Well, Memorial Day weekend was sure memorable.... crusing down 57 when a trucker cut in .... I quickly slowed down, when all of a sudden he kicks up a truck mudflap!!!! Fortunately the thing was heavy enough that it didn't get enough air to hit my windscreen, but the MINI took it like a trooper and thump-ity thumped over the trash. grrrrrr Pulled up along side the dweeb to shake my fist at him, and he was gabbing on his phone!!!
This morning, we went out into the daylight to survey the damage....
guess I be calling my insurance company and Knauz.....
Hope your weekend was not quite so memorable...

 

A sheet of plywood standing vertical when I drove through it is how Fassbinder got his "aero" nose. hood repainted and a windshield with "A"pillar trims

 

ouch. reminds me of when a license plate kicked up into my car
long time ago and made a 8" gash and dent on the fender only a week
after purchase.

come to think of it, my current daily driver got keyed, and the other one
got backed into by a UPS truck while parked. so, schit happens.

i would make this incident a positive and get a aero bumper.

 

Glad you're taking it really well. Almost anything a truck runs over can get airborn which is really scary. Good thing it was only the lower grille/bumper. Good thing you're ok as well

As Ken said... aero bumper

 

Not too long ago I was next to a truck that flung a large muffler with a few feet of tailpipe directly at my car. I ducked as I saw the stuff heading right at my windshield. It whizzed over just inches from the open sunroof and landed behind me where others started dodging it. I felt the 'pressure wave' as the thing zoomed over the opening. :impatient

A split second difference in timing would have had a much nastier outcome.

 

Hope you got that guy's tag number. Your insurance company can track him down and if his logs place him on that road yesterday, BINGO, he pays... at fault accident on his part and his insurance rates go up.

Can you tell I dislike trucks and their careless ways on the road ? Flying debris, driving like they own the roads...

Disclaimer: I know trucks are important to commerce and I know most truck drivers are courteous and cafeful. But way too many are not so you can save the speech. I personally witness far too many truck drivers that don't give a crap about the other guy on the road.

 

Thanks for the moral support!
There is solace and a "WOW! Was that close! Gotta tell someone else.." in sharing/hearing your war stories too.... Glad everyone made it!!

I'm not sure if I'm into putting the aero bumper on, as won't it lower my already just-skirting-the-parking-median clearance? And don't want to look like a snow plow.... unless you have something better you've seen that fits a cooper '05

Anyone add the aluminum skid plate? My factory shield took a hit. (see photo) Besides the power steering cooling fan, should I be concerned about anything else? Visually all looks OK... and no funny engine/driving noises...

 

I've got a skid plate, but they didn't have aluminum when I put mine on..
I think it is good for my icy alley in the winters, but it makes servicing the car more difficult

I also have the original plastic "shield", you are welcome to it (if the 02 part fits your 05)

 

if the car in front of you kicked up the debris, then it would be covered
under comprehensive, right?

 

Yes, if it was something laying on the road and kicked up by the veh in front of you, it's a comp loss.

If the object that struck you came off the veh in front of you, it's a collision loss and the veh in front of you is negligent. The problem comes when trying to prove it came off that vehicle. 90% of the time, we end up paying these losses out of Uninsured Motorist coverage.

 

^^Thanks for the info

 

oohhhh... that doesn't look good. Looks like that flap really got ya .

Steve can tell you about his skid plate... the aluminum one shouldn't weigh as much.

 

Sorry, Puddle Jumper

Another bruised MINI makes me sad in the pants

BUT - you're ok, and that's what's really important I second the aero bumper, it rocks.

Damn road gators...they are everywhere. I'm not sure why, in my many years of SUV driving, that I never noticed all the debris on the roadways. Perhaps because I was "up so high" in the SUV...or perhaps I care so much more now that I have my MINI. Probably the latter.

 

...last Saturday, I found myself in an unenviable position. On I90W with a dump truck that just switch lanes in front of me..CRAPPPP!!! I was boxed in with no where to escape, and we all know that these dump trucks are never fully empty, and that damn door flap is never completely closed. So I wait for the inevitable, we hit some bumps and here comes a spray of gravel coming loose. I finally got a chance to switch lanes, but not after a good amount of gravel spray. When I got a chance to check for damage, I was happily surprised that there were no major dents or scratches. Glad I have hat 3M Clear Bra on the front end. Just saved myself from a major paint job. Last time that happened in my old car, it wrecked my windsheild. So, I'm even happier that I avoided more serious damage.

Also, in my rage, I reported the truck to IDOT. Rainbow Concrete Company, watch out!!! You have been tagged!!!

 

Becky - I've heard good and bad things about the aluminum heat shield. Mostly bolts rusting.... I'd probably not bother with it.