[westcountry_surfer]

Just before Christmas, I was unfortunate enough to have an uncomfortable encounter with a 1997 VW Golf. The lad, who had been tailgating for a couple of miles through country lanes, finally was caught out when I had to brake to a stop for an oncoming car at a narrow section of road.

He must have hit me at around 30 mph. The damage to his car was substantial and I left his Golf bleeding fluids from a crumpled front section. I was able to drive away, but my E91 320D 2010 is now with the body repairers and in the hands of the insurance companies.

Superficial damage was to the whole bumper section, with a deep dent to the right side and some scratches to exhaust. Head rest restraints fired during the collision.

My concern is how the accident will affect the structural integrity of the car and value for future sale. I wonder if there are any procedures I should go through with the insurance company to ensure that these concerns are taken into account?

I only have the one image of my car, the dent on the right side of the bumper is a little obscured, but I think you get the picture.

Only had the car a month!

[Pacman83]

Originally Posted by westcountry_surfer

Just before Christmas, I was unfortunate enough to have an uncomfortable encounter with a 1997 VW Golf. The lad, who had been tailgating for a couple of miles through country lanes, finally was caught out when I had to brake to a stop for an oncoming car at a narrow section of road.

He must have hit me at around 30 mph. The damage to his car was substantial and I left his Golf bleeding fluids from a crumpled front section. I was able to drive away, but my E91 320D 2010 is now with the body repairers and in the hands of the insurance companies.

Superficial damage was to the whole bumper section, with a deep dent to the right side and some scratches to exhaust. Head rest restraints fired during the collision.

My concern is how the accident will affect the structural integrity of the car and value for future sale. I wonder if there are any procedures I should go through with the insurance company to ensure that these concerns are taken into account?

I only have the one image of my car, the dent on the right side of the bumper is a little obscured, but I think you get the picture.

Only had the car a month!

I'm sure BMW can advise exactly the steps needed. Can't see that shunt doing much to the structure though.

[Digitalize]

Hopefully the boot floor isn't bent.

[dy63]

Can't see the car being written off at all as damage is minimal

You were rear ended so legally you got nothing to worry about

Value for your car will stay the same as car won't be written off cat d or cat c and you don't need to tell future buyer it got hit in the back

[paulf61]

If you have any concerns about the value being affected, you will need to pursue a claim for diminution which is usually handled by a solicitor. However I can't see that diminution would apply with the damage caused to your car though. Who are you insured with? Chances are that the company I work for could be managing your claim.

Paul

[dy63]

insurance company will pay u out over market value for your car if its a write off so you dont really have to worry. if they pay you out. you should defo buy it back and repair it yourself. lets say they pay you out £10k and its declared cat d

i think youll only buy it back for around 4 of 5k. damage will cost you under £400 to fix and the extra 5k in the bank so you are in a win win situation

[singh21]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

insurance company will pay u out over market value for your car if its a write off so you dont really have to worry. if they pay you out. you should defo buy it back and repair it yourself. lets say they pay you out £10k and its declared cat d

i think youll only buy it back for around 4 of 5k. damage will cost you under £400 to fix and the extra 5k in the bank so you are in a win win situation

Then spend the 5k on mods

[AlanYoro35i]

Originally Posted by singh21

Then spend the 5k on mods

just about enough for a turbo kit

[singh21]

We should start a new thread on what new mods OP should buy with the 5k..

[westcountry_surfer]

Thanks for the all the responses.

Originally Posted by paulf61

If you have any concerns about the value being affected, you will need to pursue a claim for diminution which is usually handled by a solicitor. However I can't see that diminution would apply with the damage caused to your car though. Who are you insured with? Chances are that the company I work for could be managing your claim.

Paul

I am insured through a sub-company, but the claim is being handled by Kindertons.

They have said today that the garage have stated it is repairable. Apparently waiting for word from third party insurance for their response to the statement of events and the request for payment for the repairs.

Originally Posted by singh21

Then spend the 5k on mods

That turn of events now looks unlikely, but I like your thinking!

[westcountry_surfer]

Received the engineer's report today. Looks like £5000 'worth' of damage including 7 days of labour.

Still waiting on a response from the 3rd party insurers. I wish they would hurry up as I am not enjoying the Volvo I have to replace my 320!

[Waspo]

Lets hope the Fecking Knob who hit you is insured and covered for this! Insurance companies will try wrangle out of anything to avoid paying!

Good luck and keep the forum updated!

[Rudz]

...good luck, hopefully u are sorted soon.

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by Waspo

Lets hope the Fecking Knob who hit you is insured and covered for this! Insurance companies will try wrangle out of anything to avoid paying!

Good luck and keep the forum updated!

Ditto that
One less knob on the road for now and hope he has lost his distbin on wheels

[paulf61]

Originally Posted by westcountry_surfer

Received the engineer's report today. Looks like £5000 'worth' of damage including 7 days of labour.

Still waiting on a response from the 3rd party insurers. I wish they would hurry up as I am not enjoying the Volvo I have to replace my 320!

Kindertons are unlikely to take the claim on if they knew they would be unable to recover the costs from the Third Party Insurer so hopefully you'll be ok.

Do you know who the Third Party insurer are?

Paul

[westcountry_surfer]

Originally Posted by paulf61

Kindertons are unlikely to take the claim on if they knew they would be unable to recover the costs from the Third Party Insurer so hopefully you'll be ok.

Do you know who the Third Party insurer are?

Paul

Kindertons have confirmed they have accepted the claim and that the third party is insured. I believe his insurer was 'General Accident' - never heard of them before.

Kinderstons have said they would expect his company to get in touch soon, as my hire car will be costing them each day that passes.

[JulesM]

£5000 to fix that, wow!

[dy63]

Originally Posted by westcountry_surfer

Received the engineer's report today. Looks like £5000 'worth' of damage including 7 days of labour.

Still waiting on a response from the 3rd party insurers. I wish they would hurry up as I am not enjoying the Volvo I have to replace my 320!

not sure if this is right but arent you able to get the costs given to you and you repair the vehicle itself? not writing it off but them giving you the money to fix it yourself. even if they give you £1000. your still winning but £5000 will be fooking brilliant.

[paulf61]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

not sure if this is right but arent you able to get the costs given to you and you repair the vehicle itself? not writing it off but them giving you the money to fix it yourself. even if they give you £1000. your still winning but £5000 will be fooking brilliant.

You're referring to a 'cash in lieu of repairs'. Usually insurers only issue payment upon sight of a fully costed repair estimate and invoice proving the work has been carried out and in some cases request invoices for the parts in order to prevent fraudulent claims.

Paul

[paulf61]

Originally Posted by westcountry_surfer

Kindertons have confirmed they have accepted the claim and that the third party is insured. I believe his insurer was 'General Accident' - never heard of them before.

Kinderstons have said they would expect his company to get in touch soon, as my hire car will be costing them each day that passes.

General accident are a subsidiary of Aviva so shouldn't have to many issues there. Although from our experience, Aviva are a nightmare to make contact with via telephone unless Kindertons have a decent contact there which I would expect they would have.

Paul

[essex_lad]

Exact same thing happened to me just before Xmas. Just make sure the boys insurance company have your car repaired by bmw and not some big accident repair centre with a load of inexperienced boys working on your car.

[phil200tdi]

Did you punch him in the face?