Knew it was gonna happen sooner or later...but not quite like this!

While zipping home from work tonight on the Santa Monica Freeway I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a brand new Pepper White MCS coming up behind. The dude driving passed me with a big thumbs up signal and kept on motoring. The bummer is, as he changed lanes he kicked up a piece of road debris (rubber, I believe, from a somebody's else's flat tire) which hit the front of my car with a rather sickening thud. When I pulled into my driveway sure enough there was a good sized chunk knocked out of my grill and a small hole punched into the bumper skin of my month-old car. It certainly wasn't his fault but who'd have thunk I'd be gored by another MINI?

The irony is I had been holding off putting the front license plate bracket on the car for a number of reasons (mostly for looks) and if it had been there I probably would have been fine. I had been planning to put on the Aero Grille on my DS/B '04 MCS so that would alleviate one problem but I'm not sure what to do about the bumper skin. Anyone else run into this issue? Would the clear bra have helped? Are there any relatively easy fixes? Enquiring minds want (need ) to know!
:???: :???: :???:

 

the clear-bra might have helped, but i've always been skeptical of their practicality versus the larger variety of projectivles. no clue on the bumper, but good luck. maybe some REAL owners can offer better perspectives or anecdotal experience...

Patrick

 

Wow, what are the chances of that happening again?

Road debris, tire chunks specifically, are a bummer. I had something very similar happen to me last fall. A piece of tire (I'm thinking it was only about 2" square) was kicked up on the Interstate and pegged me right over the driver's side front fog light. It whacked the car so hard that I later discovered that the fog light housing itself was broken off at the screws and was dangling inside the bumper skin. Fortunately, I was able to glue everything back together (and didn't have to buy a new light...which would probably have been expensive). MINIs seem to be magnets for all sorts of road crap, and they're rather fragile when that crap strikes.

I don't have the clear bra, and that wouldn't have helped with my fog light anyway...just like it wouldn't have helped your grill. The bra helps protect areas that aren't "puncture-able".

 

Clear bra wouldn't have helped. I had a clear bra when I sustained this damage from a kicked up shredded tire last december.

Best thing to do is get it fixed ASAP and move on - don't dwell on it. I suggest calling your dealer and asking them who they use for body work. Mine pointed me to a fantastic shop that made my baby look brand new.

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VERY unlucky! :smile:

Godspeed.

 

>>Best thing to do is get it fixed ASAP and move on - don't dwell on it. I suggest calling your dealer and asking them who they use for body work. Mine pointed me to a fantastic shop that made my baby look brand new.

Agreed. Don't dwell.

 

Could be worst too! Imagine how sad you would be if a MINI chipped your Pontiac Aztek!

I am also guilty of harming another MINI. Last fall at the Tail of the Dragon, I was forced onto the shoulder by an idiot in his Winnebago, and threw a rock into the bonnet of koolmini's ride. I felt terrible!

 

Yeah, it's just a process everyone goes thru with a new car...doesn't get any easier. The first damage on my BMW brought me near tears as a woman swung the door of her Cavalier into the rear passenger door, shook her head and walked away...before I throttled her, of course LOL!

 

Ouch! That must be painful! Can you post a picture of the damage!

After taking delivery of my car, I ran into the ice storm on the way home. Since the roads were heavily sanded, the front of my car got sand blasted. Afterwards, I spend several days trying to touch up and repair every single little chip caused by the blast.

 

I'll try and upload a pic as soon as I get a moment. I have never seen a bumper puncture in any other vehicle I've owned. In talking to some folks today they seem to feel it's relatively easy to fill and "patch", just seems like an odd place to have to do it.

 

I've had my bumpers replaced several times on my MCS - for different reasons:

1) Rear bumper. my oops - I was backing out of a parking spot and just clipped the bumper of the car I thought had passed. The bumper cover was replaced and painted by a dealer. They did a decent job.

2) Front bumper. some guy backed into me in a driveway! The bumper cover was replaced and painted by a body shop recommended by my insurance agency. They didn't match the paint well at all.

3) Front bumper. the VERY Next Day from picking it up from #2, I was hit by road debris (ladder treads?) which punctured the brand new bumper [and bad paint job], and also shattered my windshield. I was really glad it didn't hurt sheet metal! This time the bumper was replaced by a shop of my choosing, and they did a great job!

4) Rear bumper. I had clear taillights installed along with the DOT approved red reflectors which sit in the rear bumper. A dealer in SoCal installed them. They messed up the paint on the bumper big time leaving some really ugly blemishes. When they attempted to fix it, it came out even worse.

5) Rear bumper. I had my (good) body shop replace and paint the rear bumper to fix what the dealer messed up in #4, on the dealer's dime.

Now she's looking as good as ever, and I don't fret about small stuff so much any more.

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My MINI makes me want to do the happy dance!

 

...cut to the chase! Who was the good body shop?

 

Oh! I didn't think to post it not knowing which state you're in.

Philip Thearle's Autowerks in Santee, Ca. (east county San Diego) 619-449-0111.

Talk to Les. He's a great guy, and he drives a CR/W MCS He's not on any of the boards, tho.

I just looked at your profile and saw you're in the LA area. This shop has also been recommended by scmm members who live closer to you:

Al's Body Shop (connected with Nick Alexander MINI) is top notch ... call Idilio (owner's son) at 323.581.4675

Good luck getting your MINI fixed!


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My MINI makes me want to do the happy dance!

 

Thanks for the info!

 

I just had my rear bumper repaired at Als a few weeks ago- they did a great job- service was top notch.

Your car will be good as new soon enough

I also got dinged by another car when mine was 2 weeks old- it happens- but its all fixed up and you'd never know there was any work done.

good luck

-S