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M5 vs G6. M5 totaled?

26K views 47 replies 35 participants last post by  mcflan 
#1 ·
Hello everyone! Confession: It's been a while, sorry. I've always been so impressed with this community's strength, support, and dedication to helping others with various issues. You folks are the best!

Last Tuesday, I just dropped off my sister from the hospital after a few day's stay. On the short ride home that I've driven a million times, unfortunately I was involved in a collision with a Pontiac G6. Fortunately, I'm physically fine. The other driver stated she's ok too.

I'm driving southbound in a 40mph zone, 4 lane road. I'm in the right lane, as I wasn't passing anyone. No lights, no stop signs for me. Cruise control, taking it easy. About 3PM, the sun is really low. There's a lot of glare from the snow melt that day; it's really bright.

She's exiting Allstate corporate headquarters (Employee of the company). Has a stop sign. Apparently, she decided to hail mary it and haul *** through four lanes. I see her at the last moment, slam brakes, and veer hard right to avoid t-boning her with my front at intersection. She ends up hitting driver side front & rear doors. Impact wasn't horrible on my driver's side doors as the evasive tactics helped to make it a glancing blow with the front of her car. No airbags deployed on my car at this point.

This initial collision stopped her car right there, and effectively sent my car into a spin and slide. My car hit the curb sideways front and rear wheels with significant force and caused RHS curtain airbags to deploy. Sheered both RHS wheels. Car continued sliding sideways in deep snow for about 20 feet, finally coming to rest against a telephone box.

After making sure I'm ok, I gather some personal belongings. I see that she gets out of the car and is screaming, "My baby, my baby!" She's really freaked out. Shaking, seems like she's in shock. I get out and run over to her car. I see front airbag deployed, carseat in the back. She's still screaming, "My baby, my baby!" I grab her by the shoulders and ask her to look at me. "Are you ok?" She says yes. "Is there anyone else in the car?" She says no.

Her baby is the blue G6.

Anyway, a nice witness helped her into a warm car to gather her thoughts. I pull out my phone call authorities, start taking some pics, make some calls, arrange a ride. Police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks... Luckily, ambulance ended up not necessary for either of us.

She was cited but I'm not sure what the ticket was issued for specifically. After about an hour, grabbed the police report, my belongings, etc and headed out of there... 1.5 miles from home.

Interesting thing about this intersection: This is a corporate headquarters. 15 minutes after accident, an off-duty police officer begins directing traffic because it's a dangerous intersection with so many cars leaving after work. Just prior to police showing up, there is a police light mounted on a tripod at the intersection for caution. Guess it didn't help.

Fire & police commented that they're surprised the car didn't flip from the collision with curb. They said they see this all the time in these types of accidents, specifically when car hit curb like it did. What must have saved me from flipping is that it snowed some earlier that day; it was plowed to the curb, effectively creating a little ramp to elevate the wheel just enough not to flip the vehicle. Crazy stuff called luck.

Oh, one last nugget. I say, "I assume you have Allstate insurance...?" She says no... it's too expensive. She has State Farm! Same as my insurer...

I've been in a rental now for almost a week. Picked up a replacement car too: 08' 535xi Sport Wagon. When I settle with ins company, I might pickup one of the M5's here on the board. Something awesome will come up. I hate not having stick, but my dogs fully approve as they never stepped foot into the M5. The M5 has been my daily driver for the last 6 years. So much money into that car keeping it nice and mechanically sound. All those sets of tires! Blizzaks in the winter, PS2's in the summer. So great... ::sigh::

Not the end of the world... just going to have to start new adventures!

Wish you all the merriest of holiday greetings. This little adventure reminded me of how great it is to be healthy and alive, how well these cars are designed, and what's really important.

Sincerely,

Alex

PS: I love the smell of deployed airbags.
 

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#5 ·
Glad to hear that no one was injured.
 
#6 ·
Glad that you are okay. Hate to see another E39 M5 bite the dust, but it kept you safe, so mission accomplished. I am not even going to express my opinion about someone who runs INTO someone else's driver's side and is, then, more concerned about the state of their car rather than the victim's safety...
 
#7 ·
Sorry to hear but glad everyone is ok. Good luck with the insurance, I suggest you buy back the car and sell it to Clemster. Tell your insurance the work you put into the car, show them receipts, etc. and they should compensate you accordingly.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
 
#9 ·
Whoops. You beat me to it while I was typing and oogling over the crash pics!
 
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#8 ·
Glad you're OK and glad you are optimistic about the whole thing... meaning you intend to get another beast!

I think I can say with 99% certainty that they will total your car. Call up Clemster, he should be able to help you through making sure you buy it back from insurance and then sell the car to him to part out to our community! (didn't sound like you intended to part it out yourself)

Again, glad you are OK. Another testament to the safety of BMW's!
 
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#10 ·
Glad the E39 protected its occupants as designed. I just had a close call myself, plenty of bad drives out there, travel safe everyone.
 
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#12 ·
I'm in the north 'burbs as well and my commute takes me by Allstate daily (94S to Willow Rd). Sad to see an M5 go down like that but at least there is one less G6 on the road, that's the silver lining. If you decide to part 'er out, let me know as perhaps there is a part or two to keep another one going down the road. What's your summer tire setup?
 
#13 ·
Will get back to ya'll shortly... just wanted to say a quick thank you for all the well wishes and suggestions. Like I said, you guys are the best.

Got some pics from the tow-yard of both cars, I'll put em up after breakfast :)
 
#16 ·
You handled the situation like a champ. I know that if someone hit my beast I would not have been so gracious. Also glad to hear that you are all right.
 
#17 ·
Her baby??? Stupid woman! I'm glad no one is injured and sorry to see this happened to you. When things like this happen, I see it as an opportunity though, you will pretty much be getting your money back that you have been paying the insurance. You will most likely be paid well over KBB, which is great.
 
#19 ·
Ok, so here's pics from the tow yard... If someone can help point me to a thread about buying the car from ins company, and selling it to another party, please help me understand this process. Or just point me to Clemster... I'd appreciate it.

So instead of seeing what's wrong with the car, I should have been taking photos of what's great with the car, right? Not quite there yet... lol.

As mentioned, there's extensive damage to the driver's side b-pillar at initial impact. The suspension on the vehicle took a massive lateral force at secondary impact. The way the car is bent just aft of the filler cap suggests some serious frame damage... I don't know if the ins company will offer total loss yet or not, but I just can't imagine this being less than a 20k repair. There's damage to front and rear bumpers, each door panel, all wheels and tires, and that's just the stuff I can see. So much for the dinan suspension... Wondering if the RHS brembos are intact. I should have taken a better photo of each caliper. I just didn't have the heart at the time, and space was limited as another totaled vehicle was so close to mine.
 

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#21 ·
Sorry for the loss of a beatiful M5. The pictures suggest that the car is very totaled. Basically, you buy the car back from the insurance, and then resell the car to clemster. I think that is right way to do that process. I hope you will find another M5 to get back in.

Dibs on style 65 if you'd like to sell. Particularly the rear set.
 
#22 ·
Wow, brutal. Too bad I never even got a chance to see it on the road. FWIW I never see other E39 M5s on the road. Maybe 3 total in 13 months so far. Rare around here, for sure. Again, I'm local so let me know if you need help with anything.
 
#23 ·
Thank God no one was hurt. You definitely handled it like a champ. Sorry for the loss but the car can be replaced.
 
#24 ·
My baby. Yeesh!

Poor woman probably didn't realize that she had destroyed something of real value, which is becoming less and less common, when she plowed into you with her common-a-garden G6 Pontiac. :(

If you sell off some of your items after you replace your car, I am looking at buying some front style 65 rims. I currently use a square 18x8 setup for my snows and am thinking about doing the staggered setup for summer.

PS. Glad "Your Baby" did her job properly and you were able to walk away from it.
 
#39 ·
THen if that is the case, I am interested in rear style 65. I called the dibs on those earlier on thread.

I hope you do get good money from the insurance.
 
#29 ·
Glad you are okay.

Never fails to impress me how little damage the E39s occupant area takes when the other car is pretty much totaled.
Fixed for you!! mmmmmm

The E39 sustained a lot of damage too, but not where it counts: inside. It protected the occupant as it was designed to do. Well done BMW!!

Glad everyone is OK, cars can be replaced as we all know, but people cannot.

Regards,
Jerry
 
#30 ·
I've made two attempts to contact the OP, but haven't heard back. If you're not getting my PM's for some reason, please post and let me know so I can provide alternate contact info. I don't like seeing these go to auction as many are being bought up by foreign buyers and exported.
 
#33 ·
Hi Clemster... that's weird, I've received and replied to all your messages from Tuesday, yesterday, and just now. Please advise if you're still not getting my responses...

To everyone, again, I'm so grateful for all the support. I'm still doing fine, physically and mentally :)

About the other driver, as I said, I believe she's doing fine. I sent her a text the next day to confirm and she said she's ok, very sorry, and appreciates the kindness I've shown her.

Could have been so much worse, but luckily, stuff happens and I get to tell ya'll about it. All good.

There's no update from the insurance company. Unfortunately, because of all the accidents (slick weather) and the holidays, the adjusters haven't been able to check out the car yet.

So I've got a rental and I've got the new-to-me 535xi wagon. It's soooo nice. My old '99 540 6speed had a heated steering wheel but the '02 M5 didn't. This is easily the feature I'm happiest to have back in my life. My 8 year old son is also thrilled about the heated back seats. At this point, little things like this are great gifts.

Wishin' ya'll a very happy, safe 2014. Again, thanks for all the support!!!
 
#31 ·
Thats gotta be rough seeing your pride and joy in that sort of state. The other driver must havew been a real piece of work.

Glad to hear you are OK. Good luck on a future M5 purchase.
 
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