After 18 years and over 500,000 total miles of driving at night, I hit Bambi last night. It was raining and on a dark stretch of Rt. 18 in central New Jersey. All I saw was the head and shoulders before the collision. There was no time to even get my foot off the gas.
I was not hurt, Bambi is dead and I was able to drive 20 miles home.

The left headlight is crunched, fender and hood damaged, mirror decorative cap is gone and the door is wrinkled and opens just enough for me to get in + out

Initial pictures can be found on my gallery. I'll post better ones after the rain stops.

 

:( sucks... not looking forward to the day it happens to me. Glad your alright!

 

Ouch! I'm happy to hear that you are alright, many people hit deer here with their cars on the WI roads, and a lot of them end up in the hospital or the morgue. Your MINI did its job, protecting you! Long live the MINI!

 

I bounced a deer off the front of my Honda Element. Poor thing died, and I was horrified!

I was always glad I was in the Element since the hood is so high and the front so flat, the deer literally took a flat hit. Had only front end damage about the same as yours but no door issues.

Scariest thing ever and huge reason I won't drive without fog lamps since they light up the side of the road. All sorts of things to hit around here, coyotes and deer at night and turkeys during the day!

Glad to hear you are well and that you MINI was at least drivable! And I keep thinking my odds of hitting another deer must be in my favor!

 

I'm sorry to hear this! I felt your pain man. I myself also had many close calls. But fortunately all misses~

The good thing is you are not hurt. But the poor clubman will be in the shop for a few days!

 

It is with regret that I now pass on to you the deer smacker badge. Welcome to the club.

 

I hate it for ya. I hammered the brakes to miss the second of two up in eastern WV yesterday. I could reach my luggage real easy after that...

 

Yay to Mini for being able to drive it home. I was behind an SUV (Explorer or something similar) that hit a deer, they had to be towed.

My other car is an Element, so I guess I'm ready for deer season!

 

Too funny! I would love one of those! But don't want to hit another deer to earn it.

 

I also like the badge. Maybe I could come up with a badge for each hit (I'm down two deer and a cow).

 

I also tapped a deer a few miles North of Charleston, WV. Two sauntered out onto I-77S while I was in the #1 lane. I had time to downshift and brake hard, smacked it hard with the left front, and it took off. When I arrived in Charleston I was pleasantly surprised to find no damage, not even a deer hair on the Clubman.

That was my 3rd deer vs. vehicle incident.

 

so much for my "I've hit one I'm good!" theory!

 

Perhaps the fighter pilot score-keeping method is the way to deal with this:

 

Here's a post-deer photo of mine

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post2790211

 

Ouch. I was admiring the custom mirror cap on the blue mini a few pics below yours....then realized it's probably deer blood splatter!

 

[quote=bartski;2908859]Here's a post-deer photo of mine

That looks a lot like mine. Other side, but strangely familiar. How much did your repair cost? I have an appointment for estimate on Monday.

 

fwiw, mine only required replacement of the hood, one headlight (non-Xenon), upper grille and some trim pieces. Luckily, my hit did not damage the front bumper, wheel arches, or anything under the hood. Still, cost estimate came in ~$2,300. They did have to go back and replace one of the hood hinges - I assume they filed with my insurance company, but I never saw any of the paperwork if they did. Luckily, the repair shop helped me on cost, and I ended up with the only out-of-pocket being the cost of the new vinyl stripes I put on it and some gas for a couple trips to the shop.

 

Mine was about 6 grand. All of the bodywork forward of the A-panels had to be replaced... the radiator, it's housing, and the AC Condenser were broken also. My cost was 440 (deductible 500 - 60 stripe install). They asked me who did the roof wrap... when I told them I installed it they gave me the option of doing the stripes myself and saving 60.00.

 

I had a chance to take some good pictures today. They are in my gallery. I have an appointment for a repair estimate on Monday. I'm sure they will declare the car not drivable.

 

My 05 R53 had about the same damage, but my door was clean, just over $2300.00. I think there are pics in my gallery. NO sympathy for bambi, run AWAY from the lights and the high pitch whine, I thought a deer might be a little smarter than a BUG!

 

All things considered, I guess I am very lucky.

The headlight was the only glass (?) broken, the air bags didn't go off and I was able to drive the Ghost 20 miles home.
The tire does rub against the wheel well liner, but there was no problem steering and the car still tracks straightly.
Now I get to drive either the wife's 325 (provided I "don't hit another deer".), or our Envoy (at 18 to 20 mpg, that one hurts at the pump) until my 'baby' is fixed.

 

Sadness. I hit THUMPER with my GP a few months ago. He ran out in front of me and I had no choice. I felt soooo bad. I feel your pain. Glad you weren't hurt and that your baby can be fixed.

 

I dropped off the Ghost at the body shop this past morning. The estimate came in at about $6800. It will take 2 to 3 weeks before I get it back.

 

All is right in the world, once again. I got the 'Ghost' back last Monday.
It took almost four full weeks to complete the repairs. Most of that was due to part procurement time.
Now he looks better than before. (no more bug guts and stone dings)

Grand total for the repairs came out to $7.043. The HID headlights cost almost $1300, with controller.

 

Gratz on getting Ghost back. I am sure Ghost missed hitting the pavement (but not bambi ) I hope your insurance coverd most of the cost. Big ouch if not.