Rear ended - What to do?

[dvnchrstphr]

Hi r3v,

It's taken me about two weeks for this to sink in.

Long story short, I was rear ended while at a complete stop - other driver at fault. Both cars insured. Driver wasn't paying attention, noticed my car was at a stop and tried to correct herself last minute, damaging the trunk, rear bumper, euro trim, rear driver tail light, quarter panel and under panel.

Other drivers' insurance has been handling my rental and all other minor fees.

Have had an attorney deal with all parties, and have been giving them everything I possibly could for the car:

- All scanned receipts from every purchase (but gas)
- Part numbers and estimates for all panels based off of realoem.com
- Listings of cars in similar condition to combat with the other driver's insurance company etc.
- Also my blog, which may show what the car means to me if it could be argued in court?

I'm honestly expecting to walk away with a totaled car and $2,000-$3,000. This is my first accident so I'm unaware how to take it, just going by what I've heard from most parties in "Enthusiast market vs KBB/Nada Guide" arguments I shouldn't be expecting a lot.

Right now the car is at a bodyshop. Adjuster rated the car at $5,000-$6,000 worth of damage. They'll be appraising the car tomorrow to give me an idea of what I should expect back.

My questions are:

1. The car has loads of maintenance and parts on it, what happens to the car if I were to just hand the title over to the insurance company? The thought of it being chopped up in the condition it was in - enthusiast owned it's whole life, new seats, suspension, all original panels - would break my heart.

2. I've heard stories of getting the car back AND the settled agreement, but how likely is that? Some have suggested getting the check, and taking my car from the shop to do the work myself (or at another shop) but again I'm completely clueless on the process.

3. Am I thinking too much about the car and should I let it go, or should I really push my attorney and all parties to get the car back? My thoughts on a car with accident history is to stay far away, though I've spoke to a few members on the forum who believe the damage is not significant. I'm in between really getting it fixed and driving it every day or just parting it out myself.

Any (constructive) tips you'd like to add, I'm willing to hear. The whole thing is painful to me but I'm doing my best to keep it on my mind.

Thanks

[anabolice30]

Dang, looks like you got dinged pretty hard. Went through a similar situation around Christmas. Insurance companies are bastards. You gotta be tough with them, but she is at fault. Start documenting other e30s like yours in similar condition and show how much they are going for. If repairs are 70%+ (depends on what state I believe) it will be declared a total loss. Most likely you are right at the threshhold of a total loss. All I can say is document every step of the way, and get everything together showing how much work and money has been put into that car. Good luck man!

[mitchlikesbikes]

unfortunately that's probably totaled. sucks to see because it looks like an impeccably clean car :(

[F34R]

make a truck

[Dakotademon7]

Most of the time you can buy back the car cheap. Ask them what the buy back price will be on it. Most the time, the car goes to an auto auction or sold to a salvage yard.

[Hooffenstein HD]

Whatever happens, you need to keep the car so you can put your good parts into the next one you get.

[UNHCLL]

Don't use RealOEM for parts price, it's mostly incorrect and out-dated. Get an actual dealer to get you prices... If the car is original and has not previously had accident damage, you'll want it to be repaired with OE panels.

[CabbE30]

Whatever happens, you need to keep the car so you can put your good parts into the next one you get.

This.

Total it out, buy it back and dont settle unti you get enough money to find an equally clean replacement to put all your parts in.

[Semblance]

Before you give up, get a quote from a shop, don't just take the appraiser's estimate. I just had some damage to my quarter panel - it wasn't as bad but the appraiser said it was almost 3k in damage and so totaled... But the shop only wanted a little over 1k to fix, so not totaled.

[getouth]

Take the car and a check if you can, part out the rest of it and get another one and move on. You will never get your money back if you invest it into an old car that was wrecked that bad especially with a salvage title.

[AwakenNoMore]

Buy it back and repair if possible or re-shell. This is what I would do.

[13bpower]

subscribed

[nando]

the quarter panel can be replaced, but my question is - did the roof buckle at all?

you'd be dumb to let the insurance company keep it. they don't own it unless you sign it over to them - the "buy back" is really them just taking the scrap value out of your settlement check, but it'll be like $500. even if you just sell the wreck or part it out, you'll get more than that for it.

[Thizzelle]

Before you give up, get a quote from a shop, don't just take the appraiser's estimate. I just had some damage to my quarter panel - it wasn't as bad but the appraiser said it was almost 3k in damage and so totaled... But the shop only wanted a little over 1k to fix, so not totaled.

yeah get own quotes. I did that before and then they wrote me a check and no total. This was for only a convertible top.

[TimKninja]

That Can be fixed. The E30 Supply is dwindeling at an alarming rate.

Driver side door still open ok?
Roof not Buckled?

If no then it can be fixed. and I would fight to get the proper money to get it fixed right. Its an astonishingly clean car, would hate to see it scrapped.