well, it didn't take long, i've only had my brand new pride and joy for just over a month. discovered this morning that some $%^&*@ vandalized my car, they ripped out one of the headlight covers, damaging the body when they pried it off (btw, i have the 2005 mc standard lamps, no upgrade).

i had the police write a report, but since this never happened to me, i don't know what to do. any idea of what this should cost to repair? i have a $1000 deductible on my auto insurance, should i call them? should i bring it to the dealer, or will somewhere else cost less?

any advice (and/or a shoulder to cry on) is appreciated

 

Where were you parked so that this sort of thing could happen because it seems more an act of willful damage than theft for gain. First, you definitely want to report the incident to the police (which you did). Even if they can't do anything about it your report will help them figure if they need more survellance of that part of town. Then you might go for an estimate before deciding to contact your insurance company. Not to worry you, but at the rates for dealership labor the damage could be quite costly. Bummer.

 

Try to get a replacement from ebay. Sorry to hear about your MC.......

 

Depends on body shops in you area but the body work to repair the hood could easily run over 1K

Could be good time to consider CF hood? Standard headlights shouldn't run much, I think I've seen threads where Xenons were under 2K?

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

If I see a Civic running around w/ MINI lights I'll detain them for you.

 

Also, see if your community has a victim's relief fund, to help you cover your loss...

 

That is so sick. What is some idiot going to do with a single headlight assembly? Check and see if your collision deductible is different than your comprehensive . . . that may cover it.

 

perhaps you have comprehensive coverage because that covers vandalism. If you do not have it I suggest you get it pronto as it is indeed cheap insurance. Covers broken windows, aka windshields and a variety of things.
You may still want to chat with your insurance folks. Not necessarily to file a claim but to see what options are open to you.

.....Les

 

I once heard on here that Xenon replacements run about 800 a lamp assembly. That doesn't include repairing the assembly and body around it.

I would definitely try and get a quote from your dealership, or a BMW body/repair shop before contacting insurance. With a $1000 deductible, you may get off for cheaper than that depending on the shop and headlamp type.

 

new xenon assemblies are 599 a piece, including bulb, ballast and the housing.

 

Yes, call your insurance company. The $1,000 deductible you mentioned is probably collision, which is not what should cover this incident. The deductible on your comprehensive insurance may be considerably less.

 

Yes, this sounds like a job for.......your insurance!!!! btw, where was your car parked when this atrocity happened.....home?.....work?.....garage?.....a dark alley?

 

thanks everyone for your responses.

sadly my deductible is in fact $1000 for collision, i just double checked.

and just as sadly, the incident took place in the private outdoor parking lot where i live. it is supposed to be secure. but i think they have signs that say they are not responsible for loss.

 

As noted, that is not a collision incident. Check your comprehensive coverage. I keep a $0 comp on my flag car just for that reason. Should probably do the same to my classic...

 

oops sorry, i meant "comprehensive." it's $1000.
i wish i had known to make it lower

 

Are you in Miami? This town is notorious for Xenon headlight theft

But you said you have the standard halogen headlights? It seems to me the thieves realized your headlights were not Xenon and left the "job" half hacked away.

Be careful.

 

My MINI has had several incidents* and I was totally gutted by each one. Try to take a deep breath and investigate all your options. It'll cost some $$$s, but after time, the sting goes away.

*incidents = hail damage on roof, bad door ding, bonnet dented by drunken fool (I assume), nasty front end crash, minor door ding (still workin' on this one).

 

Still it sucks big time that someone boosting, does not take a look.
If they had, they probably would have moved on. Not much from a MINI fits much else.

But then what do I know, I never lock the doors on the MINI or the house.

 

Any pictures? I'm curious of how you can steal a headlight? My first guess is a crowbar but that could bust the light, uinless they crowbar open the hood.

 

When my daughter's car had hit and run damage it was covered by uninsured motorist insurance, which I had. The deductible was $200 even though I wasn't ask what deductible I wanted when I insured the car.

Don't know if this would qualify since it was "a**hole damage.

Sorry, I posted this in the wrong spot....senior moment.

 

That sux man, I know how it feels, sorry :( Hopefully your car will be back to normal ASAP though, hang in there :(

 

c4, if that's the case, at least i feel a little better. it would be scary to think that someone targeted me for personal reasons. btw, (c4 or anyone in the area) if you know of any good repair shops, please pm me!

greven, i did take pictures, but it's too painful for me to look at them, let alone post them. it does look like a crow bar was used on the edge of the chrome surrounding the headlight.

and thanks again everyone for the continuing moral support :smile:

 

By the way, call your insurance company to find out the cost difference is between $1000 and $0 deductible on comprehensive coverage. I had mine set at $500 until I had to replace a windshield out of my own pocket. I then found out that the price difference between $500 and $0 was an extra $46 every six months! Needless to say, I switched!

Of course, this really doesn't help your situation at the moment! Good luck getting her all patched up!

-Paul!

 

just did some research, and in my state the victim's compensation fund may compensate you for property damage only if you're at least 60 or disabled.

oh well. but maybe this info will help someone else, and YMMV according to where you live. thanks califzeph :smile:

 

Very sorry to read about this. What the heck is someone going to do with one headlight assembly? What other types of cars will these fit on???? WHY can't people keep their mits off other peoples cars???? Urgggg.....

Donna

 

i know the feeling--i've had two cars broken into or vandalized...sorry man...