I've been crashed into, how much to repair?

[kiethton]

Well heading home this evening somebody has driven into the side of my E92 335i

From looking damage doesn't seem so bad as the back wheel took the impact although the rear wing and back bumber are dented/scraped and will need replacing...

Regarding the wheel though it's now sitting at a major camber and is not pointing straight either, as I limped the car home it doesn't seem to be turning properly, flat althiugh run flat, vibrating and the dash is lit up (suspension, tyre warning and a few others that I'm not too sure about). The other thing is to keep driving straight the steering wheel is now sitting half a turn to the left (only damage is at the back) why is this?

I am wondering about the likely unseen damage, it's a 07 m sport with 33k so shouldn't be written off but wondering weather it's ok to insist that anything that's changed on one side is done on the other (tyres, suspension parts etc) as I'm looking atbtracking it in the future and don't want any imbalances. Also I'm meant to be leaving in the car to Paris on wednesday, I tried calling insurance companies (barring the other drivers but they won't let anything happen as they insist they don't deal with third parties) but nobody is open, I really need a car fro tomorrow!? How do I go about arranging this?

[vrooom]

i think your car is written off, and you need call insurer.

[Fleckers]

i also think it will be a total loss, as for driving it, no way will it make it to Dover from the way you are talking, let along Paris

if you must drive you will need to hire a car

[essayer]

You have to keep steering left because the rear wheel is seriously out of alignment somehow and causing the car to crab to one side or the other. This is probably why the traction control,etc lights are lighting up as it's confusing the system.

You must not drive the car in this state!

I doubt there is any chance you can hire a car now. Anyone you know prepared to lend you a car ?

Places might be open boxing day, make sure you tell them you are going abroad.

[jimxms]

I think you might get away without it being written off. As others have said tho, don't drive it - get a hire car instead (SOMETHING SENSIBLE), keep all receipts and claim it back from other insurer.

[kiethton]

Yeah I know I can't drive it to Paris was bad enough on the 1/2 mile drive home, very nearly got it recovered...

I was wondering how to sort out a hire car when nobody is open

I guess the other thing is that the car has to go to BMW to maintain the AUC warranty

[royobannan]

Sounds similar to my accident earlier in the month. Damage to my Z4 £8500 so declared a total loss. Needed new rear wing, bootlid, backlight, suspension, alloy and tyre! Hope its not a write off!

[Chicharito]

essayer said:

I doubt there is any chance you can hire a car now. Anyone you know prepared to lend you a car ?

Places might be open boxing day, make sure you tell them you are going abroad.

Do an online reservation with one of the big boys and collect it Tuesday morning.

Edited by Chicharito on Saturday 24th December 18:54

[GavinPearson]

kiethton said:

I am wondering about the likely unseen damage, it's a 07 m sport with 33k so shouldn't be written off but wondering weather it's ok to insist that anything that's changed on one side is done on the other (tyres, suspension parts etc) as I'm looking atbtracking it in the future and don't want any imbalances. Also I'm meant to be leaving in the car to Paris on wednesday, I tried calling insurance companies (barring the other drivers but they won't let anything happen as they insist they don't deal with third parties) but nobody is open, I really need a car fro tomorrow!? How do I go about arranging this?

There is no real engineering reason to change the unaffected side - don't bother going there as you are going to be wasting time, breath, ink or bytes.

I would recommend doing a few things:

1)File a Police report immediately - if the Police ask you if you wish to prosecute then say YES. It really helps when the insurer of the person that hit you claims it wasn't their fault....
2) Speak to the local franchised dealer and ask which bodyshop they use - take the car there for the work to be done.
3) Make alternative vehicle arrangements for your trip because your car is in no fit state to travel anywhere.
4) Take lots of photos of the car & the damage, find photos of the car pre-damage.
5) Keep all receipts for the taxis you will be using tomorrow and the next few days.

Try and look on the bright side if you can, now you need to use taxis due to a lack of car rental places being open you can have a couple of drinks and not have to worry about driving.
Good luck.

[kiethton]

royobannan said:

Sounds similar to my accident earlier in the month. Damage to my Z4 £8500 so declared a total loss. Needed new rear wing, bootlid, backlight, suspension, alloy and tyre! Hope its not a write off!

Yeah this doesn't sound quite that bad, bootlid is ok although light may be cracked...I refuse to allow just one tyre to be changed, never going to allow that...it's one of the 225m 19's as well...

When driving that short distance home (never above 15mph) it felt like that side was like driving on an egg...is the driveshaft/axle going to be ok?

[essayer]

kiethton said:

I guess the other thing is that the car has to go to BMW to maintain the AUC warranty

If you are claiming from the third party, then I would insist you go to BMW for the repair. They may try to force you to their approved repairer, but stand your ground.

New bumper, rear quarter and all-new suspension bits on the back (is it an M Sport?) will not be cheap, but hopefully not the end of the world.

Without seeing pics of the damage it's hard to guess what's broken but assuming it's the damper, spring and rear trailing arm, and you've done 40k+, I'd presume they wouldn't quibble in replacing the other side's damper and spring too. I think that's what BMW recommend on warranty work.

More worryingly is if there is any damage to the upper mounting point for the suspension strut or to the diff/axle. Are you able to see underneath what's damaged ?

[Olf]

kiethton said:

Yeah this doesn't sound quite that bad, bootlid is ok although light may be cracked...I refuse to allow just one tyre to be changed, never going to allow that...it's one of the 225m 19's as well...

When driving that short distance home (never above 15mph) it felt like that side was like driving on an egg...is the driveshaft/axle going to be ok?

To be fair - the guys have given you good advice - the car is fked - take their advice - i.e. the police report, etc.

Edited by Olf on Saturday 24th December 18:39

[soad]

kiethton said:

I was wondering how to sort out a hire car when nobody is open

Try online reservation for Wednesday morning pick up?

[kiethton]

Thanks old, Yes I will be doing that and will not be driving the car...I hadn't quite got down to replying to it...thanks for that post in particular

Edited by kiethton on Saturday 24th December 18:42

[essayer]

Compare your car to the blowup diagram on here and see if anything is obviously bent!

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=VB72&amp...

[GavinPearson]

kiethton said:

Yeah this doesn't sound quite that bad, bootlid is ok although light may be cracked...I refuse to allow just one tyre to be changed, never going to allow that...it's one of the 225m 19's as well...

When driving that short distance home (never above 15mph) it felt like that side was like driving on an egg...is the driveshaft/axle going to be ok?

Honestly, you are not going to know until the parts are inspected. Have the diff casing crack checked and the driveshaft checked for straightness. Replace if out of spec or damaged.

The insurance company's job is to get the car to the same level of repair as the car was before the accident, not to short change you in any way, but not to over-repair either.

If the tyre on the 'other side' is perfectly OK there is no reason to replace it.

[kiethton]

essayer said:

Compare your car to the blowup diagram on here and see if anything is obviously bent!

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=VB72&amp...

That's really helpful will look in the light tomorrow...to answer another poster, yes it's a m-sport so suspension wont be cheap

[kiethton]

GavinPearson said:

Honestly, you are not going to know until the parts are inspected. Have the diff casing crack checked and the driveshaft checked for straightness. Replace if out of spec or damaged.

The insurance company's job is to get the car to the same level of repair as the car was before the accident, not to short change you in any way, but not to over-repair either.

If the tyre on the 'other side' is perfectly OK there is no reason to replace it.

I understand this, as a rule you change tyres on the same axle at the same time, likewise suspension components. The tyre on the other side has 3mm of tread left so compared with the one that would be 'new' there is quite a difference

[Olf]

This thread is very peculiar.

[johnpeat]

If you want a replacement car ASAP you'll need to enter the dodgy realm of the accidental management companies - most insurers won't sort out replacement cars (esp not over Xmas)

As for the damage - it's likely bent the rear arms but they'll only fix 1 side as there's no damage to the other side!!

Given the season - you'll probably be without that car for at least 3-4 weeks tho - so if you NEED a replacement, you'll NEED an accidental management company to provide and chase the cost of that for you...