Oh, okay. I did not intend to insist; I trust there is a safety lesson learned for you in there somewhere. Live and learn. I have learned a lot of lessons from being unsafe. I cannot say I always do or am, but I try to think safety and be safe every time I am behind the wheel.
Adolfo
2004 330Ci ZHP Orient Blue Metallic
2002 ///M Roadster Steel Grey Metallic
1988 325is Zinnoberrot
1974 2002 Atlantik Blau
2015 X5 ///M Sport Black Sapphire Metallic (Sold May 2018)
1999 323i Alpine White (Sold June 2010)
Glad you are ok. Good luck with your decision.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Randeaux/Rando/John/jr - '06 Cic ZHP; Southern California
"ZHP or not, I still like you"
ZHP Performance Package, Cold Weather Package, Leather, Jet Black/Black/BlackCube, NAV, Anthracite Black "my individual" interior trim
ESS Stage 1 Twin Screw Supercharger, Sprint Booster, BMW Perf Intake, Magnaflow Exhaust, Dinan TB & STEP S/W, UCC Sway Bars, Apex EC-7 18x8.5 ET38
Suspension: AST 44100 dampers, Bimmerworld front adjustable end links, Swift springs (8K front, 10K rear), Vorshlag camber plates
Dynavin D99+, Hardwire V1 (w/V1 Connection), BSW Stage 1 Speakers, Kicker Amp/Subwoofer
BMW Performance Strut Brace, Orion V2 Angel Eyes, No-holes License Plate, SMG Paddle Shift Mod, Besian VANOS, Gold DISA, Fan Delete, M3 Side Mirrors
Note: Actual car no longer resembles signature picture
1. Don't beat yourself up about the past and don't obsess about the future. Learn from the past and park the negative thoughts. Plan for the future just enough to have a recognition of what can or may be coming your way. Spend the greatest amount of available time thinking about the present and make personal action plans and daily to-do lists to make things happen efficiently.
2. What you don't ask for, you don't get. Ask trusted locals for the names of three body shops having frame straightening equipment. Show them the pictures and ask what they would charge to do the straightening. Also ask them what they would charge to do the full monte of repair and painting work.
3. Research the cost for you buying the major parts and re-installing them yourself. Ask yourself if you have the time to do this work with your studies.
4. It sounds like the rest of the car is in good shape. My vote would be to straighten frame and make repairs knowing it will likely be a $2500 to $3500 repair. Lets assume you can get $1000 salvage value selling outright or $2500 parting out yourself. Lets also estimate the cost to get into a similar quality replacement car at $6000+ . If you can repair your car for $2500 - $3500 within a reasonable time period this would favor keeping your ZHP and driving it a long time.
5. Pull all this information together and have a meeting with family members. You may find with rolling out your numbers and research, they see more clearly what you are seeking to accomplish and warm to helping you execute your plan with financial assistance.
I've been there and done all that in my youth. My dad frequently made the comment once I got out of our local county he felt better about my accident chances. I had a spell of five years (age 16 - 21) where I had several accidents on local roads. One instance involved sudden, severe, unexpected hydroplaning. It was a unique circumstance and subsequently I have always been on alert for similar circumstances.
You are now a better driver because of your unfortunate accident. I applaud you for taking the parts off the front of your damaged car and doing your assessment work.
2004 CiC 6MT Silver Gray (A08) Black Interior 1 of 51 Made
Intravee - Navigation - Back-up Sensors - Cold Weather Package - Home Link Mirror
Winter Hardtop, too - A Sweet Ride
No offense taken, and you're quite right. I'd say the conditions of the road at the time probably did not help (slightly damp, plus new construction), but mostly I would say it was my emotions that got in the way--I'd been driving for too long, and my and level of fatigue and impatience clouded my better judgement. I guess really I was annoyed with myself for behaving foolishly--I believe that was the real takeaway.
Thank you for taking the time to provide such wise advice and experiences on the matter. My real goal is indeed to keep my ZHP and drive it for as long as I can. It's been an excellent car and I don't wish to part with it any time soon.
I did speak with a gentleman today who operates a shop that specializes in frame repair--I will continue to explore my options further.
I suppose I was somewhat rattled because I've never so much as backed into a mailbox, and this felt rather intense. However, hearing about other's road mishaps has leveled with me, and I'll focus on moving forward instead of moping so much.
Again, cheers to everyone who has responded with their experiences and advice--I'm hoping I can find a suitable repair avenue, and will post updates as I do.
Mafia, I am here with an update, for anyone interested in following.
I have removed the headlight assemblies, bumper, radiator and radiator support, expansion tank, fans, and airbox. With all this off, the car doesn't seem quite so terrible.
The photos can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...5q?usp=sharing
It's much easier to see what is bent--the driver's side unirail. It appears to have split at the weld. There could be additional frame damage that isn't apparent to my untrained eye, but this doesn't seem that terrible to me. I have a little more hope that it can be repaired now.
I plan to visit frame repair facilities tomorrow with these pictures.
Glad to hear there is hope. Keep us posted.
2005 IR / black / 6MT157,000 miles