Will this buff out? Help with diminished value claim.

[consolidated]

An Excursion backed into my M3 this weekend. It's ugly. But it appears the damage maybe isolated in the door as the jambs look okay. The door is a mess however. The chrome bumper of the Ford didn't show a thing, of course.

Does anyone have good advice on how to go about a diminished value claim with a carrier?

[X2Board]

Damn! I'd get that B-pillar checked. Diminished value for sure, maybe you should consult an attorney.

[Lups]

Door closes properly?

I'm so damn sorry for you op. That sucks.

[myzmak]

No idea if it will buff out (my only rule/advice is find a specific bodyshop recommended by your best local BMW dealership - ie: use OEM parts, etc) We had our MB wagon rear ended and the original bodyshop was gonna do a quick 'replace bumper' type job and then the real-deal shop found subframe was bent (hmm, recall? hahaha), etc.

They did a great job.

But, man, that sucks and I'm sorry.

Yet another reason to hate SUVs....

[minn19]

Ahhh, that sucks. Sorry to see that Consolidated. I don't know much about getting a diminished value claim approved, but I've read about a lot of people getting them done. There is quite a few threads on the other big forum in the F30 section about this and on this forum also. I'm guessing a Google search will bring a bunch of hits about it. Good luck.

[Falafel Combo]

All I can say is ... Mineral Grey looks fantastic with Silver Wheels!

[consolidated]

The front door closes fine, the rear door is twisted up, latches but there are gaps. I've bent plenty of sheetmetal racing, but if the frame is tweaked I'm going to be sick.

[991brothers]

Those cars are huge and should have a back up camera and sensors!

Sorry about the damage. This is why we have to have good insurance

[JustChris]

Oh no! Poor M3!!

[MWcoupe]

Sorry man, but on the other hand. At least you're only replacing door! It would be a bigger bitch if you had to repair quarter panel. Good luck, hope she comes back like new

[Lups]

Originally Posted by HadiF82

Those cars are huge and should have a back up camera and sensors!

Sorry about the damage. This is why we have to have good insurance

Cameras don't help idiots but if they were required to paint their cars pink after a crash like that maybe the shame would teach them.

This bloody sucks. Such a beautiful car and that was done to it.

[Wah]

Looks like the door will need to be replaced. The damage is right on the character line... I doubt a body shop will try to fix that.

Diminished value claims are filed after the repairs are made. The insurance company will probably make you do the leg work to prove the amount of diminished value and make it a big hassle.

Good luck.

[drdave]

I had two experiences similar to this where people backed into my e60 M5 and did damage like this. Definitely tell the insurance company that you'd like to get a check for diminished value on your car. In both cases, with two different insurance companies, they were completely agreeable to it and were very generous (as they should be). Good luck!

[moonsault270]

I cant fn stand people. + a zillion on the pink idea Lups. When I become ruler of the world thats my first order of business.

I mean I have tapped a car before when backing up (long time ago) but hell its like the fool didnt even know there was a car behind him. No way he is even looking in the rear view mirror inching back.

I am not sure about diminishing value claims... I would talk to a lawyer.

[ASAP]

Diminished value claims are laughable at best... are you expecting to get $500 out of these guys? If it went on the vehicle's carfax, thats like $5-10k in diminished value... not a chance that you will get that much.

[Damasconian]

So Sorry OP! We all feel your pain on this one. Living in Texas I am constantly bobbing and weaving my way around Excursions, Suburbans, Sequoias, and QX's. There is an arms race going on down here, and each family is trying to out-do their neighbor with a monster SUV.

Disclaimer: I own a QX for family duty so I see both sides of this. They are way too big!

[FTS]

Very sorry to see this

[F80M4ROCKS]

Dang that is tragic, sorry OP!

I'm a noobie and not actually sure what a diminished value claim is, I can make a guess based on the name but anyone mind briefly explaining? Thanks

[drdave]

When an accident like this happens and there is damage to the car, the car loses value automatically. When it comes time to sell the car, it won't have the same value as a car that was never in an accident. So you file a claim at the time of the accident to recoup that money you have lost through no fault of your own.

[M4TW]

I you sure that it wasn't YOU who sideswiped into this guy?

I joke, I kid.

This is terrible, but I agree with Myzmak that finding a good body shop should be job #1. It's the insurance carrier of Mr. Monster Truck that will end up mattering the most for a diminished value claim since you clearly were not at fault.

Hiring a lawyer for a $5,000 to $10,000 claim is hard to justify unless the claim is rock solid (not liability here but damages).

Better to get it repaired so well that there isn't any diminished value. I hope it all works out anyway.

[consolidated]

I've done some reading on diminished value. Texas has good laws that support it. Given the car had about 3K miles and had no previous damage I have a good case for a substantial claim.

There are appraisers and attorneys that deal with this, but having done some reading I think I'll try it myself first. I've contacted my dealer to give me an appraisal for value before and after the damage occurred and repaired. The car is likely not CPO qualified now if I were to trade it in. I'm not looking for a payday, just what amount the car is now diminished if I were to sell it.

[F80M4ROCKS]

Originally Posted by consolidated

I've done some reading on diminished value. Texas has good laws that support it. Given the car had about 3K miles and had no previous damage I have a good case for a substantial claim.

There are appraisers and attorneys that deal with this, but having done some reading I think I'll try it myself first. I've contacted my dealer to give me an appraisal for value before and after the damage occurred and repaired. The car is likely not CPO qualified now if I were to trade it in. I'm not looking for a payday, just what amount the car is now diminished if I were to sell it.

Keep us updated on the difference in price values, I'm interested to see the difference