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Original poster

Help! Scraped/Cracked DH's car bumper!!

38 replies

oopsididitagain1 · 31/07/2019 09:51

Not sure where to post this but I need help!

I drove my husbands car today and accidentally cracked the front corner of the bumper and there's also a fairly big scrape (it was a narrow car park and a big car!)

Ideally I want to get it fixed before he notices (by tomorrow!) - I am on the train at the moment so can't call the garage. Do you think it's even possible for them to fix is so quickly? (I can probably get it to the garage by early-mid PM) It was right on the corner.. would it need a completely new bumper? I'm panicking!!

Pls note - he's very nice and I'm not scared of him or his reaction.. but I'm pregnant and want to use his car more when I have the baby as it's bigger, and I don't want to give him a reason not to trust me!! I probably will tell him what happened, but would rather do this after it's fixed!!

Thank you in advance for any help/support!! X

OP posts:
Vulpine · 31/07/2019 09:53

If you need to drive the car then surely it's a family car not his car . Isn't that what bumpers are for

Original poster
oopsididitagain1 · 31/07/2019 09:56

Yes but even so, I damaged it so it should be me who arranges to get it fixed!

OP posts:
olderthanilookapparently · 31/07/2019 10:01

It will take a while to fix, be honest and just tell him it will also probably be more expensive than you might have expected.

Don't be worried accidents happen

Brefugee · 31/07/2019 10:03

how old is the car? is it really badly damaged?
(maybe you should wait to fix it and have a bit more practice in it?)

it will probably take a week or two due to holidays, paint matching, etc

TheFaerieQueene · 31/07/2019 10:03

Just tell him. He will be more suspicious if you keep it secret.

ambereeree · 31/07/2019 10:06

What did you scrape it on?

Shoxfordian · 31/07/2019 10:08

Just tell him

Pinkyyy · 31/07/2019 10:08

It will need a full new bumper which they will need to order, colour match and paint. It won't be done in a day. I'm sure he won't be too upset, accidents happen.

Sycamoretrees · 31/07/2019 10:09

Have a Google to see if you have any mobile repair guys in the area, they fixed mine in a couple of hours sitting on the drive. Would never know it had happened.

whothedaddy · 31/07/2019 10:10

he will trust you less if you are sectretive about it. Just tell him, apologise and work together to get it repaired

mum11970 · 31/07/2019 10:11

We own a car body shop and there is no chance of getting it fixed by tomorrow. Repairing and painting alone takes hours; if it needs a new bumper it will have to be ordered and painted.

CostaIce · 31/07/2019 10:12

A garage won’t fix it. Your need to call some sort of body shop repair place.

Someone I know does it mobile but your be pushed to find someone that can do it so quick and it depends how bad the damage is.

LadyRannaldini · 31/07/2019 10:12

If you need to drive the car then surely it's a family car not his car . Isn't that what bumpers are for

Well that predictable response didn't take long!!!

Bunglefromrainbow · 31/07/2019 10:14

Clues in the name - BUMPER!

That's basically what they are for, for bumping and scraping so that the car body isn't damaged.

If you think he'll take it badly maybe say it was done in a car park but I'm sure he'll understand.

Just get it replaced as and when but if it functions normally what's the rush?

Hugless · 31/07/2019 10:17

Stuff happens, tell your DH and be done with it. I'd be annoyed if something like that was kept secret...

I've used a mobile repair bloke in the past and he fixed similar thing for couple of hundred quid- still cheaper than replacing the bumper...

hadthesnip2 · 31/07/2019 10:19

Depands on how scraped or damaged it is. No point repairing it if you're only going to damage it again.

As Elsa said.....just let it go.

RaggeddeeAnn · 31/07/2019 10:28

Just tell him. He may know where to get it fixed cheaper & better.
He will be much more upset if you delay telling him and get ripped off fixing it urgently when it’s not urgent or get a hurried botch job.
For example, we just have scrapes repaired at annual service because it’s cheaper to get done when car is already at garage for regular service.

LegionOfDoom · 31/07/2019 10:33

You’re overthinking this. Just tell you dh. It was an accident, it happens. Very much doubt you will find anyone who can repair it by tomorrow. If it’s light scratches you can get away with rubbing them out with t-cut.

Zippyx · 31/07/2019 10:35

Look at the nonsense... Going by that logic, PP, we may as well all drive around with shitty looking damaged bumpers. Have some pride in your possessions.

OP, it's important that you do not rush the repair. If they do a bad job, it'll be noticeable and will make the car difficult to sell at a later stage. Take your time, find a reputable body shop and ensure they do an acceptable repair.

If it was only a bump, the bumper can be repaired, filled and painted. If it was more than just a bump, it'll need a new bumper. Both of these take at least a week.

You'll need to tell your husband, unfortunately. Good luck xx

GabriellaMontez · 31/07/2019 10:40

Yes it's probably your responsibility to get it fixed. Why the secrecy? Would he secretly get it fixed if he bumped it? It's a bump. It happens...

HamsterHolder · 31/07/2019 10:53

If he's a car guy/takes pride in his car then he might want to sort the repair himself to make sure it's done the way he wants. Repairs at body shops aren't always to the same standards!

Bumps and scrapes happen, frustrating but in the end no big deal.

AdobeWanKenobi · 31/07/2019 11:18

Clues in the name - BUMPER

That might have been true for cars of old, but bumpers on modern cars are designed to crumple and not bump off objects like they used to.
The tiniest knock to a modern bumper can be costly to fix.
If it's cracked then it needs looking at properly to make sure there is no damage underneath.

I think you need to come clean OP and get it looked at properly.

madcatladyforever · 31/07/2019 11:24

Just say some bastard ran into into you and you found it like that. I would. Happens all the time in our town. Hit and run.

AdobeWanKenobi · 31/07/2019 11:29

Yes madcatladyforever that will work perfectly won't it? Lie to the DH who chances are will then want police involvement for hit and run etc.

What could possibly go wrong?

Original poster
oopsididitagain1 · 31/07/2019 13:00

Thanks everyone for your input! I rang the dealership where we bought the car (so all official) and am taking it for them to take a look at later today to assess.

I would never get a botch job or anything like that! Also, me telling him that what bumpers are for would horrify him Grin
I know these things happen, I just would rather it hadn't as I don't want a lecture on my driving every time I take the car out! (Although perhaps I need one!!)

I will come clean to him, but I think it'll soften the blow if I say I've arranged for it to be fixed by the body shop at the dealership. Obviously if he has other ways he wants to deal with it he can always change the arrangement.

Sigh.. I was driving out of a car park that I couldn't even get a space in!! So unnecessary!

OP posts:
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