Rear end shunt!!!

[roobarbii]

We've had a car drive into the back of my B5 Passat. (Sun was too bright apparently!)

The bumper has a 30mm hole punched in it (right in the middle of the bumper) from the impact, and quite alot scratching to the right hand side of it.

There doesn't appear to be any damage to the body of the car anywhere which is good, but I have heard that there is a beam that runs across the car behind the bumper that bends/crumples on impact.

I have a couple of questions...
1. What is the beam made of. My mates Audi A8 has an aluminium one apparently.

2. What is the chances of this beam needing to be replaced as well as the bumper.

I'm not worried about the costs as that is down to the insurers. The problem is that the car is a '97 with 117000 mile that is not in superb condition. I understand that if a repair comes to more than 60% of the vehicle value, they write it off (which I don't want to happen)

Your experiences would be appreciated.

[minty0_10]

from my experience ive been hit up the *** twice in the last year both a4,s! and both cars were written off with only light damage. probably be the same with yours with the age price of a new bumper paint labour charges.

good thing is you should be able to buy the car back for peanuts and repair it your self.

you should get paid out at least £2000 (if its a tdi) for your car you could buy it back for around £250

either way if the bump was not your fault ring help hire 0500 224455 and they will sort it all out for you including a free hire car.

[gresty]

Yes there is a seperate aluminium bar behind the bumper. To inspect remove 3 screws in n/s and o/s wheel arch for the bumper, remove 3or4 screwsfrom the underside of the bumper, open the boot and there is a larger screw on the left and right side just at the side of the lamps. Once all these are removed the bumper can be removed with a little brut force where the securing clips are on the n/s and o/s. Now the bar is staring at you. If the bar needs replacing, lift up the boot carpet and there is 2 bolts on the left hand side of the boot floor and 2 on the other. Remove thes and the bar will pull out.