Quarter panel cost of repair...
Quarter panel cost of repair...
Author
Discussion

NewbieFocus

Original Poster:

5 posts

84 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
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Afternoon all,

I was involved in a rear end accident, someone went into my rear side at a stop sign.
I have attached pictures and you can see the damage. For now, I have screwed the bumper in with a nail and it is holding it up but the quarter panel is ugly and is sticking out.

Any idea on the cost of fixing this? The insurance company are taking a long time to come up with answers and I would like to know if there is any way the panel can be fixed at home, or if there is an economical way of fixing it so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb?

TIA






Krikkit

27,788 posts

202 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
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That'll be a very expensive repair, definitely more than the car is worth.

I'd leave it tbh, not helpful I know.

SHutchinson

2,262 posts

205 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
quotequote all
That's a write off, almost certainly.

If you want to keep it just hit it with hammers a lot, or leave it.

finlo

4,112 posts

224 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
quotequote all
Trying to fix it yourself will give the other party's insurers the perfect get out.

NewbieFocus

Original Poster:

5 posts

84 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
quotequote all
I feared as much. Thanks for the replies.
I got a quote yesterday for at least a grand to fix it...far more than the car is worth.
My main concern is getting attention from the police, so far I have been driving back in the UK for a month and no problems so far...I doubt they will have any problems, as long as they can see I am currently going through a claim for the insurance? Probs worth accepting a write off payment from them I think, though the other party has admitted fault.

I was thinking about beating it...I have my own paint cans for the car so touching up the paint is no issue, I am a bit of a novice at these things. Would I literally just take a hammer to it and beat it into place from the outside? What are the risks involved with that?

I am planning on driving the car until I have enough saved up to get a UK reg car which will take a few months. Then sell it for parts.

Excuse the questions, I just wanna make sure of my options.

NewbieFocus

Original Poster:

5 posts

84 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
quotequote all
finlo said:
Trying to fix it yourself will give the other party's insurers the perfect get out.
So, for now, you think it is best to wait it out until I hear something more from the other parties insurers? It doesn't effect my driving except it looks bloomin ugly! Thanks

996TT02

3,340 posts

161 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
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Yes, police might be interested if they see any pointy bits that could cause injury to anyone brushing against the car. If I were you I would use a metal plate (I am guessing you are not very handy, so you can buy ready made connector plates at ironmongers, a piece of metal full of holes) that you can screw to both the damaged wing and the bumper, so that the bumper does not stick out. You will need a cordless screwdriver/driller and with some help chipboard screws ought to work but perhaps self drilling screws as used for drywall (plasterboard) construction will be better for the wing.

NewbieFocus

Original Poster:

5 posts

84 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
quotequote all
996TT02 said:
Yes, police might be interested if they see any pointy bits that could cause injury to anyone brushing against the car. If I were you I would use a metal plate (I am guessing you are not very handy, so you can buy ready made connector plates at ironmongers, a piece of metal full of holes) that you can screw to both the damaged wing and the bumper, so that the bumper does not stick out. You will need a cordless screwdriver/driller and with some help chipboard screws ought to work but perhaps self drilling screws as used for drywall (plasterboard) construction will be better for the wing.
Thanks! I will take a look into it. Guess it will be a waiting game. Cheers!

Maccles

70 posts

139 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
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DEFINATELY don’t screw a metal plate into it.

Don’t attempt any sort of repair until the insurance matter has been settled.

Maybe put a bit of duct tape on it if you’re worried about metal jagged bits sticking out, you might be able to secure the rear bumper this way too. It’ll look gash but will likely keep plod off your back.

But don’t take any tools to it or you’ll impair your ability to claim off the third party’s insurance.

loskie

6,664 posts

141 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
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if the insurer writes it off and the other party is at fault, buy it back from them and get a local place to effect some type of cheap, rudimentary repair. Then run it till it dies.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

276 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
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Remove the trim panels from inside the boot space and you may have enough access to push most of that out from the inside.

Sheepshanks

38,893 posts

140 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
quotequote all
Maccles said:
Maybe put a bit of duct tape on it if you’re worried about metal jagged bits sticking out, you might be able to secure the rear bumper this way too. It’ll look gash but will likely keep plod off your back.
^ This. Use tape as close to the body colour as you can get.

Are you British and resident in the UK? You want to try and make the car as un-noticeable as possible.

NewbieFocus

Original Poster:

5 posts

84 months

Thursday 3rd January 2019
quotequote all
Duct tape is a good idea. I will leave the metal plate.
I am British and a resident. Have recently moved back to the UK from living in Spain. Hence the Spanish number plates. All is insured and I have correct paper work.

^^ all good ideas. Will see if I can do something to it to make it a bit safer. Thanks for advice all.