Some arse has knifed my rear window...
Discussion
As the title says really... Car's been in my garage at home for 3 months while I've been spending lots of my time working on and improving the old girl and I finally got finished on Sunday. So I bring the car back up to Birmingham to start having some fun and by Monday evening, some 
has got into my gated underground carpark and cut out half of my rear window. Lovely. Not only that but the slash cuts across the mohair and into the rear wing by 6 inches (fibreglass deep). Thankfully nothing was taken (not that there was anything in there except my stereo headunit) as the must have been scared off by something.
I've called the police and reported the damage etc (although I expect them to do sweet F.A.), I now need to get a new rear roof section and probably a rear quarter respray. I don't want to go through insurance as it will just ruin my no claims discount and me over financially even more when it comes to renewal. So I'd like to know, does anyone know where I can get a good quality replacement roof from? I understand I can't just replace the rear section as it won't match the targa top. I know Dave Hammerton does kits and I've emailed him to find out about prices etc. I really don't have the time to put it on though after already spending too much time on the car so someone is going to have to do it for me. Can anyone suggest a good person to do this? Ideally around Surrey as that's where it's going back to today. Would it be worth getting someone to fit one of his kits or just go to a trimmer and have them re-do the whole roof? Furthermore, how much do resprays generally go for? I had been planning a full respray after winter as the front is awash with stone chips and there are a couple of marks here and there from previous ownership so I might as well leave it till then. I'll probably just fill the scratch in with touch up paint and a bit of laquer (sp?) until then.
has got into my gated underground carpark and cut out half of my rear window. Lovely. Not only that but the slash cuts across the mohair and into the rear wing by 6 inches (fibreglass deep). Thankfully nothing was taken (not that there was anything in there except my stereo headunit) as the must have been scared off by something.I've called the police and reported the damage etc (although I expect them to do sweet F.A.), I now need to get a new rear roof section and probably a rear quarter respray. I don't want to go through insurance as it will just ruin my no claims discount and
me over financially even more when it comes to renewal. So I'd like to know, does anyone know where I can get a good quality replacement roof from? I understand I can't just replace the rear section as it won't match the targa top. I know Dave Hammerton does kits and I've emailed him to find out about prices etc. I really don't have the time to put it on though after already spending too much time on the car so someone is going to have to do it for me. Can anyone suggest a good person to do this? Ideally around Surrey as that's where it's going back to today. Would it be worth getting someone to fit one of his kits or just go to a trimmer and have them re-do the whole roof? Furthermore, how much do resprays generally go for? I had been planning a full respray after winter as the front is awash with stone chips and there are a couple of marks here and there from previous ownership so I might as well leave it till then. I'll probably just fill the scratch in with touch up paint and a bit of laquer (sp?) until then. 
rev-erend said:
Nick
Gutted for you..
Lucky they did not steel your carlos fandango wheels ..
Yes thank god! Both the wheels and the paint looked so good after the guy at Austec spent bloody ages washing and polishing after its mapping on Fri/Sat. Now its got a big scratch in it Gutted for you..
Lucky they did not steel your carlos fandango wheels ..
spend said:
You must prevent water getting into the fibreglass whatever you do. Make it look ugly / wrong colour... but watertight 
Thanks Spend! I was going to run a razor blade through the scratch to make it a little cleaner in the deep part before building it back up with touch up paint etc. Would this suffice? What are the consequences of moisture getting in??HRG said:
Gutted for you 
Dave Hammerton's roofs are about £300 just so you know. It doesn't take that long to fit them and you can do the targa another time if time is tight.
What is it with some people
Thanks mate, how long would you reckon? And is it easy to screw up? I can do spanner bits but roof trimming is a little more of an art I would have thought? Plus I don't want to end up rushing it...!Dave Hammerton's roofs are about £300 just so you know. It doesn't take that long to fit them and you can do the targa another time if time is tight.
What is it with some people
Edited by 450Nick on Tuesday 4th November 13:28
ph1l5 said:
Thats terrible news. Is there no CCTV ? I feel for you mate.
Yeah there's a CCTV camera at the gate to record cars etc coming and going but I'm not sure if it would have got the guy or not as there isn't any in the actual car park. No damage to any other cars that I can see though It's more arts and crafts than mechanics TBH. I've got to adjust mine this winter as I got it a few mm out and the Velcro doesn't quite line up as well as it might. Looks fine, but I'm being fussy. Take a few minutes longer than I did and you'll be fine 
I'd say it's probably half a day to a day for each section. Top time saving tip, sand the old adhesive off with fine sandpaper, it takes ages with solvent and you have to sand it anyway
I'd say it's probably half a day to a day for each section. Top time saving tip, sand the old adhesive off with fine sandpaper, it takes ages with solvent and you have to sand it anyway
450Nick said:
I was going to run a razor blade through the scratch to make it a little cleaner in the deep part before building it back up with touch up paint etc. Would this suffice? What are the consequences of moisture getting in??
Talk to the bodyshop you plan to take it to eventually, and doing it the way they advise is probably best, as there are various fillers/puttys that can do the job. I always prefer to make up fg filler with inert powder and resin rather than introducing polyester which many fg product's are based on. If you don't do anything water can get into the strands and then eventually result in bubbles (water / air..) under your paint.. Asking the question with some photos on the bodywork forum will also get you the advice you require (I do things a certain way simply because thats what I have on the shelf, and am comfortable with it IYSWIM - it may not be best for you)
Thanks for the messages everyone, do any of you know any good trimmers I can ring for a quote? And would I be better off getting someone to fit Dave's kit or just get a trimmer to make a new roof? I'll put some tape over the scratch for now and work out what to do with it this week.
Tangoed said:
Sorry to hear about this Nick, there are some real t**ts about.
I think I caught a glimpse of you yesturday. I heard a loud car in the Queensway tunnel heading into town at about 1430, and for a split second saw a blue chim in my mirror.
I was heading up to Colmore Row.
Cheers Neil, yeah that was me returning from TGA! How've you been? I'm sure I saw your Sag in the classifieds the other day, how come?! Were you in the Sag? Don't remember seeing one...!I think I caught a glimpse of you yesturday. I heard a loud car in the Queensway tunnel heading into town at about 1430, and for a split second saw a blue chim in my mirror.
I was heading up to Colmore Row.
eff eff said:
Gated underground car park, how did they get in? noisy car, pissed off/jelous neighbour.......just a thought
A fair point, but I'm always careful to enter the carpark as quietly as possible and it's only been in for one day since May! I can't imagine I've pissed anyone off that much in that short space of time? I've only ever had positive remarks from neighbours so hopefully it wasn't any ill feelings toward me... The window was slashed down one side and the bottom edge ripped out of the stitching in order to make a hole big enough to climb through I think. The fact nothing was touched suggests that the theif was disturbed which can only be a good thing...!Gutted for you, wkas 
Try these guys... http://www.thehoodguys.co.uk/
Shaw Windridge in King's Heath, did a top job replacing my rear screen.
kas Try these guys... http://www.thehoodguys.co.uk/
Shaw Windridge in King's Heath, did a top job replacing my rear screen.
Nick, Dave Hammerton's replacement hood and rear window kit is certainly the way to go- whether you fit it yourself or use a third party.
I bought a black one last July and fitted it successfully in August (with Dave's email help) but, alas, the car was written off in September (see my last post in the Chimaera forum).
It contains a waterproof membrane that negates the use of Fabsil and Thompsins proof products once correctly fitted.
I bought a black one last July and fitted it successfully in August (with Dave's email help) but, alas, the car was written off in September (see my last post in the Chimaera forum).
It contains a waterproof membrane that negates the use of Fabsil and Thompsins proof products once correctly fitted.
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