Crash: Rear Ended by a Suzuki Swift

[GoVols!]

[QUOTE=killcrap;694441]when an x5 is rear ended, most of the time, all the exhaust hangers are bent forward. you can just tell by looking at the hangers, both exhaust manifold are bent(shifted forward 1-2"). The battery box is another item to check as it often becomes cracked. Remove the rear diffuser(3 phillips screws) and check battery box, while you are there, the 2 inner exhaust hangers for the rear mufflers will need to be checked, the metal brackets for these hangers should have a clearance about 4-5mm between the battery box. Since you are not equipped with a tow bar, the bumper shocks will most likely need to be replaced.


Does having the tow bar in some way protect the X in a rear end collision? I have the hitch and keep the ball and tongue attached most of the time as a shield in case someone lightly bumps me. The thought being that the ball and tongue "warn" them that they've hit something before any damage is done to my bumper. Ever heard of this negatively affecting anything on the X in the event of a major collision?

[killcrap]

vehicles with the US Tow Hitch Carrier, the bumper shocks are no longer used. they are discarded. vehicles with a tow bar, do not protect the rear end any better than thoes without. if anything, they cause more damage to the rear end because of how strong the bar is.

[powers1]

...and mostly,the tow bar also causes a lot more damage to the car that rear ended you...but who cares

[ZX-Ken]

I got rear ended while sitting at a Red light by some guy in a rental car. Not too much damage to the X that I can see but my bumper is deffinately not alighned properly any more, also some cosmetic damage to the bumper cover. I have the OEM tow hitch installed so Im not sure what damage may have been done that I cant see. On top of this the guy tried to give me fraudulent insurance information at the scene, and is currently avoiding all attempts by the insurance company to contact him. What a jerk, I hope his insurance company drops him for this type of behavior.

Ken

[Dannyell]

Good to see you guys are OK. Good luck with the repairs

[X Foomph]

Thanks for the kind words folks. The CEO didn't get injured/hurt etc so as MD said that's what's most important. All said n done it was moreso a crashette than a crash.

Killcrap,
Thanks for that info. I'll be getting an assessment done this coming week (hopefully, being the silly season n all) and make comment/suggestions as a partially learned BMW owner thanks to you. By the sounds of it, it could run up a few $'s.

I was worried about any frame/body distortion and have measured from the ground to the middle u/side of the wheel arch guards and it appears that the RHS (damaged) is about 8mm higher than the LHS. Not sure what could be damaged, but I will certainly mention that to the insurance assessor.
PS: No air bag light on. Vehicle is driving ok at this stage.