My ZHP is Totaled

[DenzZHP]

Hello Mafia,

I do a lot of lurking on this site and was getting excited to finally start on improvements to my car, but will not be able to as the car is now totaled. I was rear ended while exiting a freeway off ramp here in Dallas.

Right now I am going back and forth with the insurance company regarding the true value of the car. Does anybody have any information that I could provide them the true value? I am hoping to get more than the $9500.00 that the insurance company is offering.

It is a 2004 4 door with 83,000 miles. Car has black sapphire metallic paint over the black alcantara interior. Interior is a 9/10 and the exterior is a 9/10 and it is all stock with the 6 speed manual.

Thanks, Denny Z.

[Avetiso]

Sorry to hear. Give them listings of ZHPs in similar condition and try to stress the rarity of the car.

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[328ioc]

Hello Mafia,

I do a lot of lurking on this site and was getting excited to finally start on improvements to my car, but will not be able to as the car is now totaled. I was rear ended while exiting a freeway off ramp here in Dallas.

Right now I am going back and forth with the insurance company regarding the true value of the car. Does anybody have any information that I could provide them the true value? I am hoping to get more than the $9500.00 that the insurance company is offering.

It is a 2004 4 door with 83,000 miles. Car has black sapphire metallic paint over the black alcantara interior. Interior is a 9/10 and the exterior is a 9/10 and it is all stock with the 6 speed manual.

Thanks, Denny Z.

Damn sorry to hear Denny.

As a reference point my ZHP has 108,000miles and was recently in an accident that did $8100.xx and theu did not total it, so I would talk your insurance company.

They clearly have the value all wrong and in the end it may not be totaled.

If you have pictures of the damage feel free to send them to me and I can compare them to mine.

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[Hornung418]

Car sounds like its worth easily up to $13,500.

Get some appraisals from different company's and make sure you have documented history of the car.

Sorry you had the misfortune of being in the accident. The best part is that you are okay. Be well.

Sent from my GS3.

[Vas]

RIP. Was the damage that bad that the insurance totaled it? Any pictures of the car?

[DenzZHP]

Yes, I am fine and the insurance company did total it. The C pillars were compromised in the collision and both front seats will have to be replaced as the upright to each seat broke and fell back during the collision. It was odd that after the accident I almost found myself laying down inside the car.

There was some major damage to the body work and we did not even get an estimate on the mechanical issues that would also need to be repaired. I took some pictures of the exterior but not the interior. The adjuster also took a bunch of pictures.

It was a pretty big collision as I was pushed forward roughly 40 feet.

[328ioc]

Wow that is crazy....their estimate is way off though.

I agree with about that the 13k range is where it should be.

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[Vas]

Glad to hear you are okay. Sounds like a bad hit. What kind of car or truck hit you that hard?

[3ZHPGUY]

NADA gives you 11,500 and that is what insurance companies used when I was in the business years ago.

http://www.nadaguides.com/iphone.aspx?LI=10001-21-1-5761-0-0-0&l=10001&w=21&p=1&f=5762&y=2004&m=1026&d=208&c=16&mi=83000&o=007~300~341&vi=52820


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[DenzZHP]

It was a 2009 Lexus LS460. His car was in bad shape also as the airbags had deployed. After he gave his account of the collision to the officer on the scene, he got in his crunched car and drove off. The officer was a little perplexed as to why the guy would just get in his car and drive away. He did not go after him as he had all of his contact information. I had a good laugh at that.

[danewilson77]

Tell them it's (or was) 1/38 BSM, Alcantara, sedans in the US.

The friendliest forum on the planet.

[webster]

sorry for your loss. RIP BSM ZHP.

[NorCalZman]

I agree. AT LEAST 13k. On top of comps, if you have receipts for parts/work you have done on the car to back up its condition should help a little.

[QC_ZHP]

Damn, sorry to hear. Such a great combo, too.

I don't mean to rub salt in the wound, but keep us updated on your plans for the car. I've been searching a long time for alcantara seats/door panels.

[ELCID86]

Welcome and glad you are ok. Hope you get it sorted out and find a replacement ZHP soon!


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[ranger]

Went through this when my 2005 ZHP was totaled by rear end collision in Atlanta about 18 months ago and got a very low buyout initially. 1) Do not accept the appraisal and do not cash the check yet. 2) Ask them to show you the math on how they came up with their dollar amount (in my case they were using prices for any old worn out E46 in the Atlanta area to include stripped, high mileage 325s). Politely insist upon another appraisal and that only ZHPs be used as comparison. 3) Do your own research and get comparable ZHP prices. In my case, I used AutoTrader and did a search for E46 coupes with ZHP package and 6MT with similar mileage as mine. Make digital copies. 4) Make digital copies of every dime you spent on the ZHP in upgrades, repairs, etc. Goal is to show you put forth effort to have the best possible ZHP and therefore deserve the top price. 5) Keep track of all the time you spend on the whole after wreck experience - document time missed from work to get rental car, repair shops, doctor visit, rehab visits. Ask for reimbursement for your time - will have to send a pay stub to confirm an hourly rate 6) Collect all your data and send to the adjuster. This should get you the best possible payout without going to lawyer. Unless you have a higher value car or there are injuries involved - I would not get lawyer.

At the end of this process, I was fairly compensated for my totaled 2005 ZHP to the tune of the original purchase price plus most of the upgrade/maintenance investment. I immediately took that check (and a few dollars from my account) and purchased the current DD 2006 Mercedes C55 AMG.

Note: I was coached on this process by my son who works for GEICO and his best childhood friend who is a GEICO Claims Adjuster.

[JupiterBMW]

You have to get them multiple pricing guide links... NADA is the best one in terms of our cars. Also, like mentioned, stress the rarity of the car. And you have to also include recent listings of cars that are priced more realistically (I would definitely say $13k+). Also, get some information from the ZHP registry showing how hard YOUR car is to find (BSM sedan, 6 spd)... Send them also the ZHP wiki link and a link to the ZHP Mafia front page and FAQ, which all stress how different and special the ZHP is over a regular 330.

I got my price for my first car from $10x up to $14200... I paid just less than $15K for that car... It was an '04 sedan, Alpine white with Natural Brown leather, loaded, all stock, 96K miles at time of accident.

Good luck and sorry for the loss.

[johnrando]

+1, great advice. They have to come up because if you don't agree, it goes to arbitration, which they don't want. Note that they have to include taxes too, so don't let that amount sway you... they like to hold that off until the end so the "sweetened" offer sounds all that much better when they add the taxes in.

[BCAN]

For reference, I got my '04 AW Coupe from an offer of $15k to $19.6k. Show them how hard it is to find a comparable car and they will pony up the proper amount. Like the others said, they should offer AT LEAST 13k bottom line. I honestly think you should get more out of it.

[DenzZHP]

Thanks for all the guidance. Still working with the insurance company. They raised the value a little and I told them we would chat again on Monday to review.

[WolfBMW]

This sucks so much :( but you can definitely make the insurance company do much better. When my high-mileage (164k) e46 was totaled (2000 328i, obviously not a ZHP) they initially offered $4,300, which I thought was way too low, but I sent them other listings of manual transmission cars in the same condition and argued some things. I emphasized how much work had gone into keeping the car in top shape (with receipts for parts & shop work) & the impossibility of finding an equivalent for sale that didn't need thousands of dollars of major repairs. People on e46fanatics pretty much uniformly told me that wouldn't work, but the insurance co. changed their offer to $7000.

So like everyone else on this thread who's been through it before, I'd just say to politely keep pushing and give them all of the info you can, and they'll be willing to work with you. I'm sorry this happened to you but glad you were ok!

[oldzilla]

Denny, so sorry to hear this glad you are ok.

[JKO_ZHP]

Sorry to hear........as for the value that insurance is throwing out there, that is very different from what I got.
When my 2005 325Ci was totaled two years ago, the other guy's insurance gave me $15,000 IIRC.
What I do remember was that I had paid $12,000 for the car when it was at 80,000 miles. When it was totaled, it had over 120,000 miles on it.
Maybe it's because it's a California car, the damage was terrible, or some other factor(s), but I definitely got more than I paid for the car when I first bought it.
I had full coverage with AllState back then and the other guy had State Farm.

[pilotnick1203]

DenZHP, if it makes you feel any better I am bidding on your now totaled ZHP for my automatic to manual swap, I just came across this thread. It'll go to another enthusiast, so some of her will hopefully live on man. Sorry to hear about the accident, by the pictures it looked pretty bad.


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[Vas]

Link to the car ? Just curious to see the damage done.

[Trans]

Car looks really clean. Too bad. Still alot of good parts. How much does something like go for in the auction?

[pilotnick1203]

Car looks really clean. Too bad. Still alot of good parts. How much does something like go for in the auction?

Depends on highest bid... I call dibs!


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[Trans]

Lol not trying to steal it from you. Im in NorCal. I have no need for it. Dont worry. Just curious that's all.

[ranger]

Car looks really clean. Too bad. Still alot of good parts. How much does something like go for in the auction?

In Atlanta, my totaled 2005 ZHP Coupe 6MT was valued at $2900 - in other words, I could have bought my totaled ZHP for $2900 from Progressive Insurance. I was very tempted to buy my ZHP and take the parts to build a "ZHP Touring" 3 series but I did not need a long term project.

[QC_ZHP]

DenZHP, if it makes you feel any better I am bidding on your now totaled ZHP for my automatic to manual swap, I just came across this thread. It'll go to another enthusiast, so some of her will hopefully live on man. Sorry to hear about the accident, by the pictures it looked pretty bad.


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Any plans for the interior?

[pilotnick1203]

Any plans for the interior?

Sell


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[QC_ZHP]

Sell


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Sweet, PM if you get it.

[pilotnick1203]

You'll be #1 if I win the bid


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[Vas]

According to the pictures it is a bad hit. Car would need both rear quarters panels replaced as well as the rear spare wheel area. Perfect for a parts car.

http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=getLot&execution=e1s1&lotId=23247224&returnPage=SEARCH_RESULTS

[pilotnick1203]

According to the pictures it is a bad hit. Car would need both rear quarters panels replaced as well as the rear spare wheel area. Perfect for a parts car.

http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=getLot&execution=e1s1&lotId=23247224&returnPage=SEARCH_RESULTS

Hence why it will be a manual swap to my car. That lin isn't valid now, is it still up?

[ELCID86]

Hence why it will be a manual swap to my car. That lin isn't valid now, is it still up?
Link works for me.

http://www.copart.com/c2/individualLot.html?lotId=23247224&searchType=onSaleNow

[Vas]

Good luck doing the manual swap if you get the car.

[pilotnick1203]

Link works for me.

http://www.copart.com/c2/individualLot.html?lotId=23247224&searchType=onSaleNow

Thanks it is now!

[pilotnick1203]

Good luck doing the manual swap if you get the car.

Thanks, can't wait!

[ELCID86]

Another candidate for a tranny http://member.copart.com/c2/searchliststd.html?_eventId=lotDetails&execution=e1s3&lotId=19840764

[pilotnick1203]

Another candidate for a tranny http://member.copart.com/c2/searchliststd.html?_eventId=lotDetails&execution=e1s3&lotId=19840764

Making a membership to view...

[pilotnick1203]

Another candidate for a tranny http://member.copart.com/c2/searchliststd.html?_eventId=lotDetails&execution=e1s3&lotId=19840764
I know this one. Second in line, going to keep an engine for if mine decides to die. Black one is lower miles.

[Hornung418]

Is this car a cold weather with fold down rears?

Sent from my GS3.

[JupiterBMW]

Is this car a cold weather with fold down rears?

Sent from my GS3.

What you need? I have fold down alcantara rears... PM me


iPhone 5S. Tapatalk Pro. BOOM

[Hornung418]

What you need? I have fold down alcantara rears... PM me


iPhone 5S. Tapatalk Pro. BOOM

Need fixed back seats :-)

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[JupiterBMW]

Well fine then... :P :biggrin

[QC_ZHP]

Do you have fronts too Joop?