Pristine 87 325is - TOTALED at the car wash!!

[Lost 87Red]

We bought a gorgeous 87 325is from a local person. He was the third owner and had ALL of the service records and receipts (including the original bill of sale). The car was PRISTINE..... He had just spent over $6000 in receipt totals in the last year completely restoring this car to original. The paint was immaculate, the interior was beautiful - no cracks, no tears, the electrical worked (all of it), and the mechanical ran like it was brand new. We bought the car for a steal.....


However, about 3 months later, my car (it was my husband's toy, but I confiscated it the first time I drove it - he only drove it 12 times) got really dirty and I took it for a bath at our local brushless/hand dryed car wash. We have used them many times for our other vehicles. When the girl got in the car to pull it forward out of the car wash, she floored the car instead of hitting the brake - CRASH!!!!! I watched my car SLAM into a parked Plymouth Voyager van and push that van 12 feet with skid marks. The entire front end of my car was destroyed!!! To make matters worse, the girl did not speak one word of english, and she didn't have a drivers license. While we were waiting for the police officer to arrive the owner of the van and owner of the car wash stood there and just raved about what beautiful condition my car was in..... THANKS!!!!!

Since then, we have been dealing with the car washes insurance company and they are totaling the car.

HERE IS THE MAIN REASON I AM WRITING!!! The insurance co. is only wanting to offer us $2500 for the car. Remember, this car was in Pristine condition and had over $6000 of restoration work done on it in the past year. We took the car to a local shop that only works on BMWs and he said looking at the rest of the car, which was not injured, he would have not put this car on his lot for no less than $5000 at least.

My car was an automatic, 230K miles, and all Pristine!!!! To say the least I am heartbroken and really mad!!!!

Any ideas on what to do next or if someone could give me an idea to get the $ offer up on this deal - please respond. There is NO WAY I could replace my BMW baby for $2500 in this condition.

HELP ME PLEASE!!!! And, if you happen to know where I can find a "gem" like this one (87-89)- please let me know.

Thanks!!!

 

[Big Daddy]

NADA lists the value between $1400 to $3100 which sounds right. Kelly Blue Book values the car at $3225. If you have reciepts you may be able to get more, but it will be a challenge. How much did you pay for the car? Why isn't the car wash owner paying for the damage? You really cannot expect to get more than you paid for the car or its book value unless you buy collectors insurance. Best of luck to you and I hope you get treated right.

 

[mjbst111]

i bought my 91 for 3200 and a couple years later i totalled it (215000 miles). Insurance wanted to give me 2000 for it and all i said was wow thats not a lot, i see them going for over 5000 on autotrader. (granted my car was a rare car - had the seats, deck lip, wheels, 5-speed, good bumpers)

They called back and gave me 4800. Thye called a couple local dealers then gave me a better quote.

You don't really have to fight just tell them its worth more and list all that was done to it to restore it.

Hope you get more!

 

[jonaphn]

i've heard so many bad expirences at car washes before and they always make me cringe.

good luck with the insurance company, hopefully you'll get a decent amount.

 

[nadroj]

if they dont give you a fair price you could try sueing the car wash ins co or the car wash

 

[Kirby]

See if you can get valuation on the car by several used car dealers in writing to show that the market value is higher than book value, even if you have to pay them to come look at the wrecked car. Then show that to the insurance company. It may work, or they may hold their position.

 

[epj3]

Trust me - doesn't matter WHAT the car had put in to it - legally the insurance company only has to pay you what the car is worth and anything else that might be covered and damaged (like a stereo system.) I found this out too, but I got $3600 for mine (before taxes and everything). The fact it's auto, 230k miles, etc. will make it worth what they are giving you. I think you should take the money and run before they reconsider. I think you should be happy with either getting it fixed (which is very possible, I had a near head-on at 35mph and was told my car was fixable with no real frame damage...), or happy getting $4k-5k assuming it was in good shape.

But I personally would fight it. It's not YOUR FAULT at ALL that the car was totaled. Why should YOU suffer a loss?!? I was fu*ked in the a** by insurance on my e30, and couldn't fight because it was in my parent's name. I put $400 of parts, including a new clutch, only weeks before the idiot in the audi decided to suck at driving. I would fight it til the car wash gets tired of fighting, and just gives you what you want. If the insurance company tries to hold their position, then don't settle. Threaten to take them to court (both the insurance company and especially the car wash.) Get them to pay to either fix it, or reimburst you for every cost associated with that car since you bought it (assuming you have receipts.)

 

[Lost 87Red]

Trust me - doesn't matter WHAT the car had put in to it - legally the insurance company only has to pay you what the car is worth and anything else that might be covered and damaged (like a stereo system.) I found this out too, but I got $3600 for mine (before taxes and everything). The fact it's auto, 230k miles, etc. will make it worth what they are giving you. I think you should take the money and run before they reconsider. I think you should be happy with either getting it fixed (which is very possible, I had a near head-on at 35mph and was told my car was fixable with no real frame damage...), or happy getting $4k-5k assuming it was in good shape.

But I personally would fight it. It's not YOUR FAULT at ALL that the car was totaled. Why should YOU suffer a loss?!? I was fu*ked in the a** by insurance on my e30, and couldn't fight because it was in my parent's name. I put $400 of parts, including a new clutch, only weeks before the idiot in the audi decided to suck at driving. I would fight it til the car wash gets tired of fighting, and just gives you what you want. If the insurance company tries to hold their position, then don't settle. Threaten to take them to court (both the insurance company and especially the car wash.) Get them to pay to either fix it, or reimburst you for every cost associated with that car since you bought it (assuming you have receipts.)

Thanks so much for the advice. I wish my car was "easily" fixed. The problem was the frame was bent on the passenger side right at the front.

My husband has decided he is going to go talk to the owner of the car wash and let him know how unhappy we are with the insurance co. offer. Maybe since we live in a small town that is very influenced by talk, he will be more than happy to help out with the persuasion.

 

[Lost 87Red]

Thanks for your honesty. Like I said before, we got the car for a "steal". Much less than book value - only because his wife made him get rid of it since he had just gotten a M3 and she needed the spot for her Porshe. They were car buffs just for the fun of it. So we got really lucky finding the car.

My insurance is not the one paying for anything - the car wash insurance is who we are dealing with. My husband had decided to go and talk to the owner of the car wash and let him know how unhappy we are with his insurance co. We live in a small town so hopefully that will influence him to talk to his insurance company.

 

[nadroj]

well let us know how it goes

 

[echothreezero]

I don't know how insurance works in the US, but over here I would have made a claim with my insurance co. and let them deal with it. As I have an agreed value with them they would pay me the amount agreed as to the value of the car (well above book value) and then it would be up to them to chase the other insurance co. OR the car wash owner him/herself for reimbursement.

Why do all that yourself unless you aren't insured. In which case I hate to say this, but you were asking for trouble not insuring your car.

Sure, my premiums reflect the agreed value and there is an excess to be paid of course, but that's what insurance is for and at least I would be paid what I think the car is worth (less excess of course).

 

[mclarensmps]

The problem was the frame was bent on the passenger side right at the front.

This is still fixable. Theres a guy in Montreal that i know who works on european cars exclusively (and some american but very few), and he has fixed damaged frames before, though im not sure of what the strengths of these have been after repairs.

 

[bad ass v-dub]

If you do get it fixed talk to your insurance company and get a rider put on so that the insurance will cover the value of the car and the cost of the restoration and parts that were put into it.