First damage to my 2006 M5

[Davebert]

Well, it didn't take long. We do not have a drive way or garage and the M5 just suffered its first anonymous street parking damage. It is the bug deflector, either someone broke it by hand or looks like a tall vehicle back into it because there was no damage to the front bumper. I am pretty sure it was not there last night when I park it. Here is the damge.

But I think is one of my neighbor with a Jeep who likes to part really close to people, here is an example of her parking. That spare tire looks about just the right height for the deflector.

Looks like I will have to replace the deflector. But I cannot find after market replacements. Is the dealer the only place where I can get a new one?

 

[AwaKeN]

Ebay, Dave look on Ebay !

As for your neighbor, i would mesure if it's the right distance !

 

[JCell]

def measure and tell the b****

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

I would put the broken on on the hood with a note....

 

[Davebert]

Another parking picture

Here is an old photo of the same person (but different cars) parking antics. The convertible in the middle belongs to me and the 2 car belongs to her and her partner.

There has also been damages done to my convertible. Someone with a hitch back onto and dented my hood.

 

[AwaKeN]

WTF, it's a real joke ... I would buy a old beater and push them to get out of their parking madness ...

 

[Shi-Fu JaY]

Here is an old photo of the same person (but different cars) parking antics. The convertible in the middle belongs to me and the 2 car belongs to her and her partner.

There has also been damages done to my convertible. Someone with a hitch back onto and dented my hood.

WOAH, how do you even get out of that slot?

 

[Davebert]

WOAH, how do you even get out of that slot?

I knock on their door and ask them to move their car.

 

[VenomDesign]

Don't you have any driveway ?

 

[Davebert]

Don't you have any driveway ?

No, we do not have a garage, just street parking. The convertible is stored in my parents garage for the winter.

 

[opus]

It looks like she and her "partner" couldn't give a care less what they drive so they treat everybody elses ride the same way they treat theirs. The only way to deal with people like that is to get the neighbors together and pinch their cars in so tight they can't even begin to get them rolling, otherwise they will just pitch and slam till they get out. If you cause enough tension between them, maybe one of them isn't as bad as the other, then maybe they will part ways and get out, but otherwise, things like leaving notes and confrontation will only make them more aggressive. They have to see that they are up against a united front in the neighborhood. We did this back in college and it worked well, the less aggressive of the two finally had enough of the allienation that the real PITA in the pair was causing and got out. Needless to say, just about everybody was more than willing to help her pack

 

[Davebert]

One suspect eliminated

Another neighbor with an Honda CRV parked in front of me today so I took the opportunity to see if it can do that kind of damage to my bug deflector.

Here is a picture of the spare tire on the CRV and the front of the M5, it is too low to just impact the bug deflector. I will wait for my chance to compare it to the other neighbor's Jeep.

 

[Davebert]

I finally got a chance to measure the Jeep's spare wheel compare to the damage done to the bug deflector. I woke up this morning and saw this, normally I would see the Jeep backed up right against my car.

So I when and move the M5 as close to the Jeep as I can. I didn't want to get any closer to the point that my bumper and grill will be under the spare tire. Here is a couple of pictures. It is not a 100% proof but IMHO, it does show the spare tire can do that kind of damage to the bug shield without damaging my bumper or grill.

 

[wmzda5]

You now have to tell them that you know that its them that damage your car. Whether they pay for the damage or not we dont know, but at least they know that you know so they will be careful next time,,, I think they're already trying to get as far away from you as possible..

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

Put the pic on his jeep...

 

[Katner]

Davebert where do you live? I can't believe that someone would be stupid enough to park like that in Canada or the US. Look at her spacial awareness! It's non-existant. Even the pick where she is parked far away from you she's too close to the person in front of her!

We toyed with the idea of moving to Lugano Switzerland a while back and my colleagues that are already there said "just don't buy a nice car because people will tap you all the time when you parallel park." My brother expressed the same opinion when he lived in Marseille France.

EDIT: I'm not dogging Europe or Europeans, just noting a difference in norms. N. American's typically drive huge cars, and need big spaces. Furthermore their cities tend to sprawl more then European cities and allow for a little less traffic/parking congestion.