Dilemma

[Big Rumbly]

Hi all,

I'm in a bit of a dilemma, I've got a really nice 1997 XJR, all the chains and tensioners have been done, the car is really as sweet as a nut. I plan on keeping it for some time.
Last year I noticed a few little bubbles on the rear o/s door sill, they have spread a bit since then and a few bubbles on the arch.
I thought I'd take it to the local bodyshop (who do have a good reputation) for an estimate.
My god £1700 to replace panels and sill which includes £900 labour, the guy said they would not fill it as would come back.
My problem is that the car is only worth as most £5000 in the present climate, so it's not really an economic option to have this work done, and I cant afford it anyway, but I hate the idea of it gradually getting worse, or do I just get a cheap repair that will last for a couple of years.
Anybody know of reasonable bodyshops in Cambs, north Essex areas.
Cheers chaps. Boo Hoo

[Jaguar steve]

Loads of Waxoil and live with it? Not worth spending cash on cosmetics when the body starts to go IMO - that's the top of a very long and slippery slope.

[x200sxy]

I tend to agree with Jaguar Steve, except for on my XJS of course!

[a8hex]

You could strip it back, treat the rust and then use a zinc primer to reprotect the steelwork and re-paint it.

[Big Rumbly]

thanks for the replies guys, I think I'll probably have a go myself just to put off the inevitable for a while

[Piersman2]

And I doubt you'd find someone willing to give you £5K for it at the moment, I would guess a really nice 1997 XJR would be looking to worth about £3.5K if you needed to sell it.

I sold my 1998 XJR over a year ago and only got 4K for it. It had all the works done and the bodywork was perfect too!

Don't spend the money,it's not worth it. Maybe look for a cheaper bodyshop and a cheaper job.