350i nose cone wanted
Author
Discussion

digga951

Original Poster:

490 posts

303 months

Sunday 10th April 2005
quotequote all
Hey guys,

Following a chance encounter with a crash barrier, does anyone happen to have a nose cone for a 350i? The cars destined for the scrap yard unless I can obtain the following:-

Complete nose cone extending back to approximatly just past the highest point of the wheel arches.

Front air dam / spoiler

Drivers head light pod

Front and rear bumpers

Possibly bonnet

I have looked on the TET website and I really can't afford anywhere near the prices quoted. Not that they are expensive, but its just beyond my means. I'm even happy to consider damaged parts which could be repaired again as I'm a dab hand at the fibreglassing lark!

I hope someone can help - please :-(

Thanks in advance,

Dan.

pistolar

1,474 posts

296 months

Sunday 10th April 2005
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if you look on ebay i have a front bumper + someone has a rear bumper. also i think i have a drivers pod in my garage, if you are stuck

markiem8

76 posts

267 months

Sunday 10th April 2005
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Wasn't you in a layby on the A12 near toys'r'us roundabout today was it? Didn't look pretty.

Graham

16,381 posts

312 months

Sunday 10th April 2005
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I have a mould for a s1 front end and spoiler...

the quality isnt up to tet as it for race cars, but if it means keeping a car on the road and some elbo grease it can be made to fit. a lot less that a tet nose.

digga951

Original Poster:

490 posts

303 months

Sunday 10th April 2005
quotequote all
Hello,

I'm afraid it was me on the Toys'r'Us round-about. I'm still not really sure what happened, but a combination of enthusiastic driving and a changing gear at the wrong time made the rear end feel as though it was on ice. The impact wasn't over heavy and the only damage is to the fibreglass.

I'll post a pic for all to see tomorrow (if I cam remember how...)

DRIVE SAFELY everyone. You'd be amazed how a road you use every day can suddenly catch you out if the odds are stacked against you.

Dan.

19560

14,332 posts

286 months

Sunday 10th April 2005
quotequote all
digga951 said:
Front air dam / spoiler

I've got one in my garage but do you want to travel from Suffolk to Manchester?

TVR-NUT

1,404 posts

282 months

Sunday 10th April 2005
quotequote all
Dan - I was shocked and upset when I heard about your accident this afternoon from Jerry. I am glad to hear that both you and Nathan are ok and not seriously hurt. I really hope that your hunt for the parts that you need proves fruitful, as it would be a shame if you had to scrap your loverly car.

In the mean time, if you need any help or a chat etc, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will do the best that I can for you.

All the best.

Mark

firefox1712

1,772 posts

283 months

Monday 11th April 2005
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Hi Daniel -

Sorry to hear about your prang. Hope you get it sorted soon.

There I was testerday driving towards Frinton and I sudenly thought - Aha! It's the second Sunday in the month - maybe I should be at the TVR meet!

Yours is a good and historically interesting Wedge, so I'm sure you'll get it fixed up.

There was an article re glassfibre repairs - the front end - in these pages some time ago. Is that now in the'Epistles'?

Sorry I can only offer encouragement and not tangible help.

cheers!
JJ

Gerry Attrick

614 posts

277 months

Monday 11th April 2005
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Sorry to hear about the bang, and I hope you're OK, with nothing more than hurt pride. Best of luck with trying to source the parts you need.

shpub

8,507 posts

300 months

Monday 11th April 2005
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If you are stuck for the readies why not repair the bits you have? It will take a lot of time but it will keep the cost down. One trick is to use bits of wood screwed to the body to halp get the bits in the right place. Glass it up and rub it down.

suffolkfox

462 posts

281 months

Tuesday 12th April 2005
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Daniel, don't forget our Daniel is up in Lancaster and periodically comes back, so could possibly pick up front end from 19560 on way down. Speak to me or him if you need
Jerry

djc1001

490 posts

274 months

Tuesday 12th April 2005
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Are you sure you need a full nose cone ?
I repaired a nose cone - TET made me just the single skinned piece I needed at a fraction of the full nose cone cost.
Talk to him - he is ex. TVR crash repair and very helpful with advice and parts.

David

mikeb

2,869 posts

310 months

Tuesday 12th April 2005
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Trevor Bee is a top bloke, he wrote an article on the Wedgesite some time ago on just what you are trying to do.

Have a talk to him I am sure he can come up with a good deal for you. Tell him I sent you his way.

If you are interested I got a set of GRP 400SE type bonnet vents if you want them, I never got around to getting them glassed into the 350i bonnet, whilst you got the glue out you might as well.....

MikeB

digga951

Original Poster:

490 posts

303 months

Tuesday 12th April 2005
quotequote all
Hello everyone,

Sorry for the late responses - believe it or not, the bloody ADSL has decided to crash too over these last couple of days. Its everything I touch, I'm sure of it. It seems to be working now and hopefully I will get through this response before it cuts out again.

Can I just say a huge thank you to everyone for their kind words and wishes. I'm sorry if I've not been able to reply to everyone yet (see reason above...), but I have taken on board everything that everyone has said and am in the process of doing my research.

It looks like a full nose cone will be needed as very little of it remains now, and the bits I do have are mostly very torn. The radiator was also ripped off, the bonnet flew up and landed on the road and the rear of the car also sustained some damage. But hell, the radio still works ok...

As it stands I'm (still) waiting for the insurance chappy to come and give his verdict, and once all the paper work has been sorted I can go about finding all the bits needed for the repair. Many of you have already helped me out a lot and have given me tons of much needed advice, so obtaining the parts doesn't look like a problem anymore. Something tells me this could be the basis of an article for the wedgepages...

Ok, gonna submit this quickly before the internet breaks again. Will give an update as soon as I hear!

Dan

pistolar

1,474 posts

296 months

Sunday 17th April 2005
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so what happened with the insurance company etc

TaSmania

782 posts

291 months

Monday 18th April 2005
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Digga,
I've most of the bits you need less the front bumper. The front end nose cone is on a complete body with bulkhead damage that I'd like to sell as a complete shell to creat space.
Worcester based.
E mail if interested
TaS

gf350

805 posts

294 months

Monday 18th April 2005
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I've got a 350i series 2 front spoiler sat in my loft you can have it if you want to pick it up from Hertfordshire.
GF

adam quantrill

11,675 posts

270 months

Tuesday 19th April 2005
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>> One trick is to use bits of wood screwed to the body to halp get the bits in the right place.

Steve has been looking under my car!!! The MOT man was quite amused last year to spot a piece of 2x4 holding the spoiler together....

Another trick is to use inflatable cushions on the inside of the job, they press up the work from behind, squeezing out the air. If you put them inside plastic bags they don't stick to the resin and are reusable.

Also - I have a bonnet - let me know if you're interested.