With a heavy heart I say goodbye
 

After four fun years I'm really sad to announce my time as a MINI owner has come to an end. This past Friday I was in an accident with my beloved R53 and although the damage seemed minor it has been deemed a total loss. I wasn't ready to say goodbye since I just got my r53 running great and was really enjoying the hell out of it. So thanks to all for a great time and a great forum.
-bavmotors

Bummer. Did the hit damage the tranny via the wheels?

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

I don't think so but I haven't got the damage list yet. I'm interested to see why they totaled it since they valued it at $6700: car was in great shape so it must have a frame issue or something.

Buy it back and fix it.

Rip r53 :(

Buy it back and fix it or part it out? :)

Parting it out would be a good idea depending on the cost of the buy back. I don't have money laying around though.

Sorry to hear this.

What were the specifics of the crash?
What does the engine look like?

Was the right-front wheel damage a secondary condition of the initial impact?

It seems that these insurance adjusters have a hair-trigger mentality on totaling out 1st Gen MINIs. Damage doesn't appear to be too severe, at least judging by the photos you posted.

Perhaps it is fixable...

Quick story...

My wife loves her 2003 VW New Beetle as much as I love my R55. She had an accident where the insurance company totaled the vehicle. She chose to take the cash and do the repairs. I tried to talk her out of it but she wouldn't listen.

The car has a salvaged title, but since she has no plans to ever sell the car it really doesn't matter. She got the car repaired and it's run great ever since. She's coming up on 200k miles.

Not saying that he story is the same as yours and state laws may differ when it comes to salvaged titles, but it might be worth considering repairing the R53 vs. totaling it. Just a thought.

Yea I'm very interested to see what damage they found that determined the total loss. I looked at the suspension and couldn't find any obvious damage.

Older cars, it just doesn't make sense for them to fix it. Costs too much and then the blow back from you if there are issues. $6700 value, cost to repair and administrate the whole deal. Road worthiness, airbag safety, future accident with injury and medical claims from bad repairs. The see TOTAL only. Don't blame them at all.

Buy and fix seems like a win assuming price.

My wife had a little fender bender, a Honda ran a stop sign and clipped left front corner. New bumper cover, new radiator support, used headlight w/ washer, new left marker and wheel arch, pushed dent out of hood to the tune of $ 3300.

I'm just gonna move on, I loved my r53 but I don't wanna deal with the task of fixing it and taking a risk. There will be some parts for sale soon that I have left over and some that I'll be able to remove when I clean it out of my belongings.

Rip

After combing the lands for a thrilling car, you will be back!
Sorry for the setback!

Well it's certainly not my r53 but it's nice either way I suppose.

2009 328xi 59k miles