[raenef110]

Thanks to anyone who can assist me with my question.

I own a MINI 2014 Hardtop. My MINI was recently flooded due to thunderstorm in Houston Area. I was driving on the water and the engine shut down. The water level was only up to the bottom of the car. I did not really see any water come inside the car. I got the car towed to MINI dealership, and they say the engine and motor locked up due to some water got inside. Some airbag control module/computer was damaged and some water was inside the car and damaged the bass speaker.

I wanted to get some advise on whether the car is truly totaled. MINI estimated repair of around $16,000 and this is not covered by insurance due to no comprehensive damage coverage. At this point, I am most likely to salvage the car as is if all the assessment provided by MINI is true.

Thanks again for any advice!

 

[CooperTech]

If the water level was high enough to get inside the car and damage the airbag module, then that's definitely deep enough to damage the engine. Your best bet might be to find a good independent shop that specializes in MINI and BMW, and have them give you an estimate with what you know from the dealer. Make sure it's a good shop, do lots of research.
Or you can try to be so annoying to your dealership that they eventually cover at least partial cost. You'd be amazed.
Good luck

oh and rule of thumb, if you cant see the ground then don't drive in it

 

[Davyboy]

If water gets in the engine then it's scrap!

Don't know where the airbag modules are so can't comment but would assume the dealer has seen water damage.

Depends where else water got but the dealer saying its totalled is taking in the consideration their high hourly labour rates so as above a good independent might be able to repair a lot cheaper but saying that engines aren't cheap!

Why oh why didn't you have comprehensive insurance?

 

[Evlkarl]

Welcome to the forum so sorry to hear what happen to you. Did you have the insurance company and the Dealer look at the car yet How high did the water come up? Hopefully you will not have engine damage. I would go and have an indy claim adjuster look at the car and get a 2nd opinion just to be on the save side. The dealer might be right but he also could oversell your problem. It can not hurt IMHO.

 

[raenef110]

Thanks for the reply, the water was to the bottom of the car and some got inside the bottom of the car and damaged the bass. I do not have comprehensive coverage so insurance will not sent any claim adjuster. Dealer says the engine is locked due to some water got inside and needed replacement.

 

[finnster]

Why didn't you have comprehensive insurance on a $16K car? Is it prohibitively expensive in USA?

I'm not having a dig, I genuinely am interested.

 

[Hat]

A new engine doesnt mean the whole car is a write off, it just needs a new engine.

 

[Evlkarl]

Honestly I do not understand how the water got into the engine since the airfilter housing is sitting on the left next to the engine and the air will come in from the front. Did you have the wter go over the hood while driving. I know of some locked up engines on the Fiat when people installed air intakes since the air intake is on the lower left wheel arch right in front of the tire.

 

[vetsvette]

Every connector, computer module, and fuse box that came in contact with the water is compromised. If it hasn't failed yet, it will from corrosion.

 

[polarisboy386]

Why didn't you have comprehensive insurance on a $16K car? Is it prohibitively expensive in USA?

I'm not having a dig, I genuinely am interested.

I think it all depends on where your car is located and the chances of needing to use the comprehensive insurance (such as car thefts, areas of higher natural disasters and such).

Some people find the difference of having it versus not having it to easily throw their monthly expense budgets.

 

[polarisboy386]

Honestly I do not understand how the water got into the engine since the airfilter housing is sitting on the left next to the engine and the air will come in from the front. Did you have the wter go over the hood while driving. I know of some locked up engines on the Fiat when people installed air intakes since the air intake is on the lower left wheel arch right in front of the tire.

When I was under my car I noticed a vent pipe square under the bottom of my car. It was opposite of the engine. No idea what it would be used for. PErhaps water snuck up in there, or it feeds air into the cabin or into the engine compartment.

just a guess

 

[jcostales]

Now I must check if I have comprehensive coverage... I live in a hot tropical Island... so we have a lot of sunny days, but suddenly a flash flood inundates every corner of the island in seconds... I'm worried now. :/

 

[finnster]

Its odd because in the UK almost every one who has a new car gets comprehensive insurance (its not a great deal more expensive that 3rd Party insurance) I just assumed it was a given that you everyone would have it.

I would just be terrified to drive it anywhere if I didn't have it!!!

 

[vetsvette]

Around here, unless you pay cash for your car, you WILL have full coverage insurance (including comprehensive). If for some reason you let it lapse, the financial institution will procure sufficient insurance to cover their liability in case of a loss.

 

[Davyboy]

Its odd because in the UK almost every one who has a new car gets comprehensive insurance (its not a great deal more expensive that 3rd Party insurance) I just assumed it was a given that you everyone would have it.

I would just be terrified to drive it anywhere if I didn't have it!!!

My thought as well in fact in some circumstances insurance companies won't give third party insurance just comprehensive ..

 

[sys772]

Folowup

What happened later? This just happened to my car yesterday. Did you find a place that was cheaper?

 

[lex]

Thanks for the reply, the water was to the bottom of the car and some got inside the bottom of the car and damaged the bass. I do not have comprehensive coverage so insurance will not sent any claim adjuster. Dealer says the engine is locked due to some water got inside and needed replacement.

Hi, just wondering bc this happened to my car the other day. There is some water in my engine and I am wondering if it is worth fixing. Did you end up fixing your car? if so how has it been running?

 

[gutshot1]

Funny enough, just bought a water damaged 2019 Cooper Cat N car from Copart. It does start although need to use a boost pack. Engine seems fine but every warning that there is has popped up and can't get the damn thing out of drive which is a real pain as i am sure you can imagine. The water line is hard to locate and the carpet are damp at best so struggling to see where the faults may be. Are there some electric controllers under one of the seat I should be worrying about? If not where else should i be looking? The ECU? Fusebox?

 

[alabamatimmy1030]

I too have a flooded 2012 mini Cooper coupe thanks to Harvey. And yes Houston full coverage insurance is ridiculous. Mine was totalled out and bought it back as salvage. Really at first it was just the amplifier and the rear spoiler. Before the flood it would stall so changed the Vanos solenoids. I thought it worked. But started to happen again. I noticed that if I turned it off and waited it would start and run fine again. I also finally figured out that if left unlocked the battery would drain. I ran the codes and get a gateway module code. So after investigation it has the footwell module which is a electrical panel that definitely flooded. I am hoping that is the issue. Windows and lighting work. But traction control, rear spoiler and now the radio has no sound. The car is gorgeous and only 53k miles. Any advice? I doubt the footwell module can be repaired being so submerged and probably bad before the flood.