Bloody car parks, cracked front!!
Discussion
Just noticed that some silly sod has driven into my car when parked on a car park. The panel above and below the grill is cracked but not other damage has been caused. Is it possible just to replace this section of the panel and not the whole front. It looks like the 'bumper' area is seperate from the rest of the car.
Hi Guy's
Sorry but I'm going to give you some bad news it's one big panel as I've just found out when I had to get My 111R repaired. I was lucky and only had to get the bottom repaired but if it's bad you'll have to have a new front which is not going to be cheap approx £1500 for mine without being painted or fitted
Sorry but I'm going to give you some bad news it's one big panel as I've just found out when I had to get My 111R repaired. I was lucky and only had to get the bottom repaired but if it's bad you'll have to have a new front which is not going to be cheap approx £1500 for mine without being painted or fitted

ryan.wilkinson said:
Just noticed that some silly sod has driven into my car when parked on a car park. The panel above and below the grill is cracked but not other damage has been caused. Is it possible just to replace this section of the panel and not the whole front. It looks like the 'bumper' area is seperate from the rest of the car.
Ray if your anywhere near Dartford you could try Norman at www.ntccars.com I know for a fact that he's got a few fronts for the S1 and he's a very nice Man !
Hi Ryan:
You poor sod... you seem to have all the same problems I've had!... The front of the car is all one piece, so you're probably looking at the whole lot being replaced. In my experience it took quite a while for the clamshell to come through from Lotus, so manage your expectations to spend a while driving around in a somewhat battered car. When it did arrive, the new clamshell was supplied unpainted, so it was then a couple of days for your local paint shop to spray it and bake it... How bad is the damage? I'm presuming the car is drivable...
Hard luck...
You poor sod... you seem to have all the same problems I've had!... The front of the car is all one piece, so you're probably looking at the whole lot being replaced. In my experience it took quite a while for the clamshell to come through from Lotus, so manage your expectations to spend a while driving around in a somewhat battered car. When it did arrive, the new clamshell was supplied unpainted, so it was then a couple of days for your local paint shop to spray it and bake it... How bad is the damage? I'm presuming the car is drivable...
Hard luck...
My one bit of luck is that the damage isnt too bad. Both cracks are around apeture where the grill sits. Bottom is from the number plate to the back of the fibreglass alongside a small bolt, the top is directly above it. Perfectly drivable, I might try getting it repaired and not replaced. Any good repairers in the West Mids?
Hold your horses!
Same thing happened to me a few months back...|www.peelsmotorkraft.co.uk in Bristol sorted it for £264 including vat. repaired like new, resprayed and got rid of all the stone chips. Sorted.
>> Edited by maverick25 on Wednesday 27th October 16:06
Same thing happened to me a few months back...|www.peelsmotorkraft.co.uk in Bristol sorted it for £264 including vat. repaired like new, resprayed and got rid of all the stone chips. Sorted.
>> Edited by maverick25 on Wednesday 27th October 16:06
s1 and s2 clams are repairable (unless completely shagged ie cost to repair > cost of new clam)
The difference will be that from the inside, an S2 repair will be more obvious than an S1 due to the change in the manufacturing process (but from your description i'm guessing someone would have to get their head underneath the grill to see the repair.) A decent repair would not be conspicuous from the outside.
But for the sort of damage i think you have, i'd estimate an £500 repair which is a lot cheaper than a new clam and the claim history on your insurance.
A specialist like sinclaires (i'd recommend them if you were near london) etc should be able to give a more accurate opinion.
tupolev
>> Edited by tupolev on Wednesday 27th October 21:02
>> Edited by tupolev on Wednesday 27th October 21:03
The difference will be that from the inside, an S2 repair will be more obvious than an S1 due to the change in the manufacturing process (but from your description i'm guessing someone would have to get their head underneath the grill to see the repair.) A decent repair would not be conspicuous from the outside.
But for the sort of damage i think you have, i'd estimate an £500 repair which is a lot cheaper than a new clam and the claim history on your insurance.
A specialist like sinclaires (i'd recommend them if you were near london) etc should be able to give a more accurate opinion.
tupolev
>> Edited by tupolev on Wednesday 27th October 21:02
>> Edited by tupolev on Wednesday 27th October 21:03
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