My car is wrecked!!

[Caddy101]

On Friday night, some idiot stopped in the middle of the road, right after a curve, talking to an ADT guard, who was also in the middle of the road (facing the opposite direction). I came around the curve and ploughed into him, his towbar destroyed my car... And right after the accident the ADT car drove off...

Apparently the insurance will write it off because the driver and the passenger airbag deployed... Is that true?
The engine wasn't damaged, its a 4 cylinder so theres plenty of empty space where the other 2 cylinders are supposed to be.

I'm really sad, I loved that car.

Anyone know where I can find a 320 Individual/Sportspack in good condition?

 

[zaleonardz]

Not automatically true, they can be repaired, however due to the cost of replacement of the airbags, its usually the case.

 

[moranor@axis]

damn thats sux some people just dont think... now you sit with issues because of someone else's stupidity...

 

[drugekull]

Jees sorry man that terrable. Well at least you still around to talk about it that is a good service from your car.

If the side airbags go then they usually repair it but if the 2 fronts go then you looking at over 50k just to replace them never mind the other 70 to 100k to get the car fixed they will just write it off

What year was the car?

 

[P1000]

Not automatically true, they can be repaired, however due to the cost of replacement of the airbags, its usually the case.

Actually, the airbags are cheap compared to the dashboard and other things they destroy.

 

[Onyx]

Well you're here to tell the tale... everything else can be replaced! :thumbs:

 

[Caddy101]

What year was the car?

It was a 2004 318i Exclusive

 

[Sith]

That's shitty news, sorry to hear that. It's not necessarily true they will write off the car if the airbags deploy, but there is a much bigger chance they will if it's the dash bags, rather than the side bags. Had this experience a few years ago, and they were charging R26k per replacement airbag! That price has probably gone up, so airbags can be shockingly expensive to replace. Good luck with whatever the outcome will be.

 

[Mike1]

My concern with them replacing airbags is the fact that it probably wont be a BMW approved Panel Shop doing the work and the last person I would allow to touch those airbags is anyone besides the factory...

Sorry to hear what happened and hope you get sorted out quickly. :=):

 

[Cole]

i would lay a case of fleeing scene of an accident against the ADT guy.
you might not know who he is but ADT will be able to track which car was in the area and came back damaged...

sorry to hear about the car.

 

[drugekull]

What year was the car?

It was a 2004 318i Exclusive

looking at autotrader that car is worth less than 80k now no chance on getting it repaired by the insurance

About 7 years ago I had a bender with my Alfa 156 it did not even break the radiator and my airbags did not deploy and it was 79k damage

Now days you break your bumper and its 50k repair.

Sorry man you going to have to look for a replacement

 

[FaSTandFurious]

Arrrrrrgggg, this annnoys me. At least you are ok.

btw - I hope you kicked the guy's a$$

 

[zaleonardz]

Mike,

This actually is not as serious as you may think. The airbags themselves come in a sealed casing that mounts to a bracket with 4 screws. Thats it.

If the airbag goes pooof, you undo the screws, fit a new unit, as easy as changing a battery or something.

If the mounting position of the airbag is that badly bent or damaged that you cant mount the airbag back into factory position, then you have no business repairing this car anyway..

Where it gets dangerous, is where guys take out the airbags and simply replace them with resistors so that the error goes away, and you will not know this until you need it....

I have physcially seen them do this...

My concern with them replacing airbags is the fact that it probably wont be a BMW approved Panel Shop doing the work and the last person I would allow to touch those airbags is anyone besides the factory...

Sorry to hear what happened and hope you get sorted out quickly. :=):

 

[Caddy101]

What year was the car?

It was a 2004 318i Exclusive

looking at autotrader that car is worth less than 80k now no chance on getting it repaired by the insurance

About 7 years ago I had a bender with my Alfa 156 it did not even break the radiator and my airbags did not deploy and it was 79k damage

Now days you break your bumper and its 50k repair.

Sorry man you going to have to look for a replacement

How much will they pay out on a car worth less that R80k? 40k? 50k?

That funking idiot and his towbar ruined my Bavarian Beauty...:argh:

 

[drugekull]

They apy you what you insured it for if it was retail you should get close to 80k or it was trade value then it will be 70 ot 65k

if you don't review your insureance every year to adjust for your cars devaluation you will see a huge difference from your you insured it for

 

[Beast_Power]

Take the car to Alberante BMW, they have their own panel shop, what else do you want BMW working on BMW's.

 

[Naruto]

sorry dude!

What individual were u looking at?
E90 or E46?

 

[akash]

Same thing happened with my uncle with his E46 328i. Both Airbags went, but insurance gave the option of either writeoff or repair. He had them repair the car. Santam was the insurance company.

I think they work with some formulae to decide if the will repair or write the car off.

 

[Raybimmer]

Sorry about the bad news , what makes a guy mad is when the fool still asks who was at fault - shows how stupid he is .
Insurance may write car off if damage is say 75 percent of value so 75 % of 70000 is 52500 . You may be able to buy car back for 15 percent ie about 10500 and repair yourself .Good luck .

 

[MikeR]

:thumbdo: sorry mate.