Rear ended - What to do?

[AwakenNoMore]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Hooffenstein HD]

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

[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.

[F34R]

make a truck

[mitchlikesbikes]

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

[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!

[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