In regards to repairing there is a good chance their estimate comes in WAY low.
So you drop it off at the place, and as they take your car apart, they will call
the appraiser back and forth and say, oh this is broken come look, etc etc.
He/She will look, then mostly approve it.

I think they start way way low in case if you are handy and fix it yourself they
get off for half price. My experience they start off at about half.

 

Make sure when you sign the release it clearly says property damage only.
In case you have been hurt and do not know it.

 

There is alot of items behind that wheel that could/will cost alot to replace. I have seen a couple of coopers that had almost no damage to the body panels, but the front passenger wheel was hit and they totaled the car. Heres one for instance that was totaled.

http://photos.vemark.net/snaps/carph...1/IMG_0292.JPG

 

i have only signed one paper so far and it was when the car got dropped off at orr's auto body i haven't signed anything authorizing any repairs of any kind.. so I'm not sure what release paper you speak of.. it sounds like you have a strong opinion on this subject.. in all honesty i would rather have the car totaled to not deal with any issue down the road

here is a couple more pictures if anyone has any other thoughts

 

It's all going to depend on how much got damaged drivetrain wise from being hit on that front wheel like that.

But my money is still on not totalled.

 

Not even close, the core support doesnt look affected



The arms and axles may need replacing and if the steering rack does your in luck thats a 1600 dollar part

 

When they send any checks to you LOOK carefully at the check..
The other insurance company sent me a partial payment for car rental coverage...ON the check was a box
saying this was full payment for accident...If we had cashed ck that would have released
them of all repairs and injury payment...BE Careful also look at endorsment printing
on the back where you sign..

 

This is true, only accidents that are reported are on it. If the driver was say, drinking and driving, hit a jersey wall and then took the car in for repairs with his/her own money then nobody would know. Or even if the vehicle gets wrecked while in the dealers hands, who would know? I had this problem a few years back with a BMW CPO car that had the entire rear end welded back on. At first they said that they wasn't going to give me my money back( after all, I did pay a lot more for a CPO) but then I had to threaten lawyers, I got my money back REAL quick.

 

I have one pic, at least--didn't want to threadjack, but here you go...

http://ow.ly/i/i1Sx

I hope everything works out for you and your Mini...I hate dealing with insurance, rental cars, etc. Just want to be back with my Cooper :(

 

thats how i am man.. i just want my car back.. but i want it back in the same condition i had it.. also does anyone know is they paint the whole right side of my car and the hood.. don't they have to paint the whole thing

 

You can just buff that out!

 

Not trying to be a wiseguy but it could have been alot worse. What I found out was that if body work is not done by a dealer, it doesn't get reported to Carfax.

 

I think its toast. Like my opinion matters or will influence anything, but my vote is that it is totaled.

 

i hope your right man. it wouldn't really worry me if the car didn't take the blow straight to the motor.. that momentum of the car hit directly in the wheel and it had to pass somewhere.. ill know tomorrow what the first estimate is

 

That is my thinking exactly. New motor on top of the body damage and no way it is not done. Of course, that is easy for me to say from here looking at a couple pictures.

 

lol its for sure going to get brought up.. ill fight all i can until I'm happy with what they say is going to be done

 

Kinda in a depressed mood these days because having a car in Chicago just sucks as far as the driving fun-factor goes... and parking... and parking tickets... and potholes... and speed limits... blah... so I sign on here to cheer myself up and find THIS! What a sad thread. :-/ I hope for the best for you and that you get a shiny brand new MINI!

 

I've seen way worse that wasn't totaled.

My dad's car, a full sized Dodge, was hit by a train and they didn't total it!!

Dave

 

so sorry. Interesting to look at the picts though and see how that focus totally crumbled up front. Gotta love the solidarity of the MINI--seems like there are more scratches/scrapes on the MINI's body than actual dents, although I could be wrong.

 

the pics on page three they cleaned off the white marks.. but the rear panel is most likely fixable.. hood.. front fender.. and door IMO no chance.. there seems to be several kinks and dings in the door and the other two are just smashed

 

[QUOTE=MCS2007;3373466]Nice man. Well if it comes down to fixing it make sure all the parts are OEM lol[/Q

They typically always use OEM. Randy does not like aftermarket parts.

 

Sorry to hear about the accident MCS2007. Sounds like you are really hoping for it to be a total loss. Maybe the link below will give you hope:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-totalled.html

This is my recently totaled 2008 mcs. Just from your pictures your car looks worse off than mine so maybe their insurance will cut you a nice fat check.

 

Consider yourself lucky. This was mine after it was rolled on Michael Fox Highway after being side-swiped by a minivan last June [I'm from Cincinnati too. I live in West Chester]. Nigel is long gone and I could not replace it with another MINI bcause of my wife's job loss. I bought a Chrysler Crossfire which is a pretty cool car but it is not a MINI.

 

You need to get some out in the country wheel time!

 

I understand I'm lucky not to be hurt.. I just hate to be sitting on the fence about if they are going to fix it or total it..