Damage Assesment
Discussion
Just had a builders van reverse into the front of the S3 - tow bar hit the number plate and damaged all the nearside by the number plate/indicator area. Nearside bonnet catch will not release. No sign of leaking fluid so assume radiator is in one piece. The main bonnet is ok, all damage is on the bumper and below.
What other internal damage is likely?
I'll post a picture tomorrow morning. At lease I've got a witness that watched them reverse into me.
What other internal damage is likely?
I'll post a picture tomorrow morning. At lease I've got a witness that watched them reverse into me.
Both Psychobert and I had what looked like fairly minor damage, which turned out to be bloody expensive to repair. To be fair, though, mine had also broken the plywood hinge mounting plate and bent the hinge, so it was maybe a a bit more than yours has.
The only bit that worries me is that you can't get the bonnet open. hopefully it's only stuck at the catches, rather than bent or twisted.
Post the pics and I'll give you a better/worse than mine guide.
I know exactly how you feel, but try not to worry about it - it's his insurance that will be paying.
The only bit that worries me is that you can't get the bonnet open. hopefully it's only stuck at the catches, rather than bent or twisted.
Post the pics and I'll give you a better/worse than mine guide.
I know exactly how you feel, but try not to worry about it - it's his insurance that will be paying.
Sorry to see the damage to your 'S'
Not too sure whether you have got your bonnet open (or whether you need/wish to?)
I had to adjust my bonnet catches recently - (Hope this isn't stating the obvious!) Where the bonnet has been hit, the nearside bonnet hinge probably has been pushed back slightly wedging the bonnet catch locating lug under the lip of the latch plate in the wing.
Have somebody in the car pulling on the release lever while you gently push the bonnet away from the windscreen......Hopefully it will pop open?
Good Luck
Larry
Not too sure whether you have got your bonnet open (or whether you need/wish to?)
I had to adjust my bonnet catches recently - (Hope this isn't stating the obvious!) Where the bonnet has been hit, the nearside bonnet hinge probably has been pushed back slightly wedging the bonnet catch locating lug under the lip of the latch plate in the wing.
Have somebody in the car pulling on the release lever while you gently push the bonnet away from the windscreen......Hopefully it will pop open?
Good Luck
Larry
tvrgit said:
Both Psychobert and I had what looked like fairly minor damage, which turned out to be bloody expensive to repair.
Mine was bloody expensive if you let the garage know its an insurance job
I got a quote of nearly £4K/borderline write off, but sold the car to Silverback Mike who wanted a project and IIRC sorted it for about £500. Difficult to tell, but from the photo, I doubt anything internal is broken. There'd not a lot behind where the damage is so I think you might be lucky. Hinge may have snapped on the nearside, (or possibly both), if the bonnet spears aren't free enough to open the bonnet, it sounds like it may have shifted a little. Thats not too much of a problem.
My guess is its perfectly fixable and if you can do some of the work yourself, not too bad a job. I'm sure Mike will be along sometime to confirm that..
russ35 said:
Picture of the damage
Now to make the phone call to get the insurance claim rolling.
That doesn't look too bad, as Psychobert says it depends what's damaged behind, hinge or hinge panel etc.
Be careful when you DO get the bonnet release to work. Please get somebody to help you lift the bonnet, by holding it at the front while you lift the rear. If you don't, and the hinge is broken, the bonnet will drop down onto the top bolt of the radiator as it comes forward, and you will end up with a star craze in the top of the bonnet - and that WILL be expensive to fix if there's no other bonnet damage.
The collision may have bent out of shape the small box section extension of the chassis where the hinge assembly is mounted. This will consequently move the bonnet backwards and misalign the catch & striker plate (or whatever its called). This hollow box section can often be coaxed back into place with a club hammer 
Easy does it though . . . it's certainly worked for me a couple of times in the past 
If it's too badly damaged you could always have that piece angle ground off (as I've also done ), have a replacement section made up and re-welded on - not a huge job either in terms of time or money. Let us know how you get on.
Easy does it though . . . it's certainly worked for me a couple of times in the past If it's too badly damaged you could always have that piece angle ground off (as I've also done ), have a replacement section made up and re-welded on - not a huge job either in terms of time or money. Let us know how you get on. Seeing as the accident was not your fault........ take it to a reputable TVR/GRP specialist and them sort it out.
Don't touch anything until you get the go a head from the insurance company. It may be uneconimcal for them to repair (then you can get the insurance and either buy another or buy it back at a kncked down price for repair)
I reckon garage costs will be circa £2k.....
new bonnet £750 (why have a ptached up one if somesone else is paying)
labour to remove old one, fit new one, £250
painting £800 - £1k
Thats for a proper job not a botched one, assuming everything is else is ok
Sorry that it happened to P&J .....hopefully will all be sorted by early spring to its former glory for some
Don't touch anything until you get the go a head from the insurance company. It may be uneconimcal for them to repair (then you can get the insurance and either buy another or buy it back at a kncked down price for repair)
I reckon garage costs will be circa £2k.....
new bonnet £750 (why have a ptached up one if somesone else is paying)
labour to remove old one, fit new one, £250
painting £800 - £1k
Thats for a proper job not a botched one, assuming everything is else is ok
Sorry that it happened to P&J .....hopefully will all be sorted by early spring to its former glory for some
Hoover. said:
Seeing as the accident was not your fault........ take it to a reputable TVR/GRP specialist and them sort it out.
Don't touch anything until you get the go a head from the insurance company. It may be uneconimcal for them to repair (then you can get the insurance and either buy another or buy it back at a knocked down price for repair)
Agree with all of that!
[quote-Hoover]I reckon garage costs will be circa £2k.....
new bonnet £750 (why have a ptached up one if somesone else is paying)
labour to remove old one, fit new one, £250
painting £800 - £1k
Thats for a proper job not a botched one, assuming everything is else is ok[/quote]
Em, no. Bonnets are only available, as far as I know, from TET mouldings, and cost over £900 including the dreaded VAT. I bought one in August.
Fitting involves more than just bolting it on... they usually have to be trimmed to fit each car (in typical TVR style, no two cars are exactly the same) and the surface takes a lot of smoothing and preparation - not because they are badly made (far from it, I think that they are better than the original personally) but because fibreglass just needs a lot of preparation for a proper job - a lot more than a steel panel.
Then allow for painting, refitting lamps, bumpers trim etc, and you've got a number closer to (or even over) £3k than 2. You are then seriously into "insurance write off" territory where it all gets a bit scary. I ended up paying for mine myself (the damage was my own fault anyway) but ended up with a fantastic job done.
Yes I could have let them write it off, then bought it back and had it fixed and saved some money, or I could have had it fixed in a more back-street establishment, but I wouldn't have ended up with the fit and finish that I have. At the end of the day, you have to look at what your car is worth to you, not on the market.
On the other hand, for you, a repair to that bumper area will barely be noticeable, and easier for an insurance company to swallow. That was why I advised last night to be careful you don't craze the top of the bonnet when opening it - a craze would cost more to fix than all of that other damage, probably.
If you do choose the "renew everything" route, at least be aware of the realistic likely costs for a "proper job".
The bonnet damage doesn't look to bad and i assume the van was not travelling at speed so if look like fractured GRP ,The bonnet not opening is probably due to a slight movement caused by impact ,Also the insurance would probably recommend repair which is probably the best option ,
The quality of the original bonnets are usually better than replacements and they don't have to be trimmed ,Make you you recommend the repair centre as they are only 6 or 7 GRP Specialists in the country and your insurance company may recommend someone with no experience in repairing GRP
i had this damage done to the rear and the repair in unnoticable
Option1 were excellent and i would recommend them the did the whole thing for me and dealt with insurance company
if you want the full story and pictures they are here with loads of pictures
Option1 were excellent and i would recommend them the did the whole thing for me and dealt with insurance company
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.bolards/tvr/html/the_
>> Edited by spivvy on Thursday 29th December 12:55
to many beers so can't tipe properly hic
>> Edited by spivvy on Thursday 29th December 12:56
The quality of the original bonnets are usually better than replacements and they don't have to be trimmed ,Make you you recommend the repair centre as they are only 6 or 7 GRP Specialists in the country and your insurance company may recommend someone with no experience in repairing GRP
i had this damage done to the rear and the repair in unnoticable
Option1 were excellent and i would recommend them the did the whole thing for me and dealt with insurance company
if you want the full story and pictures they are here with loads of pictures
Option1 were excellent and i would recommend them the did the whole thing for me and dealt with insurance company
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.bolards/tvr/html/the_
>> Edited by spivvy on Thursday 29th December 12:55
to many beers so can't tipe properly hic
>> Edited by spivvy on Thursday 29th December 12:56
russ35 said:
Well I've just spoken to the insurance company and the repairs has been authorised 
So I quick call to the garage and it appears I'm getting a new bonnet, radiator, hinge box assembly and indicators!. So should hopefully be back on the road in March
Where are you (or they) getting this "new" bonnet from?
As these things go, your bonnet was not badly damaged, and I wonder if some of the guys who post on this forum could make use of it. Not me, I hasten to say - way beyond my competence. But it seems a pity if your garage is just going to dump it if it could be stored for someone to use on a project etc.
Just got back after collecting the car
New bonnet looks like a mirror (well it did until I did 60miles up the M6 in the rain). Very smooth finish (old bonnet was rippled on the offside).
Approximate cost of parts and labour on the estimate was £3k (ex VAT). Although looking at some of the costs I think insurance prices are quoted
Had New Bonnet, N/S Bonnet box section, bonnet hinge kit, indicators, Radiator, Bonnet catch and plungers + other bits and pieces (rubber trim etc)
I just need it to stop raining so I can have some fun (got to make up for the 10wks withdrawal I've had to suffer).
Just hope that it passes the MOT when I take it in on Friday.
New bonnet looks like a mirror (well it did until I did 60miles up the M6 in the rain). Very smooth finish (old bonnet was rippled on the offside).
Approximate cost of parts and labour on the estimate was £3k (ex VAT). Although looking at some of the costs I think insurance prices are quoted
Had New Bonnet, N/S Bonnet box section, bonnet hinge kit, indicators, Radiator, Bonnet catch and plungers + other bits and pieces (rubber trim etc)
I just need it to stop raining so I can have some fun (got to make up for the 10wks withdrawal I've had to suffer).
Just hope that it passes the MOT when I take it in on Friday.
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