Dogtag114

Ok... Pics later...
Off the stop sign "merge", the car in front of me went and I took my foot off the accelerator and looked over my left shoulder for traffic... Crunch. It was so light I thought I hit a box but hit the SUV bumper in front of me who apparently didn't keep going. I was maybe going 3-4 mph?

The right light is pushed in, the hood is dimpled, the grill smashed and the radiator pushed in a bit. The hood won't open to look underneath.

I drove home 30 min, ok but now what?

Can MB deal with this? Do I go to a body shop?

I'm in Central Jersey if anyone has a recommendation.

This is nauseating.

CoolBDPhenom03

Unless you know of a body shop you can trust (personal referral/Yelp) if you could stomach it, it might be prudent to shop around. Or you could do it the quick way and pick a place approved by your insurance. MB could certainly do it, but it will likely be the most expensive option. And that may reflect on your insurance renewal.

Merc63

Dealer doesn't do body work. You need a body shop.

Post some pics please.

Are you going through your insurance?

You probably need a rad support, the front aluminum bar under the bumper, a rad and maybe a headlight.

I have a hood, front bumper and rad with fan if you need. Color is palladium.

Pray that your head light isn't broken.. They aren't cheap.. I have two, but some of the tabs are broken that connect to the body.

JonMBZ

you can take your car to a dealer, many have their own body shops or they have certified shops they will send it to. Even their remote certified shops are sometimes owned by the dealer.

http://www.mbcollisioncenters.com/index.html

Paculdo

check with your insurance.. most likely they will have you as at fault.. pay your deductible and then go to the best place in your area that specializes in MB (mb certified if your dealer doesn't do body shop work), also have your radiator and all the internals checked to make sure there aren't any damages that might later affect your car. good luck

Dogtag114

Ok, again you have me thinking.

Top two choices are a good foreign car service shop where my friend is friends with the shop manager or the MB Certified repair shop reco'd by the dealer.

Thoughts?

Also, I am financing this through MB... Do I contact them at all?

builthatch

this is an AMAZING place...in southern NJ near Phila

MB-approved

http://www.concoursautobody.com/

RAKLAW

Of course when insurance claims get involved the accident will appear on a car fax and diminished value comes into play.
Take it to a recommended body shop and have it fixed. Most MB shops deal it out so why involve them

builthatch

wait, was the accident reported to law enforcement? if a report was filed it will be on carfax independent of how the damage gets resolved.

RAKLAW

Of course u right
I assumed no PD involvement

Dogtag114

The other guy had a company car and wanted police, they took my license and said their not writing up anyone. He gave me my license and left. I didn't want to ask. I guess that means there is some kind of report?

CoolBDPhenom03

Likely. You should get a copy of it.

builthatch

i agree. that info along with info re: whatever repair course you take will be greatly appreciated down the line for the next prospective owner or wherever you trade the vehicle, as i believe it (the incident) will be shown on a vehicle history report.

jvanbrecht

May areas are no longer dispatching police (or creating reports) for minor accidents. DC is one of them. This sucks as then it becomes he said she said and then the insurance companies take longer to make a decision..

So there may not be a report.

Unfortunately, from the description you gave, you would be at fault. Whether or not you go through your insurance, if the other vehicle's owner uses insurance, and place them blame on you, it will show up in some database somewhere, possibly not carfax, but definitely on your insurance report

rags260z

Prestige in Paramus does their own bodywork which is NOT cheap! I was quoted $3500 to replace and paint a front bumper cover. $1900 just for the cover! I can recommend a shop that does fantastic work in Hudson county if you decide to go that route.

Joe

Dogtag114

Looks like Carouso's in Plainfield is the winner as MB certified and a direct rep of my insurance.
.. And insurance already told me my rates are unaffected.

This is a nauseating experience... And I was going to repair the chips on my black grill last weekend... Things change... Good times... Good times...

DuaneC63

Ask the dealer who does there body work. Take lots of pictures and keep extra copies of the repair bill. This might show up on Carfax when you go to sell it and you want to document the extent of damage.

ZephyrAMG

Not your fault per se...it could of happened to anyone...just happens...don't let it get you down. Believe it or not repairs can make a car look just as nice and even better. GL and post some pics of before and after....no worries...

Dogtag114

One pic... most expensive place to hit the car at 3 mph... between the grill and the headlight... just plastic and lots of pieces and just enough to dent the hood...