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Original poster

T boned today - repairable ?

32 replies

middleoftheroadlife · 07/02/2023 21:30

So I was driving to the shops from work to get some lunch. I was on the road going straight and a car came out of a side road straight into my drivers rear side. Insurance have been told and we exchanged details. Insurance agreed not at fault and have organsised a courtesy car and for my car to be sent to the repair shop which has all happened very quickly to be fair.
There's fairly extensive damage to the rear door and red paint and scartches to alloys as well. I can't work out of there's also red paint inside the wheel as well as on the tyres as it was getting late once I got home from work (pics) and wondered if there was could the wheel be compromised?
It's a BMW X1 77K 2015 and I'm wondering if it could possibly be a write off or if this is easily repairable.
I don't want to open the door as I'm not sure if it'll close again. Insurance weren't sure if it's safe to drive or not without someone seeing it.

If it's repaired, does that mean it's value will be diminished as well as it will have an accident recorded against it?

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 07/02/2023 21:32

Depending on the age of the car that will probably be an economical write off. You can buy it back and get it fixed but it will be basically worthless afterwards. We bought back our economical write off for £500 didnt bother repairing as it was just cosmetic damage not structural and have got another few years out of it so it was worth it for us but with that damage you would have to get it fixed so might not be worth it for you.

Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 07/02/2023 21:41

Thanks for reply hellocat. Car is 2015 plate.

OP posts:
Shade17 · 07/02/2023 21:57

It very much depends on whether the shell/wheel arch is damaged or just the door. If just the door then it’s a really easy repair.

Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 07/02/2023 22:16

Thanks Shade.

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 07/02/2023 22:32

Shade17 · 07/02/2023 21:57

It very much depends on whether the shell/wheel arch is damaged or just the door. If just the door then it’s a really easy repair.

This is true but the issue is whilst it is an easy repair the insurance will insist in it being repaired by a BMW approved garage and with genuine BMW parts which pushes the price of the repair up significantly which is sometimes where the issue of an economical write off comes in to play. Fingers crossed for you OP. Also dont forget to claim for any car seats you may have in the car as they will all need replacing.

SoupDragon · 07/02/2023 22:37

I had worse than that on my SMax and it was apparently close to being a write off. Mine involved the main body of the car to the rear as well though and this pushed the labour cost up as it involved removing the fuel tank amongst other stuff. Similar age to your car at the time.

obviously didn't involve any increased costs of being a BMW though!

Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 07/02/2023 22:46

Thanks Hello. The kids are older now so we don't have any expensive car seats. I just have the booster for my youngest. I guess it depends if they find any damage underneath the cosmetic stuff.

OP posts:
Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 07/02/2023 22:54

Thanks soup. Glad you were able to get it repaired (just!).

OP posts:
TheSandgroper · 07/02/2023 23:11

I wouldn’t want to drive it. The chassis would almost certainly have its integrity compromised. And the axle, and the hub. And the wheel. And the seatbelt bolts. Plus the body parts that you can see. An early Christmas present to myself was just this. It was a very low speed impact and was written off.

Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 07/02/2023 23:18

Sand, did you have the same car? I agree, I don't think I want to risk driving it tbh especially with the kids in there.

OP posts:
cheeseismydownfall · 07/02/2023 23:21

I had an identical scenario back in the summer in a vehicle that I would imagine would be worth less than yours (not a prestige brand and 150,000 miles on the clock). The damage looked pretty extensive and the tyre was in shreds so undrivable. The recovery guy who collected it from the scene warned me to empty all my belongings out because he didn't think I'd see it again. To my surprise it wasn't written off - it was in the shop three weeks in total and needed a ton of work and I am certain the insurance company/assessors misjudged how expensive it would be to repair.

Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 07/02/2023 23:37

3 weeks cheese! How frustrating. 😫

OP posts:
Rebel2023 · 07/02/2023 23:46

Mine was in for about 2 weeks with a lot less damage - I skidded, wrote my neighbours car off BlushBlushBlush and damaged mine
On the plus side, they gave me a lovely courtesy car which I nearly cried giving back Grin

AlmostSummer21 · 07/02/2023 23:50

@middleoftheroadlife I'm glad you're ok!

no one can say from photos, you'll just have to see what they say tomorrow (most garages will give the owner a copy of the report sent to the insurance) & then see what the insurance says.

if it's an uneconomical repair for them you can decide what you want to do with it.

The driving standard has dropped, like a lead balloon since pre covid (and it was bad enough then)

my partner has a terrible drive daily and the things he sees are beyond belief!!

Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 08/02/2023 00:08

Almost, I agree. It's pretty scary out there. Only takes a few seconds of lost concentration. There's lots of kids around on bikes and mopeds in that area too so I'm always careful driving around there. My daughter keeps asking for an electric scooter and I flatly refuse because of this kind of thing.

OP posts:
Witsendwilly · 08/02/2023 00:19

If I had to place a bet one way or another I would say that is repairable with just a new door and some light cosmetic stuff.

The wheel will be fine and looks like it has hardly been touched. I can’t imagine there is damage to the hub, axle etc from that.

Did all of any of the airbags go off? If not I would guess you will have your car back fairly soon, but am obviously only basing that on a couple of photos.

Either way. It doesn’t sound like anyone was injured so chalk it up as a life experience. Worst case, you get some cash to buy a new car.

Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 08/02/2023 00:33

Thanks witsend. Photos are not very good anyway tbh. No airbags went off, no warning messages. You are right and I'm lucky no kids in the back and he didn't hit me in the front.

OP posts:
Shade17 · 08/02/2023 09:36

That’s true of course, but in that scenario I wouldn’t hesitate to buy back the salvage, have a used door fitted and pocket a decent amount of cash.

Shade17 · 08/02/2023 09:37

Hellocatshome · 07/02/2023 22:32

This is true but the issue is whilst it is an easy repair the insurance will insist in it being repaired by a BMW approved garage and with genuine BMW parts which pushes the price of the repair up significantly which is sometimes where the issue of an economical write off comes in to play. Fingers crossed for you OP. Also dont forget to claim for any car seats you may have in the car as they will all need replacing.

Show quote history

Sorry, quote fail!

Hellocatshome · 08/02/2023 09:41

Shade17 · 08/02/2023 09:36

That’s true of course, but in that scenario I wouldn’t hesitate to buy back the salvage, have a used door fitted and pocket a decent amount of cash.

Yes thats what we did when our was an economic write off. Only thing to consider is when you are likely to want to sell it. We will now be keeping our until it is run into the ground as it is essentially only worth scrap value now.

Margarita45 · 08/02/2023 09:55

I’ve seen something very similar recently, that was repaired at a cost of £5k (labour, paint and VAT). A new door would probably cost more.

So really it’ll depend on what your cars worth at the moment.

Original poster
middleoftheroadlife · 08/02/2023 12:12

Thanks everyone.

Now the bodyshop called. They said its drivable based on one pic I sent last night. They can't take it in or assess until 28th. I can't get a courtesy car until its been taken in.

Would you be happy driving this with kids in the back honestly without it being checked or am I overreacting?

Some side pics below.

OP posts:
Blablablablaba · 08/02/2023 12:39

I think a 15 plate Bmw will def still be worth a decent amount as car prices are high. The damage doesn't look too bad I expect they'll repair it. U should look up webuyanycar or the likes for an idea of how much it's worth. I'd assume that wld be £3k of damage possibly a bit more.

Last time mine was in an accident the door wasn't as badly damaged as that. It was broken wing mirror and dent/scratches to door as someone reversed in to it outside my house. Car was away for 4 weeks though!

Blablablablaba · 08/02/2023 12:45

Is this through insurance? Just seen ur update. I had 3 no fault accidents within 18months and every time they came and got the car within a day and had me a courtesy car within 24hrs. The first time I had a courtesy car delivered within 2hrs of calling my insurance they hadn't even taken my car away yet. I was able to drive the car a short journey back to my house (well one time it was already home) but they always dealt with it all very swiftly.

SoupDragon · 08/02/2023 12:53

I drove short distances in mine but did not have anyone sitting next to the door.