Pothole Damage

SaBBz · 26 Dec 2012 at 20:35

Hi guys

Driving to see family today at about 7am I managed to break my E46 pretty badly in a pothole. It was still dark at that time and was on an NSL road, so didn't see it until it was too late.

Front wheel

http://imageshack.us/a/img707/4826/img9818k.jpg[IMG]

Rear wheel
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img688/8019/img9819w.jpg[IMG]

Interior
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img211/7672/img9824m.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img35/4872/img9835v.jpg[IMG]

Over 2.1m long (over 1m wide and about 7 inches deep at the edge)
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img805/2152/img9836y.jpg[IMG]

Damage is both near side rims are buckled, and as you can see in the photos, the two driver side airbags have deployed.

Anyone got any idea as to how much this might be to fix? I got the car recovered by the RAC, but will give my insurance company a ring tomorrow when they're open.

Hopefully I may be able to recoup the cost from the council, as the Police who coned off the pothole mentioned that the pothole had already been reported.

It's certainly the biggest pot hole I've ever some across!

[COLOR="Yellow"]**Please ensure images are no wider than 1024 or use spoiler tags.**[/COLOR]

scousegit · 26 Dec 2012 at 20:37

damn thats unlucky, wonder if it did any damage to the bushes etc.

Vita · 26 Dec 2012 at 20:38

That's one big pothole.

Dangerous Dave · 26 Dec 2012 at 20:46

I wouldn't be surprised if the insurance company end up writing the car off, curtain airbags are expensive with two wheels and tyres it will add up quickly.

Dunks · 26 Dec 2012 at 20:52

Ouch! I bet you felt that one.

[TW]Fox · 26 Dec 2012 at 20:58

Dangerous Dave said:
I wouldn't be surprised if the insurance company end up writing the car off, curtain airbags are expensive with two wheels and tyres it will add up quickly.

And if they do, buy it back and repair it because oddly airbags are one of those things which cost an absolute fortune new but next to nothing on ebay...

Duke · 26 Dec 2012 at 20:59

Jesus!!

Steedie · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:01

Is there no way you can claim off the council for that area? Especially for a pot hole like that!

I know a few people who have cracked alloys or damaged something going over nasty pot holes and managed to claim successfully off the council

SaBBz · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:05

I'm really hoping I can claim for the damage from the council! I think I'll discuss this with my insurance company when I call them tomorrow.

It was a pretty big bump and the sound of the airbags going off was very, very loud. Not sure whether there would have been any suspension damage, but looking under the car everything looked to be okay.

OpenToSuggestions · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:05

That is not just a pothole it is a massive hole in the road!!
A pothole suggests a small sunken area of perhaps 1ftx1ft but that is something else entirely!

scousegit · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:09

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OS-Driver...arts_SM&fits=Plat_Gen:E46&hash=item564908afe2

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Side-Airb...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item23169b153a

it appears they cost peanuts to buy, so yer buy it back if they write it off.

nutcase · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:12

How on earth would it set the airbags off, thought they were for side impacts, not suspension whacks (albeit excessive ones!)?

Howard · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:12

Duke said:
Jesus!!

[TW]Fox · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:14

nutcase_1uk said:
How on earth would it set the airbags off, thought they were for side impacts, not suspension whacks (albeit excessive ones!)?

Presumably because it detected an impact with all the force right at the front corner of the car and no force elsewhere, indicating it wasnt a head on collision.

Scottland · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:16

If the council had already been notified of the hole, you will stand a much better chance of getting something from them. Best of luck!

Mr-White · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:18

SaBBz said:
I'm really hoping I can claim for the damage from the council!

Depends on the council but it can take years to pay out but they'll fill the hole ASAP

MW

rexehuk · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:18

Why is there an open mineshaft in the road?

I would be very surprised if the Council gave you the finger... that is newspaper material right there.

Having worked in that environment, I recommend you escalate to leader of Council level if you don't get success through the normal channels. Leaders will 99.9% of the time bend over and over-rule everyone else (to the annoyance of all).

Can you let us know WHAT road this is too, so that others can avoid it?

rjk · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:28

Surely an airbag deployment would be a total loss in this instance?

Feel bad for you op. Very unlucky situation, look forward to hearing how your insurance company deal with this.

Here's hoping it is resolved hassle free for you

SaBBz · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:29

rexehuk said:
Why is there an open mineshaft in the road?

I would be very surprised if the Council gave you the finger... that is newspaper material right there.

Having worked in that environment, I recommend you escalate to leader of Council level if you don't get success through the normal channels. Leaders will 99.9% of the time bend over and over-rule everyone else (to the annoyance of all).

Can you let us know WHAT road this is too, so that others can avoid it?

Thanks for the advice.

The road is between Cublington and Whitchurch, travelling towards Whitchurch. Both are villages in Buckinghamshire, just outside Aylesbury.

danza · 26 Dec 2012 at 21:32

There's bound to be some suspension damage there too.