What a great way to start my day. Let me give you the setting, Tuesday Jan. 18, 2005. My MCS is parked on 87th between Central Park West and Columbus Ave. in Manhattan.

BOOM!!!
The loudest BOOM you have ever heard! Its 4:50 AM, what is going on here, was it a dream? A deep loud heart shaking BOOM that set off every car alarm within a 2 block radius. Within 5 minutes there were 4 fire trucks on my street with sirens screaming. I could see everyone looking out their windows and watching what was going on. I noticed that all the action was just about where I had parked my car last night. All I could see where fire trucks. After I saw several people close their curtains and head back to bed I figured the action must be over. The trucks and firemen finally left around 6 AM, just as I was going downstairs to leave for work. As I am walking toward my car I see the sidewalk has been "crime scene" taped off and there is smoke spewing from the ground. Then I noticed that my car had been moved out into the street. What is going on here??? Some guy is yelling "Is that your car??" I went over to him to get the story. He then proceeded to tell me that I had parked directly over the top of a man hole that exploded and the cover was blown into the bottom of my car. Let me remind you that I drive a Mini Cooper which I had just purchased December 9th. I am sure it was lifted off of the ground by the explosion. This man worked for Con Ed and gave me a number to their law dept. He said that they would take care of all the damages. We'll see about that!
Just about this time another guy, from a second story apartment, waved me over. He said after he heard the BOOM, he looked outside his window and saw my car engulfed in FLAMES, which were shooting 2-3 feet over the top, for approx. 2 minutes. He thought that my car had blown up!

After noticing the puddle of some strange mix of fluids, where my car was previously parked when it was violated by that man hole cover, I decided against moving it and causing any further damage that Con Ed could blame on me. Oh, and I will also add that the windshield is cracked, most of the trim is now falling off or was blown off, and it wreaks so bad of gas inside the car you would need a gas mask to drive it again.

I had the car taken to Mini of Manhattan to have it checked out. Supposedly they went over it with a fine tooth comb and only found minor damages. Stuff like all of the trim and under moldings had been burnt or singed, the gas tank and rocker panels bent, the exhaust smashed, one xenon headlight busted, windshield cracked.

I said "Come on, Thats it?" The service tech said that the Mini is a really tough little car. So I have been in a friggin' ford focus rental since and will hopefully getting my cooper back this Friday.
How does this happen to me? 8 million parking spaces in Manhattan and I happen to be the lucky guy to get this one. If this had happened 1 hour later I would have been getting into the car when it exploded.

I love this place!! (I just moved to NYC Jan 5th from Texas)

 

Wow .. sorry to hear about that. I hear about manhole explosions in Manhattan, but it sucks it had to happen to you. Keep us posted on how they will fix this and how Con Ed pulls through on the damages.

Any pics?

 

Yup, I was gonna attach a couple of pics and forgot. Thanks for the reminder. Also, the total damages were $3,570. That is with labor charges. So far Con Ed has kept their word and a check is supposed to be in the mail.

 

wow!............aleast you didn't get hurt..........hope your car is ok too

motor on

from down here in texas

ant

 

Sorry about the MINI.


Sounds like my luck!!!! If it's gonna happen it will happen to me!!!!!

 

Surprised someone from police or fire rescue wouldn't at least come to notify you that hey, your car about blew up and now its out in the street.


Hope it all works out for you.

 

Wow! I wasn't expecting THIS kind of story when I was reading the thread! Oh my - I can't even imagine the sick feeling you must have had when you discovered what had happened....

I surely hope your car is back to perfect soon...:smile: Sorry to hear about this...

Donna
02' CR/W MCS & 05' Cool Blue MCSC

 

After last night's curry, if my '03 S endures an explosion, it will likely be from the inside of the car.

 

I'm really sorry to hear about this, I hope all turn out ok. But if i were you I would make sure you get a reputable body shop and have them take a look at it jsut to be sure. HAVE IT TOWED FROM THE DEALER TO THE SHOP!! If Conedision is payin for it. If you drive away with the dealers ok i think you may have a long time before anything is fixed, if another porblem should arise. If the car was lifted and move by shear force underneath, chances are the suspesion may be whacked, and you could a have a bent rim or 2. I would make sure every thing is perfect before you take it back fully.

Hope all is well
Mike

 

talk about a wicked wake up.

 

Except if he's already contacted ConEd with an estimate going back with a new estimate could be trouble.

 

Ouch. There is no way I would ever want to drive that car again. Even if the major stuff was fixed up, I'm sure it's going to be rattle-city from here on out . Who knows what kind of damage could be lurking in the panels, wire connections, etc.

 

What a story.

I would take a lot of photos and sell them to BMW for their ad.

And, talk about a STRESS crack on the windshield

Earl

 

WOW!!!

 

This is very true which is why i would say tow it not drive it. Chances are its going through Con's insurance. If its taken to a body shop they should be able to get a supplement for any additional work that may need to be done.

Motor ON!
Mike

 

Yikes!!
Although I must say, if your car was engulfed in flames, all the plastic trim on the edges would surely be melted.
I would be very worried that the impact from the heavy man hole cover into the bottom didn't bend the unibody and may need some expensive pulling work, that is if your car ever drives straight again.

Or maybe coned will learn from this and use MINIs instead of manhole covers as they obviously contain explosions very well!


Is that road salt or dust from the explosion...your MINI is cleaner than mine!

 

LMAO!

That is one of the funniest MINI stories I've ever heard.

Man, that is messed up. Insurance company should give you a new car or something because yours is brand new and has been "violated". Although, I'd have a lot more respect for your MINI because of what it's been through, even more reason to not let it go.

 

Holy crap, that really sucks! I won't be parking my MINI in NYC anytime soon after hearing this one.

 

Terrible shame. I hope you get it back as good as new. It's a double shame that it was a Dark Silver MINI too.

 

What about the tires? Did they hold up to the car being surrounded in flames? If there's any visible damage to them at all, I'd think you would have a new set coming to you. And what about various fluids in the car being heated up (even temporarily), what effect might that have on things? Seems like there would be a lot more to this story than what your dealer is able to see by visually going over the car. Flames shooting up around the car for a couple of minutes could reallly screw up all kinds of things. Wiring, airbag sensors, I don't even know what else. I'd get a second opinion from a second dealer if at all possible. ConEdison should be more than happy to pay for another tow and another inspection; they're just lucky that this didn't kill or maim someone and get their name plastered all over the news (again )! Good luck!

 

Wow. Nobody was hurt! That is the niftiest MINI story yet. Please save it for future streams. And thanks for posting photos. I hope you have taken more for insurance purposes. I too would recommend having it towed to another dealer for a second opinion. After what that car went through (especially with heat and fluids) I would want the entire car thoroughly examined.

Even though you moved recently from Texas I bet you enjoy Manhattan. You describe an interesting neighborhood to live in and if you can see your car from your apartment then you have one of the nicer views. And if you live in Manhattan and DRIVE to work you must have major status.

Seriously, even though your car now has an interesting history it would be worth having another opinion or else paying the same dealer to examine it thoroughly. You don't want to find something 6 months from now.

Best wishes.

 

Thanks so much for all the input and replies. And Yes, I did get another body shop involved. I first had it sent to an authorized BMW body shop which gave me an estimate and then the dealer body shop. They both had almost the exact same figure, just a couple of dollars different.

I totally agree with everyone. I really love this car but don't want it back. I contacted two different attorneys and neither one wanted to fight for me to get a new car. They said Con Ed was only responsible for what they damaged. If it is totaled then new car, but if not then just the damages. They said it is no different than you sitting at a red light and someone plowing into the back of you.....just tough luck.

So, when I made the agreement with Con Ed's law dept. they gave me a claim number to report any other issues that may happen in the months to come. I wanna say for the next 9-12 months if anything goes wrong they will pay for it. It is just a really crappy situation, I mean I didn't buy a wrecked car and don't think I should be stuck with one.

I still can't believe how well the car help up considering what has happened. If there was ever a doubt on how tuff these suckers really are, well I think they have passed with flying colors.

Thanks again for all the replies and comments...keep them coming and I will let you guys updated on the status.

Dustin

 

What a horror story! So sorry! Look forward to hearing the update. I completly think you deserve a new car. Keep us posted.

 

If someone plows into your 1 month old car, and cause significant damage, yet less than write-off value, you should still be able to get it written off because of the fact it's new. I've seen it happen (and not happen) before. Has something to do with the fact that your car is less than x months old, and it's value after repair is way less than it's worth. Bah, insurance companies blow, just like the tax man.

 

Welcome to NY.