Service Issues resolved, plus Terri vs BMW

[The Taipan]

Some of you may recall I had some service issues with my Territory that had been ongoing... Fourth time lucky, I left it in overnight last night and this morning arrived to pick it up and guess what? It wasn't ready AGAIN!!!, but this time they found the problem and called me back just after lunch to advise me that it was ready to pick up... THANK GOD FOR THAT.

I picked it up and it was driving beatifully! I got a wheel alignment as well, and balance, and was driving along the freeway back home, when a young lady in a BMW decided to change lanes without looking. How, even without looking you can miss 2100kg of vehicle driving with DRL's on is another story, but she moved over into my lane, while I had another vehicle on my right blocking that avenue of retreat... I hit the brakes, followed by the horn, but the rate of deceleration was not quick enough and she hit my front quater panel with her rear quater. Damage to the Territory was minor and her car was also only minor damage also, but to my surprise the paint on the Territory seemed to be more in tact than the Beemer's. Might be that the BM's paint job was not as new, but I have never had the highest opinion of Ford's paint quality and was expecting to see bare metal when I got out of my car - in fact most of the damage will polish out with a few minor touchups, and perhaps yet another wheel alignment - steering components will need to be checked, but felt OK as the front left wheel copped most of the damage... and there is a small dint on the wheel arch - about the size of an egg where the arch meets the bumper. A bloody pain in the arse though as we are just about to move home and need the Territory's room for a mini-removal truck over the next few w/ends, plus fitting two baby seats in some small hire cars is not even considerable... They have estimated 10 days from quotes to actual returning the car - but hopefully it won't take that long at all... $35.20/day for the hire cars and that may be rejected by their insurance, the hire of the car may cost more than the repair itself, so I will be taking it to small claims if they do refuse. Does anyone know the likelyhood of an insurance company rejecting a claim for a hire car???

[Casper]

You might be in luck with the hire car. As its not your fault the insurance co may just send the bill to her insurance company.

Good to hear it wasnt serious, it could have turned out much worse considering freeway speeds and the size and momentum of the SUVs involved.

[b2tf]

Yup i dare say they'll just handball the bill you give them for the car straight to her insurers. Add $200 for good measure.

[johnydep]

A trucking friend once told me that everyone blames Volvo drivers as the worst, but it is really BMW owners that are the worst drivers.

I remember your post but not the issues, can you refresh us.

[The Taipan]

A trucking friend once told me that everyone blames Volvo drivers as the worst, but it is really BMW owners that are the worst drivers.

I remember your post but not the issues, can you refresh us.

Funny you mentioned your trucking friend - I remember seeing a chick in a Beemer run up the back of a tow truck which was parked and attending another accident once - geez it was funny!

With regard to the service issues, it's all history now, but I had a front windscreen replaced; when they install the windscreen the mirror was loose - replaced, loose again and replaced again; the catch which holds the orange bin closed in the rear seats; a left rear door which requires excessive effort to close (compared to the other three doors) - apparently common? had to accept it won't get any better than it is; rear suspension clunk - despite the bushes being removed twice and relubed twice it ended up being a weld which was part of the support structure of the suspension system coming undone?!?; ticking noise in the dash - loose wiring loom in the firewall; rear cargo window which won't lock - again a common fault apparently, shortened the rod responsible for triggering the lock, they didn't check it, and it wasn't short enough so it had to be done again; front passenger belt wouldn't retract quickly and would become loose when there is a passenger using it - replaced; brake pedal which had a spring come loose - causing a cruise control fault - I discovered in the rear vision mirror that the brake lights were on when I was driving at night which helped solve that problem a lot quicker - I'm sure they'd have been changing cruise controls and engine computers, etc if I hadn't; and that's all I can remember - the problems with the car were generally all minor, but never could the service department have the car ready when they said it would be, and when they do say its ready, I get there the work hadn't been done at all, so I have to come back later... as I said earlier this would the fourth visit for the one job stretched over February, March and April! The service tech - who was a very nice fellow actually, was delighted when it was finally finished, he said he felt that it was as if it was his own car by now.

[new2ford]

Several months ago (in Sydney) I saw a Territory do exactly this to an X5 (without touching though). Maybe it was Beemer's revenge day? Or maybe the lady was upset at paying tens of thousands more for an SUV that was no better!

[davway]

im guessing your insurance doesnt allow for a hire if yours is in repair due to an accident?
i would talk to your insurer about them passing the costs of the hire car onto the 'at fault' party. its not gonna cost them any by doing it.