Best of luck with that, after all it is the truth of the matter (that the car's value is diminished). I understand about wanting to get out of a dangerous situation - I would consider getting a police report after the fact (which they will do, at least they have over here in NorCal), and also going back and taking pictures/doing a drawing of the are where it happened and write down the sequence of events while its fresh in your mind.

 

I'm pretty sure you'll get a new door. I had someone back into my Mazda MX-6 in a parking lot, and they dented it deeply enough that I got a new door. It was weird because they put the inside of my old door back in, but the structure was new.
They probably wouldn't have come anyway. In San Diego, at least, they said CHP was only responding to injury accidents because they couldn't possibly respond to every rain-induced fender bender. I think you can still file a report with them after the fact, though.

 

This is what Matt is thinking of: http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html

 

Glad to hear that the MINI gave up itself to protect you and your son. Good luck with the body show and the restoration of your baby.

 

Thanks! To add insult to injury, my trusted body shop of more than a decade is closing its doors. They decided not to start my car because they will not have time to finish. As such, the car got moved to a new place. I only hope they do equivalent work.

From what I could see, the place had a bunch of Porsches, Bentleys, Aston Martins and Mercedes. Hopefully that is indicative of their level of skill...

Having driven a rented Pontiac Grand Prix around, I miss my Mini even more. That month estimate seems like a LLLLOOONNNGGGG time to me!

 

Good luck!

I'd be interested in hearing about how they handle the DV.

 

Thanks! I suspect they will fight it kicking and screaming. My project for today is to get something in writing from various Mini used car buyers telling me how much less they would pay for a car that had suffered the damage mine did. If that does not compel action, I will take other steps.

 

So it looks like the repairs are going to cost about $5,000 which is far less then I anticipated.

One interesting note is that the driver who hit me, in a 4Runner, was injured. Niether my son nor I were hurt and the Mini suffered the worst of the physical damage.

Two competing thoughts are running through my mind here...

1. I am reluctant to keep the Mini after it is fixed. Perhaps I am just weird that way but once it is broken I don't want it anymore. I work SO hard to keep my cars perfect that this insult might be a bit too much

2. Every time I see somebody driving around in their Mini I am so darned jealous.

Having seen the pictures, how much do you think the crash will hurt my resale value?

 

I don't quite understand. If you sold the MINI to get a new uninjured one, why not buy a new one so that you wouldn't have to feel #2???

Personally, I'd keep it, and leave it as some history of "battle scarring". I mean, it can't stay perfect forever. Rock chips, door dings, scratches, etc.. are all things trying to keep your MINI from staying in perfect shape.

As long as the damage was cosmetic, and you've got an '05, I see no reason why the repairs won't look good as new?

Richard

 

That was going to be my guess!
What are they actually repairing/replacing? If you're getting a new door skin and a new rear fender you won't have any remnants of the accident left, will you?

 

I really can't explain why I am so split. The repairs should make the car look as good as new. Maybe it has to do with what the topic originally raised by iwanna_mini about the size/safety issue. While I intellectually uderstand that BMW builds great, safe cars, I can't help but think of this accident. It could have been much worse had that SUV hit me head-on. It is definitely thanks to the Mini's maeuverability that I avoided a head-on and had I been in something more ponderous it WOULD have been a head-on.

be1000n - they are replacing the front feder (the little part uder the hood), the entire driver's door and the rear fender. Because of the fact this is a unit body, the old fender is cut off and a new one welded on. They are replacing all of the black plastic trim around the wheel arches, the trim around the driver's side window and the outside mirror. I guess the part that scares me the most is the cutting/welding of the rear fender. Because I am not a body shop guy, I have difficulty imagining how that can be made perfect...

I woder if the cut/weld happens where the fender meets the inside of the body and the glass? If so, the weld would be hidden by the rear window trim. The other seam should be under the car, right? hhhmmm

 

Just curious, what makes you think it would have been much worse as a head on? Considering that's where all the crash tests are done. The MINI gives up its life (totalled) in most cases while the passenger compartment remains intact. The only times I've seen where this wasn't the case was when drivers crashed into something exceeding 85MPH, or maybe even 30 MPH for that matter. I have no idea what speed is safer than others since crash testing is done as such low speeds.

Would the 4Runner have gone over the MINI due to it's height? Or possibly collided at the windshield level?

Would the 4Runner at twice the weight of the MINI cause the MINI to bounce away??

http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/toyot...ecs.html?p=ext

Also any other info on why/how the girl was injured? Not wearing safety belt maybe? Complaining of whiplash?

I dunno. Just wondering.

Richard

 

I have no idea, but I bet you won't be able to tell. Based on your latest posts, it sounds like you're mostly freaked out (understandably!) as a result of being in an accident, and the cosmetics of your car are running a distant second in your mind.

I don't blame you at all for that. I do think you have nothing to worry about on the cosmetic side at least.

 

Because there is a cross member behind the door skin that sacrifices itself in the event of impact; more than likely the door shell will be replace with the skin. In the thumbnail below the cross member can be seen within the shell. The silver color on the inside surface of the skin is from aftermarket sound damping material.

I assume it is the rear quarter panel that is being referred to here as the rear fender. It is much better to have the quarter panel replaced than to have the dent pulled out because the skin is prone to stretching when dented. The procedure goes something like this: the window glass and all the trim are removed, old welds are broken/chiseled apart, the edges are straightened and ground smooth, anti rust protection is applied to all surfaces, the new panel has holes punched around the edges and is clamped in place, after the new door is hung the panel is adjusted for fitment and then welded in place. There are some pictures below with the passenger side rear quarter panel removed.

Depending on the workmanship of the body guy, the end product will be close to the way the factory assembles the car sans robots. I’ve looked at the sensor locations and don’t see how they may acquire unstable sensitivity from the repair.

The MINI is a very stout car and makes out pretty well in the few cases I’ve seen. Because of the design it can be repaired relatively easier and with less expense compared to other vehicles I’ve smashed or have seen in the body shop.

 

Thanks everybody! I really appreciate all the support.

Those pictures are awesome! My understanding from the shop is that they are going to replace the entire door and replace the rear quarter panel. I really appreciate the description of the procedure!

Octaneguy, you are right in the sense that I am freaked out by being in the accident. I know that my first thought was for my son, sitting next to me in front. Yeah I know, he should be in back, but I still think he is safer in front with the seat all the way back. The Mini is really stout and did take a helluva whack with realtively minor physical damage. Still, that whole size issue...

I don't know how the other driver was hurt. Since her company is taking full liability for the incident, I am not too concerned about the details of her injuries. I do know that she seemed fine right after the accident, except for a cut. Now the cut had little to do with the impact... her headlight broke. When she was writing her information, she dropped her pen inside the lamp. When she reached in to get it, she cut her finger on the glass...

I guess the reality is that I really love my Mini, and will not part with it. Thanks again for the support everybody!