300 bimmers totaled in San Antonio hail storm. Kinda gives a new meaning to scratch-n-dent.
There is a huge airport long term parking lot right next door. An unpleasant welcome home present waiting for a lot of folks.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/wea...ge-7246254.php

 

Texas is a magnet for severe storms, particularly in the north, although hailstorms of that intensity and tornadoes usually don't strike as far south as San Antonio, except with tropical storms. Anyhow, I'm not surprised by that kind of damage. The light-weight sheet-metal thickness on a lot of newer vehicles, IMO leaves a lot to be desired (I often mention that in auto reviews). I've seen them get dented up by simple acorns from oak trees, much less large hailstones like that.

 

I live in Dallas and that is why I always use the parking garage at DFW or have someone drive me to the airport when I travel in Spring. I would never use remote parking or even a covered tarp at The Parking Spot knowing what these storms can do. We also keep both cars in the garage. I can't understand why people keep so much crap in their garages and park their cars on the driveway.

State Farm had a claims tent set up during a hail storm we had a couple of years ago because cars and homes had so much damage.

 

There are an M-B and a Lexus dealerships about a mile away from that BMW dealer. Might be a lot of discount luxury cars available. Windscreens, however, are not included.

 

Rebrand them as BMW "Golf Ball Edition"....now you have a rare BMW

 

And follow Porsche's lead by charging extra for the hail damage and then charge more to have the hail damage removed. They will be worshiped more by auto journalists.

 

Distressed edition.

 

Having lived in the prairies and seen what hailstorms can do, this type of damage would happen to any make of cars, not just BMW.

Great opportunity for discounts, but also expect that to be reflected in resale value down the road, specially if all the VINs get registered with CarFax

 

Damage to cars happen all the time before first sale, and it is fixed. But it never shows up on Carfax. But given the number of cars damaged, I am not sure how the dealers will proceed with covering these repairs.

 

Well if you're a roofer or in the paintless dent repair business, you might consider setting up shop in San Antiono for a few months. Seriously, it could be lucrative depending on how widespread the damage is.

 

It is amazing how fast the insurance and the secondary car market works, there are already appraisers swarming at the dealer lots and it is said that most of the new "dinged" cars will be trucked out of state in the next couple of days for repairs.

 

Very likely insurance will pay for the repairs and the dealers will sell the cars as new.

 

Beemer or not ... it's just sad to see so many nice cars getting damaged. When will dealers start moving towards shaded storage lots

 

several sheets of cardboard will protect.

the roof sheet metal of any car is especially thin. I can push it in with 1 finger

 

What if some plastic or fiberglass was used? Would that help?