Let's Play Guess the Damage!

Originally Posted by Phoenix1

Will - Still have my E61, but picked up a 2013 E350C4 (all wheel drive coupe) for my wife. Different car than our 5 series, corners like glue, very exclusive, attention getter, smile every time I walk up to it. Hoping it will be MUCH more reliable than my car.However, it does not have anywhere near the steering feel of a BMW and the "sport" mode and paddle shifters are a JOKE compared to BMW - but my wife loves it...

Good luck with whatever you do!

I like those a lot. I think the proportions are better than the E Class coupe. You're the first person I've heard from who owns one.

Just wait a little 535 will diesel on sale this year and 3-series with 2.0T diesel. Good fuel economy and power, torque is amazing.

Not much good to say so far. I got a call at 4:45 yesterday from the adjuster. It was a different adjuster than the one who had been assigned to the job early in the week, and she admitted she was new to the job. She said "at first glance and without breaking down the vehicle, I think we see about $2300 in damage."

Which is clearly low, just based on published replacement cost of the parts that are clearly crushed or shattered. I think a headlight assembly plus the crushed quarter panel alone get me to that amount, before they are installed or painted.

There is only one BMW certified body shop in Colorado, which happens to be the body shop arm of one of the dealers. I had the car sent over there for a new estimate. So it's going to be a while, but I didn't see things going in the right direction.

Will,

My daughter was in a minor accident, similar to yours. Progressive gave us also a low ball estimate...it turned out that they were asking the body shop to install used parts instead of new. Their reasoning, our car was used so where the replacement parts. I will not be surprised if GEICO isn't operating along the same lines to reduce costs. Long story short and after some heated conversations with the adjustor, all new parts were installed along with fresh paint. The work was done at Centennial Collision (my choice) in Englewood and I was happy with their work.

GL,
Jim

I'd have no problems with getting used parts provided they were all OE and in the same shape or better than what was damaged on my car. Painting a used hood to match is not really any different than painting a new one. Bottom line is what the insurance company pays out in general affects the premiums they charge.

I would not accept aftermarket parts for anything on a BMW though.

I reviewed the draft estimate, and it looks like they put it together in a hurry. It doesn't include a replacement headlight assembly, calls for a 16x7 wheel rather than an 18x8 (style 124), and doesn't address the dent in the hood via repair or replacement - among other things.

At this point I don't see the damage being enough to total, but I bet it ends up in the $5K to $6K range once they figure everything out.

I told you it's in the range 5-6 thousands , as I had similar a damage on my M3

Originally Posted by phlfly

I told you it's in the range 5-6 thousands , as I had similar a damage on my M3

Probably should wait until all the supplements are in before you start with the "told you so" comments. It's going to be 10k.

I'll say about $3000 if you get the Chinese after market parts... Or from the bronx, Ny (hunts point)... If they don't have it, they'll go find it (if you know what I mean) ha!

It's at the BMW certified repair shop now. I told them not to take the initial estimate too seriously, since I a layman found a few non-trivial omissions. They said "we never do".

Surprisingly, $11,400 and counting. The body shop has stopped progress on the tear-down to get direction from the insurance company.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Surprisingly, $11,400 and counting. The body shop has stopped progress on the tear-down to get direction from the insurance company.

Looks like you are heading for totaled.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Surprisingly, $11,400 and counting. The body shop has stopped progress on the tear-down to get direction from the insurance company.

Oh crap - this is not looking good...

My guess is it's totaled. Put a white flag in the radiator and let 'er go peacefully.

Sorry about that. I've lost 2 now.

Hey, look on the bright side....there's a whole lot of CPO cars out there right now, time to a later model 5 for a killer price!!!!

Originally Posted by Phoenix1

Will - Still have my E61, but picked up a 2013 E350C4 (all wheel drive coupe) for my wife. Different car than our 5 series, corners like glue, very exclusive, attention getter, smile every time I walk up to it. Hoping it will be MUCH more reliable than my car.However, it does not have anywhere near the steering feel of a BMW and the "sport" mode and paddle shifters are a JOKE compared to BMW - but my wife loves it...

Good luck with whatever you do!

If it is like my wife's E350 it should be very reliable. THe E350 is holding up much better than my car!

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Surprisingly, $11,400 and counting. The body shop has stopped progress on the tear-down to get direction from the insurance company.

Big whoops on the original estimate there. Sorry to hear that your car is heading towards total land .

Looks like the final estimate came in at $10,286 - interestingly, less than the last estimate I had - and they are going to repair the car.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Looks like the final estimate came in at $10,286 - interestingly, less than the last estimate I had - and they are going to repair the car.

Do you consider that a good thing or a bad thing?

Originally Posted by schpenxel

Do you consider that a good thing or a bad thing?

I'm not sure. On the one hand, it means I'll go without a car payment for a while longer. On the other hand, the car has a dirty Carfax now, even though this damage is completely cosmetic.

I suppose that if I can drive it another two years without maintenance expense abnormal to a 545 of its age (and I know what all the gotchas are), it will end up being economically a good thing. I was getting excited about a new car though!

Press the insurance company for "diminished value". You may be able to get some cash since your car will be worth less due to the repair.

Originally Posted by Bad Debt

Probably should wait until all the supplements are in before you start with the "told you so" comments. It's going to be 10k.

Now I think I can say, " told you so".

definitely have a diminished value report done.

Originally Posted by Bad Debt

Now I think I can say, " told you so".

definitely have a diminished value report done.

Yep, I think you get the bragging rights.

I've looked at diminished value as a concept on the internet. It looks like the kind of thing where you squeeze blood from a rock with lots of process and hassle. I'd like to talk with someone here who's successfully navigated that kind of negotiation. Using the time to sell more software at work may give me better ROI.

I had a diminished value company in college. I negotiated well over $300,000 for my clients in 3 years. I dont know the laws in CO but in TX, it is paid fairly consistently. What insurance company did the at fault party have? The biggest thing you have working against you is the fact that your car is 8 years old.