[timmyk86]

So...

Innocently driving down a two-lane one-way road this morning... when a nice lady in a land rover defender pulled out of a side road into the side of my beloved '06 120d. She was quite shaken up bless her, but all okay. Because of how it happened, she has taken responsibility for it.

This is the result:

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5545.jpg.html

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5544.jpg.html

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5542.jpg.html

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5540.jpg.html

Think it's a write off or repairable?

If it is written off, I reckon it's worth about £6k. I've loved this car to bits and want to stay with BMW but ideally I'd like to get something a bit quicker, still with 5 seats and preferably (but not obligatory) a hatchback. Any suggestions? Don't mind spending more for the upgrade of course!

Tim

 

[marco_polo]

I doubt that's £4k's worth of damage, unless the shell is damaged (bent B pillar)?

 

[timmyk86]

I doubt that's £4k's worth of damage, unless the shell is damaged (bent B pillar)?

Okay, that's good I guess. As it involves the front wing, both doors (completely busted), the wing mirror (broken) and the rear wing, I thought the repair cost would be really high. Maybe not.

If the B-pillar is bent, would that make it a write off? I didn't look too hard but that was where the greatest force was I guess.

 

[Nottsknots]

I agree with MarcoPolo, a couple of panels and some filler on the wing and rear quarter will probably sort it. Doesnt look like a severe one to have got deep enough for the B pillar (although I bet it felt pretty severe, and sounded pretty loud inside). The gap at the top of the front door looks more like the door has bent out than anything more substantial.

If they write that off, I'd buy it back and get a couple of second hand doors off a breakers. Wouldnt take much to fix that up and sell it on.

(B pillar damage would almost certainly write it off - thats a significant structural area (for side impact protection), and would take specialist repair).

 

[timmyk86]

I agree with MarcoPolo, a couple of panels and some filler on the wing and rear quarter will probably sort it. Doesnt look like a severe one to have got deep enough for the B pillar (although I bet it felt pretty severe, and sounded pretty loud inside). The gap at the top of the front door looks more like the door has bent out than anything more substantial.

If they write that off, I'd buy it back and get a couple of second hand doors off a breakers. Wouldnt take much to fix that up and sell it on.

(B pillar damage would almost certainly write it off - thats a significant structural area (for side impact protection), and would take specialist repair).

Hmm, not sure how keen I'd be on filler...

Ha, it did sound quite bad. It was more of glancing blow though so it didn't shove the car a mile but obviously I noticed it. You're right - I think it's more the door that's bent out rather than anything else being bent inward.

How much does it usually cost to buy it back? Would it be the case that I'd get the money for it being written off, then have to pay a couple hundred back to keep it?

 

[Octavius]

Nine year old cars with that amount of damage are not repaired. Sad day, say goodbye.

 

[timmyk86]

Nine year old cars with that amount of damage are not repaired. Sad day, say goodbye.

This is what I was thinking.

So far two votes for repair and one for write off... I wonder if they will let me know quickly or not. Not that I mind too much - I've been given a '15 330d M-sport xdrive to have as a couresty car.

If it is written off and I get about 6K, any suggestions as to what I should move on to?

 

[Red5]

I think it's a no brainer

BMW billed about £1850 for a back bumper, paint and fit, plus hire car for a week, when my E82 was bumped!

Any competent normal garage will mend it though, for 1/4 of what the insurance claim will be valued at (inc loan car)

It'll be back on the road as a Catd soon

At nine years old though, I'd let it go and take market value (after a good haggle)

 

[greggsy07]

So...

Innocently driving down a two-lane one-way road this morning... when a nice lady in a land rover defender pulled out of a side road into the side of my beloved '06 120d. She was quite shaken up bless her, but all okay. Because of how it happened, she has taken responsibility for it.

This is the result:

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5545.jpg.html

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5544.jpg.html

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5542.jpg.html

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5540.jpg.html

Think it's a write off or repairable?

If it is written off, I reckon it's worth about £6k. I've loved this car to bits and want to stay with BMW but ideally I'd like to get something a bit quicker, still with 5 seats and preferably (but not obligatory) a hatchback. Any suggestions? Don't mind spending more for the upgrade of course!

Tim

That's a shame, although you don't sound to bothered by the prospect of a write off. So following onto your question about 5 seats, hatchback and quicker, what about a 130i?

Of course it depend show much extra you can pay, for example an M135i is quicker and newer again but not cheap. 6k plus a few more will bag you a very well kept 130i.

Worth a look

 

[Sonic1506]

I think that's a write off.

 

[chody]

write off for sure and think you are being optimistic with your value my mrs boss has just had an offer of 6000 for her 2010 10 plate 120d from webuyanycar and i know they are less than market value but unless yours is really low mileage you are not getting anywhere near 6k off the insurance company for a 2006 mate mate

 

[rabbitstew]

Id also say a write off. Roughly speaking they write it off if the repair costs are more than the cars normal retail price minus the scrap value. Its not hard for the repair costs to soon add up. My wife had someone reverse into her car the other day and whilst it only looked like a scratch on the door we have had 2 estimates and both are coming in at £400 just to repair it.

As a side note, if I was you id quickly get a written statement from the other driver admitting 100% liability as they can easily change their minds a few days later. I had a woman pull out in front of me and knock me off my motorbike once. She admitted fully that it was her fault and even the witnesses said the same. Anyway, once it went through the insurance companies she soon changed her mind and said it was all my fault! By the time my insurance company approached the witnesses some 6 months later they could barely remember the incident at all let alone what happened. In the end after much court action and haggling I had to settle on a 50/50 liability and lost some of my NCB even though it was not my fault.

 

[Sonic1506]

As a side note, if I was you id quickly get a written statement from the other driver admitting 100% liability as they can easily change their minds a few days later. I had a woman pull out in front of me and knock me off my motorbike once. She admitted fully that it was her fault and even the witnesses said the same. Anyway, once it went through the insurance companies she soon changed her mind and said it was all my fault! By the time my insurance company approached the witnesses some 6 months later they could barely remember the incident at all let alone what happened. In the end after much court action and haggling I had to settle on a 50/50 liability and lost some of my NCB even though it was not my fault.

Good advice here.

 

[marco_polo]

What's the current WBAC quote, for a straight one with similar age/mileage?

 

[JohnKimble]

My dad has a 9 year old Volvo in ropey condition with 100+k on it. A lady reversing off her drive stoved the side in, quite similar to the above. We were utterly convinced it was a write off but they repaired it - cost something like £3800; you would never in a million years have sunk that much of your own cash into it. Now looks slightly odd; the car is all dinged and scratched apart from the two brand new nearside doors

That said I can see this being a write off ^^. I bet the Defender was unscathed as well?

I'd like to get something a bit quicker, still with 5 seats and preferably (but not obligatory) a hatchback. Any suggestions? Don't mind spending more for the upgrade of course!

If this should happen to me, I would probably take their best offer, bung the cash in the bank, and get TRL to sort me out with a M135i on PCP

p.s. CAP valuation comes out at more like 4 grand (assuming about 80-100k on the clock?)

 

[durb]

+1 on the getting a written statement from the other party.

With regards to value, highway paid me bang on the parkers guide value for my E87 last year (using parkers price and mileage formula).

 

[timmyk86]

Wow, flurry of activity there. Thanks for everyone's responses.

Re: not minding too much about it being written off. I do mind of course, it's my car and I've absolutely loved it. It's just that I have been vaguely considering selling it for something newer/quicker, and this might obviously be that opportunity.

Re: the write off value. I am aware that insurance companies can be difficult about this. Apparently the rules are, however, that they should pay you the amount that it would cost to buy another car of similar age/condition/mileage, in your current area. It also means that they shouldn't be able to use the trade value of the car as the amount they give you, as you wouldn't ordinarily pay the trade value making a purchase. Mine was in good condition for it's age, and had about 74,000 on the clock. A bit of a scout on autotrader comes up with other examples around £6000. I do however appreciate I may be being optimistic.

Re: her admitting it. Good suggestions, thank you. I will try to get her to sign something. She did actually ring her own insurance company (after I had rung mine) and told them that she drove into me and it was her fault. Her company have already arranged a rental car for me, and have taken my car to be assessed. I assume her phone call will have been recorded and that now the process has been started (all on her insurance) it would be quite hard to back-track. Also (no guarantee of anything I know) she seemed a very decent person. But I will see what I can arrange anyway.

Re: potential new car. I'm actually in a pretty good position work-wise at last (in my 4th year as a doctor going down the surgical route) and have no house (constantly being moved around hospitals by the NHS), no children, no debts (other than enormous student debt - but that doesn't count ) and no real responsibilities other than to myself to fund my training (personal cost is high to train as a surgeon). So I was thinking about taking the opportunity to get myself something that I actually really want - and after a day and a half of meandering round the internet, I think that is probably a 5-door M135i with an auto box. They. Look. Brilliant. (I would say £20k is the absolute max I would pay for my next car- and that is pushing it).

Finally, for those interested in the state of the Landy...

http://s330.photobucket.com/user/timtim86/media/IMG_5547 no plate_1.jpeg.html

Pretty phenomenal difference from mine no?

Thanks

 

[Sonic1506]

 

[dj_troopa]

Big ol' Landy knows how to take a hit, that is crazy.

Sorry to see what happened to your car, hope you get it sorted soon whatever the outcome may be.

 

[JohnKimble]

Big ol' Landy knows how to take a hit, that is crazy.

Ladder chassis FTW

Hope you find out what's happening soon, I can imagine it's no fun being in limbo about what's going to happen. Remember it's just metal and rubber at the end of the day