I'm glad you are okay, but so sorry about your MINI. Can't imagine having to put mine in the shop and be without because some inattentive driver rear ended me! Hope your MINI is as good as new, soon.

 

Mine goes into the shop on Monday to get the drivers door and fender replaced. Almost got passed turning left into my driveway (I wish the kid had succeeded). I have photos on the damage in my gallery. I hope my body shop does as well as yours.

 

"OUCH" is right! And all along I was worried about an insignificant factory blemish in my driver's door! I'm glad you're okay after your vehicular interaction. That must have been awful. Are they actually going to replace the door and fender or just perform body work on the existing panels? It really doesn't look bad enough IMO to replace the panels. I don't see any folds in the sheetmetal, just some transfer of paint. And those wheel arches could probably be swapped without too much fuss.

How long were you driving it before you got smacked?

 

I had it almost 2.5 months. The sheet metal is wrinkled some. They are replacing them. $140 for the fender or 2-4 hrs work to fix it. The guy at the body shop feels that parts should be replaced on a new car. They have to blend the paint onto the hood so my bonnet stripes (strained by the washer fluid) will be replaced as well. The guy who hit me is claiming injury as well, grrr (i didn't signal, but passing in a residential is kindof a no-no). He left 25 feet of skid marks. I think he was going over 25mph.

 

I agree; it's better to replace the sheetmetal panels in lieu of crafting the metal and smearing bondo over everything! This is the second time I've heard of someone having problems with their washer fluid staining their bonnet stripes. I've been thinking of adding white stripes (like I should have to begin with when I ordered my car), but now I'm worried I may have the same problem.

 

I hear that it is best to just drain out the stock washer fluid. I just haven't got around to it yet. I already knew better than to use it, but it leaked out after I took my mom for a fun ride. I corners a bit better than her 300.

 

I wonder why the stock washer fluid is so harsh. I guess I could just siphon it out and replace it with the "harmless" $1-a-gallon washer fluid Target sells.