RIP Ginger?...

[billb]

Deer 1...Ginger 0. Well, okay, maybe Ginger got half a point.

My wife got blindsided from the left this morning about 9:30 by a deer. He was the lead, and there were two more behind him, according to the guy that was driving behind my wife who stopped to see if he could help after all was said and done. At first glance, it's just the door. But...the sill under the door got it too. Not sure how big this deer was, or where exactly center mass hit, but it used up this door. Amazingly, no airbag deployment, and no broken glass (aside from the mirror, which I never knew was heated until I saw the lens dangling from the car...huh!)

Rigmaster's got a line on a door for me, but the frame scares me. I'd total it if I were the man, but miracles can be done on these jokers. Any opinions? I welcome thoughts about the likelihood that this is fixable.


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d106/tarheelbimmer/oh%20deer/DSCN0319.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d106/tarheelbimmer/oh%20deer/DSCN0321.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d106/tarheelbimmer/oh%20deer/DSCN0328.jpg

On a happier note, while all this was going on, Web and I were on our way to the Ultimate Drive, where we sampled the 550i, 325xiT, and 530xiT. Check out the odometer on the 550i...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d106/tarheelbimmer/oh%20deer/419a4170.jpg

[Alexlind123]

Ask a bodyshop if they can fix it :)

[duby55]

I willing to bet thats repairable. Its only money.

[Jr ///M5]

Glad Lainey is ok...that's THE important thing here. A good bodyman can and probably will fix the door without replacing it. How's the original paint job? They are going to have to blend the color into the adjacent panels so it will match. It would be a good time to take care of those pesky rock chips on the bumper cover and hood?

Your comprehensive coverage will take care of the damage with only the deductible to be met. That can be good or bad, depending on the deductible amount you carry. Get some estimates so you won't be in the dark. My guess is $960-$1200 should do it just fine.

Expect to get your official "I HATE BAMBI" bumper sticker soon...:D

Lainey's guardian angel was on the ball....and that's a good thing!;)

[Gayle]

I feel like I know Ginger from when you were thinking about selling her. It is as if a friend has a broken arm. Wish her a speedy recovery.

[billb]

Glad Lainey is ok...that's THE important thing here. A good bodyman can and probably will fix the door without replacing it. How's the original paint job? They are going to have to blend the color into the adjacent panels so it will match. It would be a good time to take care of those pesky rock chips on the bumper cover and hood?

Your comprehensive coverage will take care of the damage with only the deductible to be met. That can be good or bad, depending on the deductible amount you carry. Get some estimates so you won't be in the dark. My guess is $960-$1200 should do it just fine.

Expect to get your official "I HATE BAMBI" bumper sticker soon...:D

Lainey's guardian angel was on the ball....and that's a good thing!;)

...so it should match pretty well. The door looks to be toast. I wouldn't try to fix it. We haven't attempted to roll down the window, nor will I try.

And yes, her guardian angel was definitely on the ball. This could've been a really nasty hit that could have hurt her. The car did its job. The door was used up in the collision. I'm okay with that. That my wife reacted very well after all our discussions about how to handle the unexpected on the road speaks well of her driving skills too. She could have easily yanked on the wheel and spun out, taking others with her. Fortunately, she calmly braked and came to a safe stop, turned on her hazards, and collected her thoughts before proceeding. I'm very proud, and happy she's not injured.

And as duby55 said, it's only money. (But this is the first accident with this car in 135k miles...and it is sad :( ).

[632 Regal]

Bill I doubt there is any frame damage at all, looks like all they will need to do is repair the rocker panel. As long as you dont have to have the door paint matched ill bet that little repair will be under $300

[dacoyote]

Yeah.... thats not a big deal... prop didn't even mess up the frame...

[Alexlind123]

A good body shop could probably fix the door, but it might be eaisier and better to get a new door and paint it to match.

[Rigmaster]

Meh, that's nothing.

I would not touch the rocker- just replace the door and be done with it, unless whatever you've been eating this week makes you crap $100 bills. I doubt a bodyshop would even feel the need to put that thing up and check to see if the unibody is straight. It's just the outer skin of the rocker from the looks of it.


Glad Lainey is OK- it's only a car afterall!!! :)



Bret.

[tim s]

a local guy pulled it out by welding small long metal rods & then connected a slide hammer to them. he also pulled a small dent out of the rear door.
it is now very hard to see that it ever happened.
tim s.

[SharkmanBMW]

a local guy pulled it out by welding small long metal rods & then connected a slide hammer to them. he also pulled a small dent out of the rear door.
it is now very hard to see that it ever happened.
tim s.


that sounds like a winner!
swap doors with Bret and have the rocker pulled out, also, get a set of deer whistles for the front bumper!

http://www.sav-a-life.com/Deeralert_intro.htm

or the new fangled type !

http://www.xp3hornet.com/

[billb]

The doorframe at the sill is pushed in far enough that even a "new" door will not seal up. It'll need pulling out, if it can be done.

Deductible is pretty low ($250) on comprehensive. We'll see what comes of it from there next week. As for now, at least we've got transportation. Wife has to schlep in the Explorer for a bit now...:(

[billb]

...Kenny Hawkins Automotive. 6-8 days to repair, can start on the 27th of the month.

$3074.62

Are you off the floor yet? That includes a new door (minus the panel, window, or motor), new mirror, all new trim, and repainting/repairing everything else. They felt confident on being able to pull the metal back out on the door sill.

That number has to be 75% of the total value of the car for it to be totalled.

[smcgowan]

Considering you were talking about a full car repaint?

Bad Bad ASRE Deer...

[billb]

Considering you were talking about a full car repaint?

Bad Bad ASRE Deer...

it's blending panels. Insurance will not go for a full repaint.

[632 Regal]

why did you opt for this over the rigmaster door and just dealing with the rocker panel?

[dacoyote]

why did you opt for this over the rigmaster door and just dealing with the rocker panel?

Because this should be a better fix...

[billb]

why did you opt for this over the rigmaster door and just dealing with the rocker panel?
...which leads to what the insurance check is for...I'm still hoping to work a deal with Bret on the door. The estimate determines the payout. ;)

[632 Regal]

ahhhhhhh! Okay thats along the lines I hoped you would reply, my insurance wouldnt issue a payment check just direct to the shop. Same with my crappy homeowners, if you dont know the facility your done. I could have had my whole car redone in the areas needed for what insurance paid the shop for 1 door. Trying to work a deal was impossible because they already got paid.


...which leads to what the insurance check is for...I'm still hoping to work a deal with Bret on the door. The estimate determines the payout. ;)

[Jay 535i]

If you want to part her out I've got dibbs on your M-tec skirts. :)

[genphreak]

Bad luck, dude, at least you weren't ther Deer- and no air-bag- bonus.... lucky she wasn't driving a lesser car I guess. I think I'd fix the door (simply a new skin would do) and leave the frame- it doesn't look too bad, the only way to fix it is to drill holes or tack weld things to it to pull the dent, then finish with filler, which in my opinion is doing more damage than is already there.... :) Nick

[JD525IA]

Seriously, those deer can be very dangerous.

Glad to hear that no one was hurt.

[Rigmaster]

...which leads to what the insurance check is for...I'm still hoping to work a deal with Bret on the door. The estimate determines the payout. ;)


Hey, no problem Bill, I can let you have it for just $500....... :)



Bret.

[billb]

Hey, no problem Bill, I can let you have it for just $500....... :)



Bret.

I want to go ahead and swap those doors, so we can at least drive the car until repairs commence. I'll let you know.

$500...ouch! ;)

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

with side skirts...paint it and call it fixed.

I doubt a dent to the rocker will warp the unibody.

Especially a 3600lbs car

[billb]

Thanks Bret!! The door that I swapped was also from a '95 525i, a little later in the run. It uses a completely different door handle setup, I think made by Valeo. I had to move my whole handle over (was planning to just move the lock. By the way, how in the hell do you get the double lock actuator pin back in the plastic keeper??

I've got the door panel back on temporarily so my wife can drive the car (still needs a mirror glass, which I have on order but probably won't be here until Wednesday/Thursday. We have a glass on the car now, but it's pretty cracked up.

Whit, I think Bret mentioned that you had taken some parts from this car. We can now officially say that the left front has been sufficiently scavenged. Looks like that door had a new regulator fitted at some point (it's bolted instead of riveted in). Those heated seats sure look nice too...might keep those in mind for my next E34...

The only thing I really forgot to do was transfer the clip that holds the door panel in the center from my door to the donor door. Once I get that, and get the darn locking rod in place, I can button up the innards.

Thanks again Bret for helping out in the weird Saturday weather. I appreciate that!!

[1995 525i]

Thanks Bret!! The door that I swapped was also from a '95 525i, a little later in the run. It uses a completely different door handle setup, I think made by Valeo. I had to move my whole handle over (was planning to just move the lock. By the way, how in the hell do you get the double lock actuator pin back in the plastic keeper??

I've got the door panel back on temporarily so my wife can drive the car (still needs a mirror glass, which I have on order but probably won't be here until Wednesday/Thursday. We have a glass on the car now, but it's pretty cracked up.

Whit, I think Bret mentioned that you had taken some parts from this car. We can now officially say that the left front has been sufficiently scavenged. Looks like that door had a new regulator fitted at some point (it's bolted instead of riveted in). Those heated seats sure look nice too...might keep those in mind for my next E34...

The only thing I really forgot to do was transfer the clip that holds the door panel in the center from my door to the donor door. Once I get that, and get the darn locking rod in place, I can button up the innards.

Thanks again Bret for helping out in the weird Saturday weather. I appreciate that!!


Glad to hear you have made some progress! Let me know if you need any help.

Michael

[billb]

We dropped it off last Monday. This afternoon, we picked it up. That door really came out nice, Bret. I got everything hooked back up tonight. Finally figured out how to get the locking pin in the double-lock, and that's all back together. I'll shoot some pics later this week. Wifey is very happy, and the bodyshop worked with me on the insurance check ;)

It's amazing how they pulled the rocker back out...it's unnoticeable.

Best,

[Rigmaster]

We dropped it off last Monday. This afternoon, we picked it up. That door really came out nice, Bret. I got everything hooked back up tonight. Finally figured out how to get the locking pin in the double-lock, and that's all back together. I'll shoot some pics later this week. Wifey is very happy, and the bodyshop worked with me on the insurance check ;)

It's amazing how they pulled the rocker back out...it's unnoticeable.

Best,


Good news Bill. I'm looking forward to my "keekbacque" :)


Bret.

[Kalevera]

Lol...Bill, that's because there's a composite skirt covering up the actual metal part of the rocker :) How did the paintwork end up?

Either way, I'm glad they didn't total it. Did Ginger get the door from that Oxford '95 525? It'd be interesting, maybe for someone with a lot of time, to map out how parts cars get dispersed. My 535 has the headliner from that car.


best, whit

[billb]

Good news Bill. I'm looking forward to my "keekbacque" :)


Bret.

:D

[billb]

Lol...Bill, that's because there's a composite skirt covering up the actual metal part of the rocker :) How did the paintwork end up?

Either way, I'm glad they didn't total it. Did Ginger get the door from that Oxford '95 525? It'd be interesting, maybe for someone with a lot of time, to map out how parts cars get dispersed. My 535 has the headliner from that car.


best, whit

It was pretty straight, and once we got the window popped back into the frame, it runs up and down just fine. Added some new door trim, they squirted the door to match the other panels they were painting, and she looks pretty good. The composite skirt was pushed in pretty far. Where I was most concerned was how far the door sill was pushed in, and they got that pulled back perfect, and you can barely tell it's even been painted. I'm eager for Bret to see the car, as he saw it before the repair...