Ice Damage - Possible total loss

[e30cabrio]

Sorry you are going through this Rush. Just for teh record, in 2008 my 2001 Acura CLs which had a ton of mods was totaled due to front passenger fender damage & driver rear quarter damage (it was running & driving) but a bit of a mess. They gave me 7800 & I gave back 1600. I parted it for 6500 & sold the hulk for 350 to a scrap yard. KBB in perfect condition at the time for a 100k perfect example was 7800.

[mam4.6]

Sad, seeing something like this happen (especially to an Estoril,) but it does...

Personally, if this happened to me, I would buy it back if it's totaled, and rebuild it myself as time and funds allow. If it's not totaled, let insurance take care of it.

They are to rare to be ditched! I'm sure you would regret getting rid of it, eventually...

But, I also understand that you need to consider your options, (do you have another vehicle that you can use, etc) and move forward from there...

Sad for you...

[upallnight]

Not sure if insurance would cover an electrical short caused by a clogged drain line for the sun roof. That would be like saying that insurance should cover the replacement of a car because it ran low on oil and the engine blew up. Plus you would have to carry full coverage and unless you have a loan outstanding on the car who would carry full coverage for a car that is 13 years old?

[mam4.6]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Plus you would have to carry full coverage and unless you have a loan outstanding on the car who would carry full coverage for a car that is 13 years old?

Point taken. I don't owe anything on mine, and am fully covered.

[Rush]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Do you know what specifically the water got into?

He did say "the module" and I'm assuming that's the DME, I was a little blown away, given I thought it was going to be replacing an alternator or something along those lines. He said that they got it running, but the rear windows were not working at this point.

Luckily (read: irritatingly), the insurance company sent me a pre-emptive email noting the possibility of a full loss. It hasn't talked to the shop, that should happen today.

Assuming that's the case, are there options? Take less than the insurance company would pay for total loss to keep the car, use that and the $1000 deductible to get it repaired cheaper somewhere I trust? Do insurance companies do that? My thought being if they total it, I'm not likely to get a car, hence I am no longer paying anything for insurance. Whereas if it remains on the road, they continue to get paid.

Alternatively, take it to shop number two, and see what insurance company and shop number two conclude?

As in the other thread, http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ere-4-6is.html, here's one! Perfectly functional car, in great shape. Totalling it for a repair bill, a non-physical reason, for labor or replacement parts is ludicrous.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the simple economics, but they do not take into account my personal preferences: keep the car forever.

Thanks.

As an aside, anyone know off-hand what a reliable (number one concern) good-quality '74 or later 2002 would go for?

[Rush]

Originally Posted by ants_oz

^ what you said.

A bloke is going through a tough time - let's just support him though it, hey?

Thank you, Gentlemen!

Any and all comments or thoughts welcome. I understand how the insurance company will decide, I'm looking to keep the car, repaired. Any ideas that give me more leverage will help, discussions of insurance details included. Please don't hesitate.

Thanks!

[Pierce330]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I'd get a second opinion, 65k Estoril is not something you throw away

I second that...

[Rush]

Originally Posted by e30cabrio

Sorry you are going through this Rush. Just for teh record, in 2008 my 2001 Acura CLs which had a ton of mods was totaled due to front passenger fender damage & driver rear quarter damage (it was running & driving) but a bit of a mess. They gave me 7800 & I gave back 1600. I parted it for 6500 & sold the hulk for 350 to a scrap yard. KBB in perfect condition at the time for a 100k perfect example was 7800.

Thank you for the example, it must have been hard to watch it slowly evaporate before you scrapped it. I'm sorry.

Sheesh, I can't even fathom what the parts are worth alone, that engine? That tranny?

I would assume that if I let the insurance company have it, SOMEONE is going to make quite a bit of money off of it, correct?

Thanks.

[Rush]

Originally Posted by mam4.6

Sad, seeing something like this happen (especially to an Estoril,) but it does...

Personally, if this happened to me, I would buy it back if it's totaled, and rebuild it myself as time and funds allow. If it's not totaled, let insurance take care of it.

They are to rare to be ditched! I'm sure you would regret getting rid of it, eventually...

But, I also understand that you need to consider your options, (do you have another vehicle that you can use, etc) and move forward from there...

Sad for you...

Yep, and thank you for your thoughts!

I live in DC, so I probably would not get another car for some time. I don't really need one, but I did keep it because I love THAT car.

I'll be running the numbers as much as they do, probably.

[Rush]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Not sure if insurance would cover an electrical short caused by a clogged drain line for the sun roof. That would be like saying that insurance should cover the replacement of a car because it ran low on oil and the engine blew up. Plus you would have to carry full coverage and unless you have a loan outstanding on the car who would carry full coverage for a car that is 13 years old?

That's not really in question. As far as it was explained to me, the ice (water expands as it freezes) caused damage that otherwise would not have happened. And again, I don't know all the details yet, but it was the icing and ICE that blocked the drains, hence the damage.

The car is long since paid for, and yes, I carry comprehensive for precisely this reason. It's not that expensive per year, and if I had to do this on my own, the car is scrap, no questions asked. Assuming of course, that the bill would run into the 75% range of the value of the car. I don't have that kind of money available to repair it.

That may still be the outcome. I would never have thought to call the insurance company, the shop said it was claimable damage.

Thanks.