Our beloved '05 MCSa was hit by a wayward deer today. It crushed the windshield, and dented up the hood and right fender pretty good. It is disturbing that the "safety" glass of the windshield shote sharp glass fragments all over the interior, not what I have seen from other saftey glass in other cars. Is there an issue here?

Also, my insurance company wants to steer me to a third party body shop and I want to return to BMW of Sterling as I doubt many body shops have any clue about repairing MINIs and getting the parts. What do you think? Who else would you recommend?

Thanks,

Drew
slightly dented but still wonderful '05 MCSa
untouched '05 Corvette Z51 convertible.

 

Ashburn Collision Center! I rear-ended someone awhile back and asked Tradd Dozier at Sterling (usually the one that helps me) and he said they usually send it to 'em anyways if I remember correctly. I'd imagine so because I saw what looked like a thousand Minis there. I was very pleased with the work Ashburn did and had it back to me close to the estimated time. But here is there info.

Ashburn Collision Center
21595 Cedar Lane Unit F
Sterling VA 20166
Shop Phone (703) 450 - 0041

Hope this helps! And sorry to hear about your accident. Might I ask where you where at? I live in Manassas off of Yates Ford Rd. Lots of deer around here. Hope things get worked out and keep us posted!

 

Sorry to hear of your MINI/deer argument.
Regarding who can repair a MINI, a @#$%! ran into my passenger door/rear panel. I had them repaired by a local independent shop. They replaced the door and repaired the rear panel. To do the rear panel they had to remove the window and lights (this was to be sure there were no weird paint edges), and they had to remove/replace all the stuff in the door. It took a week or so to get the parts (upon which the estimator commented as he went through the book "wow, these are cheap compared to a lot of makes"). Everything's back in place, everything works right.
...and of course "your experience may differ."

 

Who is going to "repair" the deer?

 

PETA?

 

HEY!!

If you want the car fixed at Sterling, take it to Sterling!!! Your insurance company may not be aware, but Virginia Law reserves your right to choose where you have repairs made. If your insurer refuses to cover work at Sterling, let them know that the Virginia Insurance Board isn't going to like hearing about it!

I learned this when I had body work done about 2 years ago.

 

Sterling uses Ashburn Collision as far as I know. Nothing but Bimmers and Minis in their lot when I took my '02 there for some door work. They did an absolutely phenomenal job. Collision Craft in B'more is also very good, but it sounds like you're out in VA... good luck and very sorry about your car.

 

assuming you get the windshield replaced.......who knows, you might like the wind in your face............i would go to shop that has done several,several minis before. I made that mistake once, and I still feel like I am paying for it with plastic pieces flying off my car every now and again.

 

Asburn Collision can't get to my MINI until mid-January. Can anyone recommend DC metro body shops who know MINIs? Also, has anone had a good experience in getting their windshield replaced? By whom? I could at least get the windshield replaced and drive a dented up MINI for a month or so...

 

Wagonwerks in Alexandria is by far the BEST body shop in the DC metro area - however - you'll probably be without your car for two months. Nothing but european makes in their lot - Porsche, BMW, Audi, Rolls.

That said.. I would use who Sterling recommends - make sure you get some sort of warranty on the repair - I've had what appeared to be good body work at first and then about six months later it looked like crap.