Bonnet pop up.....

[Garlick]

Mate of mine was heading along the M25 today in his Volvo V70 T5 estate, and the bonnet flew open when he was in lane 3 doing 0.80 leptons. Sadly I passed him as he sat with BiB (we were heading to the same place but I'd set off later) as they gave him a grilling at the roadside. He hadn't opened the bonnet in a while, so why it failed is a mystery.

He was remarkably calm when I saw him later (he was recovered home and started again in his Golf GTI) and said he managed to get to the hard shoulder easily enough, but he has a wrecked screen and two dented wings not to mention a ruined bonnet and hinges.

Not something I'd like to happen to me I must admit!

[Beefmeister]

Frankly if that happened i think i'd soil myself.

[Cock Womble 7]

I drove the Scirocco "a good few miles" with the bonnet "on the latch" - ie, not fully closed but - relatively - secure. Or was it?


Saying that, I've also driven "a good few miles" with the coolant reservoir cap being held in place only by the underside of the bonnet, because I failed to put it back on after checking coolant levels.

[saaby93]

Well known Clio fault

[Rubin215]

saaby93 said:

Well known Clio fault

He was driving a Volvo

[rhinochopig]

I had the bonnet of my westy come off completely, fly up into the air, and sail off into a cow field, after accelerating up to the NSL when leaving my village.

I got some really funny looks as passing cars saw some chap out jogging in a cow field at 6:00am one summers morning, wearing a full face lid, and a goose down jacket.

[SlimRick]

Happened to me in a Volvo 440 many years ago. A definite trouser soiling moment even though I was only doing 50ish.

[DannyVTS]

Meant to be a common one on saxos too, how did he end up dint ing the wings but not the roof or smash the windscreen ??

[groomi]

Had the bonnet on my 205GTI pop onto the catch driving along the banking at Rockingham at 100+mph. Scary stuff indeed!

[Garlick]

DannyVTS said:

Meant to be a common one on saxos too, how did he end up dint ing the wings but not the roof or smash the windscreen ??

I did mention a smashed screen, but bonnet remained attached so no roof damage.

[sjabrown]

Think most rally drivers have forgotten to secure the bonnet pins at some point. I have, bonnet flew up at 40mph. Fortunately just a new bonnet was needed.

[Disco You]

This once happened to a car two in front of me at .85 leptons, thankfully I was on the bit of the M5 round Birmingham where there is a run-off outside lane 3 so the car in front of me (probably doing a full lepton) and I could both go around the poor guy with the bonnet trouble.

[Garlick]

Oh, he attempted to get off the motorway and drove with a broken screen. Got a £30 fine for his trouble.

[rottie102]

Quinny said:

Garlick said:

Oh, he attempted to get off the motorway and drove with a broken screen. Got a £30 fine for his trouble.

So you have something happen that's outside of your control..... No one else is involved..... And you get a £30 quid fine for your trouble...

Brilliant

Why are you surprised??
So according to you if I'll have brakes failure (outside of my control and no one else is involved) I should be allowed to carry on??

He drove a vehicle which is not roadworthy and endangered himself and others (according to the law, doesn't matter how big the crack in the screen was) - I think nobody could complain about the fine.

BTW I'm not saying I wouldn't do the same and drive with it. I'm just saying I wouldn't argue with a fine.

Edited by rottie102 on Saturday 22 January 21:56

[Garlick]

It was reduced from £100 to £30.

Odd as a few years ago some youths dropped a brick from a flyover which hit my screen. Police advised that I drive to next services and call Autoglass (or similar)

[Life Saab Itch]

Garlick said:

It was reduced from £100 to £30.

Odd as a few years ago some youths dropped a brick from a flyover which hit my screen. Police advised that I drive to next services and call Autoglass (or similar)

THat is my worst fear whilst driving the lorry. I have had kids drop snow balls from bridges on the M1 and I've had a can of pop thrown from a car going the other way in town before (luckily it hit the door pillar), but a brick from a motorway bridge sends shivers down my spine.

[jbi]

strange since from memory doesn't the volvo not have 2 separate bonnet catches?

Always thought that was OTT when I had mine

[samdale]

I'll never have this problem as the bonnet on my volvo opens the correct way

Just got to stop other things falling off it

[Garlick]

jbi said:

strange since from memory doesn't the volvo not have 2 separate bonnet catches?

Always thought that was OTT when I had mine

Mate told me it has three? I guess we'll never know but (of course) his Mrs says it's his fault

[Garlick]

Life Saab Itch said:

Garlick said:

It was reduced from £100 to £30.

Odd as a few years ago some youths dropped a brick from a flyover which hit my screen. Police advised that I drive to next services and call Autoglass (or similar)

THat is my worst fear whilst driving the lorry. I have had kids drop snow balls from bridges on the M1 and I've had a can of pop thrown from a car going the other way in town before (luckily it hit the door pillar), but a brick from a motorway bridge sends shivers down my spine.

I saw them on the bridge then BANG. Fortunately it hit low on the screen and hit the part where it meets the dash. The screen shattered (over me) but the brick bounced off, leaving only a few fragments in the car and some dust on the bonnet.

Could have been a lot worse. I saw the kids run off in the rear view.