I came home from the office this evening around 7pm. The weather was BEAUTIFUL and the top was of course down. The sun was setting and the air was cool. The Wallflowers were playing on XM and the world was just right. I had some packages to deliver, so I was heading to the post office near my place.

My light turned green and I proceeded forward. I glanced left for a moment and saw, suddenly, a giant KIA logo and grille coming right at me, just two or three feet from me face.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7592-1/SSPX0431.jpg

I yelled "I'm F****ED!" and thought not about my loved ones, but about how badly this was going to hurt if I survived, and how I might be better off dead if it got really bad.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7607-1/SSPX0436.jpg

Small SUV + small convertible = SMASH! In any other little car, I'd have had the door in my ribs, and probably some of my intestines hanging out for public display. This BMW, I swear to god, saved my life tonight.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7595-1/SSPX0432.jpg

The impact bar did its job VERY commendably, and the side airbag helped too. And since I had the top down, there was no glass to pick out of my skin. Yay for convertibles!

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7604-2/SSPX0435.jpg

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7598-1/SSPX0433.jpg
The rollover hoops came up, which was reassuring to know if I ever got upside down.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7604-2/SSPX0435.jpg

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7610-1/SSPX0437.jpg

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7601-1/SSPX0434.jpg
Little airbag protecting me from the impact.

Quite a few kind people pulled over to help me out. All of them called 911, and within one minute (seriously) I was greeted by two police cars, an ambulance, and two fire trucks. Looks like the FOP and Chesterfield FD are getting my donations.

I moved my legs and arms to check for broken bits and pain, and everything seemed okay, and three people helped me climb out.

Two people in a van offered me their business cards and contact info, offering to be witnesses and handed me their business cards, which I copied down and then handed to the police officer. The cop, who I've seen around, is also my neighbor who lives in the same apartment complex.

I sat there going, "AHHH! AHHH! AHHH!" because everything hurt and I was pissed about what had just happened. Then I saw steam coming out of the SUV/crossover/wagon thing, and decided I should get the hell out before it exploded. Fortunately, we discovered it was just coolant.

The lady who hit me first asked if her light was green. Everyone there yelled "No!" She then apologized profusely and asked if I was okay, and I asked her the same. If you have to ask what color a light was, you weren't paying attention lol.

Her little granddaughter was there as well and apparently hit the top of her head on something, so she put a piece of frozen roast beef on her head to relieve the pain (lady was taking meat to her son... lol).

At the moment, my neck is sore, my shoulder is sore, my arm is stinging and scratched up, and my heart is broken. I seriously loved that car. Its currently at the Plaza Motors collision center, and we'll see what happens with that.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7589-1/SSPX0430.jpg
Not bad, but now things are getting sore and my arm is very badly bruised. I expect it to be all purple tomorrow. I may go get checked out.

My roommate picked me up and offered to take me out, so I had some alcohol to relax my nerves a bit.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7586-5/SSPX0428.jpg

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7583-1/SSPX0427.jpg

Sadly, as we were going down the street, the tow truck flew by and taunted me. I really, really miss my convertible. Really.

You're a very lucky man. You're living right.

I'm glad you made it out. How's the arm?

Dam Jesda that sucks.
Glad your OK. Alcohol afterwards was not a good idea.

Glad you came out in one piece. You can always get another BMW. Given the hit on your car you must have taken a pretty good body shot. Get a medical checkup immediately if not sooner. Although you feel fine now you may have soft tissue damage or other injuries that will take time to show. Since the other driver is clearly at fault their insurance will be paying (and trying to deny or chisel) your expenses. After you go to the doctor call an ambulance chaser for a free consultation - at least you'll know the whole story. Unfortunately it only gets more complicated from here unless you live in a no-fault state.

Wow.... glad to hear you are ok! Theres lots more BMW's but no more Jesda's.

I wonder if they will fix the car? Thats an E46, I like those a whole lot.... good to see it held up well.

Damn!. You are one lucky SOB. Sucks about the car but its not that important in the scheme of things. ;)

Bmw 1-0 Kia

Jesus Jesda! I take a brake from CF for one day and the shit hits the fan, looks like the last time I'm doing that!

Glad to hear you're ok though!!

Ouch! Glad to hear you are OK.

Glad you're ok, Jesda. Sorry 'bout the car. :(

"When I think of those east end lights, muggy nights, curtains drawn in the little room downstairs..."

Damnit Jesda, now I've got "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" stuck in my head.

http://i26.tinypic.com/1z5ktv9.jpg

Jesda, glad you are okay. You were very lucky. Coulda been alot worse. Relax, and take is easy for a couple days (if ya can).
Will you be buying a new car? BMW ?
Prayers from me to you.
Sandy

Man, Ian is gonna be PISSED once he hears about this.

Glad to hear your OK. Good luck on a new find.

Man, Ian is gonna be PISSED once he hears about this.

LOL, he was the first person I called. Then mom, then Marjorie, then my roommate to come get me.

Glad to see you're OK. How are you feeling the day after?

Wow.... glad to hear you are ok! Theres lots more BMW's but no more Jesda's.

I wonder if they will fix the car? Thats an E46, I like those a whole lot.... good to see it held up well.

I was hoping they would just total it, but the damage to the car is surprisingly superficial given the hit, and FACTORY BMW collision repair parts are DIRT cheap (750 for the door shell, 156 for the airbag, 150 for the window mechanism etc). I think they will just repair it.

You're a very lucky man. You're living right.

Aint that the truth! Glad he came out almost completely unscathed.

It's always great to see a bit of engineering (German or other) that worked the way it was designed. Glad to hear you, Jesda, walked away relatively unscathed. Hope they will be able to make your Bimmer good as new and that you don't have a more problems as a result of a careless driver!

Jesus Jesda! I take a brake from CF for one day and the shit hits the fan, looks like the last time I'm doing that!

Glad to hear you're ok though!!

Its ironic that you misspelled "break" :P The old lady should have used her "brake"

Maybe she was rocking out to Careless Whisper and carelessly didn't look at the stoplight.

Maybe she was rocking out to Careless Whisper and carelessly didn't look at the stoplight.

Someone needed to "wake [her] up before [she] goes"

Now I'm reaching. :histeric:

She just wanted a father figure.

BMWs rock. Jesda rolls.

No no, Rick rolls!

eBGIQ7ZuuiU

She just wanted a father figure.

She flew through the red light because she was looking for "Fastlove", but I survived because I have "Faith".

:alchi:

And when the medics got you out of the car, you suddenly had Freedom ('90)!

She was definitely "Older"

The medic was like, "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me!" and I said to him, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me!"

THREAD DERAILED!

Thank goodness you're safe, Jesda.

That Bimmer held up amazingly well, glad to hear you came out OK. Good luck with the aftermath! Accidents sure are a pain in the ass... er, shoulder.

Thank goodness you're safe, Jesda.Hangover much? Who are you to break up a song threadjack?

So Jesda, now that the Bimmer is gone, does Love Lie Bleeding in your hands?

Seems like you were Living On a Prayer last night. Glad to see you're in one piece.

And a moment of silence for the Bimmer :crying:

I just called the lady who hit me and asked her if she was okay. She's bruised up and had a bum hip prior to the accident. I found out she's 82 years old! She was awfully nice and apologized over and over for what she did. She said she had a nightmare last night and pictured my freaked out face as I hit her.

Its good to deal with decent people when bad things happen.

Maybe God is just playing a Wicked Game with you?

Could be worse, from the impact you coulda had a "Head Like a Hole"........

She could have hit you much harder and sent you into a Wonderwall.

Another accident due to Cross Town Traffic

The BMW was "Just a Car Crash Away."

Not having the BMW must be a real Heartbreaker

My roommate called and said, "Who's gonna Drive you home... tonight?"

Damn, Jesda.. I'm glad to see you're basically okay.. In some other cars, we may have lost you for good..

Man Jesda, just think what would have happened if you didn't Take The Long Way Home??!? Luckily he can still have Breakfast, In America! :cool2:

Good thing you escaped without any Brain Damage

My roommate called and said, "Who's gonna Drive you home... tonight?"

That poor BMW, it just wants "One More Try".

Out of an orange colored sky it was Wham! Bam! Alakazam!

If it's totalled, you could start looking for a new car, perhaps a "Dragula?"

Out of an orange colored sky it was Wham! Bam! Alakazam!

Now that is really dating yourself! Perhaps they should be "Coming To Take You Away ....Ha, Ha,"

Just don't buy an Eclipse now

Now that is really dating yourself! Perhaps they should be "Coming To Take You Away ....Ha, Ha,"
Maybe he got hit by Flat Foot Floogie with a Floy Floy. His bucket has a hole in it and he'll need a rag mop. He's got the mule skinner blues.

Wow, I need to stop by here more often. Glad to see you are okay. If it was me I would have been pissed. I'm one of the people who thinks about what damage it will cause to my car instead of thinking about how many body parts just got broken. I would not have gotten upset directly at her because she was in her eighties, but I would still have held a grudge against whomever hit me.

o $hit! glad to see your ok! i hope your car is done fast, mine was rolled in feb and i STILL don't have it back :(

Wow, I need to stop by here more often. Glad to see you are okay. If it was me I would have been pissed. I'm one of the people who thinks about what damage it will cause to my car instead of thinking about how many body parts just got broken. I would not have gotten upset directly at her because she was in her eighties, but I would still have held a grudge against whomever hit me.


Be kind to your web footed friends,
Cause a duck may be sombody's mother.

You have webbed feet?

One of my buddies in grade school had webbed feet.

Glad you made it through in one piece!

Shows how everything can change in a heartbeat.

Hope she got cited to.

Be kind to your web footed friends,
Cause a duck may be sombody's mother.

What? :cookoo:

What? :cookoo:
Join the boyscouts and get an education.

Jesda, I've got alot of respect for you! That was a super call you made.
How are you, today ? Better? Sore? What?

Is the car a total? (The BMW) If so, are you buying a new one, or a used one?

I only purchase American cars, and have never owned anything but domestics, BUT, there is
one car that taunts & temps me - weekly. It's a Mercedes 4-passenger convertible. I think it;s a
C Class - possibly a CLK something. Regardless, it has (of course) a silver metallic color, but what drives me nuts
is that it ALSO offers an exact matching soft top, in light silver. A silver-on-Silver Convertible !
Interior can be black, light grey or navy. Ever see one ??
Hang in there.

Jesda, I've got alot of respect for you! That was a super call you made.
How are you, today ? Better? Sore? What?

Is the car a total? (The BMW) If so, are you buying a new one, or a used one?

I only purchase American cars, and have never owned anything but domestics, BUT, there is
one car that taunts & temps me - weekly. It's a Mercedes 4-passenger convertible. I think it;s a
C Class - possibly a CLK something. Regardless, it has (of course) a silver metallic color, but what drives me nuts
is that it ALSO offers an exact matching soft top, in light silver. A silver-on-Silver Convertible !
Interior can be black, light grey or navy. Ever see one ??
Hang in there.

Yes siree that is the CLK... They are dirt cheap now, but its surprising to see they are based on the C class, even though they look MORE like the E Class and carry a higher specification (price) in Merc's line-up than the E class with the same options.

Ya, I like that car, but mostly 'cause of the Silver-on-Silver exterior. THAT is truly unique and beautiful.
I'd get the Navy Interior or a real honest-to-goodness RED.

But too much $$$ for a car. Over $65,000 with all the Sandy Goodies ~

Ya, I like that car, but mostly 'cause of the Silver-on-Silver exterior. THAT is truly unique and beautiful.
I'd get the Navy Interior or a real honest-to-goodness RED.

But too much $$$ for a car. Over $65,000 with all the Sandy Goodies ~

Yea, that is a ridiculous amount of money to pay for what basically amounts to a convertible C class! :bonkers:

But I have seen used '04s as low as 17-19k.

Print Summary
Your Summary
CLK 6 Cyl. Convertible
M.S.R.P.* $55,375
Exterior Color (Metallic paint is optional, resulting in an additional price of $710)
Iridium Silver Metallic $710
Interior Color
Black Leather $0
Wood Trims
Burl Walnut Wood Trim $0
Soft Top
Ash Soft Top $0
Options
Heated Front Seats $710
Electronic Trunk Closer $530
Wood/Leather Steering Wheel $550
Keyless Go $1,110
Packages
P2: Premium II $3,020
Accessories
Chrome Door-Handle Inserts $73
Chrome Exterior Mirror Housings $346
Sadachiba 18" 5-Spoke Multipiece wheel $2,332
Trunk Net — Sill $44
Illuminated Door Sills $860
Total $65,660

Print Summary
Your Summary
CLK 6 Cyl. Convertible
M.S.R.P.* $55,375
Exterior Color (Metallic paint is optional, resulting in an additional price of $710)
Iridium Silver Metallic $710
Interior Color
Black Leather $0
Wood Trims
Burl Walnut Wood Trim $0
Soft Top
Ash Soft Top $0
Options
Heated Front Seats $710
Electronic Trunk Closer $530
Wood/Leather Steering Wheel $550
Keyless Go $1,110
Packages
P2: Premium II $3,020
Accessories
Chrome Door-Handle Inserts $73
Chrome Exterior Mirror Housings $346
Sadachiba 18" 5-Spoke Multipiece wheel $2,332
Trunk Net — Sill $44
Illuminated Door Sills $860
Total $65,660

WOW Sandy, that's actually a fairly LIGHTLY optioned car! That means that a V8 CLK550 with all that plus Navigation and in the Designo edition must push the mid 70's, and a CLK63 must be about 82k.

Wow Jesda, just got home from a long weekend in Saratoga Springs. Glad to see you're okay.

Man that sucks glad your ok. Looks like the damage is limitted to the door so hopefully the car will be fixable if you like it that much.

Hey, if the Bimmer is totaled, it would be a good chance to purchase that "Cooch Magnet" Q45! :histeric:

Shit, dude, glad to hear you're OK. It sucks when a beloved car is wrecked and I honestly hope you get it back. Good luck man!

I hope I get a small settlement. I just saw my old 92 Seville on Craigslist. YES, THE EXACT SAME ONE for $400 more and a ton of new parts. Woohoo!

lol, why did you sell the Seville?

Gonna buy it back? then you'd have it for what... a month? ;) :)

But I thought you said the paint on that car was ****ed and you were glad you got rid of it? You shoulda bought my deVille....

Hey, if the Bimmer is totaled, it would be a good chance to purchase that "Cooch Magnet" Q45! :histeric:

I have to agree with Chad here this is your chance to get lots of trim. :histeric:

But I thought you said the paint on that car was ****ed and you were glad you got rid of it? You shoulda bought my deVille....

Chad the seville is like getting a good piece of ass from an ugly woman. You try to resist going back but ultimately you go back for more.

But I thought you said the paint on that car was ****ed and you were glad you got rid of it? You shoulda bought my deVille....

Well yeah, it was a heap compared to that pristine Deville, but I'll take it if I can get it!

Went and got checked out today at the hospital, as well as the chiropractor. There are SO MANY cute nurses at the hospitals in west county. All petite, adorable, competent, and sweet.

I got into the ER at about 4pm and got out finally at 7:30p.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7679-2/SSPX0441.jpg
Waiting... waiting... meanwhile the guy at Safeco called to take my statement and set me up with a rental. I reserved a 2008 Malibu at Enterprise.

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7676-1/SSPX0440.jpg
Cute girl who checked me in and took my blood pressure. All the nurses seemed quite sad about the car, and I showed them camera phone pics.

"What kind of convertible was it?"
'A 2004 BMW 3-series.'
"Oh my god! Those are my favorite cars! Thats so sad."
'Yeah, it was my favorite too.'

"You need to get it fixed and take us nurses for a ride! We've had a rough day."
'I know, every morning and evening I get to take that to work its like a release.'

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7670-1/SSPX0438.jpg

http://www.q45.org/gallery2/d/7673-5/SSPX0439.jpg
Damn hospital robes... letting my butt hang out all over the place.

The doctor was fantastic; he was very comforting and quite skilled at explaining everything to me.

I want to get injured again and go back LOL. Anyway, after an x-ray and cat scan I turned out to be okay. I was prescribed vicodin and I'll be forwarding the xrays to my chiropractor for further treatment. The chiropractor checked my spine and shoulders and took some photos.

Jesda, you should get a date out of this. Oops, make that a date and a new car! :cool2:

Sorry Jesda, but who actually takes pictures of their hospital visit? I understand yours was just to make sure you were okay and nothing serious was wrong, but when I went in I was in so much pain I just said f*** it and give some damn pain killers. I soon found out that a shot in ass is almost as painful as when your appendix explodes and the medicine doesn't even help.

I'm asian. I take pictures of everything.


Everything!



No, really... everything!

http://www.arkworld.com/weblogs/pics/asian_photos5.jpg

http://www.arkworld.com/weblogs/pics/asian_photos3.jpg

^ Ohh, so true.

You need to get that car fixed apparently that is the cooch magnet not the q45 !

If I was asian, my interest in photography wouldn't be considered so creepy.

^ Less creepy but much, much more hilarious.

Hospital checked me out -- CAT scan and x-ray came out clean. Woo!

BMW sent me a signed letter saying they've been following my story online and included a free key chain, which I thought was a very nice gesture.

Hospital checked me out -- CAT scan and x-ray came out clean. Woo!

BMW sent me a signed letter saying they've been following my story online and included a free key chain, which I thought was a very nice gesture.

How'd they get your address?

How did BMW get informed about it?

So are they gonna fix it or total it? Either way, you going to keep it or get a new car?

BMW sent me a signed letter saying they've been following my story online and included a free key chain, which I thought was a very nice gesture.

Uu1RP34FLXU

I emailed BMW a while ago with a link to a thread at STLBMWCCA, and the standard form requires you to enter an address. Later someone else at BMWNA found the thread on NICOClub, and that person mailed me the keychain, as well as a release form to use the pics and story in future advertising if needed.

Car is still in the shop being examined. Estimate keeps rising.

You should get compensated if they use your pics/story in advertising. :yup: Hold out for $$$, not keychains. :D

I'd feel so proud if later down the road I opened up a Motor Trend and saw a two page ad about how well a certain 3 series convertible protected a certain brown man with fantastic pants in a very dangerous accident.

Right Turns right, you should be compensated for the use of your story and picture. It's the Americn way, they would be using you for potential profit you should be compensated in meaningful way for the use of your story and image!

I'd feel so proud if later down the road I opened up a Motor Trend and saw a two page ad about how well a certain 3 series convertible protected a certain brown man with fantastic pants in a very dangerous accident.

Likewise, but if I saw Jesda in a magazine my first reaction would be to laugh uncontrollably. :histeric:

WOW! Sad news and good news, all in one...lucky boy Jesda. I would want to throttle that idiot too.

And I'd laugh at the ad because Jesda is endorsing a BMW even though he owns a 15 year old Cadillac.

BMW sent me a signed letter saying they've been following my story online and included a free key chain, which I thought was a very nice gesture.Glad I could help...

THEY FINALLY TOTALED IT TODAY

Now I can give this crummy Nissan Frontier back to Enterprise.

Took them long enough! Time to get a nice Caddy with the insurance money. :2thumbs:

Congratulations! Now you can get on with finding something suitable for the Jesda!

Jesda, I know it was a 2004 3-Series. How much - in the end, was the amount they figured it would take to fix it?

Damn that only took a couple hundred years or so...

So the question is now: what will Jesda buy now???

Jesda, I know it was a 2004 3-Series. How much - in the end, was the amount they figured it would take to fix it?

I didn't ask yet, but I think its $18k. They finished all of the repairs a while ago and called me to come get it on Friday, then this morning said they were going to total it. I suspect the rising value combined with a body shop dispute over the costs prompted them to just give up.

Well I guess you'll just have to find a 330Ci now :rolleyes:

I didn't ask yet, but I think its $18k. They finished all of the repairs a while ago and called me to come get it on Friday, then this morning said they were going to total it. I suspect the rising value combined with a body shop dispute over the costs prompted them to just give up.

Wait.... the car is already fixed, but now they decided to total it?

Maybe check into buying it back as a salvage/total vehicle?

I can't be left to solely carry on the BMW convertible flag at Cadillac Owners.... well... yeah, I could... but it's calling you back!

In all honesty, the E46 is just a sweet car, epseically in a convertible... one day I'd like to have one, manual transmission of course.... they are still out of my pricerange though, hence the E30.... I dunno but I think I saw the light...

I agree with Wolf. Odd, that it'sa fixed, and now they want to total it.
I smell an inside job, where somebody there (at the shop) wants to buy it, and if he can get thr $$$$ low enough, he'll buy it, for cheap. Beat him to it.
If you do not want it - you can sell it. Make sure they didn't give it a SALVAGE title, before you hand over the $$ !!! Let us know what happens !!

I've been pushing them to total it from day one. A complaint was filed with the state, and their due date to respond/explain was coming up.

And yes, its salvaged. I'm ready to move on.

I agree completely, Jesda, any car that had as much critical damage as the BMW had I would want to walk away from. No matter how good a repair it is still not as it was originally produced, so why put up with a chancy situation when you can get out from under it and start s

Here's what you do Jesda:

Buy that Crossfire you looked at, and buy a 454SS Silverado you so desire...and with the excess money, you could probably buy an older Cadillac or maybe an E34 5 Series or 929 Mazda...your favorite cars IIRC...

He should definitely buy another Cadillac of some sort; maybe an '03 STS w/ Magneride or another '92 STS in better shape with lower miles?

Cough*81BroughamCoupe*cough

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Track/2582/cadillac/flt/81fbc.jpg
I can picture you in a brown silk suit, standing there next to your Brougham... I can almost smell the Aqua Velva now... :histeric: :quagmire:

That would be quite nice. How about something like this?

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/ryannel2003/cadillac_cimarron_red_1984.jpg

You can achieve maximum gas mileage while driving around in Cadillac comfort. You might want to cover you're head in a paper bag though. :o