Some advice for a someone who has lost

[valdamnit]

So I totaled my car yesterday. I was too brave and I had bald tires. I put no one else at risk except for myself, so thats pretty much the only good thing about it. My 1999 328is which once was the most emaculate care on the planet, is now gone :(. Car was coming for me, had to hit the brakes hard and vear left. Lost control, regained it, but by that time I was heading straight for the curb --> dirt --> 3 foot deep irigation canal --> freeway overpass cement structure(which saved me from fliiping) --> sliding --> dead stop forever.

What I basically wanted to know was if anyone has dealt with this before? You invested countless amount of money into your car only to see it totaled? I have full coverage via state farm, and was just wondering what you guys thought I might get for my car. Everything is outlined right here, aswell as how much I payed for each part:


Hamann 18" HM2 2000
Dinan Stage 2 suspension (springs, shocks, 22 mm front and rear anti-roll bars, shock tower braces) 2700
Dinan Freeflow carbon fiber intake 399
Dinan Stage 2 Software 399
Dinan Exhaust 600
UUC Stage 2 Flywheel 499
UUC Evo3 Short shifter 355
M5 Clutch Kit 400
UUC Pullys 190
3.15 LSD (M3) Differential 700
JL Audio 10w7 Subwoofer 400
Clifford Concept 550 Alarm system 616
S52 M3 Camshaft 400
Xeon Lights 295
Clear corners 200
2 JL Audio Stealthboxes (8IB4) 600
extra 29.41
Bridgestrone Potenza SO-3 Pole Positions 840.96
M3 Spoiler 450
ECIS Crossdrilled/Slotted rotors 500
Cars worth (bluebook 75,000 miles, all packages) 21125

TOTAL 33720.02

You think I'll get a check for that?

Thanks to anyone who cares enough to read this far down :).

-valentino vaschetto

[valdamnit]

http://noproblementerprises.com/albums/bmw/res54192.sized.jpg

http://noproblementerprises.com/albums/bmw/res54194.sized.jpg

http://noproblementerprises.com/albums/bmw/res54195.sized.jpg

http://noproblementerprises.com/albums/bmw/res54197.sized.jpg

http://noproblementerprises.com/albums/bmw/res54196.sized.jpg

[Don Nguyen]

wow really sorry to hear, i know how it must feel :( im not sure how your insurance works, but if you havent talked to them already on how they cover mods they will only give you the base price of what the OEM part would cost not the mod itself.

[Rexversusu]

Seriously shitty. The worst part is that you will never recoup the loss. Insurance companies are notorious about undervaluing modified cars, unless of course you changed your insurance to reflect the replacement value of your car.

Good luck man.

[Rexversusu]

How many of your aftermarket mods are salvageable? Often parting out a wrecked car can help you make back the money you may lose in the settlement.

[Daved]

That was a very nice and clean car. I'm very sorry for your lost.

[Apex E36]

If you have the receipts for all your mods, you MIGHT get something back for them.... I stress might....

Sorry to hear about what happened, just be glad that your alright and no one else is hurt.

Cars can be replaced, people can't.

Best of luck to you.

[onrailsm3]

I have, I feel your pain.

What you do is meet the adjuster when they go to total your car and ask him to set the buy back really low so you can try and recoup the loss. Mine took pitty on me and I got a 90K mile E30 M3 back for $1100.00

I flipped it for more than double. You could part it after the buy back an collect some serious loot on the interior, trim etc.


Hate to be a vulture, but dibs on the rear wing, my wife would be so happy and you'll know some of your ride is living on in good hands.

[Jyep]

so sorry to hear about your car; from the pics; it appears you took pride in pampering your "baby"........keep us posted on what happens.

[BigBear]

Is there any way they will let you convert your car back to stock (if you still have the stock parts) and then you can sell all your mods here on bf.c

[jiggz]

Experiences can vary when it comes to dealing with insurance companies, so I don't want to burst your bubble. However, in general, they wouldn't be including your modifications into the equation regarding the payout.

Did your insurance company know previous to the accident that all these modifications were done? I'm guessing no. Therefore, they're charging you a rate based off a stock '99 328is, worth considerably less, at least to you, then your modified '99 328is. So it wouldn't be fair for them to have to pay the 33K - they aren't getting the appropriate rate for risk.

Hopefully your adjuster will help you out; most of them have a little bit of discretion when it comes to situations like yours, and perhaps are able to cover your entire loss?

Good luck :)

[Don Nguyen]

also, with the taking off your mods and putting on stock parts, AFAIK you can do that, since the insurance company could careless since they arent covering it anyways they would let you take it off, given that you put on the stock parts. Like if you wanted to keep your wheels you can just take it off and put on steelies even if you wanted.

[Rob Levinson]

Are you okay? That's all that matters.

The car can be replaced. Just be glad the list did not include "liver, kidney, left leg..."

- Rob

[speshuled619]

man thats one clean car. where in s.d. do you live? also where did you crash your car if you dont mind me asking?

[Lawrence1]

yup. dont expect to get more than 1-2k for your mods. just take everything out and put the stock parts back on. don;t leave any mods on the car(except the ones that are hard to get to like clutch, flywheel,camshafts,rotors etc.). try to get the LSD and everything else out and sell it separately.


you're probably going to get about ~25 for the car because it was really clean and everything and ins. co. usually pay you more than blue book.(look in the paper and autotrader in your area to see how much cars like yours are going for). check all the dealers in your area and have some numbers ready.


you will loose some money but you'll get enough to get you back
into a BMW.


good luck man !

[Brashland]

When my Uncle totaled his truck he was told at the salvage yard "You can't take anything out of the car other than personal items and necessary paperwork." This was only a few days after the wreck so maybe they wanted it intact for the appraiser?

I thought that once you let them know of the situation is was sort of theirs and you couldn't make additional changes, otherwise you might strip the car so they end up totaling the husk of what it was before. I never had to deal with this so a lot of my thoughts have no solid basis.

[E24_635csi]

Im real sorry to hear that, as said above... as long as YOU are ok. thats what matters. A car can be replaced. Hope everythin works out.

[Joey325i]

sucks man, state farm should take care of you pretty good insurance company, im with them, i think theyll cover some mods
but not all, just make sure you show all your receipts and what not, also where in sd you from? Never seen you around

[Mistermotorist]

List of things to do:

1. Contact an appraiser in your area that will do an appraisal for an owner ...find one who who is not primarily one who works for insurance companies (most do, btw) - hint: ask club members in your area - ask on message boards

2. Get fair market value appraisal (around $200, I would guess) supply appraiser with "before"photos, bills and written testimonials from knowledgeable sources like shops. Show awards, etc can help. Evidence of offers to purchase your car (if supportable) are helpful.

3. Ask your adjuster for the fair market value your appraiser comes up with. Review procedures in your policy (probably "E-Z reader") and be prepared for your carrier to require you to go through appraisal hearing process after their favorite adjuster values your ride at, for example, $7,500.00 fair market value.

You willhave to justify the value of your mods in order to recover a part of the cost.

I would try to retain the salvage rights - i.e. keep what is left of your car. Typically, Farmers or State Farm will pdermit you to keep the car in exchange for 20-25% of the agreed fair market value.

You can email me with questons

MisterMotorist@aol.com

[332 RustBucket]

Well, I wouldn't expect to get over 20K. First say the deduct. was $500. (I am going by $21125 you gave) So that takes it down to 20625. Now say they value the actual car at salvage $4000. My 93 325is last year was around 4K. That would mean that if you want to buy it back (to get the mods if you can't access them) you will get $16625. I don't know if they figure the value of the car based upon how much damage or there is a set number for a wreck. I was AMAZED how high mine was but I only had a little front end damage so the rest was salvageable.

Now you can part the car out to get that cash back. I think that my insurance company gave me about $500-$750 credit toward my rims, lights and suspension. I didn't expect them to give me anything but they were nice IMO.

Good Luck!

[Alin10123]

Generally, insurance companies dont pay for the mods or anything extra. They just give you the value of the car at the time.