Help needed from Buyer/Seller of 1993 BMW E30 Convertibles

[orb0554]

What ar the numbers we are talking about?

Is Nada, your insurances value of the car? They are offering 1/3 that?

I sold a 92 cab 2 years back for 10k, and it had approximately 85k miles on it.

Todd,

The NADA average retail value back in February 2014 was $6,850 based on 110K miles. Fairfax County Appraiser has estimated the value of my 1993 E30 convertible at $2,148 and his repair estimate at $4,737.38. The body shop's estimate after a supplemental more detailed inspection is $6,248. The damage looks minimal, it was hit on the left front side. These estimates are based on new BMW parts; namely hood, left fender, bumper, left headlights. I have been able to source some good used parts for the repair but will still need the hood and fender from the BMW dealer as these used parts generally need much preparation labor.

The county's appraisal is totally one sided in evaluating my vehicle as fair. The car does have some peeling clear coat and the existing sports seat's leather is in bad shape; it is a 20 footer. I have newly recovered front and rear waitingto be installed, I was waiting on spring so the carpet could be steam cleaned prior to installing the newly covered seats. The car has a completely new suspension including all new rubber wear parts. New steering rack, cold A/C, timing belt, new fluids, mechanically the car is perfect condition and only 110K miles. All this was ignored by the County's appraiser.

This is a photo of my car the day it was hit by Fairfax County's garbage truck:

[orb0554]

TimeMachinE30,

Your hindsight is appreciated, I have posted the facts and seek assistance from individuals willing to assist a fellow enthusiast.

The 1993 convertible is not my daily driver and I was in the process in making this car a weekend fun car. I saw no reason for additional insurance for a car that was just parked, again thanks for your hindsight.

Have a good day, Oscar

[orb0554]

mbonder,

Your hunch is correct and I also have full collector's coverage on my coveted E30's that are in the garage under car covers.

Thanks, Oscar

[orb0554]

Tom64,

Thank you for helping a fellow enthusiast with these links. I will certainly follow on your suggestion and hope some of these seller can assist.

Thanks again, Oscar

[flyboyx]

well, first off, you got fucked. sorry to hear that. second, it sounds like you should have had a lawyer at court. it appears they bowled over you. sorry to hear that too. perhaps the best you can hope for at this point would be to do some creative junk yarding. find yourself a bumper, fender, hood, valance, and other parts you need. the fender is cabrio specific. take the sheet metal off the front of the car, either straighten the core support or take it to a body shop to have it straightened. install panels. take it back to the body shop to be painted. i think you could accomplish this for the amount they paid you.

at this point, i think this is the best you can hope for. if you do appeal, it sounds to me like you will need a lawyer this time.

[Mr. Burns]

that's a brutal hit, but looks salvageable to me.

good luck to you and hope it works out.

[flyboyx]

btw....if you decide to part it out, i would like dibs on the folding top.

[mbonder]

Generally what I've found (and I haven't been to smaller claim court recently, or traffic court for that matter) is that without a lawyer, the court doesn't really take you seriously. Chances are this is what happened to you.

However, you need to remember that their determination of fair condition is based on a set of variables that can be used to determine condition of any vehicle. In your mind, your car would probably be considered "good" condition because you're judging it against other e30s, where worn seats and peeling clear coat aren't too big of a negative and new suspension bushing are seen as a bigger positive. The person who determined the value of your car is mainly looking at aesthetics, not suspension bushings. They are interested in mileage (usually anything over 100k is considered old regardless of age in years).

They basically just offered you 1/3 the repair costs, which annoys me, even if they used the original estimate they'd still be giving you only just under 1/2 the cost of the repairs. This in some way is wrong in my mind because someone damaged something that was yours. In this case, they should have to repair it regardless of what the "value" of the car is. I know that's just my personal feeling and not how it works, but it irks me regardless.

The problem here would be that I think this car would have been totaled even if you had full coverage. Usually the insurance company will cover something like 75-80% of the total cost of the vehicle to repair it. Once you break that threshold they total it out and hand you a check based on the condition of the car. You may have gotten away with it with the initial repair estimate, but certainly not with the second one.

I'd take whatever money I could get after making a big deal of it in court and then take the car back, find someone that wants to work after hours doing bodywork and get her back on the road. Even with only $2200 to play with, if you source the parts yourself, it can be done with minimal money out of pocket.

Good Luck!

[TimeMachinE30]

You can poo poo my input all day long. I deal with crashes, the resultant vehicles, insurance companies all day and every day. I am in court very often, too. I am an enthusiast. I am also a realist. You go into a professional court setting with your feelings. They go in to court with bottom line, judicial rules and proper procedures and etiquette.

My input is only as good as you recipient it to be. I speak from experience.

You are a gnat on the radar. You are likely not taken seriously because you are not being serious.

I wish you well. I don't like seeing a vert banged up..especially not as a result of carelessness.

[GillesBigCowboy]

I fought with Fulton County government about the value of my vert, but I was arguing in the other direction... I appealed, but then I missed the court date. They continue to tax me for a car of $2Kish value, but I bought it for $450!

Sux! that the truck hit you, but this is totally fixable and an opportunity to get rid of that peeling clearcoat.

[wilholl]

$6,248 is a lot of $$$ to repair that damage.
My vert cost $2600 to repair damage that bad in 2010.
Have prices gone up that much?

[mr2peak]

Challenge them to buy you a replacement car for the amount they want to give you. When they can't find a replacement car, it will be hard for them to argue against you.

[TimeMachinE30]

Challenge them to buy you a replacement car for the amount they want to give you. When they can't find a replacement car, it will be hard for them to argue against you.

It is not the county who needs to buy a new car. It is upon the plaintiff to make the case.

The county is trying to offer funds to fix it....in their lowball way of course. The county estimator was mentioned early as being totally one sided. Of course, he is an employee of the county there to protect the county. That is why a one sided attorney in your court would be wise. Makes things more even...

[mr2peak]

Pay and have it appraised. Very hard for them to argue against that. Look at Hagerty insurance for values, they are much more in tune with the classics market.

[cabriodster87]

Take the money and fix it. Don't waste any more time, it wont get any better.
The same thing happened to me. I HATE garbage trucks!.