[UKMS]

Hi All

My 6 month old pride and joy is currently sitting in a BMW body shop having been rear ended at speed late last night while parked by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel !! .. Early days as to whether it's going to be written off but in case they want to repair (and if I don't have any choice) has anyone ever had any experience of making a diminished value claim in the UK ? Also any experiences of instructing an independent engineer to do a thorough inspection and assessment ? My main fear is hidden damage to the frame and underneath being repaired.

Cheers

MS

[JimSchush]

Just what you don't need before Christmas, once the insurance engineer has assessed your car you will know very quickly if the car is to be written off. If the car is repairable I would insist the work be carried out at an authorised BMW Repairer of your choice. Many of these large insurance companies use their own body shops and in order to keep repair costs down they do use none genuine glass/lamps and panels. If the car is repairable I would have it repaired at a reputable authorised repairer and then have it inspected when completed if you feel it necessary, I would also be pushing for a proper loan car, don't be fobbed off with a small hatchback.

[ianfp]

Really sorry to hear about your car!

Don't BMW accident management service take over all dealings with insurance companies and carry out repairs themselves? I thought that is how it worked?

In any event, I hope you get it repaired or replaced to your satisfaction!

[clivem2]

You need to push for diminished value, the repair will be on record. Also if not repaired by bmw how will your warranty work.....

[UKMS]

Mine is now at BMW body shop which is an authorised repairer for my insurer. The BMW emergency service have given me a hire car for 2 days as near like for like (a new XC60) and insurers have agreed to continue this until the issue is resolved.

My main concern is the diminished value on a 6 month old £40k+ vehicle.

Most of the impact has gone under bumper level.

[scotta2]

Crumple zone worked well on the Focus I see, assuming your car was "shunted" forward I wonder if the transmission could also have been damaged? If it were me I would also insist on a BMW authorised repair specialist.

[Booty]

Very sorry to hear your news. I hope you manage to get what you want out of the insurance. If written off, did you purchase a gap insurance?

[UKMS]

I do have GAP although within 12 months insurers give new vehicle .... What I'm looking at is claiming for the diminished value in the event of a repair.

[Taipei-TT]

That should buff right out.

Sorry to hear of such an unfortunate incident right before the holidays. Don't sleep over it.....at the end of the day it's just a car and everyone was ok I assume? Sleeping driver seems to have taken a pretty good shot.

[ianfp]

That looks pretty dramatic, but it is a great testament to the strength and sturdiness of the BMW. I seriously doubt that your car will be written off. Most of the repairs will be new parts bolted on especially as it was a straight-on impact.

I hope you get it sorted out soon!

[UKMS]

Looks like it will be repaired to the tune of £10k ! .... Needs part of the rear panel and floor cutting away and new welded in, new tailgate, new exhaust system ... The rest is bolt on's .... This is subject to the body shop not finding anything else once it is stripped down. I'm having a specialist accident report done and diminished value calculation. Let's see what that brings.

MS

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by UKMS

Looks like it will be repaired to the tune of £10k ! .... Needs part of the rear panel and floor cutting away and new welded in, new tailgate, new exhaust system ... The rest is bolt on's .... This is subject to the body shop not finding anything else once it is stripped down. I'm having a specialist accident report done and diminished value calculation. Let's see what that brings.

MS

I wonder if you can claim for all your time it takes running around getting this messed sorted out. That is often the hidden cost.
Would you have to declare the repair if you sold the car on in the future?

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/an...r-an-accident-

[UKMS]

Originally Posted by philtrick123

I wonder if you can claim for all your time it takes running around getting this messed sorted out. That is often the hidden cost.
Would you have to declare the repair if you sold the car on in the future?

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/an...r-an-accident-

Good point about the time ! ..... Yes I am legally obliged to declare the damage at any time in the future .... Hence why I want to pursue a claim for the diminished value ...

MS

[UKMS]

Well ..... its all back in one piece now and back on the road ! ..... after nearly a month driving an XC60 I'm glad to be back behind the wheel of my X3.

BMW bodyshop have made a superb job of everything. I'm now just pursuing my diminished value claim which I'm hopeful will be settled very soon, but we will see !!

MS