[Gossypiboma]

The car is an 08' 335i E92 with 30k miles.

Finished a 6hr test and was excited to head home for the holidays. While on the interstate a large metal object, which later I found out was part of a frame of a car for scrap metal, destroyed my car at 80mph.

The car launched into the air, came down, smoke everywhere and I was able to pull off to the side.

I get out, and smoke is bellowing from under the hood and there is a huge puddle of oil.

I look under the car and the oil pan is shattered into hundreds of pieces and literally not there anymore, bent metal everywhere underneath, front subframe looks bent, who knows what else. The front bumper took a hit as well.

Before I made it to the side of the interstate the motor sounded horrible and knocking.

Is the car going to be totaled because of the cost of the motor? Does anyone have experience with this sort of accident? I dont want the insurance company just wanting to toss a new oil pan on it or throw a band-aid fix at it. How would they determine if the motor is done or not? If it is gone but not totaled, what do they replace it with? A new motor from BMW? Rebuild it?

State patrol came and filed a report.

I jacked it up to take a look underneath.

Bumper and lower grilles damaged


Steering rack cracked in half


Subframe ripped apart and kinked, Susp arm damaged




Chassis braces destroyed, Oil pan destroyed, Oil pickup destroyed, Downpipes/cats smashed in, O2 wires ripped out and hanging




All under trays missing




and a flat tire

Totaled?

[///M3NACE]

band aid fix to it? You should've called the cops and made a report. Your motors is probably gone threw a rob bearing most likely if your oil pan was dry and destroyed. Car most likely won't be totaled but possibly depending on how many miles you have. Im thinking about 10-15k worth of damage if the engine is gone.

[///M3NACE]

They would do a compression test and they are so many ways they can tell. Im no expert but when I knew there was something wrong with my motor on my m3 i did a compression and a leakdown test. Yours is trauma and not wear so im not sure.

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by ihsanshaik

band aid fix to it? You should've called the cops and made a report. Your motors is probably gone threw a rob bearing most likely if your oil pan was dry and destroyed. Car most likely won't be totaled but possibly depending on how many miles you have. Im thinking about 10-15k worth of damage if the engine is gone.

I did call the cops and there is a report filed.

[BMW_Belgier]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

I did call the cops and there is a report filed.

So you're covered?

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by BMW_Belgier

So you're covered?

Yeah, forgot to mention I have full coverage and have started the claim with my insurance.

What I am concerned about is how the motor/turbos will be dealt with.

[frankg11]

Did you get the info from the offending vehicle. It the company didn't secure the material properly they will have to pay.

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by frankg11

Did you get the info from the offending vehicle. It the company didn't secure the material properly they will have to pay.

Nope. All I saw was a 200lb flying projectile coming my way.

[Kellen]

Hopefully the item was still moving and not resting. Per my agent if an item is still moving then it is covered under comprehensive. If not, collision. So if still moving probably a cheaper deductible and no hit on your rates.

Take the info with a grain of salt though. Just a conversation with my insurance agent one time.

[StevenY.]

Glad you're okay! I think the insurance company will total your car if the amount of money needed to repair your car exceeds or is the same value of your car. Don't quote me on it as I'm too sure.

[tigermack]

It shouldn't be totaled since the engine doesn't cost more than the car...

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by tigermack

It shouldn't be totaled since the engine doesn't cost more than the car...

I'm pretty sure they go off of a percentage of value, say 75%. The damages don't have to equal the cars value.

I don't want a used motor with higher mileage and an unknown history. My car is still under factory warranty for another 50K miles and 3 years so I am worried about how that will play into having a potential used motor as well.

Do they have reman 335i motors? Or will the insurance have to shellout for a new one?

[StevenY.]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

I'm pretty sure they go off of a percentage of value, say 75%. The damages don't have to equal the cars value.

I don't want a used motor with higher mileage and an unknown history. My car is still under factory warranty for another 50K miles and 3 years so I am worried about how that will play into having a potential used motor as well.

Do they have reman 335i motors? Or will the insurance have to shellout for a new one?

New one from BMW is about 15k I think.

[cmyk]

Glad you're OK. As far as whether it will be totaled, that's questionable but it will likely be close. My car is also an 08 and had ~$15,000 in damage this Summer. Insurance adjuster said it "wasn't even close" to being totaled (I have Allstate and I believe they total at 70% of value). A new engine from BMW alone will likely be around that amount, plus any incidental damage to the body and subframe.

If it were my car, honestly I would push to get it totaled out in this situation. Sorry to hear about the accident and best of luck.

[Gossypiboma]

I added pics to the original post.

I'm thinking the car is done at this point

[e92oholic]

Cars done. Frame damage

[BOBKUR]

I would want it to be totaled for sure.

[rorkor]

Engine, frame and body damage = totaled. The incidental damages other than the engine should lead to this. Alignment of drivetrain is likely permanently compromised. I have had the honor of being smashed into in LA traffic a couple of times and they totaled the cars due to frame and suspension damage alone, toss a new engine and all that labor in and you get cashed out. Just be sure to ask for notice so you can pull anything out of the car if they choose to take it in the process.

[Chronumn]

If there is frame damage there is no question it is totalled, unsafe.

[cmyk]

After seeing the pics...yeah, the car is done.

sorry for your loss

I may have missed this but did you get an ID on the vehicle that dropped the scrap metal that hit your car? If so you have a nice (and highly justified) lawsuit on your hands.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

After seeing the first pic, the car looked like it had minor damage, after I saw the laundry list of parts, frame damage, and potential motor damage you may be close to totaling it.

Insurance companies don't do band aid fixes, they are obligated to have certified shops replace with OEM parts and insure the safety of the vehicle.

However, if the car is not totaled I would still sell it, but that's just me.

[E-9-D]

Originally Posted by ihsanshaik

band aid fix to it? You should've called the cops and made a report. Your motors is probably gone threw a rob bearing most likely if your oil pan was dry and destroyed. Car most likely won't be totaled but possibly depending on how many miles you have. Im thinking about 10-15k worth of damage if the engine is gone.

This blog is filled with thoughtless posts like this and it never ceases to amaze me. Read the original thread before posting!!!