E30 cabby - probable write off!!! Any advice???

[miniblob]

Right then, another one bites the dust!!!

After me and a mate appreciating how nice my cabby is to drive, yesterday, a blind old man hit me and (I think) wrote it off for me!!
He admitted liability, etc, so I hassled the insurance company to take it to a better bodyshop, so it went to Harwoods in Coulsdon last night. (That's the insurers premium repair centre!!!).
Not heard from the insurance co again yet, but went for a chat at Harwoods this morning and they've quoted over £4k for the repair, (which is basically: passenger wing, bonnet, bumper, lights, paint & they included passenger door and mirror too - no mention of steering/suspension/mechanical parts needed though!!!).
I'm assuming with £4k being a good whack above the value of the car, they'll just offer to send me a cheque!!!

Problem is, as I'm sure many know, with a classic/older car, without an agreed value on the policy (doh!), they tend to offer the lowest possible amount!!!
Just wondering if there's any advice out there for getting the most out of them???

Car is/was a K plate ('93 i think), 318i Auto, Brilliant Red, Cream/Beige Sports Leather, 15" BBS (and almost new tyres, which I'm working on stealing/swapping back!!!), power roof (although it had been changed to manual - will they check???), with a new roof a couple of years back.
Was generally in very good condition, although the old paint had started to fade at the rear (hence my intended chat with the bodyshop!!).

I have played this game before, but any advice, ideas, etc, are always welcome!!!

(I'll try and add a pic or two shortly!!!)

[daimlerman]

Beemerlad is your man here,drop him a PM sharpish.

[miniblob]

Ok, pics are up...
Doesn't really look that bad, but I knew it would be worse than it looks as the front wheel is on the bodywork when turning right now (even though I pulled the body away a bit!!!). And it took a decent effort to get the bonnet open!!!
Was probably a 20mph hit (educated guess - was probably actually less!!)

[miniblob]

Beemerlad is your man here,drop him a PM sharpish.

Will do, thanks!!!

[daimlerman]

Ok, pics are up...
Doesn't really look that bad, but I knew it would be worse than it looks as the front wheel is on the bodywork when turning right now (even though I pulled the body away a bit!!!). And it took a decent effort to get the bonnet open!!!
Was probably a 20mph hit (educated guess - was probably actually less!!)

[mcbonio]

Ouch thats a prang that, I'd doubt theres any serious mechanical issues there, perhaps a bent tie rod?

Looks like new front end is needed, all bolt on parts though, you'd have that sorted yourself in a day.!

You'd be able to source those parts from the savvy sellers on here, possibly even in the same colour.!

Could of been far far worse.!

[Kedge]

That's an easy repair though so once you've settled up with the insurance company you might want to buy it back!

[miniblob]

Well that's my other train of though, but to be honest, I'm not sure I want the hassle!!!
Could've been an error, as much as a good idea, insisting on sending it to a 'proper' (read: expensive) workshop!

Things like that never seem to get done with me - I just don't have the time or even motivation any more - especially doing it out in the street!!!
I'll end up bodging it after a month or two and driving round in a bent cloud of dissapointment!!!

It'll all depend on the argument over value really - and what they will/won't pay out if I have the car back!!!

Obviously a few parts I could strip from it and sell too (roof & leather mainly) - pending on figures again!!

At least the old guy came of worst!!! He 'panicked and accelerated instead of braked' so he ended up meeting a telegraph pole head on!!!

[maggspower]

Well that's my other train of though, but to be honest, I'm not sure I want the hassle!!!
Could've been an error, as much as a good idea, insisting on sending it to a 'proper' (read: expensive) workshop!

Things like that never seem to get done with me - I just don't have the time or even motivation any more - especially doing it out in the street!!!
I'll end up bodging it after a month or two and driving round in a bent cloud of dissapointment!!!

It'll all depend on the argument over value really - and what they will/won't pay out if I have the car back!!!

Obviously a few parts I could strip from it and sell too (roof & leather mainly) - pending on figures again!!

At least the old guy came of worst!!! He 'panicked and accelerated instead of braked' so he ended up meeting a telegraph pole head on!!!

Get your cheque, buy back the car, source the parts and take it to a cheaper body shop.

Then you have the car back, no hastle to yourself.

The important part is to get the maximum off the insurance.

[E30BeemerLad]

All you can do is be ready for the insurers and the offer they make. They have to pay you the "market value" for the car, which they will obtain from Parkers or Glass' "older car" guide. This is unlikely to be an appealing offer and you will therefore need to do some homework and look on ebay, autotrader, pistonheads, carandclassic etc for same model, spec, mileage & condition cars. Save the links to the ads and print them out.

Be ready to show them to the insurers when they probably offer you £800 to start with.

If you want to keep the car (retain the salvage) then the normal amount of salvage value is 10% of the pre-accident value. So £2000 value on the car would see you with £1800 in your hand and the car.

[miniblob]

Ok mate, thanks for the info!!!

Had to play that game years back with a previous car that got written off and it dragged on for nearly a year until I gave in!!!
They wanted way more than 10% last time, so that could be a useful figure to know!!!
Worth having for parts if nothing else!!!

Appreciate the input!!!

[Topblag]

All you can do is be ready for the insurers and the offer they make. They have to pay you the "market value" for the car, which they will obtain from Parkers or Glass' "older car" guide. This is unlikely to be an appealing offer and you will therefore need to do some homework and look on ebay, autotrader, pistonheads, carandclassic etc for same model, spec, mileage & condition cars. Save the links to the ads and print them out.

Be ready to show them to the insurers when they probably offer you £800 to start with.

If you want to keep the car (retain the salvage) then the normal amount of salvage value is 10% of the pre-accident value. So £2000 value on the car would see you with £1800 in your hand and the car.

Which can be an opportunity. Break the car if it's beyond economical repair, you'll get a fair whack with cabby specific parts. Add that to your £1800 and buy another. Simples.

It is winter after all, perfect cabby buying time.

[miniblob]

That's what I'm thinking now!!!

Just gotta haggle the insurance co. out of the maximum money possible now!!!

[bmw9818]

ouch! I think i might have a passenger wing in brill red in the shed? think its got a few rust bubbles on the lower black part but you can have it if you want, need to clear it out as its full of parts!

i had a hood as well a few weeks back sold it for a tenner!

[Kedge]

ouch! I think i might have a passenger wing in brill red in the shed? think its got a few rust bubbles on the lower black part but you can have it if you want, need to clear it out as its full of parts!

i had a hood as well a few weeks back sold it for a tenner!

Cab wings are different, although the extra bit for the sill can be tacked on.

[miniblob]

Thanks guys, but I'll hold off on grabbing parts until I know 100% what's happening!!!
My lockup is already stuffed full of E30 and classic mini parts that I haven't got round to using!!!

Might be selling some more myself soon to raise additional funds!!!

[aimlessrock]

sorry to hear of you cabby mate, if you need a descent bodyshop i have mate who is a time served painter who restored my cabby (and it was in a state when i bought it) and he is doing a bare metal repaint now for a fellow zoner. He works from a lock up and his work is amazing..pm me if you need his number.

[stew72]

If you want to repair it try for cash in lieu of repair as it shouldn't get recorded, taking the money and buying it back will.