Sad day last Saturday. My full JCW '06 CR/W MCS was hit from behind while stopped waiting for a Dodge Durango to turn. I had left about a half car length, clear day and straight road, no visual obstructions, and a '77 beater Volvo 242 sedan rear ended me. Not sure what she was doing, what she was looking at, or what her reasons are, as we didn't talk much- I was a tad upset. She must have been doing 35 mph or better, as I was absolutely LAUNCHED into the SUV. I had time to mash the brakes, keep my foot on the clutch, and wait for impact as I saw her come. Because of her speed, I actually went back and forth between the 2 vehicles at least twice, as I felt several different impacts. I ended up w/ a bit of back pain and a headache, but otherwise seemed okay. I got out, looked at the back of the car and things weren't bad at all. Then I went around to the front to find a horrible sight. Sorry no pics, but no camera with me at the time. The front was shoved back at least a foot all the way across, and there was fluid all over the road. The hood was buckled, the scoop surround knocked out, and it looked like a total. I couldn't imagine that the engine had survived. The driving lights made imprints on the bottom of the Durango's rear bumper, which had been pushed in pretty badly. The reason the airbags didn't deploy is that I was hit from the rear first, or so I've been told. I'm pretty sure I'm looking at a total on an irreplaceable vehicle, feeling very sad. Well, after the shop got it (a good one), I was told that it looked like things would be okay, and that the fix would be between 7 and 8k. Not completely sure whether the frame has been impacted yet, but considering how fast she was going, and the fact that the SUV didn't move much, it's testimony to how well built the MINI is- that the crumple zone could be shoved back so far and still be repaired at a fairly reasonable cost, while I was simply jerked around badly after a fairly major impact. Hoping now for a happy ending, in which I don't notice any difference in handling or engine performance. Will post again after repairs.

 

Dang. I've heard several stories like that lately. Person had insurance?

Sorry to hear about it! Hope you're back on the road soon with everything good!

 

I'm very sorry to hear of the accident.

Soooo glad that you are only slightly the worse for wear and that perhaps with quality repairs your MINI will be restored to you as it was.

The small size of the MINI has always intimidated me, but the more I see, hear, and learn - the more confident I become that my MINI will protect me in the event of disaster.

 

Great to hear that you're doing much better than your car. $8000 isn't bad considering the impact, my wife's Mazda got rear-ended with a Yukon doing about 35 and there was $8000 damage in just the rear end. I'll be watching for updates.

 

Ouch! I'm glad that you're ok.

Take care of your back and neck. I remember getting rear ended at 10mph, and I had a bit of back/neck pain and soreness. I can't even imagine how bad it must be at 35 mph.

 

Sorry to hear about this. Don't settle for anything but 100% perfection on the fix of your MINI or the doctor bills for yourself. Take your time on the settling of any medical issues, because sometimes it may take a few weeks for any damage to really show up. The other person's insurance company may be quick to try and give you a cash settlement - from experience - don't.

Donna

 

I agree totally. My son got hit HARD sideways while he had the green light (and a lot of witnesses!) by a local teacher who tried to blame her brakes. (Anti lock) My husband and I got there and demanded that the officer in charge call an ambulance to take him to a hospital and have him cked out. It turned out that he had a cracked vertebra and it wouldn't have shown up til he did some lifting, the doctor said. The teacher who ran the red light totaled my son's s10 truck, breaking the drive shaft in two and we never did find the one tire that went flying off!!! They had to cut him out of the truck because she had pushed in his door and the other door was jammed shut. Our insurance had to fight her insurance until THEIR EXPERT proved that her brakes did indeed work and that she was at fault. (Turns out that earlier that morning, she was ticketed going 67 in a school zone while going to work.) I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. Not only did it hurt you, it hurt an innocent Mini minding it's own business. Let us know how you and your car fare.

 

Glad you're injuries aren't too severe ! And sorry to hear about your incident.
I'm not surprised to read your front end damage was by far more severe than your rear end damage, even though the initial impact was from the rear. Today's modern cars are engineered to lessen injuries at the expense of the car. The crush zones in the front end of cars are meant to absorb the energy of the impact. Seems like BMW has engineered the MINI very well in that respect.

The latest crash test results done on the MINI rated them very high in front end impact. Side impacts also were rated above average. Rear impacts were rated below average. Not much BMW can do about that, given the fact that passengers in the rear seat are literally about a foot from the rear bumper.

However, given your story (and my own experience after being rear ended last October), I don't feel the rear end collision is anything to fear in our MINIs.

Good luck on the repair process. Let me know if you have any problems with the insurance aspect of it (I'm a Claim Rep).

 

Oh, FMS, I am sooooo sorry! And if it's okay with you, I am going to add your story to the "why it's ok to ride with a baby/toddler in the back of the MINI....

 

Sorry to hear this. I am glad you were okay. I have been rear ended three times in my life... People are just bad drivers.

Anyways, how many miles are on your Mini? If its quite new I would honestly work with the insurance company and try and demand the car be totaled. My father has done that before and just bought a new car. I would not want a wrecked mini like that and I am sure you are aprehensive about it.

 

Don't take this personally, k h d. It's not meant that way. I just want to point out this as typical of the majority of people and their way of "old school" thinking.

The art of auto body repair has made huge gains in the past 20 years and more specifically, in the past decade. The technology used today, in the right hands, means that your car can literally be repaired to be "as good as new" and sometimes better. Yes, you read that right and I meant it.

Also, State regulators have made insurance companies abide by strict rules when it comes to replacement parts. Recycled or reconditioned parts must be in equal or better condition than the part it's replacing. Replacement parts (non OEM) are often of higher quality than the original part.

Believe it or not, your insurance company is not out to get you ! Unless you're insured with GEICO and they allow their cavemen to work on your car.

 

fms, So sorry to hear of your misfortune! I can't imagine your thoughts as you watched this "no-brainer, not paying attention" come flying at your precious car! Boy, the "total or fix" dilema is a good one! I would tend to agree with the total crowd, but then its a JCW and if Chili Red is correct ( and I suspect he/she know what he/she is talking about) then if the repair is done well by well qualified personnel, then I'd definitely go that way. Glad you seem to be okay physically. Definitely wait a good amount of time and have more than one physician check you over. Many time fractures don't show up on x-rays and some CT even miss them. MRI is the way to go, IMHO. Hope this "lady" has good insurance. We send our best for the recovery of person and MINI!

 

I sort of know what I'm talking about !

I feel like I've said it a hundred times on this board, but then, I never know who has read it and who hasn't, but... I've been in the insurance industry for a little over 5 years. Three of those years as an Underwriting Manager and now I've just about completed my training as a Claim Rep. Part of that training was a course in Physical Damages... including a lot of information on body repairs.

Okay, that makes a hundred and 1.

Edit: By the way, I'm not saying having your car totaled isn't the right answer SOMEtimes, of course. I just don't think that it's always the best route.

 

My obvious dilemma w/ the total route is that this car simply isn't available anymore. I love it, and I fervently hope it will be its old self when the doctor is done w/ it. It has over 8K on it mileage wise. The bill is going to be between 7 and 9K, and the bulk of the damage involves the front crumple zone- haven't heard about any frame issues yet. With that estimate from the insurance company, I can't imagine I'd have any success getting a 37K car declared a total anyway, even if I wanted to try.

 

fms, avoid the total if possible. You've got an instant classic and should demand perfection on the repairs, barring there's unrepairable frame damage of course. it's not a Corolla or Civic of which hundreds of thousands are produced and carry no real value in years to come. But, 30 years from now, your JCW will be a real trophy, just as a classic Austin S or Classic JCM is today!

Here's hope to speedy recovery!

 

fms, sorry to hear about your accident.

How is your headache, hope you are doing well.

Some friendly advice if you or anyone else notices changes in your demeanor and personality please seek medical attention ASAP

Example: I was shoved by a student while teaching class, I hit a wall with my head which I don't remember...

Long story short... I had a heck of a headache several days later, my personality changed, I couldn't remember anyting...etc..

It was later determined by an MRI which the CT scan missed that I had received a traumatic brain injury very similiar to a whiplash but much more severe.

It has been almost 6 months & I am now being treated with psychological and cognitive theraphy.

Good luck with your auto, and anything else that may come your way

laters-Kelly

 

FMS, I am so sorry to hear about what happened to you.

I understand how you feel about not wanting the car totaled. If mine were smacked bad enough to be totaled, I would no longer be a mini driver. To find another 06, and "recreate it" to match mine now, would cost more then I'd get from the insurance.

 

My '02 was totaled after 3.5 years.....not my fault. The other driver's insurer gave me nearly what it cost originally and I purchased an '06 for $5K more....including LSD, HK stereo and armrest that I didn't have before. I wasn't injured seriously (my back & slight damage to the ulner nerve in my right arm), but I built a case (doctor visits, chiropractor, didn't use a lawyer who would take 40%) and settled my personal injuries for an additional $20K after seven months. I'd say it was worth having the '02 totaled. The '06 is new, most of the kinks are worked out and after nearly five years of Mini ownership I still have three years or 38K miles left on the warranty. Be careful about what you wish for.