I Wrecked Her (my 03 BMW 530i Sport)

"computiNATEor" (computinateor)
09/22/2014 at 16:37 • Filed to: BMW, crash, canyon, wreck, expensive, repair, sport, german

She was beautiful. She had only 92,000 miles, in Sapphire Black over black sport seats. She had never been in a major accident. She ran like the thoroughbred she was.

I called her Seabiscuit.

I picked her up from the dealer on Friday. Her Style 71 wheels glinted in the bright SoCal sun.

That night, her interior lamps glowed soft amber, showing off her sports steering wheel.

I was in love.

But on Sunday afternoon, she showed me how young and inexperienced I was. I put the right side tires too close to the dusty side of the road, and twitched my foot a mile too far, and all the computers in the world couldn't have saved her from the guardrail we were suddenly oversteering towards.

There was the screech of tires at the limit of traction, the beeping of the DSC and the thumping of the ABS as I nailed the brake, then a simultaneous crunch and BANG! as the guardrail repelled me from the 60 foot drop and the airbag cushioned the blow. I honestly don't remember the airbag going off; it all happened so quickly.

Seabiscuit was hurt; that much was obvious. Her engine was still running quietly, but her alarms made a chorus. The acrid smell and smoke from her airbag fumigated the interior. I quickly shut off the engine, noticing that all locks had been opened and the hazards had automatically activated.

I leveraged myself out of the vehicle, wincing at the crunching sound the door skin made against the left-front fender. I unbuckled my seatbelt in a daze, and stumbled over to a berm of dirt.

Almost immediately, I heard a voice yelling, "Are you ok?!" down from the edge of the ridge above me. I nodded, slowly, then raised my shaky voice to respond in the affirmative. My right arm was sore from a very mild air bag burn, but otherwise, I was feeling no physical pain.

Psychologically, though, I was a mess. I am very thankful to the drivers of the two cars who stopped for me a few moments after the accident, as they provided support to me when I needed it most. I didn't know whether or scream, or cry, or what. I was a bag of flesh with adrenaline pumping through every capillary in my body.

One of the good Samaritans drove to the fire department at the end of the road while I called the Auto Club for a flat bed. Seabiscuit wouldn't restart, and her left-front suspension had been badly damaged; the front wheels were pointing in two different directions. While I don't think the rack is damaged, her lower control arm has been completely broken; what else is beyond that I don't know.

Her left front fender is toast, as is the hood, front bumper, left headlight assembly and foglight, driver's door, left rear passenger door, side skirts, rear quarter panel, and rear bumper. Both wheels seem to be in great shape, despite the left front taking out two support posts for the guardrail. I don't know about the subframes yet. Damage seems to be limited to the left front; the upper radiator bracket is bent, but I don't believe there is any drivetrain damage to speak of (at least none that is obvious).

I'm incredibly angry at myself.

The fire department arrived a few minutes later, who then called the California Highway Patrol because of the damaged guardrail. A police report was taken, but no tickets were issued (at least on-scene). The CHP nudged Seabiscuit off of the road surface and into a small pull-out.

I don't know what I'm going to do. My mechanic (who we dropped the car off at) called this morning with an estimate; just repairing the suspension damage will be around $3,000, and a body shop quoted around $6,000 to make it look factory. That's before the airbag and any other issues that are discovered. It will probably be around $10,000 all-in. I will be paying for all repairs (I also paid for 50% of the car, at $8500). I definitely don't have that kind of cash, but I can't just have the car lay around in its damaged state.

I still live with my parents, and this won't bankrupt us. I'm blessed that this won't affect my schooling, and I still have a 95 Camry (peeling clear coat and all) that is perfectly reliable transportation. I am employed (delivering pizzas!), so that will help.

Again, I am 100% OK. My back is a bit sore today, but I am very thankful to God and to the Bavarian engineers for making the Ultimate (Safe) Driving Machine.

Here's the damage:

You can see the skid marks behind her.

Nate

DISCUSSION (50)

area man > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:46

Am I reading this correctly, you crashed the car within two days of ownership? That sucks incredibly hard man, and as someone who as always lusted after E39s, I feel for you. At least you're OK.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:49

Dude, Don't hoon an unfamiliar car where you can wreck stuff.

That sucks though.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:49

Sorry about that, but could you explain what happened again?

PatBateman > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:50

No insurance?!

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:51

OH NO! Glad you're okay, but this looks bad! I'm so sorry! =( I feel for you after I wrecked my Honda real bad this year (right after I cussed some kid out for climbing on it... karma sucks).

computiNATEor > area man
09/22/2014 at 16:51

Yep. I drove off the lot at 1:30 on Friday, and wrecked it at 11:45 on Sunday.

Louros > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:52

That was a lot of words to say "I have no idea what I'm doing."

$8500 was half the price of the car? Or the full price?

computiNATEor > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
09/22/2014 at 16:52

tl;dr I drove too fast, went wide into the dirt, and spun across the road into a guardrail. $10k in damage.

computiNATEor > PatBateman
09/22/2014 at 16:52

Just liability.

Kate's Dirty Sister > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:53

Sorry for your loss, but you should always refer to a car as "it", not he or she.

computiNATEor > Louros
09/22/2014 at 16:53

Full price. Now half. :/

computiNATEor > Kate's Dirty Sister
09/22/2014 at 16:55

True. But the Queen Mary is a she. The Titanic was a she. Anything people put passion into I prefer to call he/she.

waymoe > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:55

These things do not happen to people who treat a road car like a road car.

PatBateman > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:55

OUCH.

computiNATEor > PatBateman
09/22/2014 at 16:56

Yeah; I'll be in the doghouse for a while.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:58

God damn..And within two days of ownership; that's pretty awful. :(

It could've been worse, remember that; at least you're OK, cars can be replaced(albeit quite painfully), people cannot be replaced. I've got a similar story with my ST, nearly crashed it on day three of ownership going 130 on the freeway, unprepared for a slight bend in the road; it was made worse by the fact I had only begun to learn to drive stick two days earlier.

Just take it as a lesson,move on and do try to be more careful next time. :)

Kate's Dirty Sister > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 16:58

Ships are an exception

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2…

Manuél Ferrari > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 17:00

;(

TurnDownForWatt > Kate's Dirty Sister
09/22/2014 at 17:14

Shut up.

computiNATEor > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
09/22/2014 at 17:19

Thanks. I'm glad you're alright as well!

computiNATEor > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
09/22/2014 at 17:21

Yeah. The CHP was like, "Save it for a track day, bro!" (not really). But everyone was very polite; no one, not even the tow truck driver who had to rotate the tire by hand every foot or so, said anything to make me more upset than I already was. Probably because I'm terrible at hiding my emotions.

Roadster Man > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 17:21

Good thing you are alright and nobody else was involved. That is the thing you and your parents should really care about.

HOWEVER: Take a lesson from this. You need to be careful. Only drive hard after you've had a warm-up lap around your route. If you did that, you would have realized that you couldn't drive that hard.

P.S. I saw in the comments you only have liability, I hope you have uninsured motorist coverage too... It's probably required by law in CA though. It sucks you have to eat the cost, but it's probably better than the crazy rate hike you'd get if you filed a claim.

E92M3 > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 17:28

Don't be too hard on yourself. We all make mistakes, the key is to learn from them. At 35 I just ripped my mirror off pulling into a garage I've parked in 1000 times. This was minutes after texting my wife telling HER to quit texting me and concentrate on driving (she was driving her own car on the way home). The main thing is you're still in good health afterwards.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 17:33

AS a 16YO who has had a few close calls in his car (2012 GLI...)
I completely sympathise man...
I am so sorry :(

computiNATEor > Roadster Man
09/22/2014 at 17:38

Because of the guardrail, I have to file a claim. As far as uninsured coverage, I'm not sure what that would get me, as I am 100% responsible.

computiNATEor > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
09/22/2014 at 17:39

Nice! I like the GLI, but outside of my price range. Factoring this in, though, maybe not. :/

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 17:43

yeah man... I'm sorry but it's gonna cost a lot isn't it...
That's why I didn't get a car like a 5-er or 3-er.

I could've had an '09 335i 6-speed.
But I was weak, and afraid. so I got a GLI FUCK YEAH

Steve in Manhattan > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 18:03

When the car is fixed, I'd take it to a track or other closed course where you can't hit anything and figure out where the limits are. I learned the limits of an old Jag on the road (spun it) when I should not have been testing them.

Roadster Man > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 18:06

That's rough. You'll probably get an insurance hike, who knows how much. Remember this lesson every time you think about pushing it...

I was talking about getting uninsured motorist coverage in general, you need it in case some jackass with no insurance hit you and hurts you.

Mosqvich > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 18:15

I'm incredibly sad for you. My son is buying a motorcycle and was thinking of just getting liability insurance. I will now use you as a reason to have collision insurance on just about any vehicle worth more money than you have in the bank.

computiNATEor > Steve in Manhattan
09/22/2014 at 18:23

Yep. CHP told me to "save it for the track." When not saving it cost me $10,000, a set of track tires, helmet, and track day entry seems extremely inexpensive.

computiNATEor > Mosqvich
09/22/2014 at 18:24

My dad said the same thing. We'll be doing that for my sister when she gets a new car (she's 16 now).

Steve in Manhattan > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 18:37

I really wish I'd had the sense to go to a track when I had my CRX Si in the 90s. I pushed that car a bit (when the girlfriend wasn't with me) but never really went angry at an apex. Oh well ....

Squid > Kate's Dirty Sister
09/22/2014 at 21:13

Yeah no, I have to disagree with you. Cars take on what ever gender the owner wants to put on them.

Tapas > computiNATEor
09/22/2014 at 22:43

Man that really sucks...do you have good insurance? Will they pay for any of the repairs?

computiNATEor > Tapas
09/23/2014 at 01:25

Nope. Just the guardrail I smashed into.

Tapas > computiNATEor
09/23/2014 at 02:23

Oh, not cool. Sue the guardrail company....? 'Merica

Alex B > computiNATEor
09/23/2014 at 10:26

I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't read the whole thing, are you going to have it repaired?

computiNATEor > Alex B
09/23/2014 at 16:11

At this point, I am having my mechanic tear into the structure and see if there is any frame damage and whether or not it's repairable. If there is no damage, I will pay to get it back in running shape, which will be a hood, fender, headlight assembly, and the airbag components. The doors, side skirt, and rear quarter panel will have to wait until I can gather some more funds.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > computiNATEor
09/24/2014 at 11:26

Ugh... so sorry, man.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Kate's Dirty Sister
09/24/2014 at 11:27

Mine has no name, but she is a beautiful beast.

M54B30 > computiNATEor
09/24/2014 at 22:17

as an owner of a sapphire black 02 530i, my *ahem* professional opinion is part it out... Sell parts for cheap and let me have first dibs....

LS1RX7-owen > computiNATEor
09/25/2014 at 17:24

OUCH. But my suggestion is to get it up and running with as much help from friends, car buddies, and any older dudes/dads that know stuff and using the cheap parts you can find locally at junkyards and ebay, etc. Once its driving again you wont be too sad.

computiNATEor > LS1RX7-owen
09/26/2014 at 18:32

I'm taking it to a frame shop as soon as the new battery cable arrives. My mechanic has replaced the lower control arm already. The old control arm felt like styrofoam; the aluminum design really pays off in weight savings.

computiNATEor > Roadster Man
09/26/2014 at 18:32

Yeah, the plan I have covers for uninsured motorists.

CruzeHatch > computiNATEor
10/08/2014 at 16:33

"Squid Wrecks Typical Squid Car in Squidlike Fashion"

Tohru > computiNATEor
11/07/2014 at 09:42

I know those feels, bro. I had my first car a month before I totaled it. Hit a tree at 60mph.

Kinja'd!!!

computiNATEor > Tohru
11/07/2014 at 17:59

Ouch! I'm glad you were ok! I'm in the process of putting her back together again. Mechanical damage: $1k. Body Damage: $1.5k (parts), $4k (labor). Next will be the airbag, which should be around $500.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > computiNATEor
01/27/2015 at 23:16

Glad you're okay!

computiNATEor > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/27/2015 at 23:31

Thanks, me too!