Bad Luck with a New MINI

Sections: MF Feature Jun 13th, 2005 70 Comments

What do you do when someone clips your brand new MINI at a double left hand turn almost spinning you into a telephone pole? Make sure they have insurance for one.

Last Saturday night, driving south on Sheridan Rd. on the north side of Chicago, I was unceremoniously hit and nearly spun out in one of the busiest intersections around the city.

Here’s what happened. I was driving southbound, approaching a traffic light where both left-hand lanes turn left. I was in the right of the two lanes. As we were turning, the driver of the A4 (obviously not familiar with the intersection) decided at the last moment to go straight. His right front met my left rear and, while we were both traveling at roughly the same speed, bumped me hard enough to nearly spin my MINI. Luckily I was able to immediately dial-in some opposite lock and drift through the intersection without losing control. A good thing, considering I was headed toward a sturdy-looking traffic light support.

I immediately assumed the worst: massive bodywork damage, rear bumper hanging off the car, and that nice 18″ wheel in shambles. However, like many accidents, the hit that felt so violent at the time actually turned out to be much less dramatic. To my surprise, I found only a badly marred wheel, some bent plastic trim and what looked to be a slightly deformed inner plastic fender. Amazingly, there seemed to be very little real damage. In fact, it appeared that the only metal damage on the car was a small bend in the metal lip that lies under the plastic wheel arch. My initial thought was, how did this happen? From the best I can tell, the impact’s energy was dissipated by both my car immediately beginning to spin after the impact and that black plastic wheel arch trim. In fact the A4′s hood even hit the exact point of the plastic trim where it attaches to the car. This point is actually a round indentation, which I can only imagine is the strongest portion of the rear corner panel. This, and the plastic seemed to absorb the impact without transferring much of the damage to the metal itself.

So the police reports have been filed, blame has been accepted (thank goodness) and I’ll be calling my dealer bright and early tomorrow morning. While it may be unlikely, I’m still holding out a little bit of hope that I might still be able to drive it down to Indianapolis for next weekend’s US Grand Prix in my new MCS.

Written By: Gabe

LTL M CPE

That sucks Gabe! Very sorry to hear that, but sure happy the damage is minor. As long as you get a wheel I see no problem driving it to Indy this weekend.

By the way, know anyone needing a ticket? I have one available in Stand H.

Jim
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Thanks everyone for the support. I was just informed that the final bill will be $1200. Actually a little less than I expected.

I ended up taking to Knauz MINI as they had the closest State Farm approved dealer body shop considering where I live. Amazingly, they’re working to get the car done for a Friday afternoon pick-up. A big MotoringFile thanks to David Olenick for getting the word out about a new MINI in need of quick repairs and then Glen Ogle for getting the parts overnighted immediately. The effort is appreciated!

Now… to get that bike back out of the garage.
RB

OK, here’s mine……………………………………….I go to the Mini dealership to CK on some parts I ordered, a lady with her kid in tow scrapes her purse, ever so lightly, along the side of my newish ’04 MCS and I go ballistic on her. Barely scratched the wax.The SA that was helping her just stood there dumb founded.

So I can’t imagine what I would have done to this fellow.

I felt bad….sorta.
http://www.gbmini.net/ Ian

Black MINIs!

My first MINI was black; the first weekend I had it, it was nearly crushed in a similar way – going straight from lights and the guy in the left lane decided to turn right across me. Thank goodness for great brakes!

Sorry to hear of your misfortune Gabe, but pleased it is not too awful.
Jeffro

Gabe -Glad the cosmetics aren’t so bad. But, this indicates that he didn’t really hit the ‘pretty stuff’, as they are really wimpy. I’d guess that all of the impact load went throught the wheel and into the suspension assembly. Be sure to have your dealer check the suspension parts and the alignment.

Cheers
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Oh yeah – they’ll be inspecting the rear suspension assembly very carefully. Actually I had the car up to 70mph on the way up the dealer this morning and am happy to report there was no vibration whatsoever. I’m almost surprised.
http://www.rivercityminis.org Deborah (aka NekoWoman)

Gabe,

Glad you are okay – that’s the important part. It’s just kills to have a treasured possession damaged in any way though…

Enjoy Indy!
http://o allan MICHAEL

Gabe

glad you are just fine.and your MCs will be too soon.

allan
O(=^=)O Capn

Sorry Man, I woulda gone postal. But at least your alive.

Ask your wife if she thinks the battle scars are sexy.
Timothy Sipples

How many miles did your MINI have it on at the time, Gabe? My new MINI had 40 miles on the odometer when it was rear-ended by a pickup. It was the drive home from the dealer. Damage was similar to your experience, Gabe — it’s a sturdy car. Can anyone beat that? :-)

Details here (starting at post #718, continuing to post #729): http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51331&onlybyuserid=0&page=48&pp=15
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Almost 600 miles.
Gromit

Gabe, sorry to hear this. It is really heart breaking to have it happen ever, much less shortly after you take delivery. They should get it back such that no one can tell it happened. Ditto the other entries that they check your alignment.

It was exactly a week to the day I picked my Mini up at the dealer that a deer chased me across the road to commit suicide on my passenger rear quarter fender lip. The body shop painted the whole quarter to insure it would match and you cannot tell it ever happened.
Mike

So I can assume we’ll see you and the new MCS at Indy this weekend? (Provided the repairs are done)

Mike
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Absolutly! I’ll be heading down Saturday morning and should be at the Car Corral Sunday.
Volkan

Sorry for the accident and glad that things will be fixed very quickly.

I am somewhat not surprised about the rear suspension holding up so well… Recently, I hit a piece of metal on the freeway. The impact split the left front wheel into two pieces (like a cut bagel). I was worried about the suspension, alignment, etc etc. Next day I got new wheels and tires and drove it with no pulling or vibration to the alignment shop. After a careful inspection no damage was found in the suspension assembly. Moreover, the alignment was not off either after hitting something that could split the wheel. There are pictures here.

Good luck with your repairs!
http://chicagominiclub.com Victoria

A few years back, my husband was T-boned at that same intersection by a van coming from the inside lane. I had to pick him up from the donut shop there to get him to the hospital. Broad daylight, and in a non-black, not super-small car–it’s just a bad spot to be in the outside lane. Glad to hear you’ll be okay!!!
Greg W

Sheridan – as I recall from my last visit the road changes quite a few times between Lake Shore, Loyola, and the Cemetery. A new guy in town could easily get confused. Lucky no one as hurt or by road rage. Gabe if you were Japanese you would take the car back or ditch it – bad karma aparently in Japan for a new car to get damaged so new. Cheers Greg W
Hobbit

Sorry to hear your new car got hit. Get him back in order soon and get motoring again!
Glad you are safe.

-Hobbit
doppleschmidt

I am so sorry to hear about your MINI. I was in an accident with my Gold MINI two weekends ago. The guy hit us on the driver side door: shattered the window, ruined the door, and the left panel next to the front wheel. I am still in shock — I freak out if there is a minor scratch and this was $2500 worth of damage! Thank God for Patrick MINI who has taken very good care of me. Buster(my MINI)will be home on Friday, good as new.

I feel your pain and hope your MINI’s life goes a little better from here on out. Good luck!!

Gotta love those Chicago drivers!!!
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