Backed into a tree...

[dishe]

Ok folks, it appears we're still getting used to driving a slightly longer vehicle (previous vehicles were compact cars)... this morning a family member backed into a tree and left this little souvenir on the back:

(note- picture is taken with the rear hatch open, the door IS still attached...LOL)

Worst part is, I was scheduled to get insurance photos of the car done today!

So, I need some advice now- I'd like to remove the dent and replace the plastic shield over the tail lights.

The dent is in a weird very small area of metal, so I fear that the traditional suction cup style dent removal tools won't have anything to hold onto! Is my only option to get around the inside and bang it out? How do I even get in there??

Meanwhile, I'm looking up replacement tail lights from car-part.com and ebay, but having trouble determining which type of tail light I have. The choices are silver back, and dark back. All the backs I've ever seen on a M5 were "silverish", so I'm not sure what the "dark back" means... anyone got any light to shed on the situation?

Here's another shot of the lights, maybe a little easier to see:

Sorry for the poor light exposure, it was taken with my phone. Which back do I have??

 

[flcruising]

Sorry to see that. You may be able to get to it from below with the rear bumper cover removed, but that's just a guess.

 

[mazdadude]

(boom05)

Not good! However, 1 tailight, and 1 PDR man, shouldn't be too bad. ~$250

Stuff Happens! You can fix your car, but not your family. (At least you can remind them of their mistake for years and years to come...)(whistle)

 

[dishe]

(boom05)

Not good! However, 1 tailight, and 1 PDR man, shouldn't be too bad. ~$250

Stuff Happens! You can fix your car, but not your family.(whistle)

You speak the truth.

I've never gone to a PDR guy before- are they really that cheap? I mean, the tail light alone looks like ~ $200-$250 on ebay and car-part.com!

I tried some idiotic hairdryer/compressed air trick I saw on youtube to force the dent out, but I didn't really expect that to work. Heh- should have videotaped it for a laugh.

I wanted to try a plunger or dent removal suction cup, but the metal there is so narrow, I feel like there's not enough for it to stick to!

Meanwhile, back to the tail light for a moment- I'm being told that there are two options of tail lights, the sliver-back and the dark-back. Which one do I have?? As far as I know, all Mazda5's in the US in my year had the same taillights (2007)- and I've seen tail lights advertised as either one that BOTH seem to look like my tail light. It would suck if there was some subtle difference that I'm missing, and then realize I have non-matching taillights when I put it on!
Anyone shed some light on that one??

 

[mazdadude]

$200 for a tailight?

(omg)




I am aware of different styles, but I am not sure what you have. To me, it looks like the dark one.(shrug)

 

[dishe]

$200 for a tailight?

(omg)




I am aware of different styles, but I am not sure what you have. To me, it looks like the dark one.(shrug)

What is the "other" one? I know the tail light changed in later models, but are there any 06-07 models in the US with any style OTHER than this one?
Because I've seen it advertised both ways ("dark" background or "silver" background), and they both look the same to me. It would be a real shame to go and buy another tail light only to find out it doesn't actually match my other one!

And yes, I agree $200 for a tail light is STEEP... but if you can find it cheaper, please let me know!

Meanwhile, what do you think a good PDR guy would charge for a ding like this one??
I sent this photo along to some local shops to see if they'll give an estimate, but I get the feeling they don't check their email often...

 

[mazdadude]

What is the "other" one? I know the tail light changed in later models, but are there any 06-07 models in the US with any style OTHER than this one?
Because I've seen it advertised both ways ("dark" background or "silver" background), and they both look the same to me. It would be a real shame to go and buy another tail light only to find out it doesn't actually match my other one!

And yes, I agree $200 for a tail light is STEEP... but if you can find it cheaper, please let me know!

Meanwhile, what do you think a good PDR guy would charge for a ding like this one??
I sent this photo along to some local shops to see if they'll give an estimate, but I get the feeling they don't check their email often...

From what I understand, the plastic surrounding the colored lights inside the light housing is what they are referring to. There is a silver version, and a charcoal grey metallic version. Yours looks to be the charcoal version.

For the PDR guy, your best bet is to contact the dealer lot that sells the expensive used cars in your area. (BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, etc) Talk to the used car sales manager, and ask them who the lot uses for their PDR service. You want somebody with experience! (Do not cheap out here, experience is everything). This can make the difference between a dent that disappears, from a dent that happens to "look better than it did before".

It is hard to tell from the pics, but I would venture to guess a good PDR man would charge ~100-120 for that dent.

 

[dan4behr]

As for the lights, I'm fairly certain that the one you show is the silver back version. The dark back variant was probably the one that was included on the US Grand Touring models in '06-07. All the Sports and Tourings models use the silver.
Come to think of it, I've only seen maybe one dark-back Grand Touring the entire time I've had my 2007 5 Touring.....

 

[dan4behr]

As for the lights, I'm fairly certain that the one you show is the silver back version. The dark back variant was probably the one that was included on the US Grand Touring models in '06-07. All the Sports and Tourings models use the silver.
Come to think of it, I've only seen maybe one dark-back Grand Touring the entire time I've had my 2007 5 Touring.....

Check the rear end shot in this article of a 2007 Grand Touring. It has a dark chrome trim instead of the silvery "Altezza" lights most of us have:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3129048

 

[dishe]

Check the rear end shot in this article of a 2007 Grand Touring. It has a dark chrome trim instead of the silvery "Altezza" lights most of us have:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3129048

Ah hah!

Thanks so much, THAT'S what I was looking for! Interesting- I've never seen that type of taillight, guess I haven't been around many GT models.

It seems that most junkyards don't know the difference, because a vast majority of tail lights being offered are labeled as the "dark" ones. Unless there are just way more GT's being junked and parted than Touring or Sport models, I'd have to say most of them are just as ignorant as I was to the difference.
This is going to make buying the correct part very difficult, isn't it...

Meanwhile, having trouble finding a good local PDR guy. Are there any other decent methods that might work to pop out this bad boy?

 

[dfskinner]

http://www.car-part.com/

 

[dishe]

http://www.car-part.com/

Yeah, I know- That's actually what I was referring to. It asks if I'm looking for silver-back or dark back, and there's very few silvers... but TONS of ones show up when you click "dark".

I called one of the shops listed with a "dark" one, and asked to see a picture of the part. They showed me a pic of a white touring. I showed him a picture of my car, and he agreed that its the same tail light. How many other junkyards made the same mistake??

 

[mazdadude]

I just thought of this, and I know it sounds crazy, (silly), but are the silver/dark the same part # thru Mazda? If not, look at the part number on your broken one.

 

[Heat]

... And yes, I agree $200 for a tail light is STEEP... but if you can find it cheaper, please let me know!...

Pick up some epoxy for about $5 and seal the crack.

It won't look as good as a new one of course, but it will work. And you save about $195.

 

[1WICKED6]

I wish I could find a set of the GRAND TOURING ones ...Sorry about your accident

 

[dishe]

Pick up some epoxy for about $5 and seal the crack.

It won't look as good as a new one of course, but it will work. And you save about $195.

Nah, its not just a crack- a piece is actually missing. But is there any benefit really to sealing up something like this with epoxy? I mean, if not for cosmetic reasons, the lights still work fine, and no moisture will build up because the crack is actually at the BOTTOM of the fixture...

I was really pissed when it first happened, but now I'm starting to just be OK with it. Maybe I'll wait to see what else happens before I go fixing everything up.

 

[KBrian]

Driving in the rain could send moisture into the housing and pop the bulb or corrode the socket.

 

[dishe]

Driving in the rain could send moisture into the housing and pop the bulb or corrode the socket.

Crack is on the bottom. If moisture got in, it won't stay in.

 

[rhayan911]

Did you already fix the dent on your 5? I also have the same dent on same spot. How did you fix it?

Ok folks, it appears we're still getting used to driving a slightly longer vehicle (previous vehicles were compact cars)... this morning a family member backed into a tree and left this little souvenir on the back:

(note- picture is taken with the rear hatch open, the door IS still attached...LOL)

Worst part is, I was scheduled to get insurance photos of the car done today!

So, I need some advice now- I'd like to remove the dent and replace the plastic shield over the tail lights.

The dent is in a weird very small area of metal, so I fear that the traditional suction cup style dent removal tools won't have anything to hold onto! Is my only option to get around the inside and bang it out? How do I even get in there??

Meanwhile, I'm looking up replacement tail lights from car-part.com and ebay, but having trouble determining which type of tail light I have. The choices are silver back, and dark back. All the backs I've ever seen on a M5 were "silverish", so I'm not sure what the "dark back" means... anyone got any light to shed on the situation?

Here's another shot of the lights, maybe a little easier to see:

Sorry for the poor light exposure, it was taken with my phone. Which back do I have??

 

[dishe]

Did you already fix the dent on your 5? I also have the same dent on same spot. How did you fix it?

Nope. Got other expenses to take care of first.
Just left it as is for now. Eventually I'll probably replace the tail light, and the body damage I've been given an estimate of $300 to repair.

Together with the light assembly, that's around $500 to fully repair. I just can't spend that right now, so I'll think about it later.