Hey guys, I have a problem...need advice.

[schröe30er]

So yea, I just bought an 88 vert on march 9th. My friend and I were in the process of doing a plastic bumper swap. After taking the first bolt out and pulling on the bumper a bit, the whole bumper fell off. It was only bolted on with one (1) bolt! This was rather annoying, but it was when we looked at the bumper shock mounts, that I really started to steam. At this point we realized that this vehicle had been in a front end accident. The bumper shock mounts were both smashed in. So the shocks didn't line up with the holes in the bumper. The PO just bolted one side in, and wedged in the other side. This was not disclosed to me, nor was it in the carfax report. There was no way to tell that it had been in an accident when we first inspected it. At one point I think I even kicked the bumper... maybe it should have been a harder kick.

Where do I go from here? Anyone ever seen/dealt with this? Is this fixable? looks like it would be hard to fix. Or should I sue the PO? I haven't taken it into a frame shop yet as we just found this earlier today. I sent an email to the PO and I am waiting for a response. Let me hear your thoughts...

Sorry the pics are so big...

[McGyver]

tuck gone wrong?

[CorvallisBMW]

I had the same problem. The pics of the damage are missing, but the solutions is there. Mine looked the same as yours.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=100250&highlight=facelift

[schröe30er]

I had the same problem. The pics of the damage are missing, but the solutions is there. Mine looked the same as yours. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...light=facelift

If I understand correctly. You tried to pull them out by the bumper shocks and that didn't work, so you just moved the bolt brackets on the bumper to line up to the shocks? I could try that. The inner part of the Passenger mount on mine is bent inward. One issue I can see is that the bolt tabs of a new shock would have to be bent just to bolt on. I guess I could maybe put a different bolt in and just strip the bolt in diagonally. This is hard for me though since I am a perfectionist. I guess the whole point of this swap is looks, and if it looks good I guess what the hell. Still pissed with PO though, hiding that shite... Still thinking of suing him.

tuck gone wrong?

Haha...

[10Toes]

Or should I sue the PO? I sent an email to the PO and I am waiting for a response. Let me hear your thoughts...

I hope the PO tells you to go get fucked. Its a 22 year old car and you should have looked at it better.

[Vamped]

That sucks, but the PO should have disclosed.........but then maybe he didnt know?

[agent]

I hope the PO tells you to go get fucked. Its a 22 year old car and you should have looked at it better.

Indeed. I don't know of anyone who's ever had a seller take issue with them removing random body parts when looking over a prospective vehicle purchase.

[schröe30er]

I hope the PO tells you to go get fucked. Its a 22 year old car and you should have looked at it better.

What an enlightening post. First, no shite its 22 years old and needs special attention, look at my sig...all my cars are old. If you read my "wtb a vert" thread, you would see that I was looking for a vert "WITH" problems. So I never assumed there wouldn't be problems. I already knew going in that it needed a clutch. Second, we looked over it well enough to determine it also needed new rocker arms and a steering rack. I talked the guy down from $1300 to $750 for a blk/blk 5speed vert. So I missed something that should have not been hidden in the first place, doesn't matter. Its not like we missed a mechanical problem. This "CAN" be considered major damage. Which he first hid from his insurance company (which I don't actually care if he did) and carfax. The PO can tell me to get fucked all he wants... doesn't mean shite! If I do go the court route, it wouldn't be the first time I've been to small claims. I have a solid case against him. My guess is that a judge will agree that MOST people don't just start taking off major body parts if there is no apparent reason to. Plain and simple, he should have disclosed it and not tried to conceal it. If it was in an accident (that didn't involve the frame) and was repaired and he didn't disclose it, I would be a little irritated...but if it was at least repaired correctly, I probably wouldn't even fuss about it. Nothing was done about this and it was hidden...done.

That sucks, but the PO should have disclosed.........but then maybe he didn't know?

That is indeed possible, and I have taken that into account... but luckily he knows the first owner, they work together. I know where he works and the first owners name as well. So he can take it up with him. As it is said, shit rolls down hill. They can hold hands walking into court.


On a side note, the PO probably didn't have the slightest notion that people swap bumpers on these, and assumed I'd never find it. If it can be repaired, I just want him to pay for it. If I go to court and loose, that's that. It's the only thing wrong with it, we've already fixed everything else. So If it comes down to it I will probably just go with CorvallisBMW's fix and call it a day.

[Jean]

Maybe it was like that for who knows how long, and PO was not aware? Plus when you buy a used car and don't do a PPI it's a gamble. Only paid $750 for it, so move on :)

[Chabs]

I hope the PO tells you to go get fucked. Its a 22 year old car and you should have looked at it better.

chill out dude.

why is there so much hate here sometimes? the man wants some help

[Sailor37]

Unless you have a signed receipt referencing a warranty, most states see used auto sales as-is, or buyer-beware. So good luck with that.

[schröe30er]

Indeed. I don't know of anyone who's ever had a seller take issue with them removing random body parts when looking over a prospective vehicle purchase.

So, let me get this straight. If a seller swears that its never been in an accident, the carfax says this also, and there is no obvious damage. You would still start dismantling the car anyway? Do you bring your own lift with you too? I would suspect nobody but the most anal of car enthusiast would do that. When buying a used car from a private party, there is a reasonable amount of trust that has to be given. He was very straight forward with everything else and seemed trustworthy. Nice house in Hollywood hills, not hurting for money. We gave it an above normal inspection. Maybe if it wasn't a california vehicle then I would start randomly pulling body parts and checking for rust. I would also like to see someone do that at a dealer, and this happens there too. Difference is your covered by the Lemon Law. Private parties last option is small claims. Considering how straight forward he was with everything else, I would assume that he didn't know, and that the original owner hid it from him. O'well...I know now, and I am doing something about it...:D

[agent]

That was sarcasm directed at the guy who told you to get fucked.

If you take the guy to court over it, the burden is on you to prove the PO knew about it. All the PO has to say is "I didn't know about it" and you lose. Don't waste your time or money. Spend it on getting the car fixed instead.

[schröe30er]

Unless you have a signed receipt referencing a warranty, most states see used auto sales as-is, or buyer-beware. So good luck with that.

Actually in cali, unless you HAVE a bill of sale that says "as-is" then you have some options... I know the laws very well. There is no bill of sale for this tranaction. Also, I can argue that it has frame damage which in most cases can qualify for a salvage title. That it was not reported, that it was concealed, and then sold as non-salvage. Go ask a lawyer, you can sue for anything, you just need to know what to sue under. In this case I would sue under fraud. Luck is not needed... The facts will decide the case. If I loose, I loose... I am prepared for anything. I could go into how I will proove it, but I dont feel like it...:p It will be easier then you might think.

Anyway, I dont need legal advice... I just wanted to see if some of you would sue them too. I am mainly looking for possible fixes. Anyway, I didnt have time to go to the frame shop today. I will go tomorrow and see.

[schröe30er]

That was sarcasm directed at the guy who told you to get fucked.

If you take the guy to court over it, the burden is on you to prove the PO knew about it. All the PO has to say is "I didn't know about it" and you lose. Don't waste your time or money. Spend it on getting the car fixed instead.

You know, I thought it may have been...sorry man.

"All the PO has to say is "I didn't know about it" and you lose"

The thing is though, I have access to both owners... so someone knows, and I will take them both to court if need be. I here you about time and money, but its only $30 to file and I would consider it time well spent.