M3 - minor accident - potentially large bill?

kaktus

kaktus

kaktus

Associate
Joined
28 Jul 2003
Posts
1,219
Hey fellas

Long story short, I was moving off from a stand-still with a bus infront of me. Looked over to the right as I started to move off and the bus had stopped in the middle of the road for some reason and I went straight into the back of it.

I think the accident is minor, air bags didn't go off but all the warning lights on the dash are obviously on. Seemed to drive ok back home.

Any idea what this is going to set me back for? Should I only have it done at the stealership or would there be a better alternative? I'm leaning towards BMW dealership where I bought it, but I'm concerned they'll take one look and charge me in excess of 10k.

Am I right in thinking this is quite minor? What should it come out to repair assuming there's no chassis damage and I can't imagine there would be.



 
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Rybo89 said:
You need to lift the bonnet and remove the front bumper to see the real damage.
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Yep I lifted the bonnet, it appears to be very minor but I'm no mechanic so I wouldn't really know. From what I can see, it doesn't look like anything got crushed, just a dented bonnet
 
I sincerely doubt that is "very minor"

Bonnet is damaged, bumper is damaged, and the headlights have all been squashed back, the jet wash for the xenons has been damaged, plus you will have all the collapsible crash structures hidden in the depths of the car that will be damaged too.

To fix that properly you're just going to have to claim on the insurance. Like Housey says, do it right. don't do a ***** repair and leave stuff missing or not working.
 
Fr0dders said:
I sincerely doubt that is "very minor"

Bonnet is damaged, bumper is damaged, and the headlights have all been squashed back, the jet wash for the xenons has been damaged, plus you will have all the collapsible crash structures hidden in the depths of the car that will be damaged too.

To fix that properly you're just going to have to claim on the insurance. Like Housey says, do it right. don't do a ***** repair and leave stuff missing or not working.
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Yea I have absolutely no intention of doing it anything other than right, just was curious if people normally go back to BMW for the repair or whether there is a specialist who might be a better choice.

I guess I'll just have to take it to BM and bite the bullet.
 
I doubt the actual cost of the claim will make much of a difference to your insurance premium, they tend to be more interested in fault rather than whether it's a £4k or an £8k claim.
 
kaktus said:
Yea I have absolutely no intention of doing it anything other than right, just was curious if people normally go back to BMW for the repair or whether there is a specialist who might be a better choice.

I guess I'll just have to take it to BM and bite the bullet.
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In my experience both the 3rd party bodyshops and BMW dealers can bit hit and miss.

I would do your homework and search around on the net for reputation of your local dealer and other bodyshops, find one that you want, then tell your insurer that you want it to go there, they will probably put up a fight because they have a place that will do it cheap. But you are within your right to chose the location, so dig your heels in if you have to.
 
At the very least that is going to be a bonnet, pair if wings and a bumper.

It isn't going to be cheap, but I doubt a claim would put the car in the register.
 
Fr0dders said:
In my experience both the 3rd party bodyshops and BMW dealers can bit hit and miss.

I would do your homework and search around on the net for reputation of your local dealer and other bodyshops, find one that you want, then tell your insurer that you want it to go there, they will probably put up a fight because they have a place that will do it cheap. But you are within your right to chose the location, so dig your heels in if you have to.
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That's mostly what I'm worried about, I'm worried it'll be a mediocre repair job and will never feel the same again which has been my experience of not just BMW but all dealerships
 
kaktus said:
That's mostly what I'm worried about, I'm worried it'll be a mediocre repair job and will never feel the same again which has been my experience of not just BMW but all dealerships
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Sad but true :( only way to ensure that doesn't happen is do your homework and find somebody you will do a good job.
 
kaktus said:
That's mostly what I'm worried about, I'm worried it'll be a mediocre repair job and will never feel the same again which has been my experience of not just BMW but all dealerships
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Don't entertain anyone other than the dealer for this job. You want to be able to go back to someone as many times as you want to complain, and the person you complain to isn't going to be losing out on profit due to your complaint.

This is critical in the bodyshop arena.
 
It'll have broken every clip on the headlights, bonnet, bumper, possibly wings from looking at it. Headlights are probably the most expensive bit of that
 
You'll really have to wait until it's all stripped back to know exactly what the damage will be matey. Whatever you do try and stick with a BMW bodyshop so you can be sure that all genuine parts are used and the work is too notch. My local dealership's bodyshop were brilliant when I had my crash, and all their work comes with a lifetime warranty.

What about the bus? Is that not damaged? Will they not be claiming off your insurance?
 
That looks like a lot of damage for a bump! My Mrs had an accident at about 60mph in the 350z and it was all the same panels + the rad and one headlight, also the airbags went off and that was looking like 7-8k plus labour and paint, unsurprisingly that was written off but I reckon yours' will be 4k to fix 5 if you need lights? and more still if anything underneath is damaged

Hawker
 
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