I was rear ended a bit ago by a chevy cobalt. My R53 was in first gear and I was not moving as it was an on ramp I was giving way to the other side drivers to get on.

The impact made me jump and he must have been going 25-35 mph into my rear end.

The car died upon impact and I got out to inspect damages and talk.

anyways, weeks later, the body shop made her looks brand new... but now I have an issue and I need ideas..

after the accident, the car was still driveable so I drove her home on the highway for 9 miles. I noticed when in 5/6th gear and I am over 50 mph and accelerate.. the steering wheel and car shakes/vibrates... but as SOON as I take my foot off the gas or put the clutch in.. zero shake. smooth as can be even at 75 MPH..... so I am thinking it's not tires balance/alignment if the problem goes away when I take my foot off the gas or put the car in neutral.

What the heck could it be? I want to make SURE the other guys insurance fixes this and does not fight me on it saying that it was not accident related.

The body shop says if I can't make a good case for it being from the accident then I will not get it fixed and have to live with it.... :(

2003 Mini cooper S 128,000 miles stock everything

Was hit in the rear bumper while in first gear stopped. clutch was halfway out so as to not slide back on the upward sloped on ramp of the highway.

 

Is there exhaust system damage? When I had my '06 R50, it was rear ended. The impact pushed the muffler slightly forward and tweaked the system. The car was able to be driven, but it was sluggish and didn't sound right. Once the exhaust system was replaced, it was as good as new.

 

Check your motor and tranny mounts. When it was hit in the rear the exhaust could of pushed the engine hard and split the rubber mounts.

 

bring it to a MINI Dealer and say the body shop fixed the body and now you need the mecahnicals looked over. then bill the other guys insurance. dont skimp on things like this. dont diagnose yourself. have a professional do it. they deal with stuff like this all the time.

 

My exhaust actually was cracked from the impact of the hit and they replaced it all but it still shakes when acceling at higher speeds.

My thoughts are a cracked/broken tranny/motor mount from the collision.

I will insist they take it to a mini dealer for diagnosing. It makes 100% sense that the impact could have cracked a mount.

The only thing I am worried about is that if I take it to a mini dealer and they diagnose it, the insurance can still rule out it wasn't caused by the hit and then makes me eat the $150 mini inspection/diagnosis fee. Screw that.
But I will take the chance.

thanks everyone.