Sh*** Happens, What next?

[understr]

On the way to work today I took a different route to get my registration taken care of. I was behind a Dodge p/u and glanced down for a moment to get my sunglasses out of the console. When I looked up, the suv in front of the dodge had slammed on its brakes to make a last second left hand turn across a double yellow line. The dodge in turn slammed on its brakes right when I looked down.....

http://a338.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/56/l_cff8cd7d4f35580b9a980d447cec3b91.jpg

http://a209.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/110/l_9f01a020cf383b35a1d1bd5152ae82e8.jpg

Thankfully I had not yet installed my new hid's and the brand new M3 bumper sitting in the spare bedroom.

The question is what now? Its a 318is with the M44 so its not the most desireable model but its a perfect dd that gets 30mpg routinely.
Part it or fix it?
I have new headlights, corners and an M3 bumper, but the hood, wings, grill panel, rad support, fan, and everything else in there is wasted.

Opinions?

(don't mind my ebay headlights, they were a neccesary temp fix.

[MisterBimmerMan]

ouch

[NickR23]

I wouldnt even think twice about fixing it, looks like it would be pretty strightforward, just needs body work mostly. Ive repaired and sold cars that were way worse off.

Sucks that it happened in the first place though, at least your alright.

-Nick

[racermp]

that blows.

it's 1.5 to 2k to fix that. or u could go 4-5mpg's less and get a 325/328 :)

[BavarianM52]

The body work I don't think will be the problem. The problem will be replacing all the cooling components, frame work that can get pricey quick.

[motorwerks]

I would personally strip off anything I would want for a future E36, and part out the rest. Anything left over would then get recycled for a few hundred extra $'s.

[afizidris]

doesnt look too bad. have the cooling and stuff checked out before you decide on what to do.

[jaykarayj]

The real questions is what will it cost to repair compaired to what you can sell it for and then time and effort...

[understr]

I've been tossing it around. If I can find a parts car or a mostly complete car in the salvage yard I can repair it pretty cheaply. But I'm just hacked b/c I just finished a ton of front end work.
I can do all the work except the paint so I won't get raped by a shop. The cooling system will be the only $$ part.
I dunno, I may part it.

[Dejan33]

I say part it, and either get a E36 328 or M3, thats what I would do anyways.

[pussiwillow]

the important thing is that your ok, its very fixable, find a bmw that was slammed in the rear and use parts off that. very cheap alternative...

[racermp]

yea it missed hte reame, all u have to fix is the front section of core support, radiator support and slap on fenders and hood and grill panel thingie. then u have the radiator/condensor if they are leaking. fans maybe

looks rough but it's not bad cuz if just missed the frame rails and hit soft metal

i say if u can bolt everything on and get it lined up for paint, body shop shouldn't charge more than 500 to paint the front

[456meyer]

i call the drivers seat.........................

EDIT: and door panels.

[drtweak1992325i]

hey man SAME EXACTY THING happened to me! but it was a cop making the left and a old F-150. i looked at the clock for one split second and BAM! but mine wasnt as bad...

BE GLAD IT WAS A TRUCK! and that all the damage is most likely cosmetic and collant stuff in the front. Took me 1.6k to fix the whole front end doing the work my self.

and the reason why i say be glad it was a truck because if it was a car. it would have hit your bumper and that would have hit your impact shocks and done some real structual damage. Take it home. Start ripping things off look at the damage. Trust me it isnt as bad as it seems.

[understr]

Yeah the hit was all soft metal so I won't have any frame straightening to do. The difficult part will for sure be dissasembly. I can't get the hood unlatched to get to anything. I'll have it to our shop by friday (we rolled it to a buddies house down the street) so i'll be able to pull some things off.
Can someone point me in the direction of a parts car or someone selling a front clip? Or if anybody has misc front end parts laying around let me know, I think I may rebuild.

[sar5036]

s52 swap...or sell me that m bumper you had sitting around

by the way...judging by your sig, you were doing 100 right before you hit the brakes?

[4500 RPM]

Fix that sucker since you have the parts. I doubt there's frame damage.

It will cost a lot more to get another car and sort that one out.

[m2pc]

It's not too bad -- just buff it out! :(

J/K.... sorry this happened to you man... I wrecked my old Camaro 2 weeks before my wedding day and was totally devastated! :(

Anyway, I'd probably just sell it off as parts, and save your new goodies for another E36... you should be able to find one for not too much $$$.

I think of it this way: If you're not totally attached to this car then just get another; spend your time doing fun mods and improving a new one vs. fixing your wrecked one.

IMHO of course. Your mileage may vary.

[understr]

s52 swap...or sell me that m bumper you had sitting around

by the way...judging by your sig, you were doing 100 right before you hit the brakes?

hahaha. seriously! Naw, I have that in my sig because i'm a licensed racecar driver and believe in 100% effort.... but you'd think I could avoid something like this!! lol

edit:
ps-S52 swap!? It didnt touch the motor!

[bmwguy99]

so had you payed registration yet?
that sucks, but i reckon its fixable :P

[yeomgon]

NIce rims btw.

[sirius600]

At least those headlights are gone now.

[marineifra]

i take it you didn't have full coverage..and i don't wanna hear anyone talk shit abt my headlights at least they are the blacked out ones :) you buy me the ones that you like, i'll get the ones that i like for $40 from a friend of mine, ok?
heres 1500: hood, bumper, nose panel, and the pass side grill....
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll306/marineifra/DSC02231.jpg
a pickup backed into me a few weeks ago. it had an m3 bumper already, so its getting a new one, oem nosepanel, and a cf vented hood (hood 580 shipped! woo hoo!) anyhow...sorry for your loss. depending on your financial situation, i'd probably part it out myself...that can be lucrative...and then get another one. im going to guess that the car is worth less then 4grand and you are looking at half of that or more potentially...

[sar5036]

edit:
ps-S52 swap!? It didnt touch the motor!

thats not a good enough reason not to s52 swap

[understr]

Got some new pix today, gimmie a min and i'll get em' up.

[understr]

Ok, still don't have the car to our shop yet but I got some better shots with my camera, instead of the phone.
It appears that the fan is pushed into the motor but the rad is actually straight, could it be that its not broken?? The rad support was pushed back pretty evenly...i'm gonna try to get things dissasembled starting tomorrow night. We'll see what lies beneath. I guess if I fix it I have an excuse to go back with a cf hood and whatever else i've been wanting to do....


http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n10/Jovialmess/DSCN0154.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n10/Jovialmess/DSCN0156.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n10/Jovialmess/DSCN0157.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n10/Jovialmess/DSCN0158.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n10/Jovialmess/DSCN0161.jpg

[sirius600]

How about the front suspension? Have you had it inspected, or alligned to see if there was any deformity? What about the frame rails? Those are one of the key things to look for.

If the suspension and frame are good, then i dont see any reason why you cant easily replace the front end, along with both fenders. Depending on how good you are, you may be able to do it in a weekend or two, then its just the painting.

[drtweak1992325i]

yea man just start tering it all apart and see whats good and whats bad. Its fixable

[understr]

Started to tear into it, man, how do body shops get all the smashed stuff off? I need a friggin plasma cutter to get the hood off! I think I may strap the thing to my Jeep and give it a good 4x4 low range yank! The suspension is good though, and no evidence of frame rail warp or wrinkle.
Anybody have any fenders or anything for sale?