Sorry to be the bearer of bad news..... (archive)

Raj-
You can fight long and hard, but it might be time to find a non-rusted 528e and think about the laborious process of transplanting all your running gear.

Your car is, by insurance company definitions, a ancient heap of shit clunker. It isn't, but those are the breaks. It's close to being totalled out with the damage.

Fight, but be prepared for them to total it and then you'll have a check and no car. If that's the case, make sure you strip the piss out of it and let the salvage auction have only a crap-pile with rotten brakes, a dead eta motor, and nothing of value. Or you can buy your own car back at auction with your check and fix it yourself with used parts.

Sucks, doesn't it?

Brandon

My internet has been out for a few days now so I haven't been able to keep up with the board. But this is what has transpired with insurance in the last few days.

The issue of car value never came up, but these guys are IMO trying to short me on the claim. My original estimate was for $3150 which includes replacing ft bumper, all bumper trim, the hood, the fender, and lower valance. Allstate is trying to offer me about $1600 to repair the hood (even through it's slightly bowed), replace the fender with a used part, recondition the bumper, repair the lower valance (which I had to bend out with a crow bar so it wouldn't rub the tire), and replace the bumper trim. They say that since the car is so old, they will only replace damaged parts with used ones and try to repair anything that can be fixed.

I didn't accept their offer, so this whole thing is still up in the air. I'll deal with them further after I finish midterms this week. But they DID get me a rental car. So, I've parked my car for a little while and am driving around in a fairly new Dodge Stratus with a 4-banger and automatic tranny. What a pile of sh*t! Maybe I should practice my two-footing while I have this car.

Any advice on how to milk more from Allstate? I spent all of Friday talking to body shops, my attorney, and insurance adjusters. But all to no avail, except for the rental car.

Raj
'85 535i (240k)
temporary '01 Dodge Stratus (25k, but I doubt it'll last much longer)

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