16 replies to this topic

[bja100]

Hi guys

Wondering if anyone can help.

My girlfriend was driving her mini cooper s on saturday, some idiot had wood sheets strapped to his car in front of hers, one flew off and speared into my gfriends car just above the windscreen (very lucky escape).

There is a hole in the roof, along with smashed windscreen, lots of dents and damage. She definately needs a new roof and windscreen. Does anyone know if this sort of damage is write off? Or can these roofs be easily replaced wothout affecting the rest of the vehicle?

Really appreciated!

Ben

[Dan]

A body shop will charge a fortune to change the roof of a Mini, it's unlikely any insurer will swallow the cost. The roof is roller welded around using a tool that is just impractical to own outside a car factory, so any roof replacement done on a Mini is to non-original spec which coupled with the cost puts insurers off. You might be lucky though if you find a good real body shop (not somewhere that only knows how to swap bolt on panels on modern cars) that has done this to a Mini before and isn't going to be scared to try.


Oh, hang on. Just noticed this is a BMW MINI. Ignore all that. I have no idea how the roof is fitted to a modern MINI, sorry!

Some of our members are real body experts and some of them used to work at Cowley building BMW MINIs so I'm sure someone else will be able to offer more help soon.

[bja100]

A body shop will charge a fortune to change the roof of a Mini, it's unlikely any insurer will swallow the cost. The roof is roller welded around using a tool that is just impractical to own outside a car factory, so any roof replacement done on a Mini is to non-original spec which coupled with the cost puts insurers off. You might be lucky though if you find a good real body shop (not somewhere that only knows how to swap bolt on panels on modern cars) that has done this to a Mini before and isn't going to be scared to try.


Oh, hang on. Just noticed this is a BMW MINI. Ignore all that. I have no idea how the roof is fitted to a modern MINI, sorry!

Some of our members are real body experts and some of them used to work at Cowley building BMW MINIs so I'm sure someone else will be able to offer more help soon.

Thanks, if anyone is out there that knows its much appreciated! Thanks

[luke6040]

I'm guessing the insurance will rite it off, but it might be worth writing it off and using the money to find someone yourself to do the work- if its only cosmetic theres no reason it cant be done.
(off the record) we did this with a car in the past and even had a few bob left over for a cup of tea and a hobnob

[Ethel]

What's a 2003 Cooper S worth? I'd guess it will only get back on the road if it's worth enough for a reshell.

[bja100]

What's a 2003 Cooper S worth? I'd guess it will only get back on the road if it's worth enough for a reshell.

I'm confused, surely if its a write off she doesnt keep the car?

Also, if its repaired will it become a cat d/c?

I've attached some photos of the damage.

Attached Files

•  CIMG1019.jpg   49.61K   21 downloads
•  CIMG1025.jpg   59.38K   5 downloads
•  CIMG1021.jpg   53.06K   7 downloads

[Bungle]

its only a bini

just take the insurance money and buy another one

[sazal]

Id see what your insurance say, it may be repairable. You'd probably be best asking on a new Mini forum, as most the people on this forum own classic minis.


Heres a link to one: Mini2

[luke6040]

if its a writoff you can buy the car off the insurance company.

if its a writoff you can buy the car off the insurance company.
i dont think it will be a high cat because its nothing like subframe thats totalled

Edited by luke6040, 17 March 2008 - 01:29 PM.

[VulcanBomber]

I am quite sure that will be a reshell. It will also be recorded Cat C or D.

If I were you I would ask the insurance company for a new car,

[luke6040]

I am quite sure that will be a reshell. It will also be recorded Cat C or D.

If I were you I would ask the insurance company for a new car,

i have to agree to be honest it looks really wrinkled so its prob distorted alot of the car. might get away with a new roof off a scrap mini, dunno how legal or safe that would be tho, and by then i spose you may aslwell of binned it and got a new 1.

[Ethel]

Insurance companies won't fix cars with secondhand panels, it looks like the screen frame is damaged which is structural, part of the 'safety cell', and I'd guess also a bugger to replace. It could be repaired with a new shell if the car's value is higher than the cost; in which case it wouldn't be written off or carry any category label.

It peeves me that you could do exactly the same to your Mini, because you want to keep a classic car on the road where it belongs and you can wield a spanner yourself, but an insurance company can stigmatise your pride 'n joy with a Cat C label, or even consign your car to the crusher and you can do nothing about it.

[maph2]

get rid and get another car

[luke6040]

get rid and get another car

get an old mini lol. the wood might have gone over the roof missing it totally lol

[rozzer!]

if you dont go through the insurance and find a good bodyshop then they can repair it. my guvnor has repaired his new jag which had rolled and it was far worse roof wise than that. insurance will prob put that in a cat c as an uneconomical repair and then it will need a vic check once repaired to allow it back on the road.