Hi All, not posted here before. I have what was a nice tidy Mk1 that I bought last summer after looking long and hard for one in good condition. I just had someone reverse into the front wing of the car and the panel is damaged beyond easy (dent devil style) repair. I will try and post a photo but can describe the work needed.
It needs a new near side wing to be fitted and painted, a small scratch on the bumper and colour blended in ( meaning paint the full front bumper, and belnd across the bonnet and down the door).
The muppet that damaged my car wants to avoid going via insurance but they are not happy with my first quote of £750 ( I thought it not un reasonable for teh work that needs to be done). does that seem a fair price, I am guessing at £200+ for the wing and paint then the rest is labour.
second question can anyone suggets a good body shop near Milton Keynes as an alternative t omy first choice of Frosts in MK.
I’d go down the insurance route - you seem to be doing all the running around for someone else who hit your car… He’s refused the first quote, how many are you going to give him?
Get the insurance hounds onto it - at least you’ll get a proper job done with a warranty.
Hi, I quite agree, I have been using the time to find a decent body shop as I plan to pay them to do a couple of small jobs like the mirror casings while they have the car. Quotes now range from £600 - £900 (and there is no way it is going to the grotty bodyshop that quoted £600).
I think this will have to go via insurance now, can’t see any reason they would want to pay that much, it is not like she is a young driver in a performance car, I doubt their insurance is more than £300 a year anyway.
The nice thing is all the body shops have commented just how tidy the car is and asked if it was really an M reg or had a cherised plate! Nice to know it is worth keeping in top condition.
The car is a very tidy 1.8is with less than 50K miles, ABS, leather, airbags… so worth a LOT more than £900 ( at least I hope so as I paid a great deal more for it last summer).
I saw a lot of very rough examples looking for this one, other than its new dent it is very tidy indeed, it has never had a penny spared.
Current staus is that we are both insured by the same company and they have agreed to the repair (subject to inspection).
It sounds like I should go for an “agreed value” policy when I renew this year.
I speak from experience. The problem with insurance companies is that they don’t look at the individual car, just the trade book price. I damaged my own 1996 1.8is to the tune of £400. When I phoned my insurance company and told her the likely cost, the girl’s response was “Do you want me to organise salvage?” Still, it sounds as if good sense is prevailing. I hope everthing goes well.
Hi Pete, Did you get your sorted in the end? I am concerned that as we are both insured by the same comapny they are not going to help me much as the loose either way. I can’t find any cars of similar spec and condition for sale at less than £2.5k.
You have me a bit worried, but at least I will not be surprised now is they tyr and play silly bu**ers
I did get mine sorted. Since I had a £300 excess, it was not worth pursuing the claim. Thanks to mixie-5 i got a replacement rear bumper for free and sprayed it myself, saving £160.
I did not mean to worry you, just get you prepared. Apparently the principle of insurance is that you should be no worse off after the incident than before. If the company start to try it on with a write off, print out the adverts for replacement cars and remind them that it is their obligation to replace like with like, so would they please arrange for one of these advertised cars to be delivered ? Provided you can afford to be without your car you can usually front it out.
Anyway, good luck - I hope your car is back on the road soon.
The Insurance company of the 3rd party was the same as my one. They agreed to get the car repaired at my chosen garage but did knock them back a bit on price. I think it was about £650 or so for the new wing and to paint the front nose and blend down the car. I paid a bit myslef for them to paint the full side of the car, rear bumper, mirrors and all mudflaps. I had a couple of issues in that the node badge was fitted upside down and the rubber rain seal on the door did not fit back well, the insurance comapany agreed to a new one.
The car is looking very nice again! even better than before.
Happuy to recommed “Perfect Paint” in Milton Keynes if you need any work done.