Crashed my '5 this morning
Discussion
franv8 said:
Good point - I was going to say its worth figuring in the cost of losing no claims too, but I assume the other car(s) involved will claim from your insurance.
What are the repairs - is it mainly/all bolt on parts or is there somes traightenting to do too?
Elephant have only reduced my NCB by 2 years as I have been with them for 4 years - a bit of a result!What are the repairs - is it mainly/all bolt on parts or is there somes traightenting to do too?
The repairs are: new bonnet, bonnet latch, new bumper, bumper mounting parts, badge, nearside light, respray. It is all cosmetic and the wings are fine, no bulges or anything thankfully.
Still got my fingers crossed but my head says it's a write-off. Problem then is if I buy the car back, I have to pay for the repairs myself - even with cheaper parts, labour is still £500, paint £300, VAT etc.
NIGHTMARE!
Legend83 said:
The repairs are: new bonnet, bonnet latch, new bumper, bumper mounting parts, badge, nearside light, respray. It is all cosmetic and the wings are fine, no bulges or anything thankfully.
Apart from the respray, these are all easy enough jobs to do yourself. The nose removal-replacement is easier with some assistance though just due to it's size. I've removed & refitted one on a Mk2.5 and removed one from a Mk1. The Mk2.5 was dead easy and the only real complication on the Mk1 was a few awkward and rusty nuts.Hmm, depending on the bodyshop, you can probably do loads better on respray, as a start fitting up parts yourself will save a load, in fact perhaps if you can get an arrangement where you take the 'new' parts in for a respray (granted maybe slight paint mismatch) you could make a killing on paint. Rest would be what you can get good s/h parts for and your time/skinned knuckles. One thing these days though is the time aspect, I had a lot more time for this sort of stuff myself when I was 17...
205gtinut said:
Risotto said:
Although it seems daunting, spraying isn't actually that hard. Don't automatically rule out doing it yourself.
I DISAGREE!! If you want a proper finish, don't even think about doing it yourself!!Agree, if it's a solid colour (although patience can be similar if metallic) - even a two coat system (colour/lacquer) I've seen it done from cans and on plastic parts too, it's just a question of doing a couple of coats (in the right conditions) and then cutting back with wet and dry/cutting compound then having another couple of coats - repeat until great finish.
I should take my own advice - I sprayed my bootlid and backpanel in my garage about a year ago now, spent about £200 on materials (enough pain + lacquer to eventually do the whole car, + lots of other silly little things, blueroll, thinners, air sander, abrasives etc.) and told myself I'd practice and get good. I got a good result on the back panel but made a few mistakes on the bootlid, if I'd polished between coats and knowing what I know now I think a better finish would be possible.
I've got a small compressor (but with 25l reciever) so I need a lot of patience waiting for it to come back up to pressure, but bearing in mind they can be had for less than £100 with some tools, it is another option that could be considered.
Cans probably best bet given current situation though. Worst case do a mediocre job (make the metalwork 'weather tight') and wait until a day filled with spare cash to get it/do it better.
I should take my own advice - I sprayed my bootlid and backpanel in my garage about a year ago now, spent about £200 on materials (enough pain + lacquer to eventually do the whole car, + lots of other silly little things, blueroll, thinners, air sander, abrasives etc.) and told myself I'd practice and get good. I got a good result on the back panel but made a few mistakes on the bootlid, if I'd polished between coats and knowing what I know now I think a better finish would be possible.
I've got a small compressor (but with 25l reciever) so I need a lot of patience waiting for it to come back up to pressure, but bearing in mind they can be had for less than £100 with some tools, it is another option that could be considered.
Cans probably best bet given current situation though. Worst case do a mediocre job (make the metalwork 'weather tight') and wait until a day filled with spare cash to get it/do it better.
Gutted to hear another story like this.
- I crashed the previous 306 at christmass and that was a write off.
- It wasnt worth the money to fix, my ncb was worth as much as the car, so i broke it myself.
Again, just such a shame.
I tried a few times to sell the whole car as a going consern. I didnt have the time to fix it, it needed new rads/bumper/bonnet/screen/tyres/wing repair.
But it was pretty much one of the newest 306's about (w-reg 1.6l) and had full service and only really motorway miles.
Daniel
- I crashed the previous 306 at christmass and that was a write off.
- It wasnt worth the money to fix, my ncb was worth as much as the car, so i broke it myself.
Again, just such a shame.
I tried a few times to sell the whole car as a going consern. I didnt have the time to fix it, it needed new rads/bumper/bonnet/screen/tyres/wing repair.
But it was pretty much one of the newest 306's about (w-reg 1.6l) and had full service and only really motorway miles.
Daniel
Legend83 said:
GREAT NEWS!
Elephant have approved the repairs! That is such a result, and avoids a bug head-ache.
Now all I need to do is get them to agree for me to have it repaired at my preferred 'non-approved' bodyshop....
Thanks for all the advice and support guys, this one is a happy ending.
Ed
GREAT STUFF!! Really pleased for you!! You'll be back on the road with the roof down in no time! Elephant have approved the repairs! That is such a result, and avoids a bug head-ache.
Now all I need to do is get them to agree for me to have it repaired at my preferred 'non-approved' bodyshop....
Thanks for all the advice and support guys, this one is a happy ending.
Ed
205gtinut said:
Legend83 said:
GREAT NEWS!
Elephant have approved the repairs! That is such a result, and avoids a bug head-ache.
Now all I need to do is get them to agree for me to have it repaired at my preferred 'non-approved' bodyshop....
Thanks for all the advice and support guys, this one is a happy ending.
Ed
GREAT STUFF!! Really pleased for you!! You'll be back on the road with the roof down in no time! Elephant have approved the repairs! That is such a result, and avoids a bug head-ache.
Now all I need to do is get them to agree for me to have it repaired at my preferred 'non-approved' bodyshop....
Thanks for all the advice and support guys, this one is a happy ending.
Ed
UPDATE
Just picked the '5 up from Harpenden Classic and Performance.
She looks fantastic. Kieron and his team did a great job, panel fit is perfect, colour match is spot on. They even touched up a few scratches around the car for me, and painted the tow bars which were rusting.
Finally, they did a full valet inside and out no extra charge.
Great service, and highly recommended for anyone in the Herts/Beds area.
It is odd seeing an old car which had several stone chips, scratches etc, now looking so new. She looks bloody fantastic.
Roof down tonight if the rain holds!
Just picked the '5 up from Harpenden Classic and Performance.
She looks fantastic. Kieron and his team did a great job, panel fit is perfect, colour match is spot on. They even touched up a few scratches around the car for me, and painted the tow bars which were rusting.
Finally, they did a full valet inside and out no extra charge.
Great service, and highly recommended for anyone in the Herts/Beds area.
It is odd seeing an old car which had several stone chips, scratches etc, now looking so new. She looks bloody fantastic.
Roof down tonight if the rain holds!
Legend83 said:
UPDATE
Just picked the '5 up from Harpenden Classic and Performance.
She looks fantastic. Kieron and his team did a great job, panel fit is perfect, colour match is spot on. They even touched up a few scratches around the car for me, and painted the tow bars which were rusting.
Finally, they did a full valet inside and out no extra charge.
Great service, and highly recommended for anyone in the Herts/Beds area.
It is odd seeing an old car which had several stone chips, scratches etc, now looking so new. She looks bloody fantastic.
Roof down tonight if the rain holds!
Good news, every cloud......Just picked the '5 up from Harpenden Classic and Performance.
She looks fantastic. Kieron and his team did a great job, panel fit is perfect, colour match is spot on. They even touched up a few scratches around the car for me, and painted the tow bars which were rusting.
Finally, they did a full valet inside and out no extra charge.
Great service, and highly recommended for anyone in the Herts/Beds area.
It is odd seeing an old car which had several stone chips, scratches etc, now looking so new. She looks bloody fantastic.
Roof down tonight if the rain holds!
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