BLooD

I did this to mine last year, total repair bill came to £9.2k ($14.6k). The whole front end is made from aluminium and needs specialist work.

Ammar545i

Totaled. One of the aluminum sub frame rails most likely shifted their position. Airbag deployed as well.

KyleB

This does not always equate to a car being deemed a total loss!

OP, good luck with the car. I've been on BMW forums/email digests since the mid 90s, and it always seems like there is more misinformation in body work threads than all the others combined.

MP1472

visual appraisal by the ins adjuster was 10800. I had it brought to a certified bmw body shop and they are not finished disassembling it yet but already said there is more damage but i dont know quite yet the dollar amount.
I do know within 99.9999999 % that its not totaled ... i guess ill have to have faith that they will return the car to me in tip top shape.
I really think if i was in a normal car that it would look destroyed compared to the bimmer i hit the car in front of me hard.
It appears that i would need to get close to the 25k number to look at a total loss

KyleB

Just make sure that the person they have working on your car is very knowledgable with E60 front end construction and repair. you made a smart choice by having a BMW authorized center fix the car. The entire front inner structure of that car is cold bonded and riveted aluminum. As long as the shop has a good measuring system and a competent person working on the car that has done E60s in the past, you'll be fine. when you get the final tally, take note at how expensive that BMW structural adhesive is - and make sure they do in fact use the OE adhesive rather than off the shelf panel bond.

good luck.

luigi524td

You'll be "in better hands" at a BMW Certified Collision Center ... if your car is not an "insurance total" at least you will know that original BMW parts are being used to make the repairs. And, if the center is in a busy area they probably have had experience working with the unique materials and assembly - especially the front end - of these cars. Otherwise even a body shop with a good reputation might see only a few of these cars a year.

MP1472

they are a bmw / mercedes benz dealership and their body shop happens to the only bmw certified body shop in the area. Its pretty much all they work on so its definitly in the right hands. even if the car comes back flawless its still a tough car to sell in the future with a bad carfax unlike how it would have been .. ultra low mile 550i with full dinan upgrades in the right colors with all the options.

Would have brought all the money whenever i was ready for a new toy

phaduman

sorry to hear that - and good luck. Accidents are never easy to swallow (glad that at least no-one was hurt). I have lost a new motorcycle (theft) and insurance paid me (1) far less than what I was expecting to get back. Lesson learnt was to buy used whenever possible. (2) insurances usually don't pay (or pay a little) for the out-of-pocket mods. It is not always bad - suffer now (if totaled) or suffer later (if not totaled and you resell later). Accidents are bad (for all but the body-shop/parts shops).

MP1472

just a quick update for anyones future reference i got my car back the other day and the final bill came to 15,100

There was no frame damage (less than 1mm movement ) they replaced everything with bmw oem parts as the ins bids everything as reconditioned but when they search due to the nature of these cars there were no reconditioned parts for this car anywhere. In that situation the ins co pays for oem. Im actually impressed with the work you would never know it was hit that hard and it runs and drives perfectly ...what a relief !

edit: all work was done at a bmw certified body shop ..i learned there are many tsb's on these cars that a non certified shop wouldnt have any knowledge of and thus not be able to repair it correctly

pjinca

Congrats on getting your car back. Enjoy it!!