Reckon this is a write off? Any advice?
Discussion
A few weeks back someone drove into my beloved Z4 coupe which was parked at the time. The damage was to the rear 3/4 - they clipped the rear wheel which has clearly bent some suspension components out of shape (see pic). The car was shunted forward as a result, with their car taking most of the impact.
Their insurer, More Than, have accepted full fault here. They have sent Hoopers, a crash assessor, to where the car is being stored. Hoopers have performed an assessment. As part of this, they didn’t get the car lifted up or wheel taken off, but reckon it would cost £7,000 to fix. This seems unlikely to me (given the suspension components are shared with the E46 and widely available). I would have thought more like £2-3k depending on what needs replacing. I shared the photo with Chartwells, a crash repair shop in Derby who are recommended here, and they thought around £4k.
I’m obviously not trying to get an exact £ assessment online, instead would be great to know any advice here on what to do. Ideally I’d like to get the vehicle properly assessed (I.e. up on a ramp to actually see what needs to be replaced).
Should I be arranging for a local body shop (e.g Chartwells) to view it? Has anyone had experience here in what’s best to do? Am concerned the Hoopers report is a finger in the air guess given they haven’t examined which components are broken.
Obviously car can’t be moved - it’s currently in Derby, I live in London.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Can’t stand the thought of it being written off when it’s in otherwise excellent condition (just had suspension and brake overhaul), I’d planned on keeping it for the next 5+ years.
Their insurer, More Than, have accepted full fault here. They have sent Hoopers, a crash assessor, to where the car is being stored. Hoopers have performed an assessment. As part of this, they didn’t get the car lifted up or wheel taken off, but reckon it would cost £7,000 to fix. This seems unlikely to me (given the suspension components are shared with the E46 and widely available). I would have thought more like £2-3k depending on what needs replacing. I shared the photo with Chartwells, a crash repair shop in Derby who are recommended here, and they thought around £4k.
I’m obviously not trying to get an exact £ assessment online, instead would be great to know any advice here on what to do. Ideally I’d like to get the vehicle properly assessed (I.e. up on a ramp to actually see what needs to be replaced).
Should I be arranging for a local body shop (e.g Chartwells) to view it? Has anyone had experience here in what’s best to do? Am concerned the Hoopers report is a finger in the air guess given they haven’t examined which components are broken.
Obviously car can’t be moved - it’s currently in Derby, I live in London.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Can’t stand the thought of it being written off when it’s in otherwise excellent condition (just had suspension and brake overhaul), I’d planned on keeping it for the next 5+ years.
It may be a £4k fix but if the chassis is bent those costs could escalate. Looks like a lot of work from that one photo and its not like a man in his shed with some DIY tools.
Also its not just the actual repair cost, its the hire / courtesy car, visits and inspections, administration costs, legal fees etc.
IF you are confident its such a cheap fix then let them write it off and pay you out then buy it back and fix it yourself.
Also its not just the actual repair cost, its the hire / courtesy car, visits and inspections, administration costs, legal fees etc.
IF you are confident its such a cheap fix then let them write it off and pay you out then buy it back and fix it yourself.
Yeah it's impossible to say without properly measuring the chassis hard-points. If there's any deformation to the monocoque it will be very difficult to fix properly; if it's just belt suspension arms and bodywork it could be economic to repair. Don't underestimate the cost of new body panels and the subsequent paintwork required to blend them in though. It's hard to tell with the reflections there, but is the door damaged?
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 1st November 22:14
If you think that’s £2-£3k of damage, you’re very much mistaken. My EP3 was reversed into, which split the front bumper by approx 3 inches. That cost £1.3k for their insurance company, it was only a repair of the bumper and paint.
I’d be amazed if they can keep that sub £7k to repair. The paint costs alone are going to near your £2k budget
I’d be amazed if they can keep that sub £7k to repair. The paint costs alone are going to near your £2k budget
PistonTim said:
IF you are confident its such a cheap fix then let them write it off and pay you out then buy it back and fix it yourself.
I wouldn't want my car to be recorded write off. That causes issues with values and resale down the line. I would ask their insurer to pay the bodyshop of my choice if they could repair that for £4k. Get it repaired and no write off market.
I'd be tempted to buy the car back from insurance and get it fixed myself.
One of your suspension arms and or subframe will be bent hence the jaunty angle of the wheel. It's a z4 so there's plenty of spares about.
The quarter panel definitely looks repairable for someone with the requisite skills.
A year or two back I fixed an XKR with similar damage to yours that only ended up costing about £300, although your quarter panel damage is a bit more severe than mine. You might be surprised how inexpensive it can be outside of insurance.
One of your suspension arms and or subframe will be bent hence the jaunty angle of the wheel. It's a z4 so there's plenty of spares about.
The quarter panel definitely looks repairable for someone with the requisite skills.
A year or two back I fixed an XKR with similar damage to yours that only ended up costing about £300, although your quarter panel damage is a bit more severe than mine. You might be surprised how inexpensive it can be outside of insurance.
Anything is repairable, but the trouble is garage costs escalate so quickly, hire cars, claims companies and the whole machine geared around making it into a much bigger deal than a slightly bashed BMW.
It is likely more than its worth for it to go in and be repaired by an insurer, but pound to a penny that will find its way back on the road one way or another.
I would be looking to get it back, get it up in the air, would assume all the suspension parts and driveshaft on that corner are toast, probably the wheel as well but if you could get it rolling and roadworthy and usable by replacing the rear arms etc, then you can perhaps find a suitable body shop. Its going to need a rear quarter which wont be cheap but if you love it that much its probably worth doing.
Would doubt its damaged the mountings, they are pretty sturdy but thats part of checking it over, its bent but doesnt look that bad.
It is likely more than its worth for it to go in and be repaired by an insurer, but pound to a penny that will find its way back on the road one way or another.
I would be looking to get it back, get it up in the air, would assume all the suspension parts and driveshaft on that corner are toast, probably the wheel as well but if you could get it rolling and roadworthy and usable by replacing the rear arms etc, then you can perhaps find a suitable body shop. Its going to need a rear quarter which wont be cheap but if you love it that much its probably worth doing.
Would doubt its damaged the mountings, they are pretty sturdy but thats part of checking it over, its bent but doesnt look that bad.
If we're sharing, here's mine. Insurer says car is worth £5,750 - if I remember, I'll post here again once they get back to me about whether it's worth repairing. The car is 12.5 years old, so I'm fine with one of their approved repairers handling it.
Obviously the important part is the wheel/suspension/axle/etc., since it's always best for the rear wheels to point in the same direction. But I'll be annoyed if that bit is affordable, and the bodywork repair on top pushes it into write-off territory! Assuming the scuffs and dents aren't concealing anything awful, I'd have no objection to driving it with a messed-up-looking wheel arch.
Obviously the important part is the wheel/suspension/axle/etc., since it's always best for the rear wheels to point in the same direction. But I'll be annoyed if that bit is affordable, and the bodywork repair on top pushes it into write-off territory! Assuming the scuffs and dents aren't concealing anything awful, I'd have no objection to driving it with a messed-up-looking wheel arch.
Edited by to3m on Wednesday 2nd November 01:07
Some interesting feedback, thanks guys.
Chartwell, the body shop in Derby, seemed a bit more optimistic on the repair based on the photos (i.e. bodywork). The 3/4 panel there is bolt on bolt off, and direct supply from BMW (i.e. still available). Door isn't damaged, so just bumper and that panel.
I guess it's how long is a piece of string with the suspension. A few snapped components isn't a problem, but I'm concerned that if it's the rear axel carrier or the output shaft has been pushed into the diff then things get spicy quite quickly.
Next step will be to try and get it on a lift and and get it assessed as to what exactly is wrong. Could be lucky, but not hoping for the best. What a pain
Chartwell, the body shop in Derby, seemed a bit more optimistic on the repair based on the photos (i.e. bodywork). The 3/4 panel there is bolt on bolt off, and direct supply from BMW (i.e. still available). Door isn't damaged, so just bumper and that panel.
I guess it's how long is a piece of string with the suspension. A few snapped components isn't a problem, but I'm concerned that if it's the rear axel carrier or the output shaft has been pushed into the diff then things get spicy quite quickly.
Next step will be to try and get it on a lift and and get it assessed as to what exactly is wrong. Could be lucky, but not hoping for the best. What a pain
to3m said:
If we're sharing, here's mine. Insurer says car is worth £5,750 - if I remember, I'll post here again once they get back to me about whether it's worth repairing. The car is 12.5 years old, so I'm fine with one of their approved repairers handling it.
Obviously the important part is the wheel/suspension/axle/etc., since it's always best for the rear wheels to point in the same direction. But I'll be annoyed if that bit is affordable, and the bodywork repair on top pushes it into write-off territory! Assuming the scuffs and dents aren't concealing anything awful, I'd have no objection to driving it with a messed-up-looking wheel arch.
Best of luck with it mate, what happened? It's a real shame if that gets written off - hopefully it's just a case of new wishbones/control arms! Obviously the important part is the wheel/suspension/axle/etc., since it's always best for the rear wheels to point in the same direction. But I'll be annoyed if that bit is affordable, and the bodywork repair on top pushes it into write-off territory! Assuming the scuffs and dents aren't concealing anything awful, I'd have no objection to driving it with a messed-up-looking wheel arch.
Edited by to3m on Wednesday 2nd November 01:07
nickofh said:
This is at VW approved repair centre at the moment. Cost of repairs £5400. Not including the suspension / brake damage apparently.
Yours looks considerably more expensive. Two independent mechanics both said they thought mine would be written off. :-(
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