Accident / Damage Reporting

[BimmerMark]

Hello again!

Driving through one of the small towns, my friend hit a curb and scraped the right front wheel and tire. It's not a big damage or anything but we obviously want it fixed.

What is the reporting procedure to make sure that the wheel and tire are repaired or replaced?

Thanks,

[Northcar]

Is there a safety issue with regard to the damage to the tire? If so I would just go ahead and have the tire and wheel inspected and replaced if recommended at the nearest BMW dealership. Keep your receipts and deal with the claim process later. (The paperwork you got when you picked up the car would have details on when and how to do that.) Suggest taking some photos of the damage as well. If it is merely cosmetic and not a safety issue it should get taken care of during the redelivery process without the need of filing a claim based upon the experience of others. You will be asked to make a note of the damage when you drop off the car but that is of course to protect the shipper for being blamed. You might want to call the European Delivery Department while your car is in transit to make sure they are aware of the damage so it is not overlooked at the Vehicle Preparation Center. I had a damaged tire on a European Delivery and it was replaced at my expense by a similar, though not identical tire. Upon redelivery the proper tire was in place and I was reimbursed for the temporary tire.

[dalekressin]

Sounds like that would be fodder for a credit card company....don't leave home without it. I can imagine in Germany or Switzerland that it could cost a lot of Euros.

[BMR2009]

Yeah, not to mention the conversion on our weenie-ass dollar right now.

[BimmerMark]

Is there a safety issue with regard to the damage to the tire? If so I would just go ahead and have the tire and wheel inspected and replaced if recommended at the nearest BMW dealership. Keep your receipts and deal with the claim process later. (The paperwork you got when you picked up the car would have details on when and how to do that.) Suggest taking some photos of the damage as well. If it is merely cosmetic and not a safety issue it should get taken care of during the redelivery process without the need of filing a claim based upon the experience of others. You will be asked to make a note of the damage when you drop off the car but that is of course to protect the shipper for being blamed. You might want to call the European Delivery Department while your car is in transit to make sure they are aware of the damage so it is not overlooked at the Vehicle Preparation Center. I had a damaged tire on a European Delivery and it was replaced at my expense by a similar, though not identical tire. Upon redelivery the proper tire was in place and I was reimbursed for the temporary tire.

It is definitely cosmetic. A section of the wheel was scraped, scratched. (no dent) A section of the tire was scratched as well. Nothing major and definitely not a safety issue.

[boothguy]

It will be caught during the inspection process at VPC and corrected. If you want to be 150% certain, note it at drop-off.

[Calif65GM]

It will be caught during the inspection process at VPC and corrected. If you want to be 150% certain, note it at drop-off.

+1 let your CA know when you get home; so that, your dealership can take care of it if the VPC doesn't.

I scraped my rim and my dealership took care of it before re-delivery.

[BimmerMark]

I will note at drop off and I will inform my CA as well to be 150% sure.

Thanks guys!

[beewang]

this is all you really need to do, as I have done this many times:

Wait until you get your car back. Upon inspection, anything NOT caught and fixed by VPC just note it and take a digital picture.

Follow the instruction on your insurance form and contact Marsh, the US representative of your ED insurance. They will ask for an estimate so be sure to get ONE (no need to get 2 or three, just get ONE from the shop you trust that will repair the item correctly).

Upon receipt of your photo and estimate, they will make you whole.

No need to note w/ Harms rep when you drop the car off. Contrary to popular belief that you must note it, the time you waste during drop-off to note the damage doesn't do Jack to ensure your car is repaired. Nobody looks at that thing...except for Harms if they are ever being held responsible (and they never have, but its stricly CYA for them).

The damage on car will either get repaired VPC, or sometimes it doesn't. If it doesn't (that is why I said to wait) you just have to DIY and have Marsh reimburse you. BTW, They don't care if you don't repair the damage or visesersa. They are only concern to make you "whole" financially.

THAT'S IT!! I need to make this into Wiki so people will stop asking the same question every 2 days!!:rolleyes::)

[BimmerMark]

I take it that this applies to any and all damages not just scraped/scratched tires? Also, do you have Marsh's contact info?

Thanks alot!

[beewang]

Yes it will cover all damage except for items considered as "normal wear and tear" (i.e. a rock chip on your hood is normal wear and tear, but getting sand blasted in a sand storm is NOT normal wear and tear).

I don't have the Marsh's info handy, but YOU DO!! Look at your paperwork!! Its in there!!