Just had a lovely experience!! driving down a normal road, heavy traffic in both directions, idiot came across the white line, demolished my door mirror and scraped the side and back wheel! not a snowball min hells chance of catching him, as I could not turn round!

Anyway, it appears that hi front wheel hit the rear wheel arch and the back wheel - (see pics) and there is a small chip in one of the spokes of the wheel.

So, do I need to change the wheel? Do I need to get the geometry checked?

TIA

John

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/5800088804_8ce7c75080_s.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/5800087350_340c61f769_s.jpg

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Sorry to hear about your accident but at least you are OK. Shame you did not get their reg or anything (hate people who just drive off when they know full well what they have done).

Hard to see the extent of the damage as pics are very small. However, I would always be cautious with wheels so would get a new one just in case. Hope you get it all sorted soon.

Just looks like the tyre has scraped down - have you tried polishing it out.

The wheel looks fine to me although the pics are tiny so can't see.

Thanks for the replies. don't know why the pics are so small, never tried posting them here before!

I agree that the bodywork should polish, what worried me is that there is a chip in the metal of one wheel spoke, don't know how much this might weaken it?

What worried me is that there is a chip in the metal of one wheel spoke, don't know how much this might weaken it?

Jeez, to touch wheels at speed in opposing directions is what I call a close call, you are lucky he didn't cross the white line a few seconds earlier, this could so very easily have been a different story.

What was he doing, over taking a cyclist or just dozing?

If it is just the rubber from his tyre is should just polish off, the wheel won't be structurally any worse off, just sounds cosmetic to me. I'd be tempted to have it rebalanced just in case.

Has the wing mirror smashed off completely? From the small pic it just looks as though its folded back against the side window...

Thanks for the replies. don't know why the pics are so small, never tried posting them here before!

I agree that the bodywork should polish, what worried me is that there is a chip in the metal of one wheel spoke, don't know how much this might weaken it?

A 'chip' in the wheel wont weaken it, especially on the spoke.

Silver 1011 - yes, very close. I was doing dead 30, just realised that he was wandering towards me, moved over, but not quite enough! The mirror is completely dead!! Glass smashed to bits, the top section was kind of folded over the rest, the shell is cracked and the indicator bit cracked. can only find a price for the glass on Skodaparts - and that's £44!!

JRW, thanks for that, s i said, that was my main worry.

Silver 1011 - yes, very close. I was doing dead 30, just realised that he was wandering towards me, moved over, but not quite enough! The mirror is completely dead!! Glass smashed to bits, the top section was kind of folded over the rest, the shell is cracked and the indicator bit cracked. can only find a price for the glass on Skodaparts - and that's £44!!

JRW, thanks for that, s i said, that was my main worry.

New mirror units are a fortune for genuine parts. I wouldn't go for a non OEM mirror glass as the optics are usually rubbish compared to the OEM.

do you have a pre-facelift Octy? If so then a Polo 9n2 mirror is the same so you should be able to pick one up from Ebay or a scrap yard and then just get the cover sprayed up.

There is one on Ebay here - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-MK6-POLO-9N3-ELECTRIC-DRIVERS-SIDE-WING-MIRROR-/170628015721?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27ba38e669

Also:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Volkswagen-Polo-OS-Mirror-2005-/360366151657?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item53e77f17e9

Edited 5 June, 201115 yr by jrw

God, that looks like a very close shave, glad you're OK.

Larger versions of the pictures:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/5800088804_8ce7c75080.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/5800087350_340c61f769.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/5799533865_ea7470cfcc.jpg

Ah can see the wheel better now. Refurb and balance and it'll be as good as new.

Also looks like you have the same mirror as the 9n2 polo so hope the links Will be useful.

Good news!! found a local independent, who will replace the broken bits of the mirror, rather than a complete replacement!

Agreed, a small chip in the wheel spoke shouldn't be a problem but I would have the wheel rebalanced and a 4 wheel alignment check done just to make sure he hasn't rubbed your suspension up the wrong way!!

Hope it is sorted cheaply and soon.

Ian