Update on my rear end insurance claim

[jpcapoc]

Hey Lance, Ben at 2002AD can give you an "authoritative" appraisal. He's seen the car and you've got pics.

Dude, I can't picture you driving a toyota corolla. Your music will be no good if that happens

[PSloan]

Personally - I'd take the guy up on the shell. Buy the car back from the insurance company (take less money) and spend some extra time transferring parts. since its not a DD, you can take your sweet time. Sounds fun to me. I wish someone would give me a decent roundie shell! I need 2 of them.

[ponyboy]

Haha John! I like your style man!

I emailed Ben today and gave him links to the car front and the car damaged rear section.

I asked him for an estimate. Do you think he can give me a written appraisal of what the car is worth?

They are definitely going to total the car.

I think the car is worth high value on the nadaguide as the claim adjuster said, it looks "immaculate".

http://www2.nadaguides.com/default.aspx?LI=1-22-1-5013-0-0-0&l=1&w=22&p=1&f=5014&c=7&m=1026&d=1469&y=1970&vi=62431&da=1

I want $7,800.00 for the total loss payment, which is the high value on the nada guides. If Ben will quote me that price also or even better, higher, I will have some good backup for the negotiation. I have a pile of receipts Im organizing also. There is a 1970 on craigslist I already printed out and they want 7,950.00...

I know they dont want to "higher"(as in higher costs to them) a lawyer, to save costs. I already showed the claims adjuster the ad on craigslist, so if he doesnt give me the full value, I will simply let them know they will be hearing from my lawyer.

I have simply put too much time and money into this car to end up at loss. Ill let yall know how it goes!

ibjettin, Ill take you up on that offer for the '69 rolling shell! Sounds like a fun road trip! I will contact you via email. When the claim is settled, I will let ya know and we can make arrangements! Thanx so much! This is the kind of thing that definitely makes me want to stay with my car!

Jack Fahuna said we are definitely going to start an '02 club here in L.a. and I really want to be a part of it...

Thanx Guys!, Lance

[Napes]

As an aside, about 6-7 Yrs ago, when I was stopped @ a traffic light, an 18-wheel tractor (luckily he didn't have his trailers) from Mexico (can you say "I don't gotta have no stinkin' insurance") rear ended me, shoving me into the pick-up in front of me. No damage to the pickup, didn't even damage my big-bumpered car's rubber bumper profile, and all I had to do was spend $30 for 3 used, but un-colasped, rear bumper shocks and spend a couple hours replacing them. I shudder to think what this would have done to a roundie. Small bumpers look nice, but there's something positive to be said for square-lite bumpers.

Bob Napier

' 75 2002A

' 76 2002A

[f1reverb]

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,57/page,viewtopic/t,80474/highlight,santa+rosa/

[SOUTHBAYeric]

I had to deal with this about a year ago and it took ten months for the insurance company to finally man up and make things right. First off I do not think that car is a total and is easily an 8000$ car. If the insurance company does not fix it or offer what you want for it then file in small claims against the other driver which will limit you to a max of 7500. Do not let them leave you hanging. If they try just get courts or a lawyer involved and they will keel over very quick. Get all the before pictures together as that will help with the case.

[wazzu70]

Dont try and wash the title or anything of that nature. Apparently the rules are very different coast to coast. Either that or people are using handed down urban legends or they havent tried to register a car in teh last 10 years....

I know there is no way that would fly in WA and I doubt it would work in CA either.

IMO music is about personality, and your car is part of your personality. If you get something like an escort then you wont be pumped to drive places (to gigs) and you just wont have the same spirit. If you REALLY want a fuel injected newer car, get an e30 or an e36 if you want. I love my e30. I consider it a 2002 with power windows and AC. Its not as cool as an 02 but fairly close and still fun.

[Gordon]

Lance,

What ever you do, buy the car back from the insurance company for salvage value. If you don't, the 02 is off to the junk yard and everyone loses except the people going through the pik-a-part yard. Sell it to an enthusiast who will fix the car if you don't have the time or resources now. BTDT when my 02 was rear ended. So what if your 02 has a salvage title, it only comes in to play when you sell it and the buyer will know all about your mishap.

G-Man

[jpcapoc]

Haha John! I like your style man!

I emailed Ben today and gave him links to the car front and the car damaged rear section.

I asked him for an estimate. Do you think he can give me a written appraisal of what the car is worth?

Lance, Ben was at the LA event that you slept through. We were informally discussing insurance on these cars, and Ben said that as an authorized dealer, his appraisals are, as I said, "authoritative" for insurance purposes. If I remember correctly, he said he could put it in writing. Be sure to discuss with him so he doesn't overlook valuable upgrades/features and inadvertantly appraise the car for less than it's really worth!

You can rent a trailer for a little over $100 from U-haul, pick it up the car from Ibejettin in NoCal and drop it off in SoCal. That's how I brought my tii back from Arizona. Well worth the money. All you need is a 1/2 ton Pick-Up to haul it. Give my kid a hundred bucks and he'll probably be glad to do it when he comes home from Santa Clara for thankgiving. (he's got the pickup).

[ponyboy]

Wow guys. Thanx so much for your advice and good words. I think I would feel like a trader if I didnt try to get my 2002 fixed! lol...

Well, Im going to talk to Ben and see if he can get me a good appraisal for my car.

We will see how it goes!

Thanx!, Lance

[Mike Self]

the claiming party--whether or not it was their insureds fault or not:

1. Try to settle quickly at a fraction of the car's value--especially when it's an older car where an established market value is more difficult to determine. They're gonna try and rush you into a decision, thinking you're desperate for something to drive and will take anything.

2. If that doesn't work, they go into plan B--slow roll you. Keep demanding more paperwork, more appriasals, don't return phone calls, keep saying "we're not gonna pay you THAT much for an old car" etc etc.

Hold firm on #1, don't let 'em rush you, and if they try #2, you can always go to small claims court against the at-fault driver. Then he's gonna scream to his insurance company for not protecting him/her, etc etc. And, of course, you can always wear a neck brace whenever you meet with their adjuster...

Good luck, and don't get hornswoggled...

As I told a State Farm agent (representing the at-fault driver) who was trying to lowball a repair on my partially redone (but ugly at the time) '69, "You're gonna buy me a new fender, you just don't know it yet..."

mike

[Guest Anonymous]

Pony boy, ask the claims rep about the possibility of buying your car back instead of having it go to auction. If you can - buy it back - the buy a daily driver and start talking to local shops about the cost of welding another rear clip on your chassis. they will often do work like this when business is slow (they have bills to pay too).

[Blake]

Hey pony, sorry to hear this,

If you do give it up, Pull that front bumper and sell it to me!!!!! :-P

I have been looking for a small bumper for a while and yours is perfect, so if you do end up letting it go, pull the bumper off right b4 the tow truck guy comes and picks her up.

thanks

Blake

[Berns]

I would like to start by saying who cares if it has a salvage title. we don't like 02 's because they are collectible or because we plan on selling them for allot of money one day, we like them because of how they drive. If i was buying another 02 and it was good shape mechanically and cosmetically with no rust and it was repaired correctly i could care less it it was has a salvage title. I would trade a salvage title for a little rust any day of the week.

I am in the collision repair business so i know how insurance adjusters think, they think that this is an old car and no parts are available for it so it becomes difficult for them to write an estimate. tell them that the parts are available at any bmw dealer. this is a very simple repair i don't think it should go above $3800 with all new parts. replace the left quarter, rear body panel, trunk floor, left tail light used and a used rear bumper. I just replaced the floor and the body panel on mine so i know its available. in LA you should have some good euro salvage yards for the bumper and the light and any other parts you might need.

[Berns]

if they offer you anything less than $5000 you will only be able to buy a POS that wont even com close to your 02.