On the way home after work on Friday night I was rear ended by a Durham NC, County Sheriff (it was his fault). I’m OK, but my “UBERMINI”, a March 2003 S, is in the junkyard. I loved that little mini and don’t really want a new one, so I have some questions that you folks out there might be able to help me with:

1) Cash out vs. Repair – what’s your experience?
On my car the boot hatch, rear bumper, trunk floor, battery, battery box, exhaust, and both rear quarter panels, are involved. However, the door to quarter panel appearance gaps are still straight on both sides. I can’t remember if the boot hinge to roof interface is still straight. I think the rear wheels are still straight, but might not be. For those of you that are unfortunate enough to have had a similar experience, did you get cashed out or repaired?


2) Assuming a repair….Dealer (Flow Mini in Winston Salem) vs. private shop.
Does anybody have experience with Flow Mini’s body shop, good or bad… ??
Is there anything inherent in the mini that would make a dealer intrinsically better than a good quality private shop?


3)Any experience with aftermarket parts replacement at the body shop???
The UBERMINI had millitek cat back exhaust, boot stripes, aftermarket tail light lenses (all three), window tinting, underbody neon, and side stripes that need to be put back to the “before the incident” condition. What’s been your experience in getting the shop to put these back on, and the responsible party to pay for it?


4) Lastly, if I get cashed out what to do…..???
Like I said I really loved that 03. My dad has a 05 S that is just different enough to be annoying, the tranny seems different, the suspension seems different (softer), mini screwed around with the interior gauges, clock, storage, etc. I just don’t like the newer mini. I feel that I’d always be “missing my old love while going out with her younger sister” if I got a new mini… Does anybody have recent experience with the Honda S2000 or Nissan 350Z? What’s you opinion of those compared to the mini?


Thanks for the help.

 

Sorry to hear about this. But might I ask what the Officer was doing??¿¿ How about getting a used 03 MCS?? Or you ready for a change?

 

We were in a stop and go construction zone, we got to go, but then the car 3 cars up wanted to turn left, so we stopped again.... well I stopped again.
He stopped after he lauched the little mini another 40 or 50 feet down the road. It messed up his 2005 Crown Vic pretty badly too!

 

Ah I see. Once again sorry about the accident. Hope you get things worked out!

 

Sorry to hear about the accident, that really sucks

As for getting the car repaired, be aware that with significant body damage the frame may be bent or twisted. Even with repairs it will most likely never drive the same. Plus you will get a "salvaged" pink slip which could mean resale or insurance issues later.

I would lean toward finding a nice used 03 to take its place.

Good luck

 

oh sorry, in answer to your question....
Another 03 is a thought, I'd have to find another one with "everything" except NAV though. That is why I was thinking about just giving up and going to something different enough that I wouldn't be making so many comparisons.

 

Hey, it's the county's insurance. get YOUR MINI fixed up really nice, using the BEST body shop in the state!
Most insurance companies won't total a newr MINI anyway, due to the high resale value.

 

if you realy like the mini, get another one, what has changed between 03 and 05 is positive anyways, if you don't like the suspension get a stiffer set of springs or a coilover kit. I think you already made up your mind on a different car, try the new GTI, a good alternative. Sorry about the accident and hope everything works out smooth.

 

I test drove the Nissan 350Z not too long ago. I'm a long time Nissan fan, but felt it had no character, just kind of blah. Which may explain why the dealer could find me exactly what I wanted almost immediately, no one else is buying either. Go test drive an '06 MCS, just to be sure.
Annette

 

i have some thoughts...

1. will the insurance cover non factory items (neon, cat back, ...). there is potentially a fair amout of money that you wont recover, even from the counties insurance (which probably wont pay very fast).

2. my experience has been that no matter how good the body shop, a repaired vehicle will have a lot more issues than pre accident (squeeks, rattles, vibrations, strange breakage). Are you really willing to take on that experience?

3. branded titles suck, thats why i still have my blazer, cant trade it in on a new vehicle, they just wont give you much for it. Not a bad thing if you sell privatly, or if you never sell, but something to think about.

4. used - how well did someone else treat that Mini you want to buy??

5. new- you may eventualy get used to the differences. or (as blasphemous as it might sound to some) there are no laws that say you cant get something else.

glad your alright, sorry for your loss.

 

BLASPHEMY!!!!

i had to...
... but I suppose it could be an option.

anyway - to the original poster -

i'm terribly sorry about what happened, but glad you are alright.

my suggestion would be to go new... a new MINI that is, (unlike Mr. Blaphemy over there)... it's always tough to get over your first love, but you never know, maybe her little sister could love you in ways you never could imagine before. you'll just have to be patient as you get used to a different style of love.

(why is this starting to sound like Dr. Phil?)

 

If you go for a newer model, its a mixed blessing. I went from an '03 to an '05. I had the '03 transmission broken-in to the point that it was still precise, but smooth as butter. All the 'notchiness' was gone. The '05 has yet to get to that point, although its getting better.

I also miss the handling of the '03. The '05 is softer and just seems to lean more in the corners. I've heard that the JCW suspension is like the original '03 sport suspension. So you might want to spring for that if you get a newer model.

But there is good news on the newer models. The shorter gearing, and the additional few horses, give the car a lot more acceleration than previously. After living with the previous gearing, it took some getting used to, but now that I have, I like the new ratios a lot.

Compare low milage '03s to an '06 with JCW suspension. See what kind of settlement you get from the insurance, and then decide.

 

dang that sucks.

glad to hear you're physically ok though.

 

My condolances I hope you get another Mini

BTW, did the ociffer write himself a ticket

 

nope he didn't get a citation, he kept walking around and saying damn.... damn..... I suspect that he got much worse than a ticket.... after his Lieutenant showed up and wrote up the incident

 

You might be surprised on the repair they can do amazing things these days. Frame machines are no longer some guy with a couple of tow straps and an F350 with a tree in his yard.

This is a good thing since you aren't the one who makes the decision on whether the car is totalled or not. That's up to the adjuster.

Option 1
They total it. If the cost of the repair exceeds X% of the value of the car they right you a check and keep the car. If the car is totaled you can ask about a buy back option—this is what will label your title as salvaged. They do this to stop people from buying back totalled cars and parking them in flood plains during hurricanes.

But you pay a certain percentage which is suppose to equal the salvage value of the car.

Option 2
If they opt for repair, your title stays clean. They fix the car. You drive it. With this option, you could try to negotiate a diminished value claim, but I think it's a longshot. Search on NAM since it seems like it's come up recently.

Also with Option 2, you could cash the repair check and part your car out. But I've never had the patience for that sort of deal.

Regarding your aftermarket equipment, make copies of your receipts for all the aftermarket goodies you have installed. Make sure you have that handy when it comes time to negotiate your settlement.

The fact that the Sheriff tagged a modified car is their problem. Not yours.

Good luck.

Disclaimer: I'm not an insurance agent or lawyer. I'm actually liked by a couple of people. So take this along with all advice offered on the internet with a grain of salt. You should be able to talk to your insurance agent and get some advice.

 

Personally, after taking a hit like that, I'd hope for the total from the insurance company, and I'd buy an '06. The new gearbox on the S is just amazing... worth upgrading for anyhow. My vote, enjoy the process of getting a new Mini.. have you forgotten the excitement of tracking the build?.. watching the ship move across the pond... knowing it was ready for delivery soon! Good times, good times...

 

Find another MINI... I replaced my 05 lemon with a 350z and hated it about an hour after I left the shop! Youll miss all the nice things about your MINI.... and the S2K is okay, but is SO small... compared to a MINI...

Good luck!

 

Sorry to hear about your accident....

I know you are getting a lot of good info here, but as to your initial question about taking the MINI to the dealer for repairs...

I don't think any dealers do bodywork, you might call Flow for a recommendation on who they use but body work is not typically done in dealerships of any stripe...

 

You should get your neck checked out too. Those painful problems sometimes don't manifest themselves for days.

 

Wow! Lots of experts here (not!).
First, it doesn't sound like your MINI is totalled. So get rid of any and all notions of a branded title. Doesn't happen.
Second, if not a total, you have 2 options: get it fixed, or keep the cash and sell the remains. Option 1 allows you to get all of the goodies paid for (3rd party insurer owes for everything, not like your own policy which may limit aftermarket add-ons).
The initial estimate is likely to miss a lot of things, so if you take option 2, you will have a hard time getting paid for the extras. You have to prove the damage and that isn't going to happen if you don't get it repaired.
As was stated above, modern repair techniques are quite advanced, so please disregard those who would tell you that "it will never be the same again". I have personally been involved in the repair of thousands of collision damaged vehicles, and the most important thing for you to know is that no legit shop is going to let a car out of their door unless it is absolutely right. Too much liability if they do otherwise.
So, in sum, the best course of action is to get your MINI repaired in full, negotiate your loss of value, and then if you find you can't live with it, sell a completely intact vehicle and move on.
ps: I'm really surprised that, given the damage, you aren't experiencing neck pain. <<major hint alert!>>
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Oh, yeah, make sure the repair shop checks for seat and seat mount damage.

 

A friend's '03 MC was rear-ended at the end of '03 by a drunk driver. There was extensive damage to the hatch and right rear, including pushing the wheel up into the fender.

The car was repaired to the tune of around $9K and he had the work done at a shop he chose (they did good work, but they were slooooow). We adjusted some loosely installed trim, but otherwise it was difficult to find any evidence of the repair after jacking up the car and removing the rear wheel.

He eventually traded the car in anyway to get an '05 MCS. Oddly enough, he was bored and ran the VIN through CarFax and the accident didn't show up - more than a year later.

 

It would have to be one hell of a hit for the car to be totalled. Is it driveable? If so, I seriously doubt it's $10K+ in damage (it would take at least $10K for them to total that car). My 04 was rear ended and yeah, it looked like crap but $2000 worth of repairs at the best shop in town and you could never tell a thing happened to that car.

Since you're not paying for it, find the best place around and get it done. It will be fine.

And yes, it sucks. My 04 was hit twice... I know it hurts... but the car will be repaired and if you don't trust it, sell it.

 

Thanks for the help.... actually the seat did "recline" about halfway during the impact. I thought it was broken, but I got it to go back to normal position while I was waiting around the junkyard. But it's good advice. I'll have the shop check it. My neck was a bit sore, but's its better now.
I'll have a Doc check it too.

Also, the car would have moved under it's own power but the battery was busted and leaking acid all over the street and tow truck, and the exhaust was dragging.
Fortunately, when the cop launched me, I was facing toward the oncoming traffic so I didn't hit the car in front of me (i.e. no damage anywhere but in the back)

 

Buy it back and set up a racer !

Tell me what the buy back amount is.