she was banned from parking out back and to only park out the front of the house from then onwards.

[skyship007]

Yep, but unfortuntely we have no where else to park and neither does our neighbour, BUT I have insisted she put the car in the garage at night which will solve part of the problem.
The previous crashes (Another van door and the company car) were in the Renault and bent the bumper mounts at both ends, but she has also bumped a tree and a post with the Volvo, but luckily one hit the tow bar and the other just required some touch up paint.
Not so sure about the camera at present, so I might look at a single stick on detector with a beeper and red light as there is one going cheap in the supermarket.
Our insurance company are dealing with the matter and have not booted us out like AXA did after 3 claims in a year, BUT I bet the premium will go up 50% plus at the end of the year.

[mcouchard]

How about adopting a 70's Saab solution massive bits of dense foam stuck to the bumpers or all around the car like a rubber swimming ring. Sounds like she needs it.

[skyship007]

I have fitted a thicker than normal rubber ball and then use a sock that I hot glued to a fairly thick brown horse doll that is placed over the tow bar ball. Unfortuntely she missed it this time, but it worked well on the post.
When she has passengers in the car, they all look behind them when she selects reverse, as her reputation for fast reversing is well known.

[Dog_Book]

Sounds like an oil issue, get it sent off for testing!