Well, I got hit the other night -- my first serious whack in nearly 30 years behind the wheel -- and wouldn't you know it, my nearly-new MINI (7 months, 6500 miles) took the shot.

The bad news is, the cost of fixing the car is stunning (to me and State Farm, although they're being good sports about it as it's my first claim since 1981).

The good news is, the little bugger can really take a punch. Amazing body strength and resilience.

Freaky accident. Driving along a divided arterial at 40+ mph in early evening, a loose truck tire (!) from an unknowing and unknown tire donor came hurtling down the center of the road. It narrowly avoided a Golf about 150 yards ahead, bounced high and came down in the center of an Accord's hood about 75 yards in front of me, then bounced over the Accord and landed square on the MINI's right-side headlight. Then it rolled off into the darkness and I lost track of it.

The impact made a terrific WHAM!, but the car's track and rate of travel were so unperturbed I initially thought maybe I'd heard something happen to the car next to me. Then I saw the Accord pull over so I followed to see if they were OK. That's when I discovered the damage: Xenon stove in and shattered, hood and right fender crumpled, right-side A-pillar cracked, etc. But no airbags deployed and the runflat indicator didn't even come on. Miraculously the windshield was fine.

The Accord was undriveable: crushed radiator, hood mashed down hard, etc. The MINI was perfectly good to go, though. No change in road manner, fresh rattles or whistles, or anything. Apparently, nothing mechanically wrong with the car; the right-side marker light was hanging from the socket by its wires, but it still worked fine. And I am here to tell you, that was a big tire and it hit me with plenty of momentum. If I'd been driving my old '91 Civic, the car would definitely have been toast, and maybe me too.

I drove the MINI down to the body shop and the initial bodywork estimate was for $3900, and that was before they ran a full mechanical/frame-integrity check. Jeepers. The cost of one new Xenon alone is well over $700.00. I had guessed around two bills, and I was pretty shocked.

But the car is solid as Sears and delivers like Domino's. I spent the night of the accident cursing my choice of route and the $#^*!@# driver who blew his tire at me; the next morning thanking my lucky stars I was in my MINI and not a Honda and I got hit where I did and not square in the windshield.

I hate being MINI-less for three weeks, but I'm more impressed than ever with the car.

 

Wow, glad you're okay! A great testament to the safety of this little guy! Crazy story though!

And how about that windshield??

haf :smile:

 

BearX220,
Sorry to hear about your mishap.
Good to hear that you did OK.

 

Bear-- Thanks for the story... glad you are OK.

God speed.

 

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, but at the same time glad to hear it was only the car that was damaged, a life is irreplaceable. Let the water sprites and wood nymphs in the body shop do their magic and I'm sure your car will be as good as new. It's reassuring to know that a crack team of engineers put in overtime on the MINI's safety features, your testamonial is proof of their competance. MINIs are something magical and something properly engineered to boot.

 

I'm glad you are okay.

I had an incident one time with a tire. It was back when I had my 87 CRX Si and I was driving over a viaduct. A school bus was ahead of me about 100 yds and was driving the same way as me but in the other lane. One of its rear right tires flew off and started rolling towards my car. I quickly punched it so that I could beat it out (Instinct to drive faster I guess). The tire hit my back bumper and flipped me around, then it proceeded to hit the embankment and fly down to the train tracks below. If I didn't speed up in the split second I dont think my car or me would have survived. Crazy as your story yet true.

Have a happy new year

B

 

Glad to see that you are OK and your MINI is repairable. Two weeks after taking ownership my neighbor backed into my MINI and creased the quarter panel. I then recently had a run in with a deer. It was really surreal - driving to work one morning pitch black - I noticed something out of my right field of vision - and a second later the thing bounced off my windshield taking out the whole right side of the car. As solid as the car is I did not really feel much when the collision occured. Bodyman actually reported being amazed at how cheap the body parts were (nonXenon headlights).. Hopefully I will have my car back shortly. They say things happen in 3s - lets hope they are wrong.

 

>> solid as Sears and delivers like Domino's.

...never heard that!!!!

Its scary the "stuff" I've seen fly off trucks!!! Glad you're okay and glad your MINI took it on the chin so well. Trucks (...and SUVs) still creep me out, though!!

 

Pics?

 

Sorry to hear about your accident. Glad your OK. Good thing it wasn't higher and to the left.

Earl

 

Glad u r OK :smile:
The car is replaceable .... !!!

Glad to hear how well the car stands up to ... unfortunate incidents.

Peace,
D

 

Glad to hear you're okay. People die from flying tires into winshields, etc.
There was a cherokee with a mom and a baby that got mashed by a SUV
tire that fell off on 91 (Artesia) freeway in LA several years ago and it was
bad...the mom died instantly. It looked like a pallet of beans fell on the
car. I saw picts of the aftermath.... wheew...

Hope you can get your car fixed asap.

 

Thanks, all, for the kind words and expressions of concern. Yes, I realize it could've been much worse! The MINI is getting good care from the dealer-referred body shop in Seattle -- the place also works on a lot of BMWs so they know what they're doing. I will try and get some of the .jpgs they shot of the front-right-quarter damage and post them here. Thanks again.