On Sunday while sitting at red light minding my own dam# business a GMC Denali and a 4x4 pick-up collided in the intersection. The impact caused the Denali to spin out and come straight toward me hitting me head on. Damage was to the drivers side front of the car and the damage I have just found out is estimated to be just south of $10K. I have it at a very good body shop and they say it can properly repaired but I worry about diminished value and plan to pursue this with the insurance company of the person responsible for the accident. In the photo's below keep in mind that most of the damage to the Denali was casued by the initial impact.

 

Dang! Glad you're OK!

Poor MINI ................

 

:(

 

Sorry to hear about what happened. Sound's like a perfect example of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Glad you're ok though.

Also, very good call on pursuing the insurance company for diminished value of your S. Good luck.

On a lighter note, if the tables' were turned (and the Tahoe ran a red light), you might appreciate this...

 

When I first brought my mini over from Germany, I had it here two months and took a full back impact at a redlight... longstory short.. had it fixed.. not sure about diminished value.. but I got a check from the insurance for the value part of it.. alot of insurances you have to pursue for the diminished value... its worth your time..
sorry about your car.. but happy your alright!

 

Ouch... That looked as though it could have hurt... I'm thankful that my airbag didn't deploy. Actually I'm amazed it didn't but I guess that since it was not a full frontal impact that only one sensor would have been triggered and I understand that it takes more than one sensor to set off the airbag..

 

I certainly plan to pursue it.. I'm really worried about the car not being perfect like it was prior to the accident...

 

Glad to hear that you're okay. The estimate your repair shop gave you sounds correct, unfortunately. Your car looks driveable in the photos, but with multiple ruined body panels, which always seem to cost $50/[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']cm2[FONT='Arial','sans-serif'].[/FONT][/FONT]

 

I am glad you are not hurt!

 

It wasn't drivable unfortuately. The wheel took some impact and consequently the suspension (lower control arm, ball joint, strut etc) will need to be replaced. Also the hallf shaft and CV joints associated... such is life...

 

Ouch- that's terrible. I hope insurance pays out quick, especially if you need something for work commute.

 

Sorry for the suxy break. Glad your all right.
Couple of weeks in the shop and you'll be glad to slide behind the wheel. Trust me.

Hope for a quick turn time.

 

Yuck. At least you have a guilty party to take care of it, the person who's Mini was defaced in a parking lot posted yesterday never got to face their perpetrator. Make sure to get compensation for loss of value. You may have to fight with their ins co over that. My dad did that once but they did pay it finally. He also got them to supply a rental car that was similar to the once that they plowed into (Caddy). They didn't like that either but they did it.

 

lol i opened the first pic w/o reading... i was very impressed

sucks to hear, hope it all gets taken car of!

 

As a result of this accident I was thinking about having the JCW Aero Kit installed. Seemed like a logical thing to do given they were replacing the front bumper cover any way. The body shop quoted me $2200 for the kit (included paint, removal of old parts and install). Seems high to me so decided to wait.

I see the kit, part number 51190418202: AERO KIT MINI COOPER which says it is painted Laser Blue... checking whether it really is or not but it is only like ~$1200 and I think I can install it myself...

Thoughts?

 

Make sure you drive it and really check it out before you sign off on the repairs and have an agreement in place that if you find stuff not right after you leave it will get fixed to your satisfaction.

 

I had a similar situation with my last car (vw). I got cut off and ended up slamming into a jersey wall going about 70mph, unfortunately the guy who cut me off kept going. with insurance money i was able to buy a whole new front end.. front and back euro bumpers, new headlights, coilovers, ect. it made my car nicer than it was before.

the whole depreciated value thing sucks, but there's always a silver lining! glad you're ok!

 

On so many levels it does...

Thanks...

 

I gotta chime in.

1. I am very glad your not hurt. That could have been nasty.

2. Part of that reason is the BMW technology of crumple, stess, and absorbing panels, patches, joints, etc. I think the damage is minor (yes I ready your description of damage) and $10k, $12k, so be it. Get it fixed, add some bolt-ons, and prosper from a bad situation.

I know some of you are obsessed with your MINI's, but they are still just a car. Diminished value? How much can you diminish from a $20k car? Push the ins co too hard and your'll be all over car-fax and won't be able to give the car away.

Dolcemz, what M-coupe you driving? Tell me it's the Z4, man they rock! Drove an 07 in Portugal, it was life-changing.

 

Krafty04, I hear what you are saying about the engineering etc and that it is a relatively inexpensive car. Diminished value may be more of an issue for a $100K car, not sure. However, I didn't ask the idiot to run a red light and cause damage to two vehicles in the process and I think he (or his insurance) should pay for his stupidity even if it's just $500.

The one good thing that has come from this is that I am driving my M-Coupe during the repair... By the way, it is an 08 Z4 M Coupe. This is my third M car. Had an 02 M roadster, then an 06 M roadster and finally my coupe... Great cars all but the coupe is smokin hot...

Thanks for your thoughts, I appreciate it for sure...

 

I test drove one of those while waiting on delivery of my MCS. It was a lot of fun, but I have to admit I enjoyed the Cayman more. May have had something to do with the young salesman at BMW vs. Porsche's tall asian woman with long dark hair who drove the car off the lot for me in her heels. She tore down the road to show me how it was done. I was sold. If only I had had an extra 30K in my pocket..

 

Under that circumstance I would have loved the Cayman myself... Love Porsche's... I can't afford my preference in the m though so I'll stick with what I have...

 

LMa0 he beat me to it, i always remember this pic when there is a mini and a POS BiG car....sorry bout the MINI

 

If I ever got in an accident, I'd want it to be like that... big SUV toppled by the might of my MINI! Of course, I'd want no injuries to both parties, if only so they could gawk at the aftermath.

I kid, I kid. to everybody's well-being.

 

One month to the day from the accident and the body shop has called to tell me that I can pick her up whenever I can get down to do it... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my Mini will be as good as new... Will not be able to pick her up until Friday though.