Bodywork - patch or replace?
Discussion
Having my car repaired after rear end smash.
Repairing the bodywork was more economical than replacing the rear body section. I'm worried that it'll be back in the garage in 6 months for re-work if the filler cracks. Repairs done at fibreglass specialist with very good reputation though.
Should I be worried?
Repairing the bodywork was more economical than replacing the rear body section. I'm worried that it'll be back in the garage in 6 months for re-work if the filler cracks. Repairs done at fibreglass specialist with very good reputation though.
Should I be worried?
Not if they have a good reputation! It's easy to bodge GRP repairs, but equally it's possible to repair to a high standard without significant extra effort. There shouldn't be any large-scale use of filler, and anyway TVR themselves use it to finish off shells: can you tell where? Does it drop off willy-nilly? No.
However... I saw an 'S' that had been badly repaired after a rear-ending: the wheelarch lines were wrong, there were cracks all over the place. It should have been obvious to a blind man that it wasn't right, and maybe the glaringly evident was the reason it spent so long on a local forecourt. I haven't seen it around, so I don't know where it went, but I bet someone's kicked themself.
Ian
However... I saw an 'S' that had been badly repaired after a rear-ending: the wheelarch lines were wrong, there were cracks all over the place. It should have been obvious to a blind man that it wasn't right, and maybe the glaringly evident was the reason it spent so long on a local forecourt. I haven't seen it around, so I don't know where it went, but I bet someone's kicked themself.
Ian
Having my car repaired after rear end smash.
Repairing the bodywork was more economical than replacing the rear body section. I'm worried that it'll be back in the garage in 6 months for re-work if the filler cracks. Repairs done at fibreglass specialist with very good reputation though.
Should I be worried?
I would have thought that patching will be done by grinding down the fibreglass about 6" either side of the damage/split, then glassing over the top. This spreads the join over a large area to prevent it from cracking. Its the same technique used to join a new body section on, so you should be ok if it is done properly.
Thanks for your replies. I wondered if there were some previous experiences, but it's not been a hot topic so that's reassuring.
I think it will be OK, but I only get to see it in the bodyshop. I'm worried what happens after 12 months when I hit a pothole with a boot full of duty-free.
I'm hesitant about accepting it because for the repair so far (that I didn't approve) the guy that caused it is paying. In 2 years time it will be much harder to get him to pay again. Cracks like these were to be found all over the rear. The back was split right across in 2 places, so the sides, that haven't been replaced, absorbed the impact. It was impossible to tell what was under the paint. If it was your car, would you be happy just filling over the top of this, or would you pay extra to replace it?
I think it will be OK, but I only get to see it in the bodyshop. I'm worried what happens after 12 months when I hit a pothole with a boot full of duty-free.
I'm hesitant about accepting it because for the repair so far (that I didn't approve) the guy that caused it is paying. In 2 years time it will be much harder to get him to pay again. Cracks like these were to be found all over the rear. The back was split right across in 2 places, so the sides, that haven't been replaced, absorbed the impact. It was impossible to tell what was under the paint. If it was your car, would you be happy just filling over the top of this, or would you pay extra to replace it?
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