[Sharj10]

I had gotten into an accident with my e90, a lady basically ran through a stop sign and as the insurance deems it "totaled" my car. The insurance is claiming it's a total loss. They are giving me a little above what I paid for it however when I get a quote on how much it is to repair the car it's 10k+. They are saying and what it looks like to me other than body damage, needs new upper and lower control arm, as well as rear suspension system. So my question to you all (and I will provide pictures) is does it look like the repairs are 10k? If so is it worth repairing or just selling the car. And if I do sell the car, approximately how much do you all think I can get for it.

Car is at 47k miles
Regular maintenance done routinely, what I had done recently is
- replace the valve cover
-Replace valve cover gasket
-Hydro dip carbon fiber interior all wood panels,
-brand new tires Firestone all around with mount balance and wheel alignment just 3 weeks ago.

No engine or front damage whatsoever ever in the accident. Please let me know thank you all.

[hassmaschine]

That's toast IMO. Salvage value is probably $2k or something. If you can get enough to replace it, I'd take their offer.

[Vivek.]

Sorry for your loss but that's not gonna be worth fixing. Take the money and find another

[ryan stewart]

Concur, you're looking at welding and pulling and hoping they can align it. Would cost a fortune to fix it;"right."

[eljay]

Yes, this is a tough one. That quarter panel will need to be replaced along with bumper and bumper support. That's a lot of $$ right there for body work to cut out, weld, refinish, paint quarter panel etc.
If this was a rare special car, we could go through the effort here in more detail, but if you are being offered a decent value for it, take it and find another one. Even if you repair everything, it would be branded as rebuilt and the resale value will be much lower.
With that much impact, unless the control arms took the force, you are also looking at potential hidden damage to the rear subframe, differential, axles, wheel bearings. It adds up quickly to the point that even if you take the payment and attempt to buy it back to fix, it will take a lot of money to fix it.

[MadJoe]

I just went through something similar; my car was taken out by a manhole cover that bent the rocker panel rail. My insurance company's first offer was an attempt to lowball me, as I'm guessing yours is/will be too, so I shot back and they upped it. It was still a little on the low side, but the process of fighting that can be drawn out, and I have the buying protection clause (it adds 20% to the final valuation) so I just took it.

As for repairing that damage, I wouldn't. It'll never be the same and the value will plummet since the accident was reported. That's a parts car now, nothing more. Just make sure your insurance company is taking into account the ridiculously low mileage when they make the offer. Also submit the invoices for the valve cover, gasket, and tires. They will reimburse you for those repairs/maintenance if they're within a certain amount of time. I doubt you'll get anything for the hydro dipping, though.

[Torgus]

The purple footwell lights probably distracted you.

[Sharj10]

Originally Posted by Torgus

The purple footwell lights probably distracted you.

Kick a man while he's down eh.

[Sharj10]

Originally Posted by MadJoe

I just went through something similar; my car was taken out by a manhole cover that bent the rocker panel rail. My insurance company's first offer was an attempt to lowball me, as I'm guessing yours is/will be too, so I shot back and they upped it. It was still a little on the low side, but the process of fighting that can be drawn out, and I have the buying protection clause (it adds 20% to the final valuation) so I just took it.

As for repairing that damage, I wouldn't. It'll never be the same and the value will plummet since the accident was reported. That's a parts car now, nothing more. Just make sure your insurance company is taking into account the ridiculously low mileage when they make the offer. Also submit the invoices for the valve cover, gasket, and tires. They will reimburse you for those repairs/maintenance if they're within a certain amount of time. I doubt you'll get anything for the hydro dipping, though.

Thank you for the input, I'm probably just going to part it out or selling as is. North Carolina laws are a bit different so even after buying the car back I'm still getting more than I paid for it, any suggestion where I can sell it or part it out. I'm in the nyc area.

[iqraceworks]

It's a 328i, it's not even worth it to repair it. I bet it's got at good $4K in body work needed (if not more), and a couple of grant in suspension and miscellaneous stuff. You are going to have way more in it that it would ever be worth.

Take the insurance money, find a different car with a clean title

[MadJoe]

Originally Posted by Sharj10

Thank you for the input, I'm probably just going to part it out or selling as is. North Carolina laws are a bit different so even after buying the car back I'm still getting more than I paid for it, any suggestion where I can sell it or part it out. I'm in the nyc area.

You're welcome. I'm a little confused, though. You are in NYC but being held to North Carolina law? Either way, you said you got more than you paid for the car even with buying it back, so that's a win. As for parting it out, I don't know. Scrap yards aren't going to offer you much, and trying to part it out yourself is going to be a long and annoying process. Your best bet, I think, would be find someone that wants to buy the whole car off you for a decent chunk. That engine with only 44,000 miles on it has to be worth something to somebody.

[Sharj10]

Originally Posted by MadJoe

You're welcome. I'm a little confused, though. You are in NYC but being held to North Carolina law? Either way, you said you got more than you paid for the car even with buying it back, so that's a win. As for parting it out, I don't know. Scrap yards aren't going to offer you much, and trying to part it out yourself is going to be a long and annoying process. Your best bet, I think, would be find someone that wants to buy the whole car off you for a decent chunk. That engine with only 44,000 miles on it has to be worth something to somebody.

North Carolina title and insurance, accident happened in nyc, but yea I'll probably just list it on Craigslist

[mainbearing]

If the insurance issues you check for the totaled car, don't they own it?

The first insurance offer is usually lowballed. You can search around the local sellers for a similar car and counter offer the insurance company. See what they raise you.

Old BMWs are worth dirt except sentimental value, but today's crazy used car prices may be much more than just covering your purchase price. I would look into it further.

[Fiasco]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

It's a 328i, it's not even worth it to repair it. I bet it's got at good $4K in body work needed (if not more), and a couple of grant in suspension and miscellaneous stuff. You are going to have way more in it that it would ever be worth.

Take the insurance money, find a different car with a clean title

Wouldn't be worth the repair if it was a 335i either, just saying.

[mainbearing]

335i is even worse in residual value because of that lousy N54 engine when BMW was learning how to build a turbo engine.

[TyroneShoelaces]

Originally Posted by mainbearing

335i is even worse in residual value because of that lousy N54 engine when BMW was learning how to build a turbo engine.

Somebody got hurt at the dealer.

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by mainbearing

335i is even worse in residual value because of that lousy N54 engine when BMW was learning how to build a turbo engine.

AWWWW Did someone get gapped by an n54 this morning while in their n52? They probably didn't even know you wanted to race to be honest.

Unless the OP knows a body guy, who he clearly doesn't or he would not be asking online, just take the cash and move on. I agree as said above get more money out of them, find the highest cost versions of your same car for sale and use 3 examples as the 'average' selling price and explain to them they need to be issuing a check in this range so you can replace the car. Used car prices are through the roof, use it to your advantage.

Then again if the OP wants to continue the theme of fancy colored lights and a fake CF interior this might be a good excuse to buy it back and install a widebody kit on the car. Yes OP, I am kicking you when you are down. It's a BMW not a civic i kid i kid

[delmarco]

Looks like the rear suspension and frame is bent. That is where the car is likely totaled.
Used cars are crazy pricey. You could probably sell that as is for $7k and take the insurance payout which should give you around $15,000

The issue would be what would you buy to replace it? You are not gonna get a mint condition 47k miles 2011 E90 for under $15000 right now!

[tcphoto]

Used car prices are crazy during the pandemic and you should get top dollar for a car with 47K miles on it, show receipts and comparable cars in your area to get the most out of them. If you feel inclined, buy it back and part it out but you'll need a place to store it and be willing to pull parts off it and ship. I wouldn't repair it but would fight for a larger check and buy a better one.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by delmarco

Looks like the rear suspension and frame is bent. That is where the car is likely totaled.
Used cars are crazy pricey. You could probably sell that as is for $7k and take the insurance payout which should give you around $15,000

The issue would be what would you buy to replace it? You are not gonna get a mint condition 47k miles 2011 E90 for under $15000 right now!

It doesn't work that way. When you get the insurance payout, the insurance company takes the car.

And....no way anyone would pay $7K for that car, needing all of that work, and coming with a salvaged title.

[delmarco]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

It doesn't work that way. When you get the insurance payout, the insurance company takes the car.

And....no way anyone would pay $7K for that car, needing all of that work, and coming with a salvaged title.

Actually does work like that if you know how to take full advantage of a situation!

Back in 2008, when I was living in Brooklyn, a drunk guy totaled my 1995 318i (165,000 miles on it) in a similar collision but front end - see pictures below.

We both had Geico but he was not only drunk but homey also had a suspended license. Geico paid ALL my hospital bills and I got $2300 for the 318i from Geico and I made them let me keep the car which had a salvage title. I sold the still drivable 318i for $2800 cash and used the funds to buy a 330i back then.

Funny enough the guy who drives that 318i today lives a few miles north of me Upstate NY!!!!

[Torgus]

Usually the insurance company owns/takes the car. They then sell it to a junk/salvage/scrap yard to recoup some of their loss.

You often can buy it back from them or whatever junk/salvage/scrap yard they send it to.