A construction worker hit my car with a backhoe

[Bimmer128i]

So, a backhoe with forks on the front of it stabbed my car today. I was completely still in traffic and the driver apparently "didn't see" me after I just passed him, he then pulled out and hit me. They gave me a Certificate of Liability Insurance paper and told me to go to three different places for an estimate? So, I filed a claim with my insurance against them. Sadly I think the car is just going to end up as totaled.

[tracer bullet]

That sucks! Sorry.

FWIW it can be repaired, but yeah, it won't be easy and would be spendy. May weld in a donor section or something.

[Tommm]

Doesn't look like the frame got hit. New quarter panel. What was it worth before the incident?

[________]

Sorry to hear.

Did you already have a thought about the next car you'd have when/if this happened?

Glad you are ok though? I carry a newborn in the car and I hope this didn't invade the cabin?

[Bimmer128i]

Originally Posted by Tommm

Doesn't look like the frame got hit. New quarter panel. What was it worth before the incident?

I'm not too sure how much it's worth now, it has about 120k miles.

[Bimmer128i]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Sorry to hear.

Did you already have a thought about the next car you'd have when/if this happened?

Glad you are ok though? I carry a newborn in the car and I hope this didn't invade the cabin?

Yes, I've wanted a 135i or 335i for quite sometime now. But never planned on selling the 128i as I put a lot of work and time into it.

[fotontom]

Looks repairable. I had a similar situation, same area on the car, when I had my Z4M. The repair shop did so well, the repair was never detectable. Luckily it did not harm the metal cover flap for the roof on your car.

[________]

Originally Posted by fotontom

Looks repairable. I had a similar situation, same area on the car, when I had my Z4M. The repair shop did so well, the repair was never detectable. Luckily it did not harm the metal cover flap for the roof on your car.

How much did that cost?

[fotontom]

Originally Posted by Onesie

How much did that cost?

Happened 14 years ago. If my memory is accurate, it ran about $3500. My insurer was GEICO, no questions. And yes, the rear quarter panel, along with the tail lamp were banged. Not sure what is behind that panel on an E88. Hopefully, it did not damage any of the top mechanism.

[..Rush..]

Sorry about the damage you experienced on your convertible.

[Bimmer128i]

Originally Posted by fotontom

Happened 14 years ago. If my memory is accurate, it ran about $3500. My insurer was GEICO, no questions. And yes, the rear quarter panel, along with the tail lamp were banged. Not sure what is behind that panel on an E88. Hopefully, it did not damage any of the top mechanism.

I truly do think that the car is going to be totaled out the pictures doesn't do it justice. I can feel an indent on the other side of the panel where the hole is.

[Lucky1]

I can't stand to see 1er's taken off the road permanently. I'd feel awful. Sorry about your situation; hope it works out for you.

[Bimmer128i]

So guys a bit of an update. Their insurance has provided me with a rental and they are going to get someone out to estimate the damage to the car here soon. Also here in Arizona the damage has to be at least 70% value of the car for it to be totaled! So it is very 50/50 here depending on the body/frame damage.

[lowE88]

Sucks to see. Shouldn't have gone through insurance unfortunately. At that point the construction company was on the hook to repair it out of their pocket. Something similar happened to me with construction going on near my office. They must have been doing insulation and blew a ton of it all over my car. They paid for a $2k detail job to make it right. I could have pressed for my top to be replaced but at the time I didn't need it.

[________]

Originally Posted by Bimmer128i

So guys a bit of an update. Their insurance has provided me with a rental and they are going to get someone out to estimate the damage to the car here soon. Also here in Arizona the damage has to be at least 70% value of the car for it to be totaled! So it is very 50/50 here depending on the body/frame damage.

I was basing my "totalled" assessment on the repair cost being 70% of the auction value of the car already. Hope it's less! But wouldn't be surprised it if hit that.

[Bimmer128i]

Originally Posted by Onesie

I was basing my "totalled" assessment on the repair cost being 70% of the auction value of the car already. Hope it's less! But wouldn't be surprised it if hit that.

Originally Posted by Onesie

I was basing my "totalled" assessment on the repair cost being 70% of the auction value of the car already. Hope it's less! But wouldn't be surprised it if hit that.

Ya honestly it sucks but maybe buy a 335i or 135i out of this???

[________]

Originally Posted by Bimmer128i

Ya honestly it sucks but maybe buy a 335i or 135i out of this???

Some things come to present opportunities! Regardless, best of luck!

[tracer bullet]

I dunno, if it's totalled take the money then buy it back and repair it to a "good enough" standard? Assuming you really do like the car enough. It won't be a perfect repair but you could fix the external damage. I'd get a quote or two on it at least to see.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

I dunno, if it's totaled take the money then buy it back and repair it to a "good enough" standard? Assuming you really do like the car enough. It won't be a perfect repair but you could fix the external damage. I'd get a quote or two on it at least to see.

Problem going this route is the title of the car is going to be branded as a salvage if the insurance company does total it. Then if the car is restored, it would have to be inspected by the state's motor vehicles and the title would then be changed to a salvage rebuilt in order for it to be registered. The car would still be tainted if resell ever comes up. You would have to really really like the car to go through all of this and have no intention to sell the car for quite some time. In the motorcycle world, this happens all the time where people buy back totaled motorcycles or someone buys it off of auction. But the motorcycle world is quite a bit different than the car world. Many of these salvaged bikes are either used as track bikes or stunt bikes.

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Problem going this route is the title of the car is going to be branded as a salvage if the insurance company does total it. Then if the car is restored, it would have to be inspected by the state's motor vehicles and the title would then be changed to a salvage rebuilt in order for it to be registered. The car would still be tainted if resell ever comes up. You would have to really really like the car to go through all of this and have no intention to sell the car for quite some time.

100% agreed. OP mentioned having put a lot of work and time into the car and planned to never sell it so it seemed worth at least getting a quote. But you're right, the rest has to factor as well.

[Lester]

I would take it to an independant auto body shop, one who specializes in European cars, and get them to give you an estimate. If it's repairable and able to be brought back to as new, then have it repaired.

[Bimmer128i]

So, their insurance sent an appraiser out to look at the car today and he just sent me the estimate and he believes the total for the repair to only come out to $3,556????? The car will be headed to a BMW Collision Center for their estimate here soon. Idk what to think about this considering there's a hole in the fender and I'm not sure what else it could have damaged because of deep it went in. I could take some more pictures of the car tomorrow just so you guys can see and let me know. I know you guys aren't appraisers but you have been more helpful than anyone else.