My beloved Beast may be totalled by Suburban! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Wright · 8th May 2007, 06:51

Hi there all. I am . . . like really devastated. About 100 feet from my house, my M5 might have met its doom by virtue of a Suburban. Nobody even close to injured, no airbags deployed in either vehicle, the Beast or the 'Burb.

Putting aside the particulars, the 'burb basically hit my car on the right hand side and took off the first foot or so of my Beast. About maybe $500 damage for the 'burb (by my crude pedestrian estimate). I have no clue about my poor beloved beast which sits now in some lot looking very pathetic and forelorn)bumper all lights, hood, right as well as left front fender are toast so???. Sorry, I could not bear to take a picture although I might soon. It looked like a 100 mph collision, with an open mouthed whale for a dignant E39 M5. But, the damage was only to the first forward foot of the car the bumper area of the car, but radiator was busted, not engine but anything forward of the front wheels by one or two inches was suburbanized. My daughter came quickly with some recycled Chinese food pans to catch the anti-freeze so all the neighbors cats and dogs would not end up in Johnny Rebeck's sausage machine. I probably could have driven the M5 away but for radiator problems and the police interrogation for an hour or so and any frame damage that will surface (like parts falling off the car!

Why me (us)

Anyone have to deal with a potential totalled M5? I really concerned about a potential total (92,000 miles) and what the insurance company might do (read: how much $$$ will they pay me); dunno what the "keep all the cash" and "keep some of the cash and the car" estimates are . . . or any other worldly advice my fellow Board Members might have.

Anyone had an issue about . . . bent frame or no bent frame . . . critical of course.

Thought about a new M5 but the license plate on my car is UNBNGLD and I am NOT fond of new M5s although I am more and more tempted by them since they begin to look more obscure, like all the Lexuses we see every day.

Thx all for your thoughts at this oh, so very sad moment.

My wife wants me to buy an Audi, to make it worse, even before the Doctor's verdict about the M5 (and its frame).

W

KevinM · 8th May 2007, 07:12

So sorry to hear of the accident...my sympathies. I'm not sure anything can heal the pain except time and a resolution to the issue. I know I would not be able to take a picture and post it, but taking some pictures to document the damage seems prudent.

I'm a stranger to the issues on which you need help, but it seems to me that you need a body shop you can trust to look at the car and help with the decision. I'm not sure I would completely rely on the insurance adjuster. After a realistic inspection I would think the next steps would be to decide if you want to keep the car, buy a low mileage '03, an E60, or another car. Not a great way to be "set free" but you certainly have an opportunity to get what you want.

Good luck and again my sympathies.

Wright · 8th May 2007, 07:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinM

So sorry to hear of the accident...my sympathies.

Thanks for your kind comments. How do you like your 2007 M Coupe? My Kids are off to college, so heck I guess I do not necessarily need four doors any more!? Ok, lights are going on here, but "Still, I'm [incredibly] Sad"]. Not necessarily a Yardbirds thing going on here, but I take some solace in in my Yardbirds 45 of Still I'm Sad which I am playing right now.

I have never been so attached to any car like my 2001 M% in my whole life, and I doubt if I will ever be again. Particularly because of the friends I have gotten to know (even thought Gustaf needs to practice his billiards game).

Thx for your thoughts about how I can avoid being taken to the Cleaners.

Wright

mottati · 8th May 2007, 07:33

sorry to hear Wright. Don't write off the car yet, from what you describe, low speeds etc, i'd think the car would not be totaled. and 01 with 92k on the clock must have a blue book value of at least 20k+ (i'd hope!) and i can't imagine new front sheet metal, a radiator, fan, condenser and elec fan would run up a tab that high.

palantirion · 8th May 2007, 08:28

That REALLY sucks! Sorry man.

Wright · 8th May 2007, 08:51

[quote=mottati;1037690]sorry to hear Wright. Don't write off the car yet, QUOTE]
Hi Mike; thanks so much for your kind words. I must admit, I am hoping I can caravan down to the next Concourso near Monterey with my M5 friends again for the 6th year in a row in my UNBNGLD Beast, but I am quite fearful of the health of my Beast. $20K+ is still a nightmare from my perspective; $30k OK maybe, but . . . .my engine has only 70k miles (not 92k), and my tranny only 68k miles (not that I did anything wrong

At least I am trying to show some sense of humor here, with my driveway half empty! wah! wah!

When my son and daughter wrecked my 1995 325i, it was at worst $9k, but this I fear is at least $20K . . . so anyone else have to deal with salvage and the same? AT this late hour it seems to remind me of some wierd science fiction movies

Oh, Mike, assuming my Beast lives, I'd like to upgrade its leather boot around the shifter to the awesomely cool red and black boot that you have; while I may be premature here (assuming a good prognosis), I'd appreciate your recon about where you got that done; it really lights up the red/black Imola interior that EVERYONE should have in their beast.

Thx and kind regards,

Wright

thx for all your support, W

chowdah · 8th May 2007, 09:04

For starters:
1. Dictate the body shop of your choosing, with a repairer you trust to advise you. That basis of comparison to the adjuster's opinion from the insurer is valuable
2. Find the value of your car, via NADA and autotrader, plus any recent adds to your car (new tires, service, mods, etc)
3. Decide whether you'll be happy with a repaired vehicle, even if it's done perfectly.

Is fault in dispute? Whose insurer is paying the claim?

jclyman · 8th May 2007, 18:17

Advice on Salvaged Vehicles (read totaled).

Found out, twice, not once, that a salvaged vehicle is NOT necessary a bad thing ... well, given the options you have.

If the frame is bent, in any way, walk away ... let the insurance company pay you off. Understand that a.) they will pay you wholesale not retail Blue Book type prices, and b.) based on the mileage (near 100,000 miles) they will probably not want to take a chance on being faced with a negligence claim in the future ... very picky those insurance companies ... so they will be inclined to total it.

If you love the car ... I suspect you are like me and do ... and, want to keep it, you should consider buying it at salvage value from the insurance company. Make sure it can be repaired to your satisfaction first, and if you think it can, offer to buy it yourself.

Pluses - cheap car to own that you know the history on and a car that will look like new again.

Minuses - the salvage title ... your pink slip (California) will show a salvaged car, so it will be more difficult to sell ... so take lots of pictures before and after ... LOTS.

Again, it can be a good deal ... both of my wife's cars were terrific purchases and went many more miles ... and, after the repairs, looked and drove like new.

But, it will ultimately be your decision. Just don't close your mind to the possibility.

(I live in fear ... well, almost ... of hitting a deer at over 100 MPH, or being hit by another car while waiting for a stoplight, and no new E39s out there to replace it ... )

Nick-NY · 8th May 2007, 18:53

Sorry to hear about your car, but good thinking with the coolant with all those thirsty dogs and cats in Palo Alto.

mottati · 8th May 2007, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wright

Oh, Mike, assuming my Beast lives, I'd like to upgrade its leather boot around the shifter to the awesomely cool red and black boot that you have; while I may be premature here (assuming a good prognosis), I'd appreciate your recon about where you got that done; it really lights up the red/black Imola interior that EVERYONE should have in their beast.

Thx and kind regards,

Wright

thx for all your support, W

I ended up selling mine to a board member! (but may do somthing custom again). I used leatherz.com, you can pretty much specify anything you want, as far as leather, alcantara, what color stitching etc.
Good luck with the car, keep us posted on the insurance dealings.
Mike