[SanT335]

Hey guys, well just as things were going very well for me a car on the highway had to slam her breaks when she saw the car in front of her slowing. I was already slowing down because i could see the light in front of her. But I didn't expect her to slam her breaks, anyway i reared her. She admitted fault to me, but alas the insurance will surely blame it on me.
My damage: Front bumper destroyed, grille destroyed, radiator punctured by bumper (will need to be replaces), and all the airbags went off.
Her damage: Her bumper fell off and thats it.

Any input on what the insurance will do will help? I will update this as the insurance moves along. My fear is that it will be a total loss because of the airbags, but that is just what the internet said (lol). I also just dropped 5k in new OEM turbos for the car a couple months ago.

[SanT335]

The insurance lady said the claim will start getting processed Monday. I have already figured out the mechanic shop, and body shop.

[elons335i]

Originally Posted by SanT335

The insurance lady said the claim will start getting processed Monday. I have already figured out the mechanic shop, and body shop.

It doesn't look bad at all. Maybe two to five thousand in damage. I don't think it's a write off

[MuffinMan910]

Don't want to be negative but looks like your headlight also needs to be replaced and hood needs to be repaired or replaced. This in addition to what you listed, it'll be a close call to a total

If it is totalled tell insurance about your new turbos. They'll comp you on parts. When my e90 was written off, insurance offered me an extra 2000 after I showed proof of 3000 in recent repairs

Good luck

[SanT335]

Originally Posted by MuffinMan910

Don't want to be negative but looks like your headlight also needs to be replaced and hood needs to be repaired or replaced. This in addition to what you listed, it'll be a close call to a total

If it is totalled tell insurance about your new turbos. They'll comp you on parts. When my e90 was written off, insurance offered me an extra 2000 after I showed proof of 3000 in recent repairs

Good luck

Damn not quite what I wanted to hear, but I understand. I have all my paperwork in order so it will be easy to get a couple extra g's from AmFam (my insurance) if it comes to that point. Thank you for your input!

[SanT335]

I wish i could tell insurance not to worry about the hood, or the head light lens...but it doesn't work like that.

[agustincuenca]

That's bad man! I hope it doesn't go south with the insurance. Was that on 270? people here in greater STL area drive worst every day....they keep surprising me.

[SanT335]

Originally Posted by agustincuenca

That's bad man! I hope it doesn't go south with the insurance. Was that on 270? people here in greater STL area drive worst every day....they keep surprising me.

Yup, Northbound 270. Right after the Manchester exit...I was going to Page. Only a couple more till home. Thank you!

[shadowcoder]

Unlikely that this will be declared a total loss. The good thing is that everything that needs replacing is a crash part - bolt off, bolt on. Damage does look northbound of 5K though. I hope you repair the car and be on your way quickly. Good thing you're ok.

[agustincuenca]

Originally Posted by SanT335

Yup, Northbound 270. Right after the Manchester exit...I was going to Page. Only a couple more till home. Thank you!

If you need any help, I'm in the area, let me know. Again, hope it gets fixed or worst case, you get a better car

[robthewrench]

Hopefully the insurance company will not try to write it off as a loss on the first offer. Between headlights, bumper, hood, and airbags your around at least $3K in parts, plus paint and labor work.

If they do want to declare it a loss and you want to try and get a better offer, have receipts for all the parts and labor you recently put into the car. This recent work can be considered additional value to your car. They won't consider the work at 100% cost but will add some value to the car. This may be enough to get the damage cost below 50% of the total vehicle cost so they would be willing to have it fixed vs. declared a loss. Or they will have to write you a slightly bigger check.

The insurance company is just looking for the cheapest way for them to wrap up this claim. They will never be willing to pay more than the lowest of the value of the car vs. the cost to fix.

[Stopa]

I just had to have my bumper (and accessories) replaced along with FMIC, and raidiator support. Came in around $3200 (parts & labor). I think you'll be looking around 5k. Hopefully it's not totaled!

[patents]

Originally Posted by SanT335

But I didn't expect her to slam her breaks, anyway i reared her. She admitted fault to me, but alas the insurance will surely blame it on me.

My mom got rear ended once. The cop gave the lady who hit her a ticket for following too close. The lady got testy with the cop and said, "how do you know I was following her too close?" The cop calmly replied, "because you hit her."

[SanT335]

Originally Posted by patents

My mom got rear ended once. The cop gave the lady who hit her a ticket for following too close. The lady got testy with the cop and said, "how do you know I was following her too close?" The cop calmly replied, "because you hit her."

If there was no traffic I wouldn't have been anywhere near her lol

[zoppp]

Looks okay to me. I have a feeling they won't total it but with the airbags going off there might be a small chance that they will.

Best of luck, had two of my 3 series get totaled by others. Get yourself a dashcam too!

[ArcticRik]

Damn sorry to hear man! But in terms of airbags, it's probably going to be a write off due to how expensive they are and the age of the vehicle :/

[lordbmw]

You folks are crazy if you think that's under $5K.

My guess is double that, $10K.

The reason I think that is that I had a similar incident but my damage wasn't even as bad and was $8K total and that was 8 years ago.

[SanT335]

Well the estimator called me today, real cool guy. We talked cars for a good half-hour. He hasn't seen the car yet. But given the info, and his experience he says the situation could go either way, in other words...nothing new. Although he did say since i did just drop close to 5k on new turbos that the value of the car may be increased and it could be salvageable (pun not intended). He is looking at it tomorrow, will report back with more info. Thanks for everyones input

[Efthreeoh]

Why did the passenger side head bag lite off? Did you have a passenger in the front seat? And what in the hell did they hook the tow cable to? Did the tow truck driver not know there is a tow hook for the front bumper?

[SanT335]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Why did the passenger side head bag lite off? Did you have a passenger in the front seat? And what in the hell did they hook the tow cable to? Did the tow truck driver not know there is a tow hook for the front bumper?

No, just me thankfully. And lol i totally didn't realize that....great

[unrulyteach]

It's a write off bro total lost I can buy it back and ride without airbags at ur own risk(not advised). In your situation I would take off all mods as much as u can do by your self and your new turbos before giving it to the insurance company. Insurance companies are cheap they are here to make money and if it's cheaper to pay u and sell the car at an action they won't at an eye

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by SanT335

No, just me thankfully. And lol i totally didn't realize that....great

This is why I asked. Many 3-series models have been under a recall for a defective seat occupancy mat. If there was no one, or nothing heavy (say a back pack or laptop bag) in the passenger seat at the time of the accident the side head bag should not have deployed if the car was primarily hit in the left front. Did the driver's side head bag deploy? It doesn't look like the passenger airbag deployed, but the side bag did, which I find unusual.

The reason I bring it up is the side airbag deployment may total the car since the headliner needs to be replaced, which means in most 4-door cars, either the rear glass or windshield needs to come out to install the headliner. But if the side head bag deployed only because the seat sensor was defective, then I'd be discussing the issue with BMW if the car gets totaled because of the faulty head bag deployment.

Other than the air bag deployments, the actual sheet metal damage is minor. If the core support wasn't damaged then it looks like a new metal under bumper, bumper cover, grills, headlight (they are pricey) and a hood. If you allow for the use of used parts, it may not be totaled.

In 2006 I hit a deer in my car with similar damage to yours (other than the airbag deployments) and the repair was $4,500, and the core support had to be replaced on my car.