[MMeyerM40i]

Friday morning my X3 M40i and I were t-boned, and they had to cut away the b pillar, and break the driver’s seat to pull me out. That car saved my life.

And now that I’ve been physically assessed, and have a ‘new normal to live with’ it’s time to look at MiMi. There’s exstensive damage to the driver’s side, but the rest looks eerily unharmed. I’m very nervous they will not total out this car, and the long drawn out process to have it put back together will result in subpar results.

Seriously trying to keep positive about it all but the unknowns are creeping up on me.

Anyone else with a similar experience? Or advice? Of which I hope you and all involved came out OK.

Also, I’m trying to figure out how to get the drive recorder of the accident off the car but it currently will not turn on. They think an electrical wire was cut by the jaws of life. Fun times all around at the moment.

[Chief Orman]

Glad you are OK. Same thing happened to my wife in our Acura MDX 20 years ago when side air bags were relatively new technology. Like you, saved her life. I hope they total it as well. If not, find out where the Ferrari dealership has their work done and send it there. That said, my BMW dealership had a very good auto body shop and they were good with all the BMW proprietary adhesives which are critical for repairing these cars.

[Jproos]

Originally Posted by MMeyerM40i

Friday morning my X3 M40i and I were t-boned, and they had to cut away the b pillar, and break the driver’s seat to pull me out. That car saved my life.

And now that I’ve been physically assessed, and have a ‘new normal to live with’ it’s time to look at MiMi. There’s exstensive damage to the driver’s side, but the rest looks eerily unharmed. I’m very nervous they will not total out this car, and the long drawn out process to have it put back together will result in subpar results.

Seriously trying to keep positive about it all but the unknowns are creeping up on me.

Anyone else with a similar experience? Or advice? Of which I hope you and all involved came out OK.

Also, I’m trying to figure out how to get the drive recorder of the accident off the car but it currently will not turn on. They think an electrical wire was cut by the jaws of life. Fun times all around at the moment.

Glad you're mostly ok, it sounds like. I can't imagine that car not being a total loss. I'd expect a complete replacement for that much damage.

[abg]

Originally Posted by MMeyerM40i

Friday morning my X3 M40i and I were t-boned, and they had to cut away the b pillar, and break the driver’s seat to pull me out. That car saved my life.

And now that I’ve been physically assessed, and have a ‘new normal to live with’ it’s time to look at MiMi. There’s exstensive damage to the driver’s side, but the rest looks eerily unharmed. I’m very nervous they will not total out this car, and the long drawn out process to have it put back together will result in subpar results.

Seriously trying to keep positive about it all but the unknowns are creeping up on me.

Anyone else with a similar experience? Or advice? Of which I hope you and all involved came out OK.

Also, I’m trying to figure out how to get the drive recorder of the accident off the car but it currently will not turn on. They think an electrical wire was cut by the jaws of life. Fun times all around at the moment.

Glad to hear that you survived a serious accident. I would suggest concentrating on getting yourself healed physically before worrying about your vehicle. I hope your healing will be a quick process.

Your vehicle does look like it's likely to be totaled but I'm not an insurance assessor. Best of luck for getting a suitable replacement quickly.

[JSY]

Oh wow, glad to hear that you are ok, or at least I hope the new normal is ok.

Doesn't the B-pillar being damaged and detached make it unsafe to repair for roof and side impact integrity? Or perhaps I just have no clue as to what I'm talking about.

[sbt007]

This seems like the very definition of totaled. Glad you are ok.

[brettl]

I'm sorry to hear of your accident, but am glad you are well (enough). It's just a car, you're what matters. The cars job is to protect you. I'm no insurance adjuster or structural engineer, but I'm going with a bent frame and them cutting the b pillar would permanently effect the structural rigidity & integrity of the car. I'd be surprised if it wasn't totaled and would fight like hell till it was…

[Oldguysrule]

Car is toast. Glad you're OK. Start shopping.

[TXSchnee]

Former auto claims adjuster here, first off, glad you are ok, that is what matters most in any accident. Second, I cannot see any way this vehicle isn't a total loss, especially with the cut to the B pillar, that is the safety cage and normally those have extremely tight tolerances allowed for repair, which I don't see possible with this damage.

[jcrout7992]

Originally Posted by MMeyerM40i

Friday morning my X3 M40i and I were t-boned, and they had to cut away the b pillar, and break the driver’s seat to pull me out. That car saved my life.

And now that I’ve been physically assessed, and have a ‘new normal to live with’ it’s time to look at MiMi. There’s exstensive damage to the driver’s side, but the rest looks eerily unharmed. I’m very nervous they will not total out this car, and the long drawn out process to have it put back together will result in subpar results.

Seriously trying to keep positive about it all but the unknowns are creeping up on me.

Anyone else with a similar experience? Or advice? Of which I hope you and all involved came out OK.

Also, I’m trying to figure out how to get the drive recorder of the accident off the car but it currently will not turn on. They think an electrical wire was cut by the jaws of life. Fun times all around at the moment.

Your type of accident is one of the reasons I’m upgrading to the X3. I haven’t been in an accident in quite a while, but I’ve lost confidence in a lot of drivers and I want to give myself a better chance in the event of an accident.

You speak of a new normal, but it is still early and you’d be surprised how well the body can bounce back. Hang in there and commit to the recovery/rehabilitation process.

[CINCYFAN]

I'm really sorry to read about your accident. That said, what really matters is that you're ok!

My wife and I were t-boned and went through something very similar in November 2018...but my car was a 2014 F30 3 series (I think I've posted pics in the past?). I was lucky to walk away. Well immediately after the accident I walked away, unknown to me I had a lacerated spleen that bled all night and 14 hours after the accident I ended up passing out at home and being rushed to the ER.

So after emergency surgery, multiple blood transfusions, and a week in the hospital, I decided I never wanted to be that low to the ground again. I ordered my X3 with every safety feature possible about a week after getting out of the hospital. The only reason I tell you my story is so you know it will all work out and the fact you're safe and healthy is all that really matters.

Anyway, I'm not an insurance adjuster but I have to believe your X3 is totaled...I received an email several days after getting out of the hospital explaining that the adjuster was examining my car and I'd know the status in a few days. I checked my insurance account online immediately after closing the email and they had already labeled my car a total loss. It was only a 3 series but I loved that car and it saved my life.

I cannot imagine that after they cut the vehicle to pull you out that the vehicle is repairable....at least not at an acceptable price for the insurance company.

Good luck!

[spangle1980]

Agree with most of above, firstly thank the Lord you were in that car and it saved your ass. I know, from same experience (in a Merc), that shit can seriously shake you up.

Secondly, as above, with that cut out there is next to zero chance that will be re-built.

Good luck, safe recovery. When you get the flashbacks, and you will, focus on those airbag curtains and the overall structural integrity of that beast that protected you.

[TXGrey]

Wow. Hard hit. Glad you are okay!

As many others have already stated, that car is toast IMO…. Shop away!

[F32Fleet]

It's totalled.

[racerbruce]

Thankful that you were able to post on this thread and update us after such a horrific accident. Knowing that an injury can be silent (see post #11 above), suggest an increased highly tuned awareness of your body and perhaps followup assessment by a medical professional. My wife was rammed by a landscape truck and trailer in the right front wheel and suffered neck pain and ongoing treatment that lasted years.

After reading on this site about the BMW Passive Safety System, it is incredible to see the safety engineered into your car (see PDF).

12_G01 Passive Safety System.pdf

Please update us as to your health and next steps.

[AZM40i]

Originally Posted by MMeyerM40i

Friday morning my X3 M40i and I were t-boned, and they had to cut away the b pillar, and break the driver’s seat to pull me out. That car saved my life.

And now that I’ve been physically assessed, and have a ‘new normal to live with’ it’s time to look at MiMi. There’s exstensive damage to the driver’s side, but the rest looks eerily unharmed. I’m very nervous they will not total out this car, and the long drawn out process to have it put back together will result in subpar results.

Seriously trying to keep positive about it all but the unknowns are creeping up on me.

Anyone else with a similar experience? Or advice? Of which I hope you and all involved came out OK.

Also, I’m trying to figure out how to get the drive recorder of the accident off the car but it currently will not turn on. They think an electrical wire was cut by the jaws of life. Fun times all around at the moment.

This is horrible but I am happy that you are still alive to tell us about it. Whatever your new normal is, it is better than not being here anymore. I am glad you were in a safe car when this happened.

[jsh139]

So sorry to see this. Glad that you are ok. The car did its job and it's good that you are here to tell about it. Hope you heal up quickly and can get a replacement in due time when you are ready.

[MR645]

That car is totaled, glad you're not.

[TX3M]

Really sorry to hear about your accident but glad you made it out alive. It looks like your X3 is totaled, I hope insurance says so and that you get a new vehicle.

[zukmeister]

what's this "new normal to live with" mean?

car is totaled for sure

[JJ 911SC]

If you got access to it, remove anything that you might have installed

[Mykwong]

So sorry to hear of the accident! Bet sore now for sure. Glad your safe though. Luckily, the car can be replaced.