- My model of MX-5 is: __2011 Sport Black
- I’m based near: __Bromley, Kent
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __Hi, I’m looking for recommendations for crash repairs in my area. Preferably someone who will deal with an insurance company. Frontal damage, I’m trying for the insurance company not to write it off. I’ve been told by a reputable company, looking at the photos I sent that it is repairable, but they won’t deal with Insurance Companies due to many negative experiences re payment. Any recommendations or advice greatly appreciated, thanks in advance. It’s been a week now but still feeling sick and gutted at the prospects of what lies ahead.
Any pics, it could help in giving advice?
Many breakers will have parts for these now, probably panels in colour too. So long as there’s no structural damage or chassis legs most are repairable, bolt in parts like front crash bars, bumper skins, wings and bonnets etc.
Trouble is insurers price new OEM parts up and the prices go out of control. Fixing yourself isn’t out of the realms of DIY but it’s when bodywork/painting comes into it, it gets a lot more costly and difficult.
Have you got the option to buy it back if they do write it off?
Hi Mick, thanks for taking the time to reply. Don’t really want to post pictures, suffice to say it’s not a DIY job and whole front end re spraying after new bonnet, bumper , grille and some welding.
Hi Westo, don’t know as yet still very early stages but that’s what I’m hoping for.
If the airbags etc have gone off, the repairs that the insurers will accept, ie verified by Mazda, will cost about 3K - 4K because the whole lot must be replaced, sensors, bags, controller, windscreen, dash etc.
When the passenger airbag went off (why? seat unoccupied) it bust the windscreen, that was the expensive bit, labour.
And then you have to find somewhere that is prepared to do it! And they must be qualified to certify the replacement SRS system and the few remaining bits that didn’t go pop.
The level of hassle is painful.
The only impact damage (at about 10mph) to my car was to the front of the bumper and the number plate, no metal bent anywhere.
That car is back on the road again but now a Cat S. I still miss my dear little Niseko, SN08RFX.
Hi Richard, I have the same problem re both airbags and passenger seat unoccupied. However, a lot more damage. I will fight them all the way to get it back on the road, many thanks for the reply.
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Back in the day an insurance company would generally pay up to 75% of the value of a car in repair costs. Over that and they would write it off. Not sure if that’s still the case. Anything can be repaired as long as someone pays for it.
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You can do what is called a Contract Repair if they want to write it off if possible. That keeps the repair costs down by using either used or pattern parts.
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My main vehicle was written off earlier this year after someone kindly drove in to the back of it. The insurance company were fairly straightforward to deal with and I was able to speak with the damage assessor and given the option to i) write-off or ii) buy the salvage for a small fee and retain the vehicle and get it repaired. So I’d wait for the insurance company to get in touch and then go from there.
Hi, many thanks for your reply, it gives me a glimmer of hope and something to hang onto. That’s the result I’m hoping for. Without going into numbers, the figure they paid out, were you happy with it in relation to what it was insured for?
Hi mx5haun - I’d had my vehicle for around 14 years at the time of the accident and it was just insured as ‘market value’. I was more than happy with the payout, which seemed very fair. I do think to a large extent you’re a passenger in the insurance company’s claims system. That said I was asked if there were any repairs etc that’d increase the value of the vehicle. In my case the insurance wanted specific photos of the vehicle - mileage, front, back, both sides, all four corners, plus dashboard with the engine running, to do their assessment . I also included photos of the service record showing it was serviced every year and had just had a new timing belt. The process probably took a few weeks in total. In terms of timeline, the contracted accident repair company got in touch immediately and wanted to take the vehicle away. I was able to keep hold of it and just work from photos as I knew it was too old for them to be able to economically repair it. I also declined the offer of a ‘free’ hire car. About a week after sending the official repairer photos they were told by the insurance comany to put any work on hold. This was almost certainly as it’d cost more the the vehicle was worth for them to repair it. Probably a week after that the insurance company got in touch offering me the options mentioned above - i) write-off or ii) buy the salvage. Initial payout was fairly quick, although my excess was only paid once the other party accepted liability andit was deemed a no-fault accident on my part. This took several months to resolve and in truth was more important to me than the payout.
Hi Super_7, Many thanks for the info, very helpful.
Have you tried GL Coachworks at Sidcup/Footscray - just off A20 at Crittalls Corner? They are a Mazda approved repairer. Haven’t taken the MX-5 there but they did an excellent job on my daughter’s Mazda 2
Hi, many thanks for the recommendation, they’re not far from me. They are next on my list.