Neighbor hit my car..advice? (pics)

[blocke]

So I am out of town for work, and I get a call this morning from my wife that my neighbor across the street backed into my e30.
This guy is middle eastern, turban and all. Barely speaks English. Apparently he came over and told my wife that the night before he backed his mini-van into my car. Props to him for admitting it, but don't know how he did it seeing as how our streets are like 3 car lanes wide. At the time, our newborn was screaming so my wife had to run inside to tend to him. The neighbor took off in the meantime, and wont answer his door. My wife was able to talk with his son, who said that his dad may want to not involve insurance, and just pay me whatever a body shop would quote to fix it.

How should I go about this situation? I am worried that he will try to fuck me over, or come back and say the quote is too high.

I am thinking I can just get a high quote, take his cash, then buy new Euro Trim and repair the crack. Profit.

How can I cover my ass here?

[E30_Pare]

Take his cash fix your car & take your wife out to dinner

[mrsleeve]

fuck his wife and teen daughters


Edit: Did not read post, only making the standard R3V response to these kinda questions

[freeride53]

that isn't even bad waffleswaffleswaffles.
I hit my garage door frame with similar damage.
Take the opportunity to get a new calypso plastic bumper with euro trim.

[e30lov]

ask for about $350 and call it a day

[slippery]

So you are afraid he is going to screw you, meanwhile you are talking about getting a high quote and screwing him over???

The guy contacted you, why is going to now screw you. Just do the right thing, get a proper quote and fix it to how it was ... Its going to look better anyways, its not like you had a cream puff anyways

J

[IRON-E]

Don't be an opportunistic prick, be fair and I'm sure things will work out.

If shit does comes to worst, get a pair of nitrile gloves and spread some aircraft remover on all of his van's panels. Wait for a few days and laugh about your evilness. :twisted:

[Komzorz]

Best way to make sure you don't get screwed is to go through his insurance. He might not like it, and you might not profit by the maximum amount, but it'll get fixed for sure and you won't have to take any risks.

[JinormusJ]

Just get a quote and have him pay out of pocket.
e30 Parts arent expensive anyway.. new bumper is $200 if that and DIY euro-trim costs like $30.
If you get $350, which should be around what a shop would charge, thats good enough alone..

[roguetoaster]

Just find what parts you need used or maybe add euro trim, add some labor costs for your trouble, and ask him to pay you, but be reasonable. In all likelihood he will pay right up. Don't try to screw him as he could have just hit your car and never admitted it. After all he is your neighbor despite the language barrier he is clearly a decent person.

[blocke]

Just find what parts you need used or maybe add euro trim, add some labor costs for your trouble, and ask him to pay you, but be reasonable. In all likelihood he will pay right up. Don't try to screw him as he could have just hit your car and never admitted it. After all he is your neighbor despite the language barrier he is clearly a decent person.

Agreed. I really wasn't intending on screwing him, just pointing out the fact that in all likelihood a shop will quote much than it would cost to fix it myself... and I would come out with a lil extra $.
My concern is that they are avoiding my wife now, and I'm worried that without involving insurance, Id have no legal grounds should they choose to blow me off. I'm back in town next Monday, so may have to wait till I can go talk to them then. Hopefully its as easy as getting a quote, and providing that to them, and they pay up. If they want to be cheap about it and ask me to go find the cheapest place in cali, then I'll def go through insurance.

[5Toes]

Ask for $200 and be cool about it

shithappens

[MrSlacker]

Dude that 1 piece of trim is around $30. Small crack in the bumper would be another $150 to fix if you really want to get it done. Are you really going to go to insurance and get an accident on your carfax plus waste time for $200 worth of damage?

Two years ago I parked my car between two driveways for 30min. I come back and see similar damage except mine also cracked the tail light. Look around and see a work van in the driveway with a scrape on the side matching mine. Approached the guy, asked for $300... he gave me cash and I drove off.

There is no need to waste time with insurance for such little damage IMHO

[BakesE30]

So you are afraid he is going to screw you, meanwhile you are talking about getting a high quote and screwing him over???

^ This. Karmas a bitch bro

[E30 331is]

Get the euro bumper pieces from Blunt and fix your bumper. All done under $400. Dont take advantage, be honorable and be the nice neighbor.