Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...

Not a major update like I was expecting but had a call from the tech at BMW who had a brief with the valuator today before the valuator sent off his photos and bits to Admiral. He told BMW that the insurer is unlikely to pay for the other wheel to be refurbed also (the finish needs to be redone on the other wheel on the same side so both the wheels match in the American Chrome finish) - Obviously that's one battle to fight once BMW have the go ahead to begin repairs. But the whole idea of all this is to be put back on the road in the same state I was in before the accident, having one wheel a slightly different shade to the other is not the same.

The other issue is that the exhaust from BMW is not available until March. So base don that alone Admiral could turn around and say no it's a write-off because they would have to continue paying the hire car costs for 3 more months - Can they write the car off on this basis even? Sounds totally bs to me and grounds to file a complaint with the FO with...

...But BMW have said in this kind of circumstance, they would normally be able to provide a long term courtesy car though as it's ultimately their stock issue holding things back, so would work with both parties to sort this out.

Other than that, BMW guy said the valuator was happy with everything he''d seen so far.

So there's a strong chance I won't have my car back until March if the insurer gives the authorisation to get the repairs done.

Headache after headache.
 
Well that would suck even more.

I'm hoping then that they authorise the repairs, take the car away, which saves them hire costs plus my £25 cash a day, then BMW can supply me with a dealer car. Saves the insurer a fat wad of money then, and BMW's supplied car should be something decent?
 
Aye if they phone up tomorrow and play hardball then I'll propose that option for sure, as BMW suggested it after all.

If it goes that route, I'll have a BMW supplied car for 3 months. At least I'd have some wiggle room to get something decent for those 3 months, as that's no short timespan for their own stock issue!
 
Admiral initially said cash in lieu is not an option as the amount we're talking is higher than what they pay out for cash in lieu with.

Is this correct?
 
Update!

So Admiral’s new valuation is £10,500 – Still above their total threshold for all their costs so far and going forward. But, I mentioned BMW are willing to give me a courtesy car and they’ve come back to say that if BMW can get the repair figure down to £6500~ then they should be able to authorise repairs and not mark the car Cat D.

If BMW can’t get to that figure then it would be a Cat D and the salvage cost is 34%, so I’d be left with near enough £7000.

I asked about option 2, getting my car moved to my mate’s bodyshop and repair re-estimated. They said this is fine but they will explore option 1 first with BMW and see if they can get the figure down. I know for sure my guy will come in well below £6500 for the repairs, but they can’t provide a courtesy car of course – Although it’s only down the road and around 2 weeks repair. It would also mean I keep the insurer’s hire car for the duration of the option 2 repair.

Will find out tomorrow to see if BMW will drop their repair price to suit. I reckon they may well budge, as it is £6500 worth of business after all.
BMW said they have a 15 plat Pug if the exhaust stock turns out will arrive within weeks, but if it stays March then they’d upgrade the car to a BMW.

Looks like I have 3 feasible routes to take then.

1: BMW after they drop their repair price and Admiral give the OK. No Cat D.
2: Local bodyshop repaired at insurer's expense (far less than BMW). No Cat D.
3: Accept Cat D then buyback as salvage leaving £7000 to bank. Get car repaired by local bodyshop for half that and pocket the change.

As it stands, I prefer option 1 at the moment, but if BMW don't feel like dropping the price in the best interest, then 2 or 3 it is.

More fun and games.
 
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Don't need a Pug to tell me that haha!

One thing bmw did want to do was replace the tyre whefe the rim chipped from the alloy being kerbed. The tyre is fine, just the rim is chipped so I'm gonna tell them not to bother with the tyre and save a bit there too. I was going to change the tyres in the summer anyway.
 
Ballpark around 4k. He gets the parts significantly lower than BMW's prices though hence the price. Exhaust is over £660 with BMW, with him it's £440.
 
Another update.

BMW can't meet at £6500 :(

So option 2 is now in motion. Admiral are liaising with my guy and sorting collection of the car tomorrow morning. It's a shame BMW could not drop a few hundred quid more for the business but it is what it is. It is good that Admiral are sorting everything out too. They will use genuine parts but the paint they use has a harder wearing lacquer than what BMW use, should mean extra protection from many more years of ownership and most important of all, stone chip protection. I've noted a full respray to be factored into this too, at least everything is well and truly sorted that way and the paint thickness and quality the same on all panels.

I know that this option carries the "what if" risk, but I'm pretty confident he knows what I expect having worked on my cars in the past and will do a fine job.

Needless to say, the updates will continue.
 
It's either this or a Cat D settlement. I know which I'd rather have since a Cat D plus buyback leads to it going to him anyway, or if I bin it and buy another one, it just won't be the same feeling.

Touch wood and all that!
 
That is true but I'd like to keep that option as the last resort. If this estimate is too high and they still say no it's uneconomical, then so be it.
 
I've already covered why I don't want to get a new one really. While that example looks nice in the photos, there are a few issues for my liking!

1: No interior pics.
2: Lepsoms refurb.
3: Not a manual.
4: Description states black leather and grey interior (worst combo ever).
5: Too high mileage.

I don't believe there is another example like mine in a reasonable price band that I'd be looking for. I'm better off keeping mine and repairing it via 3rd party insurer or via Cat D and pocket the change.
 
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I already know the paintwork on my car is not 100% to my liking even after a detail back in January. New swirls, stone chips here and there etc - Standard fair for 10yrs old I guess but that's just my preference kicking in. Most people would consider it in good or very good condition for the age. No rust or anything of that sort of course.

It's a big dice roll I know, but it's the best option between that and hunting out another car and hoping a new one doesn't throw up unexpected bills. Hell even mine threw up £190 in the first few months with DSC pressure sensors 1 and 2 failing. Although to be fair these are common failures anyway.

This whole effort is to not have to spend much of my own money since the accident was non fault. I just want my car repaired to the same state or better than what it was before it was rear ended.
 
Well I know first hand BMW bodyshops aren't always the best having found a comb and nail file in my cubby hole on the old E46 when it went in for some weather seal work years ago!

BMW can't meet the £6500, they said their labour costs would not cover that figure and that was their final word sadly.

Thankfully BMW have said the repairs aren't anything E46 specific, some first panel damage to the boot wall and the rest being your standard rear end collision damage. They classed it as an "easy repair".
 
I assume he meant inc their labour, not that the labour was 6500, since the repair itself came to just over 7000. If that was the case them the sum of the parts would have been 500? Highly unlikely :p
 
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