My wife took my new Clubman (with aero kit) this morning... she pulled into a parking lot that had a severe dip in the entrance. When I saw the entrance, I thought... yep, she hit that.

Sure enough, I checked when she got to work and the bottom of the aero kit is scratched pretty severely...

Is there anything I can do to repair it or should I just wrap my mind around the fact that she just put the first blemish on my new car?


Why, oh why, did I let her drive the MINI today?!?!?!?!!?

 

she's er wife. She's gonna drive your car on occasion.

Better question is, why didn't you fully explain to her the need to take it slow or possibly an angle over dips/bumps? :P

But what's done is done, I hope you can get it looking as good as new.

ps: hide the keys!

 

Probably not enough damage to file an insurance claim. Besides, it would be an at-fault accident and you may not want that on your policy. Take it to a body shop and see how much they would charge for the professional repair. Based on the estimate, you can decide how to proceed.

Then, call your divorce attorney.

 

I told her it was important to take it easy on bumps because of the aero kit, but I guess that wasnt enough.

Oh, well... this is a lesson in not sweating the small stuff. I'm going to swing by the autoparts store on the way home to see if they have anything that will help to smooth it out a bit.

 

One of the first times my wife took the mini, she scraped the right rear wheel along a curb and gave it slight road rash. I tried very hard not to comment, since I knew such a thing is inevitable on a commuter car. Sure enough, about a week later I did the same thing to the front left. If it's not bad, just don't look. No one else will notice.

 

My wife doesn't drive anymore. Medical reasons. She's got a full-time chauffeur/husband.

Sometimes it makes life hectic, but hey, she bought me a new car.

We try not to worry about life's inevitable little dings and potholes and such.

 

Excellent philosophy. Especially regarding the non-driving related ones.

 

Couple of things - I feel your pain. When I had my MINI I scraped the curb once and it hurt so bad. I was mad at myself.

Hopefully she understands now what you meant by going slow over bumps.

Just another thought, why don't you become a two MINI family and let her have her own so yours is safe. Just a thought.

 

Yeah, my wife parked on a hill, and just pulled the e-brake enough so it held, but when she got out it rolled into a truck with a hitch. Just cut the lower bumper lip ($35 fix). I couldn't get mad because I bumped into a guy's hitch and put it through my bumper... I've learned that I can get mad, but eventually, I'll do something even more severe/stupid and then that makes me look like an ***...

 

I actually prefer my own self-inflicted stupidities to the boorishness of others.

 

Couldn't agree more

 

That's a GREAT point!

When my wife drives my new MINI I make sure to say "Honey, No matter what happens to the MINI - I love you more, no matter what I say after I hear that something happened to my MINI."

But like the field kit says, MINI are made to be driven. Wear your dings like badges of honor.

 

Thanks for your posts... they make me feel better.

Kinda strange that a friend of mine emailed me this: http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw
just after the little incident today.

I hope you all enjoy it... it goes with the theme of not sweating the small stuff.

 

I feel your pain my friend! But don't fret the bottom of the aerokit can be repaired.... Where are you located at? There are many mobile repair bumper companies that do excellent, professional repair work and can bring it back to new condition. best of all, it can be done while at home or office, at a fraction of the cost and hassle of a traditional body shop. Repairs to torn, scuffed, scratched, etc plastic bumpers take 2-3 hours. Personally I would avoid putting an insurance claim for that. To me the insurance is there for the major stuff, if you get my drift. The advantage of going with a reputable mobile bumper repair company is that you will not have to leave your new car hostage in a bodyshop for days or weeks. In my experience new cars with minor cosmetic damage and bodyshops, simply do not mix well. Google "Mobile bumper repair". These people do amazing work! Good luck!

 

If 2 people are going to share a car, things of this nature are bound to happen. My wife is very careful, but nowhere near as obsessive as I am. She parks anywhere, she thinks a car is to be used and she draws enjoyment from that. She drove a 2002 MC for nearly 6 years and the car only had very minor nicks here and there but it was in very good shape for a car that age. The Clubman is her daily driver and my '05 R53 S is mine. My car has not had a single dent, scratch or ding in 3 years since I bought it brand new. I really use my car and drive the snot out of it, but I still take pride of my cars and watch where I park it, be on top of its maintenance, etc. At 40K miles the car looks prestine! But on weekends I get to drive the Clubman (Sometimes during the week as well) and I keep reminding her of the importance of watching where she parks it and that any little ding, dent or scratch costs $$$ to fix. But she loves the car, I am very happy for her.

 

Please post a pic of the damage, if you can.

 

If she really did just scrape the bottom of the aero kit trust me it'll happen hundreds of times over the life of the car. I'm pretty careful and the bottom of my car is scraped up pretty good. Just goes with the territory of owning a lowered car.

 

Randy Pausch passed away at the end of last year (I think it was November). What a character he was! Listening to his talks really helps you put your life in perspective and it makes you realize that is simply not worth it getting all hung up in the little ripples and imperfections of life. This man was very smart (Computer scientist) and a total inspiration to us all. If anyone can't get enough of him, go to YouTube.com and download his videos!

 

Joe, this should give you an idea of how the mobile bumper repair process works: http://www.bumpermedic.com/auto-bumpers.html http://www.bumperdoc.com/

 

She is on Jury duty in Seattle and wanted to drive it because it's easier to maneuver and park in the city. I am driving her Xterra.

Hopefully it will come through the week unscathed!

 

Be ready for a couple of door dings and scrapes upon her return..LOL Just kidding!

 

yea see my husband is super lucky we both have minis! equally though we are both obssesive about driving rules when lending eachother the cars. (one is stick and one is auto so its nice to switch). its actually really silly because we both drive the same cars! but its natural. my husbands mini has a ding on the side from some jerk in a pickup who slammed his door into the side of it and although we got really mad and called the police and all(ok it was the first week we had her) you get used to the little things that happen to them. hopefully you can get it fixed and maybe she now knows what "careful" means

 

Bummer....I'm sure your wife feels bad.....Hopefully it's not a hard fix...

Donna

 

She made it home with no scratchs or dings and was dimissed from the jury so I get my car back tomm.

 

Detail the MINI and hug/kiss your wife.

Not necessarily in that order.