My XM's been smashed into - help!

[Sam Skelton]

Last night in the middle of Peterborough, a rascal in a Vauxhall Combo decided to use the back of my CT SEi as a brake. He claims his brakes were faulty, though personally in light of the low light I'm more inclined to say he wasn't paying enough attention and it wasn't obvious I was standing at the roundabout. That side of things is immaterial, anyway - what I want to know is about the damage to my car.

Mr Rascal, you see, would rather we don't go through the insurance if we don't have to - which suits me, I don't want a claim in my name regardless of fault if I can help it, it makes things more expensive for all of us and it ties the whole thing up in legal admin. If the damage to my car is as superficial as it looks, I'd rather we deal with it like gentlemen; he needs to buy me a new rear light lens, a new tailgate (Thank you Ray, I hadn't noticed that yet!) and have my rear bumper resprayed at the least. However, I do have his insurance and contact details and if there is any more damage than there appears to be, I will want it doing properly.

Where should I look for any structural damage? I have access to a ramp and can get the car in the air, so there's no risk of me missing something if I know where to look!

[raynoon]

Ouch! You need to get the bumper off and check for damage, looking at the lip on the tailgate that is damaged too, check for a twisted tailgate, check the boot floor too... judging by the amount of damage to the combo I'm surprised the XM looks to have escaped relatively unscathed.... good luck!

[White Exec]

If that's all the visible damage is, then what's underneath the bumper is unlikely to have suffered at all.
I'd class all that as very minor/cosmetic, which any bodyshop would quickly give a quote for.
Sorry to hear about the bump, all the same, Sam.

[MTXM]

I was also sorry to hear about the damage to your/my old car Sam but it does look like the other came off worse!! Hopefully it is just cosmetic with only painting and new lights required, but as pointed out by Ray there does seem to be a bit of deflection on the boot lid rim. With regards, Matthew T.

[Dieselman]

Get the car in the air and check the rear longitudal members haven't been shunted forward into the cross member. Also check the boot floor very carefully where it spot welds onto the longitudal members. What tends to happen is the damage moves forwards and causes corrosion problems at a later date.

[Sam Skelton]

The boot floor hasn't deformed, I checked earlier (but after making this post). I'll get it in the air ASAP - I already have a good bodyshop, who will be getting a call in the morning and possibly a visit on Thursday to assess. Reassuring that the majority view so far seems to be cosmetic!

[MTXM]

That is good advice Will and especially in view of the earlier incident with Russ's car, although fortunately the impact looks much lighter in this case. Regards, Matthew T.

[Dieselman]

I've seen cars, including XM, with what appears very light, cosmetic impact have issues further down the line. Those rear longitudal members have no support other than the boot floor and are only joined to the crossmember by bent flanges and spot welds.

XM are not strong cars at the rear.

[Sam Skelton]

And this is why I wanted to ask here before getting the car into the air, so I know exactly what I'm looking for and how to make sure my car is straight. I'm not going to risk a Category marker and lots of hassle if we can settle this like gentlemen, but if it's bent I am taking it through the insurers.


Thanks to all so far

[citroenxm]

If bent highly likely she get written off Sam. My 24v v6 was written off just for needing a door and A door mirror and the dent was tiny!!!

Had I not got my 24v id say theres a bumper here but would need new side brackets making which you might find yours will as they rust away.. and the bolt rarely comes out without siezing..