Arhhhh!! Accident advice please!
Discussion
Had a bad morning today when a lady in a Mini tried to cut me off joining a roundabout in traffic, taking my wing and bumper with her! I was satitonary at the time halfway on to the roundabout, but when we pulled over and I asked why she did that, she claimed I drove in to her, even though all her damage is on the front and mine is at side, so I'm guessing this will go 50:50 liability as I couldn't get a witness as everyone had already gone by the time we'd pulled over.
Anyway that aside, I called Admiral and they suggested one of their approved shops. I said no as it's and M5 and I want it done properly. The got a call from one of these accident management companies saying they would handle it and I wouldn't have to pay any excess at all, but they don't have any BMW approved body shops on their list. I then took the car to a BMW Chiswick who told me not to drive it as there could be damage to an oil cooler, so left it with them to quote the insurance company to proceed with repairs.
So my options are, leave it with BMW and potentially have a 50% excess to pay (£250) or hand it over to the management company who will sort everything and I will have zero excess. What would you do?
Anyway that aside, I called Admiral and they suggested one of their approved shops. I said no as it's and M5 and I want it done properly. The got a call from one of these accident management companies saying they would handle it and I wouldn't have to pay any excess at all, but they don't have any BMW approved body shops on their list. I then took the car to a BMW Chiswick who told me not to drive it as there could be damage to an oil cooler, so left it with them to quote the insurance company to proceed with repairs.
So my options are, leave it with BMW and potentially have a 50% excess to pay (£250) or hand it over to the management company who will sort everything and I will have zero excess. What would you do?
I'd first of all want to challenge the 50/50 so that I didn't have any excess to pay. I may be clutching at straws, but was the place covered by any CCTV cameras. I'd push this accident management company to fight it. Maybe things have changed but this sounds exactly like my first accident when the other party tried to blame me,. when I was sideswiped by a bread van. I won.
My BMW bodyshop experience is excellent, so worth 250£ and in particular cos it's looking like damage to things other than the body, you can't guarantee BMW parts with a non BMW place so that could impact on warranty.
My BMW bodyshop experience is excellent, so worth 250£ and in particular cos it's looking like damage to things other than the body, you can't guarantee BMW parts with a non BMW place so that could impact on warranty.
I don't like Accident management companies myself. If its a 50:50 then have your insurance take care of it. Insist on a BMW garage to do the repair and pay your excess.
Grabbing the phone number or email of a witness is always top priority as well as pictures at the scene and preferably recording any conversation.
Grabbing the phone number or email of a witness is always top priority as well as pictures at the scene and preferably recording any conversation.
Yes, unfortunately being 8am traffic in London, everyone was quick to get away and by the time we'd pulled over, any witnesses were gone. I checked cctv but theses all seem to be focussed on the pedestrian pathways, not traffic cams. I think I'll have to grin and bear it. My insurance will go up £500 next year (I did a hyperthetical quote) so with the excess a £750 annoyance!
I will fight the liability though. When the bodyshop guy looked at it he quickly said from the impact points it's obvious she drove into me, but whether the insurance companies will look at the damage is unknown.
I will fight the liability though. When the bodyshop guy looked at it he quickly said from the impact points it's obvious she drove into me, but whether the insurance companies will look at the damage is unknown.
Sorry to hear the news and having got the car only a couple of weeks ago....aaarrrggghh 
I would definitely push for liability to be with her. Hopefully the damage will show the fact you were hit rather than you hit her, surely it's geometry!
As a matter of interest I had a not to dissimilar accident and was blamed but it went 50/50 once I argued my case.
I would also not let anyone else touch it than BMW. It's an extremely complex bit of kit and that needs to be repaired properly.
Good luck either way.
I would definitely push for liability to be with her. Hopefully the damage will show the fact you were hit rather than you hit her, surely it's geometry!
As a matter of interest I had a not to dissimilar accident and was blamed but it went 50/50 once I argued my case.
I would also not let anyone else touch it than BMW. It's an extremely complex bit of kit and that needs to be repaired properly.
Good luck either way.
HoHoHo said:
I would also not let anyone else touch it than BMW. It's an extremely complex bit of kit and that needs to be repaired properly.
Good luck either way.
It's a wing and a bumper for a 5 series (albeit an M5) BMW. The panel matching and paints used will only be as good as the person doing the job, and BMW - just like the other big players - doesn't have the sole rights to those people or materials!!Good luck either way.
popeyewhite said:
HoHoHo said:
I would also not let anyone else touch it than BMW. It's an extremely complex bit of kit and that needs to be repaired properly.
Good luck either way.
It's a wing and a bumper for a 5 series (albeit an M5) BMW. The panel matching and paints used will only be as good as the person doing the job, and BMW - just like the other big players - doesn't have the sole rights to those people or materials!!Good luck either way.
If however there's damage to the oil cooler or other mechanics I'd only use BMW (it's suggested there may well be)
Output Flange said:
As you're with Admiral, you may have the option to use M&A Coachwork in North London. Having had the 911 repaired through them recently, I can highly recommend them. They're approved repairers for all sorts of marques - bear in mind BMW will just farm it out.
My experience of M&A was the total opposite. 3 years ago I had a car sent there by my insurer. It sat with them for 6 weeks while I was waiting for them to carry out the estimate, eventually the insurer (Aviva) moved the car to a different bodyshop and the repair was started the following week. The receptionist had a serious attitude problem, I was told they do the estimate when they were ready!Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff