Write off.... Or not...

[g60renshaw]

Well it's been a little while since I posted on here as life has been hectic to say the least. The X has been faultless other than a sudden and unexpected gearbox failure at the end of last year, which was rebuilt and sorted by a specialist.

Anyway. Last week a DHL delivery truck reversed into the front of the X outside work. Now the damage is light, but there is enough in there to make the cost high if everything was replaced new with OEM parts. So the insurance company have written it off.

This is the damage, doesnt look like much but the bull bar should be a few inches out at the front, so basically a new bonnet, front panel, bumper and a few bits of trim.



This is the car pre bump. 80k miles,
Nicely loaded and I have done extensive maintenance throughout.



So do I break it and get the most out of it I can in parts. Or do I repair it and carry on with it even though it will always be a cat C...

Jay

[shadrack]

have you kept the car and accepted the payment off the insurance company, if its been classified as a cat c you will need to get a vic check done by vosa after it is repaired, if you dont get this done you will not be able to tax or mot your car when its due, trust me

[g60renshaw]

Yeah don't worry, I know the process.
I think I will be fixing it to be honest. So I just need to find a rear ended E53 breaking.

Jay

[shadrack]

should be able to mend that at home, our shogun got the same cat c and i had to point out where the damage was to friends and family! i think they make them go for inspection to stop cloning etc, you could even try and find the parts in your colour, of couse the insurance assessor priced to repair the shogun using genuine parts and a wheel and tyre because it was near their, could see the need on a 92' shogun but hey £1000 and kept the car!

[AW8]

Sorry to see this has happened - especially to someone so dedicted to keeping their car well maintained/papmered.

It is hard to know what to do.

Only advice is try to detach emotion form maths logic if the later is important.

[X5Sport]

That's a real shame. I don't suppose you can get any additional 'funds' from DHL to put it right. The driver must have been asleep not to have noticed that the car was there and he'd hit it hard. Says a lot for their drivers.....never mind 'white can man' now it's yellow truck man!

At least the number of X5's around means there's a reasonable chance of getting it fixed fairly cheaply compared to BMW doing it. I dread to think how much worse it might have been if the bull bar wasn't there though..

[g60renshaw]

Yeah the bull bar did quite a good job actually.

I think the logical thing to do is repair it myself and take the compensation money for the hassle.

So, does anyone know if I was to replace the whole front end, can I use 2004 facelift parts? i.e what exactly is different?

Jay

[n1k85]

That's a real shame.

I bought my X5 as a CAT D. I assumed it was a CAT D Repaired but in actual fact it was still damaged. It was scraped down the side in 2009 and the owners bought it back off the insurance, replaced the glass and carried on driving it until I bought it in late 2011.

I was surprised it was actually a CAT D, but looking at yours being a CAT C explains all.

With many cars the CAT C/D status makes them borderline unsaleable, but for some reason on the X5 It doesn't seem to be that much of an issue, the CAT D/C cars still get good money and always have loads of interest on eBay (possibly because they are written off for relatively minor damage)

If I were you I would keep it and live with it being a CAT C, get on the http://www.fabdirect.com or http://www.douglasvalley.co.uk and source the repair parts for peanuts. (I've used both companies with no trouble at all)

Keep a detailed repair log with photos etc, and when you come to sell you'll be sweet as a nut.

The last thing you want to do is sell it or break it up, and go out and by another one that has a rook of problems that you've already sorted on yours.

Keep it and fix her up

[n1k85]

[quote=""g60renshaw""]

So, does anyone know if I was to replace the whole front end, can I use 2004 facelift parts? i.e what exactly is different?

Jay[/quote]

Just to add to this since I read your reply after my post.

When I was looking to buy I actually saw a 2002 Black 'Facelift' CAT D car, so it certainly is possible to do the facelift conversion. I was surpised that the car actually reached more than £9000 on the auction too!

I guess you would need Bumper, Bonnet, Headlights, Wings, Wiring Harness, Slam Panel, Clips etc etc...

Not cheap unless you get a package deal from the breakers!

If you just go for the standard repair, this guy could be a winner: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breaking-BMW- ... _915wt_750

[g60renshaw]

Well I am pleased to say I am putting the X back to better than original. I found a 4.6is breaking which is absolutely mint and in black so I not only got all the front panels I needed but also the whole 4.6is kit too into the bargain. Fingers crossed I will get it all fitted this week as everything is just bolt on bolt off panels. Looking forward to seeing it with all the extra arches and skirts now

Jay

[Turks]

Well done, that was a good find and glad that someone is breathing life from two poorly X5's to make one very good one. That said, as a CAT C it is not going to hold any real value so at the end of its life with you, the most commercially sensible thing to do would be to break it yourself.


Turks.

[g60renshaw]

To be honest, given how good the car is, the fact the gearbox has had a full rebuild and that I have replaced absolutely everything that needs replacing I have no reason to sell it for a few years while the kids grow up, by which time the value difference between a cat C and not will be insignificant.

I will post updates on the "rebuild" and upgrade

Jay

[X5Sport]

Sounds like a really good find..

With any luck the paint match will be pretty close too. Be interesting to see the 'after' piccies too..

[Raj]

Superb news Jay. Look forward to the pics.

[g60renshaw]

I will start another thread when I get going on it.
Spent £60 on new trim clips, screws and bots this morning at the stealers for all the skirts/arches and bumpers.

Jay