[Dr Mini]

okay long story short i rear-ended my dad on the way home from work. less than 1 minute from my house and all that shazz, but the damage was done. i rear-ended his toyota truck and LUCKILY the damage was minimal. my passenger side headlamp (xenon) smashed right into the corner of his rear bumper, and it hit as good as it could of, no damage to any engine components nor frame. just the hood is smashed in, and my headight was destroyed.

now, i need help. i'm debating how to go about fixing this. i want a new hood, because there's no way anyone could fix it to look anything like it did. the paint is still perfect, not a scratch due to that clearshield for bugs or whatever its called. i was thinking either:

a) i found a new hood on ebay for 200.. just a new carbon fiber hood with no lamps. i could paint it and get a new xenon headlamp for the passenger side and transfer the driver's side, or

b) buy a whole new hood/headlamp combo from a mini dealer... which i expect to pay out the wazoo for.

i've found the hood, but i've been searching and searching online for an OEM catalog that has complete xenon headlamp units i could swap in the new hood, but i'm have absolutely no luck. so my questions are:

1) what do you think is a better idea; ebay hood/new lamp or complete new hood (color matched) and headlamps?

2) where could i find a new headlight unit?

3) this sucks.

thanks in advance guys. any suggestions are greatly appreciated. DRIVE SAFE.


**side bar: earlier today, i was walking my girlfriend back to her dorm and a black cat crossed our path and i said, watch i'll get in a car accident on the way home. JINX'D. true story too. scout's honor.

[mcglothh]

If I were you, I'd get it repaired at your dealer's collision center.
Then it will be all spiffy as you expect. Pay attention to hood alignment at the hinges when complete. That seems to be the most difficult bit with the clamshell bonnet.

I bet it's a $1500 job plus/minus a few hundred.

- Mitch

[aphix]

If you need 2 new Xenon headlamps i will have 2 very soon, pre facelift. With bulbs and ballasts.

but they will be from a RHD car, are they switchable?

Rob

[Dr Mini]

thanks for the replies, guys. i think i'm just going to go with the new hood, because there are "dents" and parts of the collision that are 90 and 45 degree angles, i just don't see any way it would be back to new.

and aphix, if we can find out if RHD lamps would fit LHD, i'll surely get one off of you if you'd be willing to sell them separately. and if not, maybe i'll buy both. who knows... but let's see if they work!

thanks again guys.. this is so embarassing.

[Dr Mini]

i got pics

[Dr Mini]

don't mind the dates, i used my parents digital camera and they don't really know how to change the settings lol

[aphix]

psst, i think you need a new hood mate did you say ealier you thought you might be able to fix that one?

Use it as an excuse to get a carbon fibre one of eBay

Rob

[Dr Mini]

my mom is bent on taking it in for estimates.

what makes more sense? 360 carbon fibre hood + ~300 for paint, or 1500 at a body shop and i know it will still be screwed up after?

[aphix]

the body shop will replace the hood right?

rob