Ok... so over the weekend I hit a beaver that did some damage to the car. So far from what I have been able to see... the radiator is pretty dented in (gonna need a new one for sure).. the downstream O2 sensor was destroyed... and one of the trim pieces on the front bumper was snapped. The car isnt holding coolant at all and just spews out when I try and put some in the expansion tank. I am filing a claim with my insurance carrier to get everything fixed and the car back on the road. But I have a few questions.

1. Is any kind of shop gonna be able to handle this kind of repair or am I gonna have to find a shop that specializes in Minis to do it? Or maybe even the dealership which is 2.5 hrs north from me?

2. Should I just let the shop deal with the insurance company or should I just get a check from the insurance company and buy everything and install them on my own or with the help of some friends? I'm asking not only because it'd prolly be a lot cheaper to do the work on my own and could prolly get some other things I need for the car as well (brakes/rotors/tires) but could also do the intercooler install while I have the bumper off. I've tried looking up a how to on replacing the radiator and if its anything like the R53 then between the help of friends and myself should be able to get it done.

Any advice or opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

This is how it worked for me: Last year, the Mrs. hit a deer. We notified the insurance company. They sent an appraiser to see the car. We then found a body shop, who fixed the car, and the body shop dealt directly with the insurance company. It was all very easy. We did, however, have to pay for the rental while awaiting the repairs. It was not a MINI, but I doubt it should matter. Good Luck.

 

108 views and only 1 response? :( To the person above... I was thinking that to but really got to thinking about doing it myself and putting the money I saved on labor from a shop into tires or brakes that I need as well. Trying to turn lemons into lemonade I guess. I went out and was looking around on the car again tonight and noticed a piece of hosing with a broken piece of something attached to it. I traced it back to something... and curious if anyone may happen to know what it is. Its circled in the pic. The other pic is just a bigger version of the area. Its located almost right below the turbocharger in the pic.

 

Make sure they use OEM parts. You can specify that with the insurance company and repair shop.

 

Thanks! I will be sure to tell them that.

 

Droc -

As for the component shown in the photos above, I think it's the auxiliary water pump that cools the turbo.

Spridget

 

I would take it to a MINI dealer to have the repairs done if that is an option. That way if any of the parts happen to break or not function properly they can be fixed under warranty.

 

Thank you!

 

Yeah unfortunately the closet dealership to me is 2.5 hrs north of me. And the car is out of warranty. Its getting taken to the same place I took my Speed3 back in the day when I got into a different accident. It was in their "the insurance companies" local network so I'm familiar with them. I'm sure if when I get the car back something else related fails Ill just take it back to them and have them reopen the insurance claim.

 

Call your Dealership and see if they know of a local to you shop that could take care of your MINI. I backed my Husband's Kia Soul into my MINI and that was the first place I called after calling the Insurance Co. For us it was a local shop closer to where we both work than home for my MINI, but it all worked out in the end.

Good Luck and keep us posted.