R55 The Ghost vs. Bambi
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The Ghost vs. Bambi
After 18 years and over 500,000 total miles of driving at night, I hit Bambi last night. It was raining and on a dark stretch of Rt. 18 in central New Jersey. All I saw was the head and shoulders before the collision. There was no time to even get my foot off the gas.
I was not hurt, Bambi is dead and I was able to drive 20 miles home.
The left headlight is crunched, fender and hood damaged, mirror decorative cap is gone and the door is wrinkled and opens just enough for me to get in + out
Initial pictures can be found on my gallery. I'll post better ones after the rain stops.
I was not hurt, Bambi is dead and I was able to drive 20 miles home.
The left headlight is crunched, fender and hood damaged, mirror decorative cap is gone and the door is wrinkled and opens just enough for me to get in + out
Initial pictures can be found on my gallery. I'll post better ones after the rain stops.
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I bounced a deer off the front of my Honda Element. Poor thing died, and I was horrified!
I was always glad I was in the Element since the hood is so high and the front so flat, the deer literally took a flat hit. Had only front end damage about the same as yours but no door issues.
Scariest thing ever and huge reason I won't drive without fog lamps since they light up the side of the road. All sorts of things to hit around here, coyotes and deer at night and turkeys during the day!
Glad to hear you are well and that you MINI was at least drivable! And I keep thinking my odds of hitting another deer must be in my favor!
I was always glad I was in the Element since the hood is so high and the front so flat, the deer literally took a flat hit. Had only front end damage about the same as yours but no door issues.
Scariest thing ever and huge reason I won't drive without fog lamps since they light up the side of the road. All sorts of things to hit around here, coyotes and deer at night and turkeys during the day!
Glad to hear you are well and that you MINI was at least drivable! And I keep thinking my odds of hitting another deer must be in my favor!
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I also tapped a deer a few miles North of Charleston, WV. Two sauntered out onto I-77S while I was in the #1 lane. I had time to downshift and brake hard, smacked it hard with the left front, and it took off. When I arrived in Charleston I was pleasantly surprised to find no damage, not even a deer hair on the Clubman.
That was my 3rd deer vs. vehicle incident.
That was my 3rd deer vs. vehicle incident.
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fwiw, mine only required replacement of the hood, one headlight (non-Xenon), upper grille and some trim pieces. Luckily, my hit did not damage the front bumper, wheel arches, or anything under the hood. Still, cost estimate came in ~$2,300. They did have to go back and replace one of the hood hinges - I assume they filed with my insurance company, but I never saw any of the paperwork if they did. Luckily, the repair shop helped me on cost, and I ended up with the only out-of-pocket being the cost of the new vinyl stripes I put on it and some gas for a couple trips to the shop.
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Mine was about 6 grand. All of the bodywork forward of the A-panels had to be replaced... the radiator, it's housing, and the AC Condenser were broken also. My cost was 440 (deductible 500 - 60 stripe install). They asked me who did the roof wrap... when I told them I installed it they gave me the option of doing the stripes myself and saving 60.00.
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Lucky. ???
All things considered, I guess I am very lucky.
The headlight was the only glass (?) broken, the air bags didn't go off and I was able to drive the Ghost 20 miles home.
The tire does rub against the wheel well liner, but there was no problem steering and the car still tracks straightly.
Now I get to drive either the wife's 325 (provided I "don't hit another deer".), or our Envoy (at 18 to 20 mpg, that one hurts at the pump) until my 'baby' is fixed.
The headlight was the only glass (?) broken, the air bags didn't go off and I was able to drive the Ghost 20 miles home.
The tire does rub against the wheel well liner, but there was no problem steering and the car still tracks straightly.
Now I get to drive either the wife's 325 (provided I "don't hit another deer".), or our Envoy (at 18 to 20 mpg, that one hurts at the pump) until my 'baby' is fixed.
Last edited by djmcgill; 10-30-2009 at 10:47 PM.
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The Ghost is back!
All is right in the world, once again. I got the 'Ghost' back last Monday.
It took almost four full weeks to complete the repairs. Most of that was due to part procurement time.
Now he looks better than before. (no more bug guts and stone dings)
Grand total for the repairs came out to $7.043. The HID headlights cost almost $1300, with controller.
It took almost four full weeks to complete the repairs. Most of that was due to part procurement time.
Now he looks better than before. (no more bug guts and stone dings)
Grand total for the repairs came out to $7.043. The HID headlights cost almost $1300, with controller.
Last edited by djmcgill; 12-07-2009 at 11:42 PM.