95 525i deemed a total loss.... help

[blkspruce]

I need some advice.

I have been coming here and receiving excellent information on repair and maintenance since I purchased my car a year and a half ago. I bought it with 86000 miles, now have 111000 and the car is unstopable.... until my wife was rear ended.

The insurance company deemed it as a total loss and offered me $7350 for it or, I can buy it and they will give me $6200. Now, the car drives exactly as it did before. The bumper needs replaced, exhaust replaced or just new gaskets and there is a minor fold in the left rear drivers quarter. There is absolutely no structural damage.

I need to know as soon as possible what you all would do. Keep it and drive or replace with another. Thank you in advance

[fkong777]

to fix rear qt panel properly would take about $3000-4000. you can get a used bumper and Exhaust work is cheap. Just go to a muffler shop.

does the trunk close properly?

[blkspruce]

Trunk closes with no problem. For $1000, it is a very good looking car. I am not so worried bout the fold, it is very un noticeable

[TC535i]

I say keep it and flip it for parts, or fix it on the cheap and do something else with the $$.

[brosher]

I'd take the money and run! :D You can buy another fine E34 and have some $$ left over.

If you do want to fix, it cost me about $500 for a used bumper cover and to get it resprayed. You'll also have to find new bumper shocks and the little plastic mounting stuff that prob broke. Best bet is to find someone parting their car and get everything at once.

You can also check car-part.com for bumpers.

[swenpro]

Take the $$$! $7350 can buy you a 540/6 like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RARE-6-SPD-SPORT-SEATS-NATIONWIDE-WARRANTY-SHIPPING_W0QQitemZ270057041003QQihZ017QQcategoryZ6 008QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)!

Just my $0.02

[filip00]

wait, do you have an option to keep the car and get the money for repair? how much money would they offer you then?

[blkspruce]

Not the money for repair. I would get $6200 and a car that needs help. Or, I would get $7300 and no car

[632 Regal]

dude take the 6200.00 and drive on til you find another then part out the current car and make a profit.


Not the money for repair. I would get $6200 and a car that needs help. Or, I would get $7300 and no car

[filip00]

Not the money for repair. I would get $6200 and a car that needs help. Or, I would get $7300 and no car


then what's the doubt!? :) you can repair your car for well under $3000 (here in croatia under 2000), and keep the rest for yourself!

[blkspruce]

That will be my answer, whats the doubt! I will keep the car and fix, and if I need to, buy another one with the money! Nuff said. Thank you all for the input

[Russell]

will it have a salvage/rebuild title? If so, that may affect the resale potential (if important).

[Hypr5]

That will be my answer, whats the doubt! I will keep the car and fix, and if I need to, buy another one with the money! Nuff said. Thank you all for the input
The car will have a salvage title - which also means insuring it from this point on may be a little interesting and some of your money will most likely have to go into a big safety inspection to get it re-registered, etc.

7300 will get you another decent e34, unless there is centimental value to your current car, it's usually the best way to go. When I lost my black 5 to a rear-end / qtr accident, I wanted to keep it, but it just didn't make sense financially. For a quality repair, I would have actually had to use all of the insurance money + some money out of pocket. (However, the rear suspension / axle was bent and total repair cost was up to 12k)

[Ross]

Maybe not, the title will not be transferred. I had this same experience years ago and no record of a "total" was made. The damage was actually minor and repaired without even any paintwork. Being an old car the damage exceeded book value.
You can also negotiate this with them, I "bought" my car for $100, fixed it for ~$150 in junkyard bumper and grille, drove it four more years and sold for a bit more than my investment.
Keep the car, take the money.
If you don't want it I'll buy it.

[Tiger]

Any picture of damage? If it were me, I'd take the money and leave the car. You are probably thinking of how much you paid for the car and now it is worth less... well, market price makes it worth alot less than what the insurance is paying you.

We just had someone rear ended us... trunk does not shut and the damage was $4000 at the body shop. This is just from an entrance to highway... we both were at stop... and other driver thought we left and accelerated into us. Seems so minor of accident... well... $4000 is the bill. You really can't see the structural damage unless it is checked with laser. What is the circumstance of the rear end accident?

Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it is not damage... did you look in the spare tire well to see if it is pushed in? If so, it is possible the differential is pushed forward too and thus affects the tranny.