Minor accident = Z4 write off :(

[trailZ4]

Had a minor bump last week and having spoken to insurance they've deemed it a total loss - absolutely gutted!

Concerned I described the damage as worse than it is on initial call. It seems like it is just the front bumper and slam panel that would need replacing, but I haven't spoke to the total loss team yet. I'm hoping I can go for a partial claim and keep the car but not sure if I'll end up even more out of pocket. Although having had my Z4 for almost 13 years I'm a little too attached to just let it go!

Anyone been through similar? I have absolutely no idea about what I'm likely to be offered. Anyone any thoughts on what they may do in terms of adding a category and the effects this is likely to have on insurance? Any advice appreciated.

When it first happened...


After some boiling water, the front end popped out...

 

[Doddsy]

If the bonnets ok I wouldn’t bother going through insurance. But since you’ve already phoned them, even if you do the work yourself I’m sure they’ll still penalise you for just letting them know what’s happened.

 

[trailZ4]

Cheers Doddsy, can't believe I didn't even consider that as an option. I have a £600 excess on my policy so regardless of what happens I'd lose that...

When you say they will penalise me, do you mean they may increase my premium because they now know I was involved in an accident even if I was to pull out of any claim?

As they have already deemed it a total loss, they have terminated my insurance policy and they have also said that the car would need to be MOT'd again before they would insure it.

I wish I'd given this some thought before I rang the insurance now!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Not quite the same but in late April someone bumped the rear of my 330i at the traffic lights on a Motorway slip road scuffing and cracking the rear bumper cover.



Apparently the cracks (one each side) aren't repairable and a replacement from BMW cost about £630 in primer, so by the time the repairer recommended by insurer of the person responsible had padded out their estimate for possible hidden damage to other parts (unlikely as my parking sensors still worked) and blending paint onto the rear quarter panels, etc. it was deemed a Cat N.

A couple of weeks after Admiral made that decision they finally told me about it and made a derisory offer which I disputed and got them to go up a bit but despite my best efforts they wouldn't increase on that. So as it made b*gger all difference to my car other than aesthetics I took the money and kept the car for exactly 22% of their valuation!

But I haven't had to renew insurance declaring it as a Cat N yet, so I don't know how that will work out.

I can't see why they decided your car wasn't economically repairable, unless there is a panel that is NLA.

 

[Mr Tidy]

As they have already deemed it a total loss, they have terminated my insurance policy and they have also said that the car would need to be MOT'd again before they would insure it.

I wish I'd given this some thought before I rang the insurance now!

But did they classify it as Cat S or Cat N?

IME Cat S generally need an MOT but Cat N don't always. But I'll find out in April with my Cat N!

But for such minimal damage I'd want to keep it.

Out of interest who are they? Just so I/we can avoid them!

 

[skmattwell]

Just needs a new bumper, you can find them for around £200 second hand. Writing off cars is the biggest scam going, and they go on about saving the environment...

 

[Unitedleeds1919]

They all go off book value so go to we buy any car get the valuation and add £1k -£1.5k that kind of gives you an idea of how the trade value it as they seem to be very low values hence insurance see an uneconomical repair where as we can see buying new parts is worth getting it back on the road, example the other day I saw an entire boot lid for an e86 around £500 ish on eBay …your car will fix up relatively cheaply labour will be more than the parts, if insurance have declared a loss and closed policy they are paying you out are they not? But then you should have the option on keeping it by buying it back off them for peanuts and fixing it and using it all be it as a cat NS or S …the insurance industry is a disgrace and we subsidise their incompetence.

 

[raymond.harper]

I think the insurance company would only be too happy not to pay for your car to be written off. Phone them back and say the damage is just the front bumper and a repair company can fix it for £400. As your excess is £600 you do not wish to pursue your own claim. The big danger is that the car is declared a Cat C. A Cat N is difficult to sell anyway but a Cat C is almost impossible.

 

[enuff_zed]

Plenty of people on here can help you fix that I’m sure.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Yeah it’s worth asking what would happen if you dropped the claim now?

I mean, even if the car is a Cat C, and you need to sell; those xenon headlights would be worth a decent amount by themselves. You could still sell it for decent money if you have the time to part some of it out.

Xenons are a pretty rare option!

 

[Rockhopper]

Is there another party involved? Did you crash into someone who is now claiming against your insurance?

 

[Unitedleeds1919]

I will add sorry to see your car like that and hope you can get everything sorted, it’s same as mine that car and I’d be gutted I feel for you

 

[T_J_G]

I think the insurance company would only be too happy not to pay for your car to be written off. Phone them back and say the damage is just the front bumper and a repair company can fix it for £400. As your excess is £600 you do not wish to pursue your own claim. The big danger is that the car is declared a Cat C. A Cat N is difficult to sell anyway but a Cat C is almost impossible.

They will still increase next years premiums as he's reported that he's been in an accident, whether there is a claim or not.

 

[Bombardino]

I think the insurance company would only be too happy not to pay for your car to be written off. Phone them back and say the damage is just the front bumper and a repair company can fix it for £400. As your excess is £600 you do not wish to pursue your own claim. The big danger is that the car is declared a Cat C. A Cat N is difficult to sell anyway but a Cat C is almost impossible.

They will still increase next years premiums as he's reported that he's been in an accident, whether there is a claim or not.

100% it will be classed as a claim for the next 5 years for most insurance companies as I know all to well.

 

[Unitedleeds1919]

I hate insurance companies

 

[Mr Tidy]

FWIW they don't use Cat C or Cat D, they were replaced some years ago by Cat S and Cat N for structural and non-structural.

As others have said it looks like a used bumper would have you sorted for sensible money, so good luck.

I worked for insurance companies for over 30 years, but I'm glad I don't any more.

 

[Mike6]

I had a minor bump in my day car a few years ago with a post and stupidly let my insurer know. I then took it to a crash repair place and they asked me if it was an insurance job or if I was paying for it. Cannot remember the figures but if it was insurance then all new panels etc but if i paid for it they used a skim or overpanel I think which was a fraction of the cost so I paid up for it. When my insurance was due they tried to take me to the cleaners on the basis that i had reported an accident. Changed my insurance company and obviously didnt declare an accident to them , not sure whether this is legal but dont see why if i havent claimed anything why the insurer should benefit.

 

[T_J_G]

I had a minor bump in my day car a few years ago with a post and stupidly let my insurer know. I then took it to a crash repair place and they asked me if it was an insurance job or if I was paying for it. Cannot remember the figures but if it was insurance then all new panels etc but if i paid for it they used a skim or overpanel I think which was a fraction of the cost so I paid up for it. When my insurance was due they tried to take me to the cleaners on the basis that i had reported an accident. Changed my insurance company and obviously didnt declare an accident to them , not sure whether this is legal but dont see why if i havent claimed anything why the insurer should benefit.

Because statistically you’re now more likely to have another accident, apparently.

 

[Rich8]

I had a minor bump in my day car a few years ago with a post and stupidly let my insurer know. I then took it to a crash repair place and they asked me if it was an insurance job or if I was paying for it. Cannot remember the figures but if it was insurance then all new panels etc but if i paid for it they used a skim or overpanel I think which was a fraction of the cost so I paid up for it. When my insurance was due they tried to take me to the cleaners on the basis that i had reported an accident. Changed my insurance company and obviously didnt declare an accident to them , not sure whether this is legal but dont see why if i havent claimed anything why the insurer should benefit.

Don't be surprised if it catches up with you. All the insurance companies share past accident info.
I got hit by my car insurer for a bit more premium due to a similar situation. In my case I had a similar situation on my motorbike on a completely unrelated policy with an unrelated insurer. I notified bike insurer of the accident but didn't claim and fixed at my own cost, no third party involved, so when I renewed my (totally unrelated) car insurance I didn't mention it as a past accident (different policy, different vehicle, different NCB, didn't claim anything. What's to declare??).

Then about 5 months later car insurer wrote to me about the accident I had that I didn't declare on renewal, so cough up another £100 or we cancel your insurance.

Apparently doesn't matter it is different vehicle on different policy with a different insurer, it's me, and they don't care if it cost anyone anything or not, it's a reason to load your policy so we'll take it thank you very much Sir.
One way traffic - can't move no claims I earn on my bike to a car, or vice-versa, but any accident or claim I have on one vehicle can certainly f**k the cover I have on the other.

How's that fair? The whole industry is one big fucking racket.
Sorry. Rant over.

 

[Unitedleeds1919]

I had a minor bump in my day car a few years ago with a post and stupidly let my insurer know. I then took it to a crash repair place and they asked me if it was an insurance job or if I was paying for it. Cannot remember the figures but if it was insurance then all new panels etc but if i paid for it they used a skim or overpanel I think which was a fraction of the cost so I paid up for it. When my insurance was due they tried to take me to the cleaners on the basis that i had reported an accident. Changed my insurance company and obviously didnt declare an accident to them , not sure whether this is legal but dont see why if i havent claimed anything why the insurer should benefit.

Don't be surprised if it catches up with you. All the insurance companies share past accident info.
I got hit by my car insurer for a bit more premium due to a similar situation. In my case I had a similar situation on my motorbike on a completely unrelated policy with an unrelated insurer. I notified bike insurer of the accident but didn't claim and fixed at my own cost, no third party involved, so when I renewed my (totally unrelated) car insurance I didn't mention it as a past accident (different policy, different vehicle, different NCB, didn't claim anything. What's to declare??).

Then about 5 months later car insurer wrote to me about the accident I had that I didn't declare on renewal, so cough up another £100 or we cancel your insurance.

Apparently doesn't matter it is different vehicle on different policy with a different insurer, it's me, and they don't care if it cost anyone anything or not, it's a reason to load your policy so we'll take it thank you very much Sir.
One way traffic - can't move no claims I earn on my bike to a car, or vice-versa, but any accident or claim I have on one vehicle can certainly f**k the cover I have on the other.

How's that fair? The whole industry is one big f***ing racket.
Sorry. Rant over.

that is scandalous