On the freeway, at speed, and needless to say I lost. Put a nice little dent in the lower air damn (i guess that's what it is), tweaked the the lower grill. Thankfully it just damaged plastic parts, nothing painted. I managed to knock out the dent, no biggy since its all plastic but it broke the fastners that keep it adhered to the car correctly.

I'm mad at myself for not getting out of the way in time. Not sure if I could though. Figures since I was just thinking to myself how nice its been going around 6 months with no dents and scratches. Anyways, anyone have any idea on how much that part runs?

 

You're lucky it didn't damage or bend your air conditioner or radiator condensors. There was a post on here yesterday, from I girl (who I met Saturday at Steve's Auto Clinic) that the same thing happened to. Her's was worse, because it bent the condensors - I think it was around 1500 -1600 dollars. Yours shouldn't be that bad. Check with Steve's Auto Clinic (assuming your in the LA area). Good luck!

Oh - here it is:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...tire+tread+hit

 

My mini was just a few weeks old when i hit a peeled recap at about 65 mph late at night with no time to react. At first I thought it was minor, until I gave the car a good once -over.
Trashed my AC condensor, lower air screen,cracked a plastic wheel well, lower fog light and then I looked under the car. Broke alot of plastic clips that hold things like fuel lines and a few other plastic gizmos. And then I was completly shocked when I discovered a bent wishbone on the rear wheel.
Ran me about 1800 clams when all said and done, just by a piece of rubber tire. Worse part was being without my poor minicar while she spent 2 weeks waiting for parts at the body shop.

 

Sorry to hear about your misfortune - whew!! You are lucky there wasn't more damage...(my hubby had to dodge a DOOR in the left lane of 78 a few weeks ago)... I can't help you with parts prices...just wanted to offer moral support...:smile:

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"
05' HB/W MCS

 

She's in the shop at Irvine MINI now to get assesed to make my guesses about the AC condenser and radiator are correct. Also had a slight issue with the OBC (avg. speed lost the front digit-I think) that they're taking care of.

Gave Steve a call, at Steve's Auto Clinic in the valley. He quoted me the cost of getting the lower spoiler and plastic grate replaced, which is more than within my budget. Hopefully I'm right and the only problems are with the plastic parts.

Thanks for the support and sorry about the horror stories.

 

Lucky,,, my son had a tire carcus fly up and hit the front of his Nissan Pickup,,took out the grill, hood, left fender, bumber. 2500.00 in damage. after it bounced off of him, it went through the windshield of the car behind him.... ( no one was injured.). I was proud of him, he was 16 at the time, he didnt panic, or loose control. He safely pulled of the side of highway and stopped.

 

Before I had Winston, I had an 'alligator' fly up off the highway from the car in front of me and bash off my driver-side mirror!! One minute everything was fine - and the next - BAMM nuthin' but wires flappin' in the breeze!

Sorry to her about your damage - I feel your pain.

- - m

 

Looks like I got lucky. Its only going to be a new front spoiler and a new mesh grill. Irvine BMW wanted slightly to much to mend the parts so I'm going to head on down to Steve's Auto Clinic and have him take care of it for me.

Thanks for the support. Boy, am I lucky.

 

sorry to hear about your mishap. The same thing happened to me a few months ago as well. I never thought it could do serious damage, maybe i should look at it again, albeit it only bent the lower air dam, which i bent back and reattached into its brackets. I'm still angry i didnt try to get out of the way. Best of luck with the repairs

 

Hey Soul Coughing - You live in Bernardsville? I live in Califon, just over the hill from you!

- - m

 

So I'm flying SB down I-55 south of Sikeston, MO doing about 80, third in line behind some 80's to 90's American sleds. First car makes slight move to the left, second car starts to make a bigger move left and my "Mini senses" are immediately on high alert and there it is... an entire truck tire carcass 30 ft dead ahead in the middle of the left lane. Not much time under the circumstances. I know the rt lane is clear because I always know whats in My Zone and by reflex, I crank the Mini hard right(throttle unchanged, no brake, no time) then a corrective quick left to remain on the road now in the right lane. The Mini sticks with nary a peep of complaint. The peep from the GF in the passenger seat is a different story! I did this reflexively due to confidence in my CooperS. I dont think I would have tried it in my previously traded 04 FX 35(which was a great handling SUV). A spin or the strong possibility of a rollover would have been the likely result. Bottom line... I love my Mini!