bmwe21.net forums

Hi everyone,
Really worried im going to loose my car. So the story goes. On Monday I parked my car in a perfectly legal fashion and unfortunately when I came back to it the front wheel arch, bumper and a little area on the bonnet had been damaged. There was no note but after knocking on a few doors I tracked down the person responsible, they had reversed out of their drive and hit my car, there was no damage to hers but the damage on mine has resulted in a bill for 1500 pound. It needs a new wheel arch and bumper and then all the rest of labour, painting costs.
I told the person who hit my car and although she would like to be able to pay cash she thinks she will have to go through the insurance company. She has admitted fault, the thing im really worried about is the insurance company will write my car off and take my pride and joy away. She is in amazing condition, only 63,000 miles on it and im slowly making her mint. As im sure you all know the feeling, she is my prized possession and I don't want her to go. Looking around and some of the cars for sale on the net the cars in similair condition ie very very good, excellent are worth between 3000 - 3500 grand so I feel strongly the insurance company should pay for the repairs. At the end of the day my car was parked up and someone else has damaged it. Surely it should be put back to how it was. I had literally just spent alot of money on her and she was running beautifully. Now im worried my E21 is going to be scrapped and ill end up with next to no money from the insurance company and wont be able to have an E21. To be honest I dont want another E21, I want my oe, something I have spent money and effort on and I know inside out.
Does anyone have any ideas. I really am unsure what the outcome will be. Im praying the person responsible will just pay for the damage without the insurance company getting involved. If not im concerned.
Thanks guys, a very annoyed
Joe

do you not have an agreed value?

mine is 8k!

you really need to have a chat with the insurance people and explain that the car is easily worth 5k and that if they deam it uneconomical that you want the option to buy it back.

Sad to hear that! I'm not sure about the procedure over there, but over here we usually try to prevent these situations. In many cases our cars are insured against appraisal value (we have an appraisal report made by an independent specialist). This prevents us from having issues on establishing the value of the car. Not a great help for you sofar, but considering condition and mileage perhaps at some point a report was composed?

Thanks for the quick reply guys. Stupidly I havent got an agreed value on the car yet, it was something I planned to do when I had done all of the things I wanted to on her. Lesson learned. If it goes to the insurance company then I guess I will have to do what I can to make them do the work. What a pain

Yes, she will have to inform her insurance company of the incident (in theory expect to be informed over someone knocking your mirror off), but if she wishes to pay you herself out of her own pocket, surely it is entirely a matter between yourselves of how you are compensated. Paying you herself would give you the option of sourcing good s/hand panels and paint, possibly a lot cheaper for her in the long run.

You have PM

Best thing is to get a written valuation from the BMW Car Club e21 registrar. There's no reason why they shouldn't pay a £1500 estimate, although they may ask for more than one.

My advice would be to get two or three quotes.One from your prefered body shop,one from any local body shop and one from your local BMW dealership.
The BMW quote will be astronomical,i guarantee it.The local repairer will be competitive compared to BMW's.Then you argue for your prefered bodyshop.The chances are that the insurer will want you to go to one of their "authorise repairers".You know the ones,with 30-40 smashed cars out the back and you wait for ages till they get round to yours.
If you tell your insurers that your prefered repairer is a classic specialist and will repair it properly,with care and at a cheaper rate than the other two companies,plus you've heard bad reports about he repairer they use...blah blah blah...i reckon they'll cave.
Then you're free to come to a deal with said prefered repairer to maybe do a bit more,if it needs it.
Thats the route i have taken on three occasions.One E21 320a-full repaint,one E30 M3-full strip and repaint +new rear quarter and an E28 528i-bottom half respray.so it can be done,just don't stand any bollocks.

Good luck

Gaz

PS

Don't worry,you won't loose your car.Worst scenario is they write it off and you buy it off them for a low price.Ok,you'll wind up with a cat 'D' but you just get a VIC certificate for about £100 and hey presto,you're back in business.

Hi guys,
Just wanted to say thankyou so much for the advice and reassurance. Feel alot more confident now. Ill get a couple of extra quotes and stand my ground. Ill keep you updated with the outcome. The lady doesn't want me to loose my car but has to ask her husband whether they can afford it, without getting insurance companies involved. Fingers crossed. Thanks again.
Joe

Good luck,Joe.We're all with you,i'm sure.

Gaz

Always a shame to read such news .. hope you can sort it out insurancewise

Cheers everyone.
Still waiting for an update myself. Ill keep you all informed.
All the best
Joe

So she drove off from the scene without leaving a note or anything? I bet her face was a picture when you knocked on the door.

My best friend is an insurance assessor so if u need some advice, just drop me your number on a PM and I will pass it on.

any news?