Totaled :( Would you attempt to rebuild?

ruffles · Post by **ruffles** » Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:25 pm

My sons 2007 3.0si (65k miles) was in an accident and the insurance has totaled it. I was shocked as they valued it at $17k and the repair estimate was $11k! My guess from the pics was $5-7k of damage. There are no airbags deployed, warning lights, leaks, etc. The repair estimate seems inflated to me. As for my rebuilding skills, we've never done anything like this so it would certainly be an adventure.

As for the numbers:
We paid $17k a year ago ($19k out the door)
Insurance is offering $19.4k or $15.5k owner keep as salvage.

Thoughts? I look at this and think I can replace a bumper, hood, fender, and lights. Has anyone done the rebuild thing before and have any advice? Is the inspection to go from salvage to rebuilt title difficult? I know it would have diminished value but still. It just seems like WAY too nice of a car to be totaled.

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:28 pm

That’s just a flesh wound!

All joking aside good luck getting it fixed- if it were mine I’d get it repaired

BumpyZ4 · Post by **BumpyZ4** » Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:32 pm

I'd fix it. All that stuff is easy bolt on stuff and then you just need to have some one paint it.

Sidewaze Samm · Post by **Sidewaze Samm** » Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:51 pm

ruffles wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:25 pm There are no airbags deployed

that surprises me - but if the impact wasn't severe enough to deploy an airbag, then I guess it's a good indicator that nothing substantial has been damaged. So, headlight (halogen?), wing/fender, bonnet/hood, bumper, associated consumables and bracketry and paint. Looks like a repair to me, but I don't know what the availability of parts is like stateside...

ruffles · Post by **ruffles** » Mon Aug 15, 2022 10:00 pm

Thanks everyone. I guess you can't really see the estimate and I can't attach a pdf. I'm leaning towards the repair.

parabolica · Post by **parabolica** » Mon Aug 15, 2022 10:06 pm

Similar to what happened with mine; I kept it and found salvage parts to fix it myself - was pretty easy to do. You need to get that bumper off to have a look and see exactly what’s been damaged behind; any frame damage would be too much for me personally; but if the metal work looks straight and just a few clips etc broken, they are pretty east to find and replace.

Silverstar · Post by **Silverstar** » Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:16 pm

$11K to repair that, body repairs in USA are way too expensive judging by what I've seen on some YouTube videos. I am guessing here, but looking at the photos I doubt that there is any frame damage and with second hand body parts I don't see this as more than 2000€ to fix but then again you are in the US so who knows. Perhaps you can have a couple of other body shops take a look at it and get some alternative quotes?

Rockhopper · Post by **Rockhopper** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 8:10 am

I’ve seen a few Z4’s now with heavy front end damage (much worse than this one) where the airbags have not deployed.

paddy wright · Post by **paddy wright** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 8:30 am

Easy fix! Save this zed!!

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 9:39 am

Totally repairable, and if you're handy with the spanners then an easy DIY!
As long as none of the carriers/brackets haven't been whacked out of alignment it's all just bolt-on stuff.

Shame the bonnet (hood) got clipped. That will be your biggest expense to replace I think but look at feasibility to get it repaired first. If not, source an M hood for a nice upgrade/investment.
I suspect you may find some stumbling blocks the deeper you go but it's totally worth having a crack at yourself.

The forum has spoken, now get cracking and let's see some updates....

ruffles · Post by **ruffles** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 5:16 pm

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your vote of confidence

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 7:32 pm

That damage doesn't look too major to me.

With such a low mileage I'd love to see the car get saved.

grannyknot · Post by **grannyknot** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:32 pm

The only thing you may have trouble getting is a decent hood and it won't be cheap, that is a part that is worth taking into a body shop with an old guy who knows how to bang tin, or in this case, aluminum.

ruffles · Post by **ruffles** » Wed Aug 17, 2022 1:30 am

Here's some additional pics. It doesn't look very bad to me. Do you all see any red flags?

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Wed Aug 17, 2022 2:03 am

Assuming the mark-ups are from a garage/damage appraisal as they have inspected and dismantled the damaged panels?
If so, then you’re going to find it more difficult replacing all the associated panels and plastics having not benefitted from knowing what order and where everything needs to go by dismantling yourself.
It’s do-able I’d suggest, but the task just got harder for you.

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