E90 right-off on Saturday

[VernonD]

Hi all

I had an accident on Saturday, in Woodstock where I knocked a VW citi on the left fender. My damage was the bumper bent on the right side, bonnet bent from the front and windscreen crack damage and the front airbags deployed. Budget told me now that the car is a rightoff. I didnt think the damage was that bad as its only cosmetic damage however they indicated that airbags deploying means the e90 is a rightoff. Also the radiator has got a crack which means it needs to be replaced as per the assessor.

I attached some pics as they indicate the damage of the 2006 BMW m-pack 320D is R116K and the retail value is only R113K. Also I dont think the other guy that went over the stop sign has got insurance.

Any assistance in this regard?

 

[Philip Foglar]

As I posted in your old thread:

Firstly sorry to hear about this accident! Sadly, it does not take much for cars to be written off these days, especially when it comes to triggered airbags.

Curious to know why the windscreen got cracked though. Front bumper, but there is very little space behind the skin of the bumper and the front bumper rail, so what has been damaged and pushed back from there. Driver's side fender will have cosmetic damage, but there are mounting holes for the bumper than may have been ripped. Bonnet and bumper will need to be replaced. The big ticket item is the dashboard/steering wheel and airbags.

I reckon this car could be fixed, but with the age and mileage and overall value, insurance will push to scrap it.

When it comes to safety, and I gather you use the car for a lot of open road driving, repairing versus replacing is going to be tricky. But there are firms that can repair the dashboard and steering wheel, and can repack the airbags at a fraction of the cost of replacing. So you can save a huge chunk of the overall repair cost. But, airbags being essentially an explosive device, this is a bit risky either way.

What makes this worth fixing is the fact that most of the damage is cosmetic and not really structural from what I see in the pics.

 

[Ralf*]

I think LZ commented in a similar thread a while ago
If the vehicle is still under MP, then everything needs to be replaced with genuine BMW parts ONLY, and that is where the repair costs escalate massively.

however

once the vehicle is out of MP, then the repairs can be done utilizing non-BMW original parts at a fraction of the cost.

so the question is...is this vehicle still under MP or not, could it be repaired with "aftermarket" parts and panels ?

 

[DieselFan]

If it's through insurance they will only replace airbags with new ones.

 

[VernonD]

As I posted in your old thread:

Firstly sorry to hear about this accident! Sadly, it does not take much for cars to be written off these days, especially when it comes to triggered airbags.

Curious to know why the windscreen got cracked though. Front bumper, but there is very little space behind the skin of the bumper and the front bumper rail, so what has been damaged and pushed back from there. Driver's side fender will have cosmetic damage, but there are mounting holes for the bumper than may have been ripped. Bonnet and bumper will need to be replaced. The big ticket item is the dashboard/steering wheel and airbags.

I reckon this car could be fixed, but with the age and mileage and overall value, insurance will push to scrap it.

When it comes to safety, and I gather you use the car for a lot of open road driving, repairing versus replacing is going to be tricky. But there are firms that can repair the dashboard and steering wheel, and can repack the airbags at a fraction of the cost of replacing. So you can save a huge chunk of the overall repair cost. But, airbags being essentially an explosive device, this is a bit risky either way.

What makes this worth fixing is the fact that most of the damage is cosmetic and not really structural from what I see in the pics.

Thanks for the feedback. The windscreen probably cracked when the front airbags deployed. We had our seat belts on and didn't even touch the airbags. I had 151000km on the clock and the car was in excellent condition. I understand about the bumper and the bonnet being replaced but the fender was not damaged. The radiator also wasn't pushed back and I was told I need a replacement steering wheel and dash with airbags and it will be too costly. What saddens me is that I wanted to pay off the car as soon as possible and keep it a few years longer to save up for a big deposit on a newer model but to start all over again in payments on another car is sad.

---

I think LZ commented in a similar thread a while ago
If the vehicle is still under MP, then everything needs to be replaced with genuine BMW parts ONLY, and that is where the repair costs escalate massively.

however

once the vehicle is out of MP, then the repairs can be done utilizing non-BMW original parts at a fraction of the cost.

so the question is...is this vehicle still under MP or not, could it be repaired with "aftermarket" parts and panels ?

Hi - I took out a extended motorplan with Innovation group but I think they only cover me in case of a breaking of a part and not an accident. I prefer the original BMW parts over aftermarket so I think your comment is valid to my situation as I prefer original BMW. Seems like getting a new car, with a big balloon payment is the only alternative for me.

 

[Keeran]

:sorry:

 

[akash]

The airbags going off would right the car off.

Maybe a new car would be a better option.

 

[zaleonardz]

Airbag exploding does not equal automatic write off.

70% of the value does.

It comes down to the value of the car.

If you would like to save this vehicle, talk to me. I can guide you.

 

[VernonD]

The airbags going off would right the car off.

Maybe a new car would be a better option.

Thanks for the feedback. The assessor that wrote-off my car also agreed that it will be better to rather get a new car as my car will be a code 3 if its repaired.

 

[sash]

not sure the details.., but surely you can replace the car with something similar and use the payout from the insurance as your deposit? You could maybe go for something a little later and keep payments the same or go for similar model and reduce payments?

 

[VernonD]

not sure the details.., but surely you can replace the car with something similar and use the payout from the insurance as your deposit? You could maybe go for something a little later and keep payments the same or go for similar model and reduce payments?

Yes I also thought of it but I wont get much out after the payout as a real deposit. I was looking at the F30 styles but the balloon payments are scary.

 

[NavZ]

Do you have an option to buy the car back (at a huge discount) & then repair it yourself?
If you can fix it up nicely AND have some spare cash left over, that may be an option? :idea:

 

[VernonD]

not sure the details.., but surely you can replace the car with something similar and use the payout from the insurance as your deposit? You could maybe go for something a little later and keep payments the same or go for similar model and reduce payments?

Yes I looked on gumtree and can get a similar car but have to pay a bit extra a month however I am considering the F30 320d sport-line because I am thinking of the resale value will be more in the future then getting a E90 again.

---

Do you have an option to buy the car back (at a huge discount) & then repair it yourself?
If you can fix it up nicely AND have some spare cash left over, that may be an option? :idea:

Already asked, they will give me the car back for R72 000. And I was told that aftermarket parts will cost max R32 000. I will only get max R20 000 out from the insurance so it does not work out for me to buy the car back.

 

[VernonD]

Do you have an option to buy the car back (at a huge discount) & then repair it yourself?
If you can fix it up nicely AND have some spare cash left over, that may be an option? :idea:

The car is at Auction Nation and they want R60 000 for it. The guy there himself says the damage does not even look as bad except for the airbags that might cost me the most to replace. He says everything looks more cosmetic damage then anything else.

Accessor quote included: Front bumper replace-R22000, Bonnet replace-R16500, Front pdc replace-R1500, Right headlight replace-R5500, Dashboard with new airbags replace-R29000 and the other stuff are all screws and bolts adding up to over R100000 to replace as per BMW SMG. This sounds a bit too much.