(Sorry Dave if this is posted in the wrong section. I just had no idea where to put it!)

I was driving home from work a couple of hours ago and I see a dead skunk in the middle of the road and yes, it is stinking to high heaven! So, I have to decide if I should just go over it or swerve, potentially running over it again. I decide to drive over it but by the time I get home, my car smells like skunk. I go the a "touchless" car wash to get the under carriage washed. It turns out the touchless dryer actually has wheels on it that touch the top of the car. Now my antenna is no longer attached to my car. It is broken off and does not appear that this one can be salvaged. I had a shorty antenna but it was broken at the screw and the black plastic base is broken off too.

Any ideas on what this will cost or had anyone had something similar happen? The radio still works. I took photos of the "touchless" car wash and will speak with the manager in a few hours but I do not have high hopes for a positive resolution!

 

Bad day is right, bummer guy.

 

Make sure the metal below the base isn't dented also. What a bummer. I would throw a major fit.


Good luck.

 

Most car washes have signs at their entrances instructing people to retract or remove antennas, but if this place doesn't you might have some sort of case. In the future you should always unscrew the antenna before going into an automatic car wash. Sorry to hear that this happened.

 

Awww crap! Antenna shouldn't cost too much, but that stinky smell, it's just so demoralizing... I have some neighborhood skunks round here, and we sure give them a wide berth - it's painfully, chokingly obvious when one or the other of them comes out for a stroll though . Only a matter of time til the neighborhood K9's cause a major spray-fest, I'm sure.

I hope your next car wash has a blow dryer (No touchie the car!),

Tatt

 

Well the estimate for the antenna is $425.08! Most of that is labor! Wow, be careful of touchless carwashes! I have never gone through one before but that skunk smell was on the skid plate so I kinda had not choice!!

 

weeone, do you own the Bently MINI Manual? I wonder if this is something you could replace yourself? You could buy the replacement parts at a discount from Classic MINI in Ohio...they give NAM members a discount, then DIY. Just a suggestion. :smile:


Clover

 

Well it looks like Shell is going to replace this for me! If not, I would most definitely be following your advice and doing it myself..or more accurately, my boyfriend would have a new job! Thanks for the advice though. This little MINI has has some really weird mishaps but I still love it so I guess it gets fixed again!:smile:

 

Holy $%&#ing *@&#!!! That's ridiculous. As Clo says, I'd get in touch with a member here who has the Bentley manual, and have them check out what's involved in doing this job.

edit: just saw your latest post... that's great news!

 

Go to this link...I entered info for my 2003 MCS...not sure what your year/model is, but you can figure it out:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...79&hg=65&fg=30

See if this doesn't help you. Good luck and let us know.


Clover

 

MINIclo,

Thanks for this picture. Shell never fixed my antenna and we finally got tired of looking at the broken piece so we are now fixing it ourselves after looking at your answer again! Thanks!!