Need advice on the X being totaled. :(

Green Dragon · #1 12-07-2011, 01:13 AM

Well my cherished X5 (2001 3.0, Loaded Sport with a 5 speed manual tranny-Rare Find) was in an accident last Friday night. Someone slid on snow pack through a stop sign and into my path of travel and WHAM! Pretty much T-boned them. Hit em hard enough to spin them around, followed by the rear of his mid size truck hitting the right rear passenger door. His insurance (Gieco) has assumed responsibility. I laughed when the adjuster told me they would like to use recycled parts and "capa certified" parts after my request for oem parts. I thought that was the worst of my issues, but this morning the collision shop (who I know and trust) called and said looks like its gonna be totaled after he hit 9,000 and was still assessing and is trying to cheapen the parts as best possible. The damage to the front is isolated to the radiator support forward and no frame/structural damage is evident. Soooo....assuming the outcome of it being totaled, how would you proceed? Let em total it out, hope they give enough to get into another of equal replacement, or, do you keep the X, fix it yourself and accept a reduced settlement? I know we're missing some variables in this situation, but what are your thoughts and experiences with this kinda stuff? BTW, my X was mint besides 140k on the speedo. I feel like they are gonna try to screw me. Thoughts? Advise?

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TwinsPoppa · #2 12-07-2011, 01:25 AM

I'm sorry to hear. Can't stand it when you lose a perfectly fine vehicle to accidents - and don't get much because its "old". Its happened to me too.

Well, first find out how much they are going to give you. Then I would post some pics.

Like you said, there are alot of variables and it just depends.

Are you a handy mechanic? Do you do bodywork? Do you have another vehicle to use while doing possible repairs? Do you have a heated garage? Do you have any mechanic/body & paint connectiions?

140K is certainly high-mileage. I doubt they're going to give you much. If they total it, whatever they give you you have to use most of it to purchase the X back - which probably doesn't leave you much for repairs.

Also, I can't remember but I think the title changes to a salvage title or something if its totaled by the insurance company.

Not sure how that would work out if you want less money for repairs.

Parting it out is always a pain as it takes time to sell piece by piece.

Just some thoughts.

Green Dragon · #3 12-07-2011, 02:24 AM

Here's some pics. I have better ones that I will post soon.

PersonaNonGrata · #4 12-07-2011, 02:40 AM

I have to agree with TwinsPoppa. As nice as it is an X5 to you, with the age and mileage you will not net much money in the deal. If you're ready to move on to something else, take the pay out if it is halfway decent. If you love your X5 and want to stay with it, Have it repaired and how about a '04 facelift?

SlickGT1 · #5 12-07-2011, 02:45 PM

Here in NY, once your car is totaled, and the other Insurance company is responsible, they cut you a check, and the car remains your problem. They do not take it from you.

If your tree fell on the truck, and your own insurance company totaled it, then yes, they will take the car.

Find out if that's how it works by you.

TwinsPoppa · #6 12-07-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Here in NY, once your car is totaled, and the other Insurance company is responsible, they cut you a check, and the car remains your problem. They do not take it from you.

If your tree fell on the truck, and your own insurance company totaled it, then yes, they will take the car.

Find out if that's how it works by you.

Must be different from State to State. Here in MD my insurance gave me a check and took the car.

Another thought. If insurance gives you a check, you keep the X and would ONLY needt o spend $1-2K more for a total repair - then maybe.

You could look at it like what could you buy to replace the X in that price range/quality. However, I'd be afraid of not getting enough money AND it does have 140K miles on it.

Lets see what kind of money they offer. Keep in mind though that the adjuster stopped adding up the repair quote when he got to $9K so not much hope I'm thinking.

MINIz guy · #7 12-07-2011, 03:13 PM

It does look totaled. Even if you don't count the repair for the door, you're replacing the hood, fender, bumper and everything inside the engine compartment that got damaged. That easily sounds like it's over $6k of work and I bet that X5 isn't worth more than $10k to the insurance company.

4.6toddy · #8 12-07-2011, 04:36 PM

Don't do it man!
I hit a deer in March with my 4.6IS and did FAR less damage then you've got there. I was able to drive mine away from the scene. My repair bill was $10k (covered by insurance) - new bumper, hood, fender, grill, headlight assembly, fog lights etc...
It hasn't run the same since... riddled with problems ever since. Related or not i will never know but they've all been in the front area of the engine bay.

With as much damage as you've got, there may be issues that pop up for a long time coming. It might be heart breaking but let it go and find another ride. Not worth the risk IMO

SlickGT1 · #9 12-07-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Must be different from State to State. Here in MD my insurance gave me a check and took the car.

Another thought. If insurance gives you a check, you keep the X and would ONLY needt o spend $1-2K more for a total repair - then maybe.

You could look at it like what could you buy to replace the X in that price range/quality. However, I'd be afraid of not getting enough money AND it does have 140K miles on it.

Lets see what kind of money they offer. Keep in mind though that the adjuster stopped adding up the repair quote when he got to $9K so not much hope I'm thinking.

Right, because your insurance cut you the check. If it was someone elses insurance that cut the check, I have a feeling it would be a diff story.

$9, and he stopped, means he hit 60% value of the car already. Might be $12k check here.

TwinsPoppa · #10 12-07-2011, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Right, because your insurance cut you the check. If it was someone elses insurance that cut the check, I have a feeling it would be a diff story.

$9, and he stopped, means he hit 60% value of the car already. Might be $12k check here.

I see what you're saying. Maybe you're right.

On the $9K thing I'm thinking the opposite.

I'm thinking that the adjuster probably felt like the X isn't worth more than $9K so he stopped. I can't shake this feeling that the check will be $9K or less - not more. I hope I'm wrong.

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