Hey everyone... i think this is the first post I've ever started... and talk about for the worst reason....

I live in Miami, FL.... am a student at UMiami (Go Canes).... and I was studying the library.... and at about 7pm a friend calls me to ask if I hit something lately cause the headlights on my '03 coupe are missing... I honestly thought he was playing a trick on me... but I run out and... well the title says it all.

The damage isnt Horrible... looks like someone had a decent idea of what they were doing. The front bumper is cracked significantly, and there is minor damage to the fender and hood.... it just looks shocking really.

I dont really know the point of my story I suppose, I just felt I had to share it with people that care.... Apparently the cops that wrote the police report said there have been string of thefts in south Mia with some people stealing rims and headlights (what an odd combo).

Regardless, I guess my only question is, I was in the process of saving to get some kind of front bumper... or a lip or something like that. Is there anyway I will be able to have a non-OEM bumper installed? I have comprehensive insurance from All State (thank goodness my parents still pay for car insurance).
I've never been in an accident or anything.

Also, can anyone suggest some really really good car alarms? I think i'll look into a remote pager type of system now...

 

did they damage the fenders at all? you might check real good....that really sucks....as far as the non OEM bumper question, you can put whatever you want on your car, but the insurance company only owes to restore your car to pre-loss condition, and you'll have to pay your deductible of course....so that means if the bumper is repairable, then they will only pay to repair your existing bumper and paint it...so, if you want, you can probably pay the difference btwn the cost of the new bumper and the dollar amount insurance pays for the repair to get a new bumper...and they'll still pay for the paint....a little cheaper than just buying and painting a new bumper out of pocket...good luck!

 

Wow! I'm sorry to hear this happened. It's not exactly easy removing our headlights, so they must have been pretty confident you weren't going to come out and catch them while they were doing it.

Keep checking ebay to see if they pop up there. These guys will probably try selling it online, so everyone should keep an eye out..

 

Dammm man sorry to hear that. I live in miami also and i've been hearing about alot of g35 and maxima's getting there lights stolen. I'm guessing they do it for the HID'S. I gotta keep my eye out!

 

What a $hitty deal

 

Yea it does suck... more so for the headache that this will cause (obviously won't be able to drive at night). The officer I spoke to said the damage is bad enough to where the bumper will likely need to be replaced. The officer told me the way its been working down here is there will usually be a guy or two, and a girl. The girl is basically a "scope" that looks around to make sure no one is around, and the guys just go to work with plastic bolt cutters. Thats probably what happened to my car as well, because the bolts where the headlight housing is head was cut clean off....

To answer your question... the fender isn't too bad... it's pushed up really slightly on both sides. The hood will also definitely need to be repainted, and maybe some work there as well. But i think a good shop can hopefully fix all that without it looking like something happened.

In a way I feel like maybe its not the WORST thing. I already started looking at other bumpers and etc for replacement, most specifically the Nismo / Type-N (replica) front bumper. I have NO idea how much the factory bumper costs yet though. But I found out my deductible is $500 bucks... that will really force me to start working more...

 

sucks... I feel for ya. I hate ppl that steal. It's just such a lazy way out of a difficult situation.

 

That reallly sucks man, I go to U Miami as well so im gonna be extra carefull now. Which lot were you parked in? The one behind the library?

 

i think it's time to install some shock sensors on my car...

 

hey im actually selling my front & rear bumpers b/c i just bought a bodykit for my 2004 ip coupe. I didn't post it for sale yet since my car is going in the body shop in 2 weeks. If you want to stay stock, drop me a pm.

 

Yea everyone thanks for the info... I'll be looking into everything soon.
It happened in the parking behind the law library.... and next to the Ungar math building.

I was also told by the cop at the time that its always better to back into a spot so that the front of the car is facing out. It will deter anyone from doing something because anyone that walks into a parking lot will be more likely to see whats going on.

 

I think list is around $298...

 

I graduated from UofM.........sorry to hear that your HIDs got jacked on campus. Looks to me like the I35 ('04 & earlier) is the prime target for this. On the ones I've seen they always first smash the driver side window to open the hood. So doesn't raising the hood set off the alarm and deter them?

 

Naveen,

Sorry this has happened to you. It's not the first, nor the second time we've heard of a MIAMI G getting the lights snagged. Hopefully you'll be able to work with a good body shop that can "massage" your estimate to help you absorb some of your out of pocket deductible. Here's what I know...

Hood
Price: $394.67
Labor: 1.1 hour x $36/hr
Paint: 4.8 hours x 36/hr (includes clear coat and painting the under portion of the new hood)

Bumper
Price: $219.80
Labor: 2.4 hours x $36/hr
Paint: 2.8 hours x $36/hr

Right Front Head Lamp
Price: $775.92
Labor: 0.5 hour x $36.00 (to aim/align headlamp)

Left Front Head Lamp
Price: $775.92
Labor: 0.5 hour x $36.00 (to aim/align headlamp)

If you have any problems with your fenders, figure an hour or two for labor and then a few hours to blend the paint and clear coat.

Hopefully this helps. Also, may I suggest you check out the Florida G35 Club Forum here on g35driver.com to talk to other guys in your area about this occurance and to find a GOOD bodyshop to do the repairs (one that will work with you )

 

You just can't have anything nice these days. **Shakes head**