The Zed is dead

[Simon 3.2M]

It's only a car and can be replaced (eventually) more importantly you are ok which I'm sure you'll agree, is far more important to you and your loved ones.

Another MR will come along with your name on it

[alex.baker1989]

Thanks for all of the well wishing.

After sleeping the concussion off I'm starting to try and piece next actions together. Been speaking to insurance company and claim is in progress, but waiting for the police report and everyone's details to move things forward.

My biggest worry is that, if I do decide to buy the car back after all is done, it'll be even more of a wreck from the careless recovery company. The roof was down (was in too much shock to even bother trying to put it back up), so need to contact them and get that sorted.

Second thing is that I've clearly woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning being so angry that the car has been destroyed by people that were clearly driving too fast and could've killed me in the process, but hope this subsides!

The only thing I'm worrying about is having transferred the remainder of my old policy to the zed until it expired from my old car, I mistakenly didn't declare the CSL's being higher value OEM wheels than the standard 224's, so I'll probably lose out on that

Thirdly I'm pretty close to the guys at the BMW Specialist cars bodyshop near me. They've done fantastic work for me in the past (first car was stolen and written off and they did a great job repairing it and getting it back on the road). One of the guys there hasn't seen the state of the Z4 but said he wouldn't rule out bringing it back to life.

Looking at the photos it's hard to tell if any serious non-repairable damage has been done. Assuming it hasn't and I can buy the car back, it looks like it needs:

front bumper / lights / bonnet
drivers wing / door / mirror
new O/S front suspension arms, shocks, springs, steering rack, anti-roll bar
2 rear quarters
boot, rear bumper, N/S rear light
new rear sub frame & everything that goes with it
new exhaust
CSL's MIGHT be OK but hard to tell

Just exploring this option at the moment but might be fantasy.

Currently channelling my anger and frustration into frantically buying new bits for my E36 to get it back on the road, which is cheering me up slightly. Took it out yesterday and gear change was like stirring a pot, ride felt boat-ish and steering was lacking any feel - nothing compares to the beautiful MR

[mr wilks]

Why would you want to buy it back after such a knock endless potential mither & left with category registered car ignore any current feelings of attachment , just take the money & buy another one
Have a read through this if you're in any doubts viewtopic.php?f=9&t=82810

[alex.baker1989]

Why would you want to buy it back after such a knock endless potential mither & left with category registered car ignore any current feelings of attachment , just take the money & buy another one
Have a read through this if you're in any doubts viewtopic.php?f=9&t=82810

Valid point to be fair. Would only be OK with category registered car if I wanted to keep it forever, which is probably not the case.

If it isn't or if if it's a close call on valuation, I would rather the BMW bodyshop I know carry out the repairs (they'd make sure their rates don't contribute to writing the car off if you catch my drift).

If not you're right. Not worth taking it back. I'm just staring out at the sun & blue skies feeling sorry for myself today

[john-e89]

Not surprised you’re feeling sorry for yourself, a cracking well loved fairly rare car ruined....

Hope this little tale gives you a chuckle though fella. The pic below is my first E85 that took a glancing hit at 90mph from an Audi A3. When I rang the insurance a few weeks after plod released the car I asked what was happening, a girl on the other end put me on hold to find out then came back on and said they were repairing it and waiting for a new suspension arm to arrive....In a dead pan voice I asked what exactly they intended to attach a suspension arm to and how they intended to repair it....

[james28]

Not surprised you’re feeling sorry for yourself, a cracking well loved fairly rare car ruined....

Hope this little tale gives you a chuckle though fella. The pic below is my first E85 that took a glancing hit at 90mph from an Audi A3. When I rang the insurance a few weeks after plod released the car I asked what was happening, a girl on the other end put me on hold to find out then came back on and said they were repairing it and waiting for a new suspension arm to arrive....In a dead pan voice I asked what exactly they intended to attach a suspension arm to and how they intended to repair it....

yeah new suspension arm and some t cut it will be fine.

[stijohnny]

Glad to hear you're virtually fine except for the anguish and sore neck. Let us all know what happens next (eg another ZM with the insurance, a sherman tank perhaps!).

[srhutch]

Even if you disclosed the CSL’s unless your policy wording says otherwise they’ll still only replace with std wheels.

[JamieZ4C]

Even if you disclosed the CSL’s unless your policy wording says otherwise they’ll still only replace with std wheels.

Indeed, and an undisclosed "modification" could be all the reason they need to dodge paying out and void the policy. If they can prove they wouldn't have covered your M had they known it were modified then you could be up the creek.

As harsh/unlikely as that would be, it's something you should take into consideration when dealing with them.

[alex.baker1989]

Not surprised you’re feeling sorry for yourself, a cracking well loved fairly rare car ruined....

Hope this little tale gives you a chuckle though fella. The pic below is my first E85 that took a glancing hit at 90mph from an Audi A3. When I rang the insurance a few weeks after plod released the car I asked what was happening, a girl on the other end put me on hold to find out then came back on and said they were repairing it and waiting for a new suspension arm to arrive....In a dead pan voice I asked what exactly they intended to attach a suspension arm to and how they intended to repair it....

Woah that's horrendous. Shows how strong these things are for you to walk away from that

I received details of all involved today, including a video of rear dashcam footage from the driver in front. The file is too large to put on here, but put it this way, it's disturbed me seeing footage of myself being thrown around like a ragdoll in the car, and the velocity of the smacks it took.

A big takeaway from this is how fortunate I am not to have been worse off. Will keep posting on here even though I'm zed-less, until another one comes along after insurance is concluded.

Again, thanks for all of the kind messages / advice.

[alex.baker1989]

Even if you disclosed the CSL’s unless your policy wording says otherwise they’ll still only replace with std wheels.

Indeed, and an undisclosed "modification" could be all the reason they need to dodge paying out and void the policy. If they can prove they wouldn't have covered your M had they known it were modified then you could be up the creek.

As harsh/unlikely as that would be, it's something you should take into consideration when dealing with them.

I declared on a quote from another insurer, and they said "as they're OEM we'll list them as standard wheels". I purchased the car with them fitted.

[Thrustyjust]

I 'keep' thinking about a car cam to record things , if they unfortunately happen and it would save a lot of backward and forward information and stalling of conclusion from happening, because we all hate insurance companies for dragging their heals. I am sure reliving the same senario again on the video was probably very unpleasant watching. Here's hoping for a speedy conclusion and a quick find of a suitable replacement car.
As for the car. it will end up at Copart and be broken up by a buyer, so although the vultures hover , you will have to wait until it surfaces at a breakers.

[JamieZ4C]

Even if you disclosed the CSL’s unless your policy wording says otherwise they’ll still only replace with std wheels.

Indeed, and an undisclosed "modification" could be all the reason they need to dodge paying out and void the policy. If they can prove they wouldn't have covered your M had they known it were modified then you could be up the creek.

As harsh/unlikely as that would be, it's something you should take into consideration when dealing with them.

I declared on a quote from another insurer, and they said "as they're OEM we'll list them as standard wheels". I purchased the car with them fitted.

Just be careful is all I'm saying, I don't want you losing out any more than you already have.

What another insurer says is irrelevant. Purchasing a car with a known pre-existing modification is irrelevant. What your answer was when your insurance company asked you if the vehicle was modified is relevant.

If you answered "yes, it has alloy wheels that weren't standard with the car, but are OEM wheels" and they accepted that, then you're good.

If you didn't answer to that effect, then you'll need your wits about you to avoid them using it as a reason to weasel out.

It most likely won't get picked up and you'll be fine. But if they do query it, it may be that you have to plead ignorance and claim you thought they were standard on the car (perfectly plausible). They'd have a hard job proving you didn't know better.

It just means the value of the wheels won't be taken into consideration in the payout you receive.

Hope I'm not coming across all negative when you're going through a sh!tty time of it. Just trying to help

[DPG]

I declared on a quote from another insurer, and they said "as they're OEM we'll list them as standard wheels". I purchased the car with them fitted.

Suppose as far as your concerned the CSL’s could have come standard on a Z4M

Doubt many insurance companies would just list as standard though. I had to pay £40 just to upgrade my 108’s to 224’s and they were both 18’s and Z4 wheels.

[Thrustyjust]

Interesting about the wheels, but then its not his insurance company that will be paying out. Not been through this situation myself, but I would have thought the person at faults insurance supply hire vehicles and come to a financial agreement with the OP, not his insurance company ? So the vehicle value is as it stands. if he was to have a claim with his insurance with which the wheels were part of the claim ( they were stolen off the car, for example) then that may create a differing situation. Just asking and ready to be corrected