Hit a fox :/

[MiTz]

Hey guys,

I hit a fox last night on way home from work. So the front bumper is a bit banged up, probably made worse because of the splitter. The grills are broken and the fog light pushed out of its housing, although not smashed

Has anyone replaced the front end before and have an idea of cost, just wondering what's the best plan of action?

From a quick inspection, it looks like once I remove the splitter, most of the damage will be hidden. So best case, I might get away with a few cracks to the underside and need a new grill... Depending I guess how many fixing tabs are broken etc. Also how is the fog light fixed in the housing? Is that just push clipped onto the grill from the inside.

Gutted is an understatement

 

[MiTz]

Here's a few pics

 

[Mr Pig]

I'd get the bumper off to see what else is bust.

Hope the fox died? ;0)

 

[MiTz]

I'd get the bumper off to see what else is bust.

Hope the fox died? ;0)

Yep the fox is dead and it was huge ! The joys of living in a rural area, its happened before on a different car. Fox's and badgers have a habit of running straight under the car, so zero chance to react.

I'm gonna chance it and order a new lower grill, then fingers crossed when I remove the bumper there's nothing else damaged. I've noticed one tab broken on the fog light, but I should be able to plastic weld it back on.

I really don't want to claim on my insurance, because even with full protection I'm sure they'll hike up the price next time.

 

[Mr Pig]

Yep the fox is dead..

Excellent.

My car was written off last year and it does not seem to have put my insurance up at all.

I had a similar situation years ago, bumped into the back of someone. Enough of a bump to put a small kink in the bonnet. Broke a headlight clip and a few other little things but once it was all tweaked up it looked perfect. I did have to get the bonnet sprayed but he bumper was fine.

My guess is that if there is no damage to the bumper visible on the outside you'll be able to get it looking right.

And look on the bright side, one less fox in the world :0)

 

[Mr Pig]

Years ago we had a small Datsun van that had steel bumpers. I hit an Alsation one day and it bent the bumper!

 

[MiTz]

Years ago we had a small Datsun van that had steel bumpers. I hit an Alsation one day and it bent the bumper!

Jeez!

I wonder what bull bars would look like on the Leon hmmmm

 

[Mr Pig]

Jeez!

The dog walked away. Admittedly it didn't look too well but. I shouted to the owner asking if the dog was ok but he just kinda waved me away. He knew it was his fault.

Bumpers used to be functional. In Spain they still are!

Once saw a dog hit by a bus. That dog did not live. All the bus driver was concerned about was that it was making him late.

 

[280jl]

Best thing to do at the moment, is get an estimate from a local ( hopefully decent ) body shop and also a seat dealer, and see what they are both saying. Then work it out from there ?

 

[Mr Pig]

Best thing to do at the moment, is get an estimate from a local body shop and also a seat dealer..

Na, if the paint's intact it will hopefully be a DIY job.

 

[MiTz]

Na, if the paint's intact it will hopefully be a DIY job.

I've ordered a grill from Seat and it was €60, which I didn't think too bad for OEM, especially after looking at others on ebay.

So fingers crossed when I take off bumper, it will just be a few plastic welds and change the grill.

 

[Mr Pig]

So fingers crossed when I take off bumper, it will just be a few plastic welds and change the grill.

I think that's exactly what it's going to be. Here's hoping anyway.

 

[3D_Rob]

Excellent.

And look on the bright side, one less fox in the world :0)

What an awful thing to say, especially considering the time of year. And do you have any legitimate reason to hate foxes, or are you just fearful of them?

 

[Mr Pig]

What an awful thing to say, especially considering the time of year. And do you have any legitimate reason to hate foxes, or are you just fearful of them?

Well they kill rabbits, chickens and other smaller animals which I like more. They invade towns and cities, messing up gardens and killing pets. Killing rabbits would be enough though.