Ohhh no

[Crypty]

I was at HPDE today and carried too much speed during a gradual turn plus gave it a little more. My tail came around while moving 50-60 towards the finish line, there was a lot of open space but not enough. My passenger side went into a curb, front wheel, then back wheel.

Cheers

[Kisenwether]

On the Front wheel for the lower control arm where it bolts on to the front subframe are the holes still intact or are they ripped? If so it will need a front subframe. Will most likely need all control arms for front and possibly some in the rear, might even need a strut for the front. Probably a front knuckle, rotor, and hub. Doesn't seem to be totaled but will need a lot of work, from just the pictures i would say keep a 10k budget for sure. Labor cost will be the most of it.

[M3Carbon]

Ouch.... my condolences. I hope it works out for you.

[PrometheusM3]

So sorry to hear that man.

Threads like these make me reconsider the track...

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by PrometheusM3

So sorry to hear that man.

Threads like these make me reconsider the track...

Don't. The track is awesome. There are far more accidents on the road than the track, probably even as a percentage of cars in each environment. But do make sure you either have regular insurance that covers HPDEs or buy track insurance from a company like Lockton.

But sorry OP.

[deletedelete]

Will insurance cover it?

[Curt2000]

cash out on the insurance money and upgrade!

[LarThaL]

Originally Posted by Dashman

Not if he tells them he was on a race track.

What else would he tell them? Best not to commit fraud over a $10k+ repair.

[deletedelete]

I thought insurance covered it as long as it was a timed or competitive event?

[LarThaL]

Originally Posted by Dashman

I may be wrong, but I don't think standard auto policies would cover damage resulting from track use.

I agree, it's open season on insurance fraud now.

He would not be covered, but to even think about trying to pull a fast one on an insurance company for this kind of money is a criminal offense. There begins the downward spiral of your life !!

[InterJon]

Coverage will strictly depend on the policy language. Everything else is a guess.

Condolences. Please don't let this scare anyone else from the track. If we had video, I am sure we would all see that this was completely avoidable.

[jphughan]

^ Don't lie to insurance. But some policies (like my Amica Mutual one, at least in Texas) cover you as long as you're not "practicing for or competing in a pre-arranged racing or speed contest", which means non-timed, non-competitive events are covered. Open track days without instructors might be dicey even if they weren't timed or competitive because that could be construed as practice since it's not a school event with instructors and classes.

That said, many insurers are indeed rewording their policies to exclude driving on a race track for any reason. The bottom line is that you need to read your full policy, specifically the exclusions section of the comprehensive coverage terms. Although reading your whole policy can provide some entertainment; I learned that damage to my car is not covered if caused by "discharge of a nuclear weapon, even if accidental."

[mdosu]

Sorry about your experience dude

[donovan]

Nice...

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by donovan

Nice...

[saeedg48]

if you're going BMW authorized. mark my words you're looking at 20,000+ before airbags..

[Accelerometer]

Originally Posted by Crypty

I was at HPDE today and carried too much speed during a gradual turn plus gave it a little more. My tail came around while moving 50-60 towards the finish line, there was a lot of open space but not enough. My passenger side went into a curb, front wheel, then back wheel.

My immediate reaction was fuck... I just totaled my car. The other guys assured me that it was not even close. I was hoping some of you with more knowledge than I could have a look at the pics and let me know about parts, costs and any tips. I will be looking to hand this off to a shop next week and have no idea if it's going to be 5k, 10k more?

Side curtain airbag on that side only went off. Both wheels and tires on that side are toast as well as various suspension bits. The rear is not as bad but the wheel is tilted outward at the top and rear wheels not rotating freely (getting off the flatbed was a PITA). There is some body damage to the fender on the rear quarter panel. Scuffs to the bumper, skirt and front QP. My mechanic brother said the cost will largely depend on any subframe damage which we're not sure about at this point.

Here are the depressing pics:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok1a8flvnsrmppr/6B1wM-dI62

Cheers

Sorry this happened to you Crypty. Was this at NJMP? Hoping you purchased some HPDE insurance?

[FogCityM3]

Sorry to hear this, hopefully not too expensive and glad you're ok. Were you running full DSC off or in MDM?

[heartcolorgrey]

OP im sorry man.

[Crypty]

Thanks people. Like clockwork Kisenwether hooked me up with the 220M wheels I need for a good price.. I may also do the side airbag install myself to save before handing it off to the shop. Anyone have any more estimates for what a body shop might charge on this? Assuming I provide wheels/tires and do the airbag myself.

[Crypty]

Originally Posted by Lute

Airbags need to be electronically coded. Your best bet is try to purchase as many of the parts yourself and get the shop doing the repair handle the install.

BMW doesn't usually allow you to use your own parts if you are going to have them do the repair, but it is the best way to save money..Good luck

Thanks, I plan to take it to an independent shop. I have a coding cable and the necessary software though I have not used it. I don't think this would be beyond my abilities at all. Or does coding the airbags require more specialized knowledge or tools?

[bruce.augenstein@comcast.]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Don't. The track is awesome. There are far more accidents on the road than the track, probably even as a percentage of cars in each environment. But do make sure you either have regular insurance that covers HPDEs or buy track insurance from a company like Lockton.

But sorry OP.

In point of fact, during my fourteen seasons as a track rat, both as a driver and an instructor, there were typically at least a spin or three during any given HPDE, and I would guess around one crunch or so at better than one out of two events. More often than not, the "event" at the event usually meant a spin either on track or into the grass, resulting in no more "damage" than a requirement to have the tires remounted in order to get the grass out of the space between the rim and the tire bead.

Still, I've seen serious crunches, including rollovers, at quite a number of events. After all, people are trying to push their personal envelopes (the very definition of an HPDE), and as my fighter pilot son has said: "How are you going to know where the edge is unless you cross it from time to time?"

Don't get me wrong. These events are as much fun as you can have in an automobile while still fully clothed, but it's clearly not like a Sunday morning drive to church. The risk is worth it, in my opinion, but it's still risk. That's why I began running cheaper cars (track Neon, GTI, SRT4, etc.) because if I wadded one of those cars up, not such a big deal.

Of course, many of those cars are better handlers than the M3 (which is far from ideal on track because of heavy understeer, plus its size and weight), so that's another benny.

Bruce