[DG Sooner]

Hello,
I was in a substantial accident today (everyone is OK and the airbag system was remarkable). The fireman said he assumed the car would be totaled, but I'm kind of curious. All the damage was on the front. We broadsided a car that ran thru a red light.
Anyone have any experience with a wreck involving an i5? I'm curious if it's likely to get totaled or repaired. I'm hoping it isn't repaired just because of all the electronics in that thing...
Any knowledge is appreciated.

[TurtleBoy]

No way to determine that without knowing the extent of the damage. It likely will get totaled if it is as bad as you are implying but they seem to be doing more high dollar repairs the last few years versus totaling the vehicle. That of course dependd on the market for them also.

[deutsch100]

I am so glad you are all ok. As mentioned, as repairs and parts have gotten out of control in terms of costs, insurance companies are doing insane repairs.

Last year an 80 year old man hit our son in his i4 M50. i4 MSRP was about $78,000. State Farm refused to total it and spent over $40,000 repairing and it took almost 5 months. We were so pissed!!!

[DG Sooner]

Thank you! Wow now that is insane. I hope your son got a loaner while it was in the shop.
I guess I’ll see what the adjuster says.
Very appreciative of the safety the car provided us.

[DG Sooner]

I have been reading and since the airbags deployed and the car would not run after (was kind of shaken up, but a message along the lines of ‘car cannot be driven’ showed on the display), it sounds most likely they total it.
I read something saying that when the car detects significant impact it blows the pyro fuse which disconnects the HV pack… no clue if that’s true.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by DG Sooner

I have been reading and since the airbags deployed and the car would not run after (was kind of shaken up, but a message along the lines of ‘car cannot be driven’ showed on the display), it sounds most likely they total it.
I read something saying that when the car detects significant impact it blows the pyro fuse which disconnects the HV pack… no clue if that’s true.

I wouldn't read too much into that. The ICE vehicles use a battery safety terminal with their battery which does the same thing.

[Blue Sky]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune and glad everyone is safe.

Please keep us informed about how this plays out, because this is an interesting case. I’m not aware of major accidents reported on the i5. Most likely if the HV battery was damaged at all, we may see a push to replace the entire battery. What goes with it will be interesting, does the tray and the cooling system go with it? And will the price be reasonable (rarely) or exorbitant / highway-robbery as has been seen on some other EVs? The cost of that battery work will probably decide whether it’s a total or not.

On Porsche Taycan, the new purchase price can be quite high on some trims, so even the $70k originally quoted as a mandatory battery replacement triggered by a > 3mm underbody dent before insurance lowered it it $42k, left a lot of headroom on the original purchase price, but used Taycan values have fallen so much, its loomed close to total loss territory. This scandal of intolerance to underbody dents and possible scumbag behavior from dealers that PCNA wouldn’t step in and stand up for the customer for that unfolded this summer is #1 reason why I decided to steer clear of the Porsche.

[AlteBMW]

The usual rule is airbag deployment mens total loss. Probably varies by insurer.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by AlteBMW

The usual rule is airbag deployment mens total loss. Probably varies by insurer.

That is an old urban myth, not that case though.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

That is an old urban myth, not that case though.

Not necessarily Urban Myth. I have known several people, My Son included, where the Airbags deployed, but the damage (Per the repair shop) should not have warranted a Total Loss.

The insurance Co. would rather total a car than risk there being underlying damage. A lot of repair centers will quote a lower initial price, just to get the insurance contract. Then once they get it, and disassemble the car, they can find a lot of underlying issues that they have to get approved one at a time. And then once the insurance co. issues a contract, and work has begun, they can be stuck paying a repair bill that is 2 or 3 times the original estimate, and sometimes higher than the car is worth to replace.

My 1st Cousin is president of an insurance Co. (I won't say which one, and no, I don't use him as he is more local. I need a multi-national) He said it's usually a cheaper risk to total the car if the airbags have deployed, than possibly end up going down a rabbit hole. Plus once deployed you almost have to disassemble the car since the law, in His state at least, requires them to replace ALL the airbags, not just the ones that deployed. Most of the time it's worth it financially to them to just total it. But sometimes there is a perfectly good car they have totaled.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by AiredaleDad

Not necessarily Urban Myth. I have known several people, My Son included, where the Airbags deployed, but the damage (Per the repair shop) should not have warranted a Total Loss.

The insurance Co. would rather total a car than risk there being underlying damage. A lot of repair centers will quote a lower initial price, just to get the insurance contract. Then once they get it, and disassemble the car, they can find a lot of underlying issues that they have to get approved one at a time. And then once the insurance co. issues a contract, and work has begun, they can be stuck paying a repair bill that is 2 or 3 times the original estimate, and sometimes higher than the car is worth to replace.

My 1st Cousin is president of an insurance Co. (I won't say which one, and no, I don't use him as he is more local. I need a multi-national) He said it's usually a cheaper risk to total the car if the airbags have deployed, than possibly end up going down a rabbit hole. Plus once deployed you almost have to disassemble the car since the law, in His state at least, requires them to replace ALL the airbags, not just the ones that deployed. Most of the time it's worth it financially to them to just total it. But sometimes there is a perfectly good car they have totaled.

I think you missed the point. It was never a rule, that is the myth. Just like any other part of the repair, it is considered when looking at the entire repair cost.

[MiGs550e]

So I have to ask. How many of you get GAP insurance on a new purchase then?

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by MiGs550e

So I have to ask. How many of you get GAP insurance on a new purchase then?

I don't, but only because I put enough down on my car so GAP insurance is not necessary.

[AlteBMW]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

That is an old urban myth, not that case though.

I didn’t mean “rule” as compulsory. Maybe I should have said “usual practice”.
I had a G70 totaled because a strut tower cracked. It was repairable but at a crazy high cost because the whole front end incl engine had to be removed or disassembled - and the insurer (Chubb) told me they were worried about problems down the line. I had replacement cost coverage and ended up with a new car.

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by MiGs550e

So I have to ask. How many of you get GAP insurance on a new purchase then?

I don’t do GAP either. With the Audi (and soon with the BMW) I typically put down 50% or more so it’s not necessary. I will definitely do the vehicle replacement insurance option, though.

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by MiGs550e

So I have to ask. How many of you get GAP insurance on a new purchase then?

I put $45,000 down. No need for gap.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by AlteBMW

I didn’t mean “rule” as compulsory. Maybe I should have said “usual practice”.
I had a G70 totaled because a strut tower cracked. It was repairable but at a crazy high cost because the whole front end incl engine had to be removed or disassembled - and the insurer (Chubb) told me they were worried about problems down the line. I had replacement cost coverage and ended up with a new car.

I understand what you meant but it is also not usual practice. There is nothing special about the air bags being deployed, the loss is looked at in total.

[Blue Sky]

Right, all these cases are really about total cost. I had an E60 repaired by insurance after airbags deployed.

[DG Sooner]

Looking online at these wrecked car auctions is interesting and possibly informative. This is similar to mine but not as bad. This one still starts and airbags are in tact, but totaled:
https://www.iaai.com/VehicleDetail/40894637~US

[DG Sooner]

Insurance totaled the car... The adjuster said airbag deployment + car not starting when attempting to start = immediate total. They didn't even send an adjuster to look at it.

[AiredaleDad]

Told ya'all.