I was going west bound of the 10 freeway (San Gabriel Valley, for SoCal members) this morning on my way to my doctor's appointment and just after I complete my lane change, I hit an black object and...

Driver Side Front




Left Rear's Rim



There are at least 5 cars involve (and Acura RL, E36 328i, Toyota Camry and another one I didn't see).

I think I need a new R110 5 Star Pace Wheel and I contact Morovia MINI and the guy quote me $255 plus tax. Does anyone know anywhere had better price?

Well at least I am OK and I also found out that a Cobalt's donut fit R55...only in the back after I did the switch.

 

Ouch! I found this ad over in the marketplace and it's a pretty good deal for all four wheels considering $250-300 is the going price for one R110.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ct/4127/cat/46

 

Glad you're okay and that the damage was limited to tires/rims. Replace those and the car's as good as new. Had the pipe taken a different bounce, you could have been looking at some serious bodywork.

 

Wow, good thing the pipe didn't get airborne and damage the body too. Here is another source of low cost replacements. Since the wheels are refurbished the paint match and history may not be worth the savings, but if you want to minimize the cost...

http://www.finishlinewheels.com/MINI/COOPER/2008/

I just ordered a replacement 5 star pace wheel from them, and will post back how the quality is. Unfortunately they don't confirm the wheel with a picture so you have to go by the series code of 110 :

Wheel# A-71264U20, 2008 MINI COOPER Wheels COOPER Rims

Size: 17" x 7"
Finish: SILVER (OEM RIM)
Style: ALLOY RIM, 17 X 7, 5 ROUND SPOKES
Dealer Wheel Price: $500.00
Discount Wheel Price: $169.00

Bolt Pattern: 4 x 100
Note: 48MM OFFSET
Note: STYLE #110

[SIZE=1]Wheel Type: STOCK ALLOY WHEELS, FACTORY OEM RIMS, ORIGINAL CAR TRUCK WHEEL[/SIZE][SIZE=3]$169.00[/SIZE]

 

your insurance carrier should cover it. check it out

 

I'd think twice before calling your insurance company on this one. There's not that much damage, and if the pipe was stationary when you hit it, it will probably be an at-fault collision claim, because you're assumed to have the ability and responsibility to avoid hitting a non-moving object.

If the pipe was bouncing/rolling around the road because it just fell off a truck or because another car hit it first, I think it would be covered by your comprehensive coverage instead, and "fault" really doesn't come into play in that case.

 

If you havent already, get the alignment checked

 

those are my wheels I have for sale in the market place. Not trying to push mine, but if you buy new, it will cost $200+ for just one, you could get all four for only only $400.

Offer me something for them, I might take you up on it...

BTW I have them posted on EBAY, and the starting bid is $300 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...5973&viewitem=

 

Damn road debris!

 

Geez, thats sucks.

The same thing happened to me coming from the 110 west to the 5 N. hit a black something that shredded my tire... luckily it didn't damage the rim. I was driving the BMW at the time and those rims are like $300-$400.

I swear the highways are getting worse and worse these days with debris and badly repaired or not repaired highways, it's like a war zone out there.

 

I could easily make a claim rep out of you, Scott.

Yep, stationary object = Collision Claim = At-fault accident.

Moving 0bject = Comp Claim = Not at-fault accident.

Just yesterday morning, a truck that passed me had a ladder fall off the back and go flying across my lane and JUST missed my MINI. It was a huge aluminum ladder and would have caused some serious damage. Comp claim, but I still would have been seriously pissed.

To the OP, with the likely minimal damage (less than a thousand dollars, likely), I would not submit that claim, personally.

 

Thanks, although with all of the rules, regulations, caveats and exclusions, being a claim rep almost sounds like being a lawyer, without the pay.

 

The trick is, become a manager first, and then the pay is MUCH better.

 

Wow, that was some pipe but very glad it didn't hit anything else!

 

I have found that there are a TON of great wheel and/or tire deals to be had on this website's Marketplace. There is no reason in the world to pay the usurious prices that dealers ask for these bits. You can easily find a set of 4 wheels and tires, all mounted and ready to bolt on your car, for $500 or less.

What a great resource we have in the Marketplace!

 

Of course there wasn't an insurance company rep at the scene, so I'm thinking the pipe was rolling. Right "wink, wink".

We had the same thing happen a year ago on the kids 07 MCS when a big ol' hunk of plywood got thrown up by the car in front of him and took out the bonnet, headlamp (Xenon) and bumper. Comp claim for sure. 2500 bucks worth! Thank you State Farm!

Being a body shop guy, you wouldn't believe the stories we hear.

 

Being an Auto Claims Rep, you wouldn't believe the insurance fraud I've seen. "wink, wink".

 

That's what I was thinking - the insurance guy's going to have much better customer stories to tell, because no one feels the need to lie to the body shop guy!

 

Let's just say I keep our Special Investigations Unit busy, Scott.

 

Thanks to Dead Ringer and Tirerack. My Clubman is back to normal now

 

Always willing to help out "the family"!

 

Well,

I definately do not recommend this vendor. They failed the test for quality and perhaps even safety.

Look at the major damage they have "refurbished" by possible bending or welding in the photo below. I would be okay with repair of minor curb rash but this almost looks like they started with the rim that Prost posted. The finish looks okay, perhaps a close match to original. The issue of safety comes first and this rim does not pass the test. Guess I may lose $20 on postage and re-stocking fee, but this has got to go back.