Basically, a dozy eejit bumped into me while I was staionary at a set of lights.
I got out and she was just sitting there trying to avoid me. I asked her through her window if she had hit me. She denied it despite her car firmly touching mine. She got out the car to look and went mental at me as if it was my fault. Tried to drive off without giving her details too! Anyway, I eventually got her to calm down and we exchanged details. The only damage I can see is slight scuffing on the bumper which I reckon will polish out.

My question is, what's behind the bumper and what would it take to do any unseen damage? I reckon it's ok but I can't be 100% sure. I'd put a claim in but to be honest can't be bothered for such a slight scuff (although she deserves to be put through the mill).

Stuart

My basic understanding is that behind the plastic bumper is a 'metal' bumper firmly fastened to the chassis (or whatever!)

The outer plastic is to look pretty whilst the metal one is to take the force of a serious impact

Plastic is quite easy to replace

If you can remember the nice polished chrome bumpers of the past - they would cause a lot of damage if you hit a pedestrian - whereas the plastic has some give so I guess it might lessen the impact. 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

Hi Simont,

yeah I had heard that some bumpers have a honeycomb structure behind them that is very easy to damage.

Thanks for your input. I had a suspicion that the Freelander bumper was a beefy affair.

Stuart

I found out on my partners old Nissan 100NX - I was fiting reversing sensors and had a great time trying to judge where to drill to avoid the metal box sections berhind the plastic bumper.  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

stooby forgot to mention that whilst his FL2 got a scuffed bumper, the offending car was a total write-off...  Now - 2017 BMW X3 M Sport Carbon Black
Gone - 2014 BMW X3 M Sport Space Grey, faultless!
Gone - 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Bali Blue with xenons
Gone - 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Rimini Red with bodykit

Anything below 6 mph and the bumper should be fine.

sounds as though she had something to hide ? no insurance, maybe had a glass or two of wine, or loads of points on licence ?

Iain

Had one of those on my previous car - getting hit from behind, and not a great speed either. The bumper looked a bit scratched and some PDC-sensors missing, but in all it didn't look bad. Until they removed the "bumper" and so they had to replace the whole thing underneath, plus fitting a new tailgate (which didn't look damaged, but there's the plastic for you) which was structurally damaged.

So a thorough check is advised. And have her insurance pay for it, 'cuz it's gonna be expensive! It's never too late to learn something new...

I hit a kangaroo in my previous car (Subaru) and externally you could hardly notice. Underneath there was $500 worth of bent metal. It was a pretty hard hit and the bumper just sprang back into place.

It really was a low speed shunt. So I expect the bumper is ok, aprart from a little scuff.
I did wonder if she was trying to hide the fact that she had no insurance. It wouldn't surprise me.

The worst bit was that she hit me and screamed and shouted like it was my fault. Some people are ignorant idiots.

Stuart

I never forgot the time an elderly woman pulled out of a junction in front of me, i swerved but had to pull back in to avoid an oncoming bus and she caught the rear quarter panel of my car - she gave me a right lecture, shouting abuse, I was shocked. She eventually calmed down and asked "why didnt you stop?", I pointed at the double dashed give way lines that she had crossed and she went bright red!

She even rang me at home one evening complaining that my insurance company had sent her a court action letter because her insurance hadnt sorted things out with mine, she was ranting and raving so I replied "well you shouldnt have pulled out in front of me should you you old bat!!", never heard from her again

Someone managed to bump into my car today whilst we were in a very slow moving queue, quite how I have no idea, guess he was on his phone or something. Anyway, the damage looked very minor at the scene. Got all his details. Had a good look at home and the bumper is creased so assuming it will need a new one. Would you lot have claimed or let him off? Even though it wasn't my fault it will affect my premium, thieving b s.

personally I would want a new bumper and the car back to what it was, so I would claim and have it done right.

Iain

@mojo

in my part of the world, being the North East of England, we have a local (Newcastle based) solictors called "Winns" (I am not connected to them - but have used their services in the past) who will take on non-fault accident claims - it doesn't affect your insurance (but they inform them in a non-claim way)

May be worth checking whether there is a similar setup where you are???? 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

Update on my claim to save anyone agro in the future. Put my claim in through the legal arm of my insurance as an open and shut case as the 3rd party ran in the back of me. 4 months later I am being forced to settle 50:50 as the lying toe rag said I rolled back into him on a flat road when I had my handbrake on.. Moral of the story is, get a witness if you have an accident as there are a lot of dishonourable lying motherf ers out there.