Don't ask - am still fuming . Just want to get an idea if it's an easy fix: FL vRS (about six weeks old), the honeycomb fog light surround has popped off, I reckon that can be easily popped back in, however the DRL strip seems to be pushed in and up by about an inch. What do you reckon, is it a dealer fix? cost?

Wont ask how you managed that but feel free to spill the beans :p

Sure fire way will be to remove the front bumper (get an old duvet or several old towels to put it on, really dont want any risk of scratching the paint!). Other than the fogs & drls, watch out for wires from front PDC sensors if you have them -- they'll also need unclipped to get the bumper free. Ideally it's a 2 man job, but you can do it alone if you take your time and don't let it stress you.

In terms of how to remove the bumper, it should hopefully be quite easy (says the guy who's never tried on this car...) but on some cars there are hidden screws holding it on, ones you'd never find in a million years unless someone told you where they were -- might be worth buying a £3 service manual dvd off ebay before starting, plus it will give step by steps for how to do it in the workshop and 90% of the time you'd use the same steps working in a driveway.

In terms of labour charges, i'd charge you 2 hours if it was me (guessing, i dont run a garage!). It's hard to see how a dealer would justify more than 2 hours (really only 1 hour but 2 guys). Ask your dealer or reputable indie upfront for a quote on the price to sort it.

Hope this helps!

Thanks Mute, don't think I am brave enough to try it myself also would be working on the road as I have no driveway. I'll take it to the dealers on Monday am and get them to do it.

It happened at a T junction from a minor to major road. There's also a two way cycle lane running along the pavement next to the major road but with give way markings applicable to bikes where it meets the minor road. The cycle lane intersection is set back before the road T junction. The major road is one way going north. The cyclist was going south along the major road, on the cycle lane approaching the minor road intersection. I was sitting at the minor road junction waiting to turn left on to the major road. The cyclist decided the give way markings on the cycle lane did not apply and as they saw a gap in the traffic on the major road they nipped round the front of me at the junction.

My attention was on the traffic on the major road to the right (as it is all one way), saw the gap, went, then slammed on the anchors when I saw the cyclist, soon enough so they didn't go under the front wheels but too late to completely avoid collision (as they were about 6 inches in front of me) resulting in their pedal pushing my DRL light in, scratching the bumper and popping off the fog light facia. The cyclist went sprawling into the major road, thank god the traffic all stopped in time.

I got out of the car and helped the cyclist up along with their bike. As it was a young student (girl) who started crying I didn't have the heart to demand name and address / money to pay for damage, so instead I lectured her on obeying give way markings and looking, otherwise she'd be dead very soon. She agreed that she had been silly to try to nip round the front of the car at a junction where she should be giving way (or at least going behind the car at the junction). With hindsight maybe I should have pushed the issue to protect myself from any reprisals. I suppose time will tell.

It's such a dangerous junction due to poor design and most cyclists have absolutely no road sense. I've seen so many close calls there. I think I'll avoid it completely in future. It certainly scared the heck out of me.

unlucky atleast she was not hurt, regardless of if she was at fault the blame would have fallen on the motorist.............it always does.

I hope you can fix it all ok without major problem, cyclists should really be insured IMHO.

unlucky atleast she was not hurt, regardless of if she was at fault the blame would have fallen on the motorist.............it always does.

I hope you can fix it all ok without major problem, cyclists should really be insured IMHO.

Sadly true and yes, I agree, all road users should be insured and have some sort of road awareness training.

As a cyclist and driver I have got to say they are equally at fault for poor behaviour. Can't stand cyclists who don't stop at red lights and have a death wish by undertaking lorries... But then when on my bike you see / have vehicles that barge past and then cut you up to turn left without indicating, straight line rounabouts almost clipping your front wheel etc. The list of bad manners is evident from all road users unfortunatly!

Back to the OP, sounds like it is a very poorly designed junction. Cycle lanes like that is why a lot of more confident and faster cyclists don't use them as they slow you down if you obey the markings and they are often obstructed and covered in glass.

that is why a lot of more confident and faster cyclists don't use them as they slow you down if you obey the markings.

funny that I find the road markings slow me down in the car too :p ...............................but road markings ARE there to be OBEYED.

I fully understand/agree what you are saying and in a perfect world we should all look out for each other but at the end of the day your safety is your own responsiblity you should not rely on others for it. I for one would wait and stop than hope the driver is going to stop, as I'd rather be alive than on time!

I no long will cycle on the road unless there is a cycle lane, much rather go somewhere senic and away from the idiots. My uncle up until last year cycled in to work, for health reasons aswel as it was easier. He is a bus driver by trade, and was nearly crushed between two buses when one over took another one. So he wont cycle on the road anymore.

Anyway going off topic so will not rant anymore

Back to the OP, sounds like it is a very poorly designed junction. Cycle lanes like that is why a lot of more confident and faster cyclists don't use them as they slow you down if you obey the markings and they are often obstructed and covered in glass.

funny that I find the road markings slow me down in the car too :p ...............................but road markings ARE there to be OBEYED.

I think John_walker74 meant that confident and faster cyclists use the main carraigeway so they don't have to stop at every side road if they use the bike lane...

Like most other people on here, I am annoyed by cyclists who believe that the road markings/traffic lights etc. don't apply to them... I was almost mowed down by a cyclist as I was crossing the road at a pelican crossing where the motorised traffic had stopped at the red light and the cyclist decided that light didn't apply to him and much to my amusement fell off his bike as he swerved to avoid me and the other pedestrian crossing the road

Wonder if he still jumps red lights at crossings... I'm betting he does...

Sounds like a sneaky design for a junction! Glad noone was badly damaged.

Hopefully a quick & relatively cheap repair. If there's any scuff marks on the paint it might be worth phoning a SMART repairer rather than getting the bumper resprayed. They might even feel like tackling the DRLs / bumper at the same time.

Thanks for the responses. There are a couple of v small scuff marks but I can live with those on the front bumper, just need to get the light fixed up, hopefully the dealer can sort that for me. I've taken some pics of the junction today and plan to write to the council about improving it. However I think I'll write as a cyclist rather than a motorist as I think this will have more sway with the council.

I regularly use my motorbike at the weekend (have been on bikes for nearly 20 years now) and am very aware of side turnings and drivers who are day dreaming. Only today I stopped at a mini roundabout as the car approaching just looked like they were going a bit too slow to just go staight over, needless to say they turned right straight across my path - no indicator whatsoever. You just have to expect it and develop your sixth sense - on two wheels you ride defensively. It gets carried over to the car, I've lost count of the number of times I've glanced over my right shoulder in the car before changing lanes and seen a car in the blind spot of the side mirror - on a bike it's called "a lifesaver" and done every time you turn / change lanes. It's saved my life more than once.

I was really annoyed with myself the other night for not glancing left just before turning - I would have done on the bike and usually in the car but I was very tired and sods law that's the one time I didn't. Still it's only a bit of damage and no one was hurt, so good experience and a lesson learnt / highlighted I suppose.

@ willis1337

Hi there, sorry to push in on your conversation but I noticed this and would like to offer some advice. Legally you are obliged to report a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist within 24 hours or else you commit an offence under the Road Traffic Act. One would hope that you either have done this already (if so then appologies) or plan to do so at the earliest (most stations will allow up to a week anyway).

I also would like to advice people that if you do have a collision, even if you think the person isnt injured, you must exchange details. A car hitting a person even at a slow speed of 5mph can still cause problems. No insurer or Policeman will hold you responsible however as it sounds to me as if she failed to look before pulling out. She also may have been made to pay via your insurer for the damage (insurance companies will chase these people up so dont worry about that, and if you're unsure then write to them)

Sorry for bumping in and hope you get your car sorted! Those cyclepaths are a nonsense that often cause pedestrians major issues, and cyclists to extend their journey time by double due to their stop-start nature.