[Nero10578]

Background is I have an 2007 E92 335i that I bought a little over a year ago and it was a perfectly fine running car.
So just yesterday I was coming up to a corner and it was dusty and because of that I couldn't turn (understeer) and hit a guardrail on the right side. Took it to a body and repair shop and they quoted me $4600 just for the headlight, bumper, hood and fender....not to mention the suspension damage, door, rear quarter panel etc. What do you guys make of it? I only have liability insurance so this is definitely not covered, because for full coverage it would run me $400 a month which is gonna be more than what my car costs in the span of 2 years (I bought it for $7500) I'm so bummed right now and regret driving it yesterday so much.

[Nickco43]

Total it

[macheff03]

Originally Posted by Nickco43

Total it

Agreed

[autoart]

I don't think you can total a car with no liability insurance, can you? If not, just get it drive able. Then slowly get the parts used like the headlight, fender and hood. The back quarter panel is the worst. OR part it -out and try and make your money back that way. Good luck

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by autoart

I don't think you can total a car with no liability insurance, can you? If not, just get it drive able. Then slowly get the parts used like the headlight, fender and hood. The back quarter panel is the worst. OR part it -out and try and make your money back that way. Good luck

I didn't read that bit. It looks like it is part out time.

[Mayorie]

Originally Posted by Nickco43

Total it

+1

[E92.Dom]

Part out

[Nero10578]

Originally Posted by autoart

I don't think you can total a car with no liability insurance, can you? If not, just get it drive able. Then slowly get the parts used like the headlight, fender and hood. The back quarter panel is the worst. OR part it -out and try and make your money back that way. Good luck

Yea I got no insurance to cover it...I'm at a loss at what to do right now as I don't think I can get any decent price out of it if I part it out or sell it as is. Will probably try and do what you said and slowly piece it back together.
The car still runs and no engine components were harmed, I drove it up the tow truck and down to the shop parking lot. It looks like the only damage that affects drivability is the front right suspension...but will know for sure the extent of the damage this Monday.

[6ixSpd]

Liability only and exceeding your driving skills on the street.

Nice.

To fix that thing properly will cost a lot more than what you even bought it for. Let that be a lesson that if you can't afford to insure a high HP car knowing you're going to mess around, then don't buy it. Part that shit out.

[Nero10578]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

Liability only and exceeding your driving skills on the street.

Nice.

Thanks I definitely need someone to tell me I fucked up. /sarcasm

I already know. That's not helping.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Nero10578

Background is I have an 2007 E92 335i that I bought a little over a year ago and it was a perfectly fine running car.
So just yesterday I was coming up to a corner and it was dusty and because of that I couldn't turn (understeer) and hit a guardrail on the right side. Took it to a body and repair shop and they quoted me $4600 just for the headlight, bumper, hood and fender....not to mention the suspension damage, door, rear quarter panel etc. What do you guys make of it? I only have liability insurance so this is definitely not covered, because for full coverage it would run me $400 a month which is gonna be more than what my car costs in the span of 2 years (I bought it for $7500) I'm so bummed right now and regret driving it yesterday so much.

If you really want to keep it, your gonna have to get another car and then bid your time in terms of fixing it up. It's gonna be a project car.

You are gonna have to learn how to take body panels off and put new ones on. That's assuming there's no frame damage.

If it were me, I'd total it and sell off the engine and other parts.

[tcphoto]

You gambled and lost. Either take care of the essentials to keep it drivable or part it out. If you cannot afford to insure it, you will need to have cash in reserve or drive something that you can afford.

[Gamb1t]

Part out. But it may take time. Do you know how to yank stuff out?

[djh2]

What’s your appetite / experience for DIY? I see a lot of expensive cosmetic damage, but depending on your willingness to accept something less than 100% perfect, you may not be out a total loss.

Obviously the suspension and overall frame needs to be checked out and repaired / replaced properly, but you could swap on parts from the same paint code and it would save that cost in paint.

The rear quarter needs body work, you can’t just swap out parts there.

Out of pocket could be still $2000+ if you provide a lot of work. In any case, you did a lot of damage and it’s going to be a long process to get it back together.

I have done body work, part swaps, and some paint on my car over a couple of situations the past few years. My car isn’t a show car, it’s not perfect, and it’s not the way most people here would want their car. But in my book it’s a 187k mile 328i from ‘07 that drives well and still “is a BMW” to everyone else.

[Efthreeoh]

That's way more than $4,600. Even with used parts. They'll have to cut the quarter out, and you have frame damage. I'd bet the suspension is bet too. Rim is toast. Not carrying collision insurance is not smart unless you can self insure.

[autoart]

I just looked at Craigslist in the bay area and their are a few cars on their getting parted out. Make a list of parts you need and check them out. You can put it back together, but it wont look pretty. It will run and get you where you need to be tho. At least no air bags went off.

[Nero10578]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

If you really want to keep it, your gonna have to get another car and then bid your time in terms of fixing it up. It's gonna be a project car.

You are gonna have to learn how to take body panels off and put new ones on. That's assuming there's no frame damage.

If it were me, I'd total it and sell off the engine and other parts.

There doesn't seem to be any frame damage according to the shop I took it to. I am pretty adept at DIY and pretty sure anything that's just exterior panels and headlights etc. I could do myself so yea this is looking like its gonna be a project car...

Originally Posted by tcphoto

You gambled and lost. Either take care of the essentials to keep it drivable or part it out. If you cannot afford to insure it, you will need to have cash in reserve or drive something that you can afford.

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Part out. But it may take time. Do you know how to yank stuff out?

Yea I don't know about parting it out...but what do you guys reckon I'd get from a partout though. Everything is good mechanically, shit it doesn't even have any wastegate rattle at 115K miles.

Originally Posted by djh2

What’s your appetite / experience for DIY? I see a lot of expensive cosmetic damage, but depending on your willingness to accept something less than 100% perfect, you may not be out a total loss.

Obviously the suspension and overall frame needs to be checked out and repaired / replaced properly, but you could swap on parts from the same paint code and it would save that cost in paint.

The rear quarter needs body work, you can’t just swap out parts there.

Out of pocket could be still $2000+ if you provide a lot of work. In any case, you did a lot of damage and it’s going to be a long process to get it back together.

I have done body work, part swaps, and some paint on my car over a couple of situations the past few years. My car isn’t a show car, it’s not perfect, and it’s not the way most people here would want their car. But in my book it’s a 187k mile 328i from ‘07 that drives well and still “is a BMW” to everyone else.

Thanks for the insight, yea the suspension is definitely borked on the front right but the frame seems to be intact and not bent according to the shop that took a look at it. I'm thinking along the lines of getting it drivable and slowly getting parts off of junkyards and part out cars.

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

That's way more than $4,600. Even with used parts. They'll have to cut the quarter out, and you have frame damage. I'd bet the suspension is bet too. Rim is toast. Not carrying collision insurance is not smart unless you can self insure.

Yea I now realize its stupid to not have full coverage...

Originally Posted by autoart

I just looked at Craigslist in the bay area and their are a few cars on their getting parted out. Make a list of parts you need and check them out. You can put it back together, but it wont look pretty. It will run and get you where you need to be tho. At least no air bags went off.

Thanks man, I did look myself too found a few near me doing partouts might look into those and junkyards. I don't need it to be perfect because it wasn't to begin with either, the right door and quarter already has a massive dent and paint scrape from some idiot a few days back and the front bumper was already well fucked from so many years of rock chips.

[Bob Shiftright]

Originally Posted by Nero10578

Yea I now realize its stupid to not have full coverage...

Not necessarily.

Depends on your age, collision insurance rates and the value of the car.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Bob Shiftright

Not necessarily.

Depends on your age, collision insurance rates and the value of the car.

Only if the OP can write a $7,500 check for another car.

[naf]

at $400 a month for liability, he's already saved the cost of the car in 19 months of ownership. not considering depreciation.

for a $4600 repair, less deductible and you're looking at maybe 10-11 months of liability payments?

I wouldn't cover it with liability either at that cost.

[Bobh59]

Originally Posted by naf

at $400 a month for liability, he's already saved the cost of the car in 19 months of ownership. not considering depreciation.

for a $4600 repair, less deductible and you're looking at maybe 10-11 months of liability payments?

I wouldn't cover it with liability either at that cost.

Exactly.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by naf

at $400 a month for liability, he's already saved the cost of the car in 19 months of ownership. not considering depreciation.

for a $4600 repair, less deductible and you're looking at maybe 10-11 months of liability payments?

I wouldn't cover it with liability either at that cost.

I wouldn't either.