Posted about this earlier today in R53, but realized it would help to ask everyone.

I think my LY/B 2003 MCS is about to be TOTALED, and I don't want to to lose everything I put into it this year.

I bought it last March for $2100, and proceeded to put ~$3000 of parts into it myself over the course of the summer and this school year. I even took a ~3000mi road trip in her at the end of my overhaul this summer.

Well yesterday, I was stationary at a red light, behind a Trailblazer, when a dude in ram-bar-equipped Wrangler rammed me going 40mph, sending my poor MINI (carrying my girlfriend and I) into the trailer hitch of the Trailblazer in front of me. Yeahyeah, our necks hurt, but we're okay.

I'm concerned with the car.

What should I grab from the car, say to the cops and claims adjuster, or replace in order to not lose $3000 in an accident were I wasn't even at fault? I have NO IDEA how to handle this situation.

My 2003 Liquid Yellow/Black MINI Cooper S was otherwise base, with premium 17" wheels, no sunroof, 2 spoke steering wheel. 120,000mi.

I've replaced the following:

Supercharger Bypass Valve
Glove Box
driver side window motor
driver side window regulator
Heat exchanger
cv boots
(eventually Cardone Select axles)
PowerFlex LCAB's
Inner/Outer ball joints
front right tie rod end
BSH motor mount,
TSW motor mount
PowerFlex Transmission mount insert
crankshaft position sensor
oil pan gasket
radiator fan resistor
Redline tranny fluid
front wheel bearings
timing chain tensioner
L&R KYB strut tower mounts
radiator
thermostat
thermostat housing
power steering pump
power steering fan

Which items can I claim as part of the value of the car? Can I site my own labor (heavily discounted, maybe ~$5/hr?), since a shop quote would normally include labor? What about registration fees? I wasn't responsible in any way for the damage and I want to get every penny I can for my poor Sunflower.

Any and all legal/insurance advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

Dont settle, Get lawyer. /thread

 

got receipts?

 

You might be out of luck. A number of years ago something similar happened to me. My Honda was totaled, all I got was book value of the car and the only things I could get out of the car was personal items in the glove box and trunk. They did offer to sell the car back to me, which I passed on.

 

The advise of consulting a lawyer is quite solid.

But we have seen customers whose insurance worked with them a LITTLE bit on maintenance that had just been done. One girl had just put a new transmission in her R50 and a handful of months later the car was totaled in a flood, the insurance contacted us and had confirmed the work and ended up giving her a few thousand extra on her claim check.

If you want to insure you get money back out of the car you need to carry a rider on your insurance, which some insurances will either gouge you over or not accept due to the deviance between blue book and what you're trying to insure said car for.

Sorry for your luck, if you own the car outright you could always just park it in the garage with a "clean title" still on hand while slowly rebuilding it. A cheap beater to drive and you can slowly rebuild what was once rebuilt.

 

Everyone hates em, but a lawyer can get you money. Back trouble doesn't always appear right away.

 

IMO you're SOL on any of the internal parts, including labor. Insurance just does value 'new', only 'working'. You might be able to grab/swap parts, like the engine mounts.
Went through it years ago and all you can do is talk to the adjuster. Good luck, and hope you feel ok!

 

I think I'm going to buy it back from the insurance company! If anyone's interested in any parts, let me know in this thread!