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After 18 years and over 500,000 total miles of driving at night, I hit Bambi last night. It was raining and on a dark stretch of Rt. 18 in central New Jersey. All I saw was the head and shoulders before the collision. There was no time to even get my foot off the gas. I was not hurt, Bambi is dead and I was able to drive 20 miles home.
The left headlight is crunched, fender and hood damaged, mirror decorative cap is gone and the door is wrinkled and opens just enough for me to get in + out
Initial pictures can be found on my gallery. I'll post better ones after the rain stops.
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Silver Ghost | 09 MCCS | R55 | SS/S | 6Spd Manual | Hot Choc Cloth/Leather | Premium | HI-FI | Sport | No Stripes
Conceived 07/05/08, In Labor 08/25/08, Born 09/02/08, Shipped 09/06/08, Delivered 10/03/2008. Over 50k miles of smiles.
Ouch! I'm happy to hear that you are alright, many people hit deer here with their cars on the WI roads, and a lot of them end up in the hospital or the morgue. Your MINI did its job, protecting you! Long live the MINI!
I bounced a deer off the front of my Honda Element. Poor thing died, and I was horrified!
I was always glad I was in the Element since the hood is so high and the front so flat, the deer literally took a flat hit. Had only front end damage about the same as yours but no door issues.
Scariest thing ever and huge reason I won't drive without fog lamps since they light up the side of the road. All sorts of things to hit around here, coyotes and deer at night and turkeys during the day!
Glad to hear you are well and that you MINI was at least drivable! And I keep thinking my odds of hitting another deer must be in my favor!
I also tapped a deer a few miles North of Charleston, WV. Two sauntered out onto I-77S while I was in the #1 lane. I had time to downshift and brake hard, smacked it hard with the left front, and it took off. When I arrived in Charleston I was pleasantly surprised to find no damage, not even a deer hair on the Clubman.
fwiw, mine only required replacement of the hood, one headlight (non-Xenon), upper grille and some trim pieces. Luckily, my hit did not damage the front bumper, wheel arches, or anything under the hood. Still, cost estimate came in ~$2,300. They did have to go back and replace one of the hood hinges - I assume they filed with my insurance company, but I never saw any of the paperwork if they did. Luckily, the repair shop helped me on cost, and I ended up with the only out-of-pocket being the cost of the new vinyl stripes I put on it and some gas for a couple trips to the shop.
Mine was about 6 grand. All of the bodywork forward of the A-panels had to be replaced... the radiator, it's housing, and the AC Condenser were broken also. My cost was 440 (deductible 500 - 60 stripe install). They asked me who did the roof wrap... when I told them I installed it they gave me the option of doing the stripes myself and saving 60.00.
I had a chance to take some good pictures today. They are in my gallery. I have an appointment for a repair estimate on Monday. I'm sure they will declare the car not drivable.
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Silver Ghost | 09 MCCS | R55 | SS/S | 6Spd Manual | Hot Choc Cloth/Leather | Premium | HI-FI | Sport | No Stripes
Conceived 07/05/08, In Labor 08/25/08, Born 09/02/08, Shipped 09/06/08, Delivered 10/03/2008. Over 50k miles of smiles.
My 05 R53 had about the same damage, but my door was clean, just over $2300.00. I think there are pics in my gallery. NO sympathy for bambi, run AWAY from the lights and the high pitch whine, I thought a deer might be a little smarter than a BUG!
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05 DS/B MCS, Jan Tune (208/191), Helix 19% Pulley, Helix High Flow 380's, Helix Intake, TSW Damper, Helix Short Shifter, "Ebay"exhaust, Mintex Red Box Pads, Walmart Catch Can, Scanguage II, Garmin Nuvi 350, 205/50/16 General Exclaim UHP's on Panasport rims, Home made Light Bar w/4 Hella 500's
The headlight was the only glass (?) broken, the air bags didn't go off and I was able to drive the Ghost 20 miles home.
The tire does rub against the wheel well liner, but there was no problem steering and the car still tracks straightly.
Now I get to drive either the wife's 325 (provided I "don't hit another deer".), or our Envoy (at 18 to 20 mpg, that one hurts at the pump) until my 'baby' is fixed.
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Silver Ghost | 09 MCCS | R55 | SS/S | 6Spd Manual | Hot Choc Cloth/Leather | Premium | HI-FI | Sport | No Stripes
Conceived 07/05/08, In Labor 08/25/08, Born 09/02/08, Shipped 09/06/08, Delivered 10/03/2008. Over 50k miles of smiles.
Sadness. I hit THUMPER with my GP a few months ago. He ran out in front of me and I had no choice. I felt soooo bad. I feel your pain. Glad you weren't hurt and that your baby can be fixed.
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'06 MCS JCW SB/S w/silver arches & Aero, Compass Rose roof graphic, Bilstein Pss9 coil overs, Alta sway bar, JCW strut bar, Powerflex bushings
'06 JCWGP1274 (no description required, he's my bad boy :)
All is right in the world, once again. I got the 'Ghost' back last Monday.
It took almost four full weeks to complete the repairs. Most of that was due to part procurement time.
Now he looks better than before. (no more bug guts and stone dings)
Grand total for the repairs came out to $7.043. The HID headlights cost almost $1300, with controller.
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Silver Ghost | 09 MCCS | R55 | SS/S | 6Spd Manual | Hot Choc Cloth/Leather | Premium | HI-FI | Sport | No Stripes
Conceived 07/05/08, In Labor 08/25/08, Born 09/02/08, Shipped 09/06/08, Delivered 10/03/2008. Over 50k miles of smiles.
Gratz on getting Ghost back. I am sure Ghost missed hitting the pavement (but not bambi ) I hope your insurance coverd most of the cost. Big ouch if not.
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Mini Cooper S Clubman
Horizon Blue, Black Pillars
Prem, Sport, Cold, Conv Pckgs
HD Radio, Roof Rails, Nav Sys,
Punch Carb Leather, Piano Black
It was raining and on a dark stretch of Rt. 18 in central New Jersey. All I saw was the head and shoulders before the collision. There was no time to even get my foot off the gas. 
HC Owners' Club #047
For my heavy hauling :-)
(provided I "don't hit another deer".), or our Envoy (at 18 to 20 mpg, that one hurts at the pump) until my 'baby' is fixed. 
He ran out in front of me and I had no choice. I felt soooo bad. I feel your pain. Glad you weren't hurt and that your baby can be fixed.
