Cost for replacing S1 front clam
Discussion
Does anyone know the likely cost of a garage replacing the Front Clam on an S1 Elise.
Ok, this may not make me the most popular person around but the situation...
Hopefully not saying too much here...
Earlier, while reversing my friends Freelander I managed to hit a S1 Elise.
I stopped, then reversed to let an oncoming vehicle forward as there was a car parked in their lane and traffic was getting backed up to a section under a narrow bridge.
I did check my mirrors and couldn't see anything - not even lights.
Slightly suspicious they didn't have their lights on and or were perhaps a bit too close, but can't see me being able to prove either of that, they also claim they beeped, which I didn't hear at all (no loud music on or anything).
I'm insured of course, but having a few car/van/bike policies it would hit me quite hard having a claim, so ideally I'd just pay up out of my own pocket, thus interested in the likely costs.
Ok, this may not make me the most popular person around but the situation...
Hopefully not saying too much here...
Earlier, while reversing my friends Freelander I managed to hit a S1 Elise.
I stopped, then reversed to let an oncoming vehicle forward as there was a car parked in their lane and traffic was getting backed up to a section under a narrow bridge.
I did check my mirrors and couldn't see anything - not even lights.
Slightly suspicious they didn't have their lights on and or were perhaps a bit too close, but can't see me being able to prove either of that, they also claim they beeped, which I didn't hear at all (no loud music on or anything).
I'm insured of course, but having a few car/van/bike policies it would hit me quite hard having a claim, so ideally I'd just pay up out of my own pocket, thus interested in the likely costs.
Depends whether they are willing to "do it on the side". Most Lotus owners will prefer to always go down the insurance route simply because it means they can get a proper job done with no cut corners.
You can get S1 clams for a few hundred quid on E-bay, plus a professional paint job - probably looking at £800 to £1500.
You can get S1 clams for a few hundred quid on E-bay, plus a professional paint job - probably looking at £800 to £1500.
Edited by NathanE on Sunday 9th December 20:23
Cheers for the thoughts,
That's £800-£1500 for a clam off ebay and a paintjob, I presume?
I'm happy to pay for a respectable garage to do it if it's not too much.
What I'm not so happy for is to have a claim for a few thousand for a car not worth /that/ much these days to be repaired by an 'insurance specialist' who's work, in my experience, tends to be sub-standard as well as seriously over-priced.
That's £800-£1500 for a clam off ebay and a paintjob, I presume?
I'm happy to pay for a respectable garage to do it if it's not too much.
What I'm not so happy for is to have a claim for a few thousand for a car not worth /that/ much these days to be repaired by an 'insurance specialist' who's work, in my experience, tends to be sub-standard as well as seriously over-priced.
NathanE said:
Depends whether they are willing to "do it on the side". Most Lotus owners will prefer to always go down the insurance route simply because it means they can get a proper job done with no cut corners.
You can get S1 clams for a few hundred quid on E-bay, plus a professional paint job - probably looking at £800 to £1500.
Is the clam totaly fubar? it might be repairable. although I expect it will go through insurance. I wouldnt be happy with a clam off ebay would have an accident management place getting me a rental Liz for christmas. You can get S1 clams for a few hundred quid on E-bay, plus a professional paint job - probably looking at £800 to £1500.
Edited by NathanE on Sunday 9th December 20:23
I think it could be repairable, he didn't seem so sure; it had seemed to move the whole thing out a bit, to be fair.
Of course, if there's other damage, then it's going to get really nasty, I would presume. Similarly, if you're talking a rental elise over christmass, that's probably the value of the car gone in just that.
At the mo I've got 4 insurance policies and seeing each and anymore I may take out raise by a £150 or whatever for the next few years is going to cost me a fair bit.
Unfortunately my phone camera wasn't good enough to get pics in the low light.
Of course, if there's other damage, then it's going to get really nasty, I would presume. Similarly, if you're talking a rental elise over christmass, that's probably the value of the car gone in just that.
At the mo I've got 4 insurance policies and seeing each and anymore I may take out raise by a £150 or whatever for the next few years is going to cost me a fair bit.
Unfortunately my phone camera wasn't good enough to get pics in the low light.
Edited by _g_ on Sunday 9th December 21:36
£1,286.99 for a new front clam inc VAT - http://www.bell-colvill.co.uk/LotusShop/Details.as...
Around 18/20 hours to prep and spray, you can probably reduce that as the one above wouldn't need as much prep as as one already painted that needed complete prep. You're looking around £45 p/h at a Lotus Specialist and around £250 for materials.
So insurance wise it would cost £2346 assuming you've done no damage to things like the crash box underneath the front nose. It aint cheap!
Around 18/20 hours to prep and spray, you can probably reduce that as the one above wouldn't need as much prep as as one already painted that needed complete prep. You're looking around £45 p/h at a Lotus Specialist and around £250 for materials.
So insurance wise it would cost £2346 assuming you've done no damage to things like the crash box underneath the front nose. It aint cheap!
_g_ said:
Don't suppose anyone's got any links to lists of such places, or similar?
http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Lotus_specialists if it was me, i would insist on insurance being used - just far too much to go wrong and when you have been hit that it already too much hassle without a crap job being done and then chasing people to get it sorted.
Has he said he will accept it done behind insurance? i just simply wouldn't accept it... that is what insurance is for, are you gonna pay for a hire car etc etc as well?
Has he said he will accept it done behind insurance? i just simply wouldn't accept it... that is what insurance is for, are you gonna pay for a hire car etc etc as well?
Cheers for the thoughts.
Basically, I'm offering to pay for what insurance would cover if it was done through them*, - if it's not going to be too expensive, which it sounds like it may well be.
While I haven't had to make such a claim on insurance myself, I know from other people that have that it can often be a long and drawn out process - so a straight payment can get stuff sorted can be much quicker and less hassle.
Basically, I'm offering to pay for what insurance would cover if it was done through them*, - if it's not going to be too expensive, which it sounds like it may well be.
While I haven't had to make such a claim on insurance myself, I know from other people that have that it can often be a long and drawn out process - so a straight payment can get stuff sorted can be much quicker and less hassle.
- Though not at their prices, as mentioned, from what I've seen, insurance places seem to immediately double the price the moment they hear 'insurance claim'.
Without sounding pedantic or anything but isnt that what having insurance is all about?
You are considering paying up to 2k for private repaires but will your insurance go up by that amount if you claim?
I very much doubt it.Cheaper in the long run to go through your insurance surely.
You are considering paying up to 2k for private repaires but will your insurance go up by that amount if you claim?
I very much doubt it.Cheaper in the long run to go through your insurance surely.
Edited by boobles on Monday 10th December 09:24
Cheers for the thoughts, again.
I was hoping to get a new car sometime soon, something that's probably going to have a highish insurance group.
At the moment I have a car, a van and 6 motorbikes. 4 separate insurance policies at the moment – and then adding a recent claim to a new policy for an expensive car – is going to be quite a bit extra I’ll be spending.
I will however do the figures and see how much it’s likely to cost me vs getting it sorted under insurance.
I had a look at the list and passed specialised paintwork’s details onto the other party earlier. They are actually about 1 minute down the road from my work!
boobles said:
Without sounding pedantic or anything but isnt that what having insurance is all about?
Insurance, for me is about being 'legal' mostly; a bit of paper that means I don’t get locked up – and of course to sort out anything that I can’t handle myself if need be.I was hoping to get a new car sometime soon, something that's probably going to have a highish insurance group.
At the moment I have a car, a van and 6 motorbikes. 4 separate insurance policies at the moment – and then adding a recent claim to a new policy for an expensive car – is going to be quite a bit extra I’ll be spending.
I will however do the figures and see how much it’s likely to cost me vs getting it sorted under insurance.
I had a look at the list and passed specialised paintwork’s details onto the other party earlier. They are actually about 1 minute down the road from my work!
_g_ said:
Cheers for the thoughts, again.
I was hoping to get a new car sometime soon, something that's probably going to have a highish insurance group.
At the moment I have a car, a van and 6 motorbikes. 4 separate insurance policies at the moment – and then adding a recent claim to a new policy for an expensive car – is going to be quite a bit extra I’ll be spending.
I will however do the figures and see how much it’s likely to cost me vs getting it sorted under insurance.
I had a look at the list and passed specialised paintwork’s details onto the other party earlier. They are actually about 1 minute down the road from my work!
I got a quote for a stone chip respray on my S1 from clam and it was £1500 from Specialised Paintwork labour (19 hours) + materials (not inc VAT). Strangely I didn't go there in the end! Quality work as they do jobs for Lotus direct, but expensive.boobles said:
Without sounding pedantic or anything but isnt that what having insurance is all about?
Insurance, for me is about being 'legal' mostly; a bit of paper that means I don’t get locked up – and of course to sort out anything that I can’t handle myself if need be.I was hoping to get a new car sometime soon, something that's probably going to have a highish insurance group.
At the moment I have a car, a van and 6 motorbikes. 4 separate insurance policies at the moment – and then adding a recent claim to a new policy for an expensive car – is going to be quite a bit extra I’ll be spending.
I will however do the figures and see how much it’s likely to cost me vs getting it sorted under insurance.
I had a look at the list and passed specialised paintwork’s details onto the other party earlier. They are actually about 1 minute down the road from my work!
Ouch.
Other party found them without me it seems; they're quoting around £2500, so seems it's going to be a case of insurance as I can't justify that
.
I have to admit I do actually have some 'concerns' about the situation - however I am definitely going to be saying on the insurance forms that I was reversing etc and be entirely honest about the situation.
As a biker I've seen some great ones - like an insurance claim about how a small bike reversed into a people carrier at speed.
Other party found them without me it seems; they're quoting around £2500, so seems it's going to be a case of insurance as I can't justify that
.I have to admit I do actually have some 'concerns' about the situation - however I am definitely going to be saying on the insurance forms that I was reversing etc and be entirely honest about the situation.
As a biker I've seen some great ones - like an insurance claim about how a small bike reversed into a people carrier at speed.
Edited by _g_ on Monday 10th December 14:01
I recently smashed my s1 elise up and bought a front clam for 300, which was supposed to be pristine, but i had to fill it and prepare it, then i got a whole front end reinforce, preparation and respray for 400 quid
so it can be done for 700ish? (300 + 400), its just about finding the right person who is out to do you a favour and not rip you off
a front clam from lotus will be 1000, and a repsray in most places anything 600-800
so it is worth asking around... repair is really easy too, but has to be done properly to prevent crows-feeting of cracks, just a case of sanding and filling!
so it can be done for 700ish? (300 + 400), its just about finding the right person who is out to do you a favour and not rip you off
a front clam from lotus will be 1000, and a repsray in most places anything 600-800
so it is worth asking around... repair is really easy too, but has to be done properly to prevent crows-feeting of cracks, just a case of sanding and filling!
Edited by chownie20 on Friday 28th December 14:52
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