25 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

So what did you say was wrong to the student, and what was actually wrong?

[Sprocket]

I think that is realy classed as a write off, too much work for it to be worth rebuilding and repairing. IMHO

If i did this to my current mini (heaven forbid!) I reckon I now have the skills to replace the whole twisted front-end (probobly). I don't know about the deformed bulkhead where the engine hit it though?

Plus the footwells were all pushed up from the sumframe moving back.

So actually it might have been a profesional repair job if i had kept it!

oh, and the roof and B post were all bent from the side impact with the floor and the cill was crushed.
Bit of a mess then !

Still. When i say 'scrapped' i do mean that Mr angle grinder and I recycled every part (see picture). I sold most of the mechanicals and weighed in what was left. There's still a Lad in my neighbourhood driving around with my original engine!

Al

Thats what I mean

Too much body damage and an impact like that will twist and distort the body totaly out of shape requiring acurate jigging. the cost would out weigh you buying another of similar condition even more so if you have it proffesionaly repaired. Thats what is meant by insurance write off. Its just not worth repairing, some times it just has to be scrapped

[nev_payne]

You made an excellent job of that wall - should invit you round to my house to clear a similar sized one we have runing through our garden seriously tho close one - even if youd done up the front again no doubt the whole car would be out of alignment

[The Fat Leodensian]

So what did you say was wrong to the student, and what was actually wrong?

I told him the floorpans had dissolved and the engine was a no-hoper.

Al

I rescued Him from a student.....

i actually scrapped the car!

How does that work then???

Kind of mean of you to rob the student of his car >

and then write it off

karma maybe.

Thinking the same just didn't want to be the first to say it.

Probobly was a bit of karma.

But this particular student caused over £1000 of damage to my Auntie's student house (where he was a tenent).
He then off still owing £300 in rent leaving the poor old car to rot outside! and no forward address.
I tracked him down by asking around in pubs and when i found him, he told me that my aunt would not be getting any money from him, and that he expected the council would 'remove' the car free of charge for him!!

This is why i releived him of the vehicle in such a dishonest way. ker deserved it!

Al

[Steamo]

Fair play in that case mate! The original post did make you sound a bit mean though.

[andrewinlondon]

What speed do you reckon you were doing just before and then at impact? (but only feel like answering if you were at the speed limit etc so as not to admit speeding of course!)

I'm interested because this may be another example of the inherent safety of the mini, as it looks like the passenger cell was not penetrated in any way. Is this correct?

It looks like all the impact was absorbed by the outside tyres, thus protecting the occupants. Any thoughts anyone?

[andywaller]

bummer

[Steve Rowe]

u took a good bit of the dyke out , my mini stood up to the dyke i hit better im still driving mine lol

[sevretta]

A mate of mine put his mini over a grass roundabout a few year ago, 25 to be exact and it landed on its roof in a shop....he ended up losing his spleen and lying in a coma for 6 month....he still cant remember how it happened...must of looked funny at the time...not for him though...

[The Fat Leodensian]

What speed do you reckon you were doing just before and then at impact? (but only feel like answering if you were at the speed limit etc so as not to admit speeding of course!)

I'm interested because this may be another example of the inherent safety of the mini, as it looks like the passenger cell was not penetrated in any way. Is this correct?

It looks like all the impact was absorbed by the outside tyres, thus protecting the occupants. Any thoughts anyone?

We calculated that the car impacted the wall at 50mph+/-5.
This was worked out by the length of my skid marks and my known speed when halfway through the bend (just before i lost traction).

A lot of the force was absorbed by the wall itself as the stones (which are not cemented together) were scattered into the field. The passenger side wing then collapsed like If you stamp on a toilet roll tube thats end up. As we all know from Blue Peter though, toilet roll tubes are very strong under compression! I reckon that the strength in those wings pretty much saved us from any injury whatso-ever.

I would never have a flip front without a serious roll cage for this reason!!
Al

[arwyn jones]

Poor mini! I've done similar damage to mine only last week having an argument with sum snow on the motorway, turning 180 degrees + a volvo coming into me head on (i was pointing wrong way in the fast lane by this time). The panels are replaceable but my main concern is also that the subframe might have pushed the floor in somewhat but it's hard to tell!!! maby the people at the tracking centre will be able to tell me! because I don't want to scrap it!!!!!