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The worst has happened
Topic Started: Sun Jul 23, 2017 11:30 am (1,021 Views)
first190resto
Part of things
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So.. yesterday I went to go and get my fortnightly tank of fuel.. when whilst I was waiting to turn right, a van decided to go in to the back of me and wedge himself between me, and a house. Taking out a wall in the process. All okay both parties un-injured. Other than me, emotionally injured knowing that my pride and joy needs some serious work..

Luckily a friend of mine works in a body shop and he's going to assess it through the week, but the fear struck into me, this panel, can it be replaced? Or will this be some major cutting and sticking?
Can someone reassure me?
(No one mention breaking it please!)
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Edited by first190resto, Sun Jul 23, 2017 11:38 am.
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Greek Taxi
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More than part of things
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I feel for you, that's a sod of a place to get hit. I'm sure you know it's a case of cutting and sticking.
I think your issue really is saving the car from the insurer, who will want to take it away and pay you off.

There's a few members who've been through the process who I'm sure can help.
Good luck
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Chunk
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Spammer Zapper

So sorry to see and hear about this. At least you are ok and the car is saveable.

Keep up posted on progress
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57bob
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100% BLADE
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O Shit
Hope you can get it fixed
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Daliscar
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Always On The Ball
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If it went in, it'll come out. It's just a matter of economics particularly in this age of throw it away and bolt on a new one. I have heard it said that is the way many Mercedes and B.M.W. body shops are going now, just fitters and no panel beaters. This is partly due to construction methods, i.e. glue and cold riveting and partly due to main agent allied shops making a lot of profit on parts.( Helping to keep all our insurance costs high) "wallbang"
If you can find a 'beater who is proud of his work and likes a challenge then that damaged 1/4 is repairable. Most insurance engineers will take a swift glance and say 'new panel' consigning your elderly pride and joy to salvage. Some insurance companies will even write your car off over the phone without seeing it FFS! What is that all about?? (saving costs)
We have a guy, well one or two actually who would repair your car, but I guess that's not much use as you are not in South Yorkshire!!
I will try and find some pictures of some of the ' there's no way that you'll repair thar mate' if they are available.
Meanwhile, get a proper panelbeater to look at it. If it went in it'll come out !
Good luck and don't take apathy for an answer ;)
Oh, forgot to mention, you WILL need a new rear lamp :lol:
Edited by Daliscar, Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:35 pm.
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jeremy
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Too Far Gone To Help
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I replaced the complete rear offside wing on my 2.5-16V earlier this year, that wing will cover all that looks like is creased on the outside. They are still available from the stealers at £765 + VAT or there are many cars being stripped and the rear wings are the same for all models. I paid £100 for a new old stock OEM wing courtesy of this very parish. Is that enough reassurance? :wub: :wub: :wub:

Good luck.

Jeremy
Edited by jeremy, Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:40 pm.
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MercManCraig
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Craig
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As mentioned damage doesn't look bad but it is expensive to repair, any bodywork is it seems. Main obstacle is convincing the insurance not to send it to the crusher and pay you off.

If they offer you more than £700 it'd be a lot less stress to let them and buy another though if you've not put much into it. Sounds like a ridiculous statement i know, if someone said that to me i'd tell them to go swivel but its food for thought never the less. feckknows
Edited by MercManCraig, Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:53 pm.
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Will
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Highly Addicted
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I think you'll struggle to get the insurance to agree to a repair, they're likely to suggest a total loss on that I would have thought as a proper repair would almost certainly involve replacing the rear 1/4 which is major work and cost.

There are stories of people playing the system to get an expensive repair on a lower value car but in reality it's not as easy at that.

At best if you're attached to the car I would settle with salvage (i.e. You get paid out and get to keep the car). It is possible to replace that panel but it won't be cheap, especially around where you are based. Four figures easily and that doesn't include any non-visible damage or the light cluster.

A very skilled panel beater might be able to get it back into shape - if you're happy with that and decide to repair I'll donate you a rear light (95% sure I've got one!) - sorry to see someone's pride damaged like this :)

Will
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Daliscar
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Always On The Ball
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Don't let go of the car. It's your property of course. Do not do what the insurance company tell you to do.
You tell them what you want. You are the person who pays the premium, make them work for you.
If you allow your car to be written off and you keep the salvage then it will be categorised C or D.
Ask for a CIL (Cash in lieu) settlement. That way you keep the car, without categorisation and you are paid a proportion of the repair cost. This could pay your panel man.
A new 1/4 is not a major job as the panel does not cut into the upper part of the C post and will cut and shut on the dogleg.
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Oddbod
Addicted
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The rear quarter join will be behind the air vent cover.

I have seen this sort of damage repaired quite effectively, although it is in a particularly visible place. This kind of denting needs the old "weld on nail gun and slide hammer" type of preliminary work.

Edited by Oddbod, Sun Jul 23, 2017 11:02 pm.
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Toff190
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190 Mob Member and a Wise Guy.
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Oh sh!t

Who are you insured with and do you have agreed value?
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Hu99u
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More than part of things
[ *  *  * ]
That looks repairable, luckily the damage is not a lot worse than that.
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Paulossie
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Potato

I feel for you, stick a big plaster over it it'll be fine, good luck matey.
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JackOBrien
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VAG Parts bin refugee
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Gutted for you mate, something similar happened to my previous 190, it's a horrible feeling. I hope you can get it sorted out
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Daliscar
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Always On The Ball
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One of our panel beaters looked at the pictures. He said "Not a problem, about a day and a half's work up to prepping for paint stage"
As I said, pity you are not in South Yorkshire !
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Oddbod
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The comforting thing is that it is cosmetic, even if it is a very conspicuous area of the bodywork.
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first190resto
Part of things
[ *  * ]
Cheers for all the positive responses chaps! Luckily I'm quite close with some people in the trade, and I've been quoted £500 including Paint.. sounds suspiciously cheap I agree but it is a friend doing it after all?
Now the question lies in the rear bumper black trim. It's split, my friend is saying he could repair it and have it sprayed matte black.. I'm not so tempted, what do you guys think? I've a feeling it'll look stupid compared to the front. Can I buy this part? Or does anyone think it might be an upgrade being repaired and painted?
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Daliscar
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Always On The Ball
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Can he plastic weld it, surface it then spray it with aerosol textured black paint?
Your bumper will look just as it was before the damage.
If this is a mate doing the work for you then £500 sounds reasonable.
It should be a couple of days work and subtracting his material costs he's still ending up with a reasonable wage! As the car is a dark colour then he will not have to blend in any direction, not even up the c-pillar as the vent trim covers a masking line. There will only be colour on the end of the panel, around the repair. The rest will be lacquer. Lest see some pictures of the repair in progress !
Are you leaving the insurance out of this? What about some cash from the van owner ?
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first190resto
Part of things
[ *  * ]
Daliscar
Wed Jul 26, 2017 5:48 pm
Can he plastic weld it, surface it then spray it with aerosol textured black paint?
Your bumper will look just as it was before the damage.
If this is a mate doing the work for you then £500 sounds reasonable.
It should be a couple of days work and subtracting his material costs he's still ending up with a reasonable wage! As the car is a dark colour then he will not have to blend in any direction, not even up the c-pillar as the vent trim covers a masking line. There will only be colour on the end of the panel, around the repair. The rest will be lacquer. Lest see some pictures of the repair in progress !
Are you leaving the insurance out of this? What about some cash from the van owner ?
Yeah that sounds along the lines of what he's offered to do, so I'll just go for it I think!
Well I'm not getting my hopes up too much but quietly confident the finish will be of a good standard.

I will at least post before and after pics, but I'll also ask the panel beater to take a few pictures mid job.
I think we'll be leaving the insurers out of this one hopefully. It was a builder so he's rebuilt the wall he knocked down and hopefully receiving cash from him tonight all being well...
So wish me luck
Hopefully everything is back to as near as normal sometime next week!
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Twin turbo
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Well, thats not a big damage no... no need to change panel. One and a half day sounds correct + paint
Edited by Twin turbo, Thu Jul 27, 2017 9:22 am.
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first190resto
Part of things
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Looking very good so far, I shall wait to see the finished product, hopefully the paint match is accurate!
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Greek Taxi
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More than part of things
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It's not even been a week... blimey. You don't hang about.
Looking smooth.
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Daliscar
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Always On The Ball
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Oh fantastic. See, all that panic about total loss.
Everyone needs to ask the question though, why can't the insurance companies do this ???? feckknows
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Oddbod
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Good result that.

The "naked metal" shot shows how well the dent pulled out.
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first190resto
Part of things
[ *  * ]

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Car is all done and collected last night.. the colour match is very acuurate, very happy with it!
Think I've found a rare breed of skilled quality tradesman..
I can nit pick it but I think I was always going to notice it. Also considering just how bad the damage was I think it's a very good level of finish.
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Oddbod
Addicted
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first190resto
Wed Aug 2, 2017 2:31 pm

I can nit pick it but I think I was always going to notice it. Also considering just how bad the damage was I think it's a very good level of finish.
Yes, that happens when you know the car.

The chances are that you will be the only one who knows that the car had been dinged in that corner. B)
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Hu99u
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More than part of things
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Looks like it's been a very good job.
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Chunk
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Spammer Zapper

Great result. Another 190 saved. It does look a good job
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aemt
Serial 190E Owner
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Well done.

Good common sense solution.
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BrunoSaccofan
Newbie
[ * ]
So glad this had a happy ending. You might want to also put your car on a lift and check underneath just to be sure there's no further hidden damage.
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Paulossie
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Potato

Nice job there.
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Daliscar
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Always On The Ball
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Don’t worry there is not much chance of hidden damage. There is nothing structural in that area, just the skin of the quarter panel.
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BrunoSaccofan
Newbie
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Daliscar
Fri Dec 1, 2017 10:20 pm
Don’t worry there is not much chance of hidden damage. There is nothing structural in that area, just the skin of the quarter panel.
I was taught by my engineer father to never make such an assumption. It's always better to be safe than sorry. The few minutes it would take to put the car on a lift and have a look is well worth the piece of mind.
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MercManCraig
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Craig
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BrunoSaccofan
Mon Dec 11, 2017 7:10 pm
Daliscar
Fri Dec 1, 2017 10:20 pm
Don’t worry there is not much chance of hidden damage. There is nothing structural in that area, just the skin of the quarter panel.
I was taught by my engineer father to never make such an assumption. It's always better to be safe than sorry. The few minutes it would take to put the car on a lift and have a look is well worth the piece of mind.
While generally true I think Daliscar is quite sufficiently qualified to make assumptions for this particular area. ;)
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Twin turbo
Part of things
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No real risk of any "frame" damage there, the damage is smal, so in this case i wouldnt fear any hidden damage.

Sure IT can be hidden damage when "outside" dont look bad, but since its "top" corner of a panel that is much weaker then anything futher in, No real risk.
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