Will this polish out?

[treblezero]

...of course it won't but is it fixable or is a new door required? ..Was run into yesterday so today I'm trying to determine if this can be sorted by a body shop (and perhaps a door) without the insurance company stepping in and writing my pride and joy off!

It looked worse at the time with all the dust and scratches still raw but after a wash down it looks fixable. The question is is the dent on the door fixable?

 

[Proghound]

The door (or both) and the rear wheel arch are all bolt-on items (given some checks for electrical compatibility) if you can source replacements in colour. Equally, I don't see any reason why a body shop couldn't just fill and paint that level of damage. There's certainly nothing structural there.

 

[treblezero]

The door (or both) and the rear wheel arch are all bolt-on items (given some checks for electrical compatibility) if you can source replacements in colour. Equally, I don't see any reason why a body shop couldn't just fill and paint that level of damage. There's certainly nothing structural there.

Booked in to a body shop, heading there shortly to get the lowdown. Hopefully a small bit of filler and a paint job will do the trick. Thanks for the input ;-)

 

[Little Dog]

You are right to keep your insurancompany out of this. That is definitely a total loss.

Any decent body shop will want to strip it down and blend the paint across adjacent panels. Then there are the rubbing strips and arches to source. it will cost £££. Assuming you are not holding a third party responsible I would drive it as it is and start collecting parts from the breakers on here. Get them painted and DIY fit them.

Is this car occasionally parked in Starbeck?

Edit, I drove my A2 with two dented doors for years while I sourced replacements and got them painted. There are advantages. Park your car in a corner parking slot with the damaged side showing. Nobody parks next to you.

 

[treblezero]

You are right to keep your insurancompany out of this. That is definitely a total loss.

Any decent body shop will want to strip it down and blend the paint across adjacent panels. Then there are the rubbing strips and arches to source. it will cost £££. Assuming you are not holding a third party responsible I would drive it as it is and start collecting parts from the breakers on here. Get them painted and DIY fit them.

Is this car occasionally parked in Starbeck?

Edit, I drove my A2 with two dented doors for years while I sourced replacements and got them painted. There are advantages. Park your car in a corner parking slot with the damaged side showing. Nobody parks next to you.

Just back from 2 bodyshops - Mike Wilson's (Killinghall) and GC Motors (Ripon Road). GC Motors reckon the dent is too deep so a door would be better. Mike Wilson's said they can do the repair and as you say blend in the sourroounding panels. Both estimated circa £1400 inc VAT. I'm tempred to do the repair but also track down the parts and store them. Fortunatley there is a silver door available here which is worth a punt at £40.

I used to take my car to Auto-Logic down in Starbeck. But not for a few years now. So maybe not the car you're refering t.

 

[A2Z]

My advice would be to try and source panels in the same colour and in their original factory paint.

As others have said both the rear arch and door are just bolt off bolt on, and there are so many cars being broken now (too many) that you are sure to drop on them soon enough and they would probably be a far better match colour wise than new paint, not to mention a better standard of finish, hopefully keeping your car factory looking and enormously cheaper too!

 

[treblezero]

My advice would be to try and source panels in the same colour and in their original factory paint.

As others have said both the rear arch and door are just bolt off bolt on, and there are so many cars being broken now (too many) that you are sure to drop on them soon enough and they would probably be a far better match colour wise than new paint, not to mention a better standard of finish, hopefully keeping your car factory looking and enormously cheaper too!

Yes, this makes a lot of sense to me. I'm in no rush (not like it's going to rust much in the meantime). But I do have the issue of securing the funds from the other party on a bit of an unknown quantity of parts and travel, let alone the time and effort that goes in to actually doing the work. However, if the other party was willing to take the 3 estimates in to account (another in this afternoon), then I guess I could take a punt and suggest they pay the average in cash, with a receipt, and draw a line under their part in this sorry saga.

 

[PlasticMac]

As you'd, wisely, like to avoid insurance companies, (to avoid write off), you should try to make the settlement with the other party sufficiently attractive, so they don't go via insurance. I'd estimate the actual cost of the bits you need, add a bit for your time, and go with that. He's only got his NCB to loose, so, ideally you need to get below that. Not fair, I know, but may be the realistic route.
Mac.

 

[treblezero]

As you'd, wisely, like to avoid insurance companies, (to avoid write off), you should try to make the settlement with the other party sufficiently attractive, so they don't go via insurance. I'd estimate the actual cost of the bits you need, add a bit for your time, and go with that. He's only got his NCB to loose, so, ideally you need to get below that. Not fair, I know, but may be the realistic route.
Mac.

The responce from the other driver, and elderly lady, after I sent her the estimates so far is she can't afford to pay for repair and is going to contact her insurance company to get the ball rolling. I offered an alternative suggestion which is she pays £900 and I'll do the work required. But it's not looking good. This is defo a keeper car so I'm sooo disapointed. Any other suggestions?

 

[Robin_Cox]

The responce from the other driver, and elderly lady, after I sent her the estimates so far is she can't afford to pay for repair and is going to contact her insurance company to get the ball rolling. I offered an alternative suggestion which is she pays £900 and I'll do the work required. But it's not looking good. This is defo a keeper car so I'm sooo disapointed. Any other suggestions?

As far as I am aware, her insurance cannot write off your car.

I had something similar about 5 years ago - an elderly gentleman in his motability people carrier reversed into the door panel of my other half's car - which being Island green metallic isn't the easiest colour to get hold of, but similar sort of damage level to yours without the adjacent wing scuff. He sent the motability insurance details over promptly. They rang me and offered £800 for the car as a write-off which I refused - so they gave me £500 towards repairs ; I was able to get a replacement door panel in the right colour by some miracle off Ebay for £50. I had to notify my insurance of the situation but apart from that no big deal ; door skin finally swapped over last summer and you can't tell that it wasn't the original as the paint batch must have either been the same or very very close.

 

[treblezero]

She's offerd £500 cash but I've just asked if she could stretch to £700. Fingers crossed!

*nail biting stuff!

Update - She's sticking with £500. I need to work out if this is doable (time I have). Even at a small loss at least it's not got a Cat N against it

 

[PlasticMac]

She's offerd £500 cash but I've just asked if she could stretch to £700. Fingers crossed!

*nail biting stuff!

Update - She's sticking with £500. I need to work out if this is doable (time I have). Even at a small loss at least it's not got a Cat N against it

I think you'd best take the £500 while it's going.
If she goes via her insurance, they'll contact yours, I reckon, and you'll be on a slippery slope.
Insurance is a wonderful thing, until you claim.
Mac.

 

[treblezero]

I think you'd best take the £500 while it's going.
If she goes via her insurance, they'll contact yours, I reckon, and you'll be on a slippery slope.
Insurance is a wonderful thing, until you claim.
Mac.

Yes I hear you. I've got till tomorrow to decide. but I'm leaning that way, as much as it wrangles me

However, if she puts a claim in against her car for repairs she would need to say she hit something else or her insurance company will be straight on to mine. Not quite as slippery but a slope none the less.

 

[Little Dog]

I didn’t think you had to use your insurance to claim damages. It is up to the lady that hit you if she chooses to pay or claim against her insurance. You just need the estimates and advise her you want compensating.
What ever it was £1.5k? That should focus her mind and she may pay the £700.

 

[treblezero]

I didn’t think you had to use your insurance to claim damages. It is up to the lady that hit you if she chooses to pay or claim against her insurance. You just need the estimates and advise her you want compensating.
What ever it was £1.5k? That should focus her mind and she may pay the £700.

Indeed. However, If the other party decide to claim to have their own car repaired through their insurance company and they mention it was my car they hit (she has my details) they will, like it or not, report the incident to my insurance company. She’s prepared to pay out £500 cash but unless I can convince her to keep my car out of her own personal claim (say she says she caught the garage door or driveway gate post) I will have a none fault accident on my insurance records. Premiums up for the next 5 years. OK, It’s probably not a bank busting increase but I’ve still got the task of sourcing the parts and doing the work me sen with £500. I might luck out and find the parts in Mauritius Blue (Pearl Effect) over the next year, in which case painting would be minimal. But you catch my drift.

 

[Phil_B]

I would wager that younger family members have got involved with the offer of £500.00 being so low.
How about reminder her that should she go though insurance, not only will her premium go up, but (depending upon her age) she may be forced to either re take a test, or give up her DVLA Licence.

 

[treblezero]

I would wager that younger family members have got involved with the offer of £500.00 being so low.
How about reminder her that should she go though insurance, not only will her premium go up, but (depending upon her age) she may be forced to either re take a test, or give up her DVLA Licence.

Yep, that crossed my mind, too. Not sure I can go there for the amount of loss I’m facing... Fsure I’m a tight Yorkshireman and I do want my costs covered, but leaning on old ladies is another level. Best sleep on it I think.

 

[PlasticMac]

Yep, that crossed my mind, too. Not sure I can go there for the amount of loss I’m facing... Fsure I’m a tight Yorkshireman and I do want my costs covered, but leaning on old ladies is another level. Best sleep on it I think.

Before us oldies go a bit doolally, we achieve a level of wisdom that only comes with age, and experience, and that's only the male of the species.
But, it's also worth bearing in mind, that we're not all in a position to flash the cash at the drop of a hat.
Mac.

 

[donp38]

Consider contacting a paint-less dent removal company.

 

[Little Dog]

Indeed. However, If the other party decide to claim to have their own car repaired through their insurance company and they mention it was my car they hit (she has my details) they will, like it or not, report the incident to my insurance company. She’s prepared to pay out £500 cash but unless I can convince her to keep my car out of her own personal claim (say she says she caught the garage door or driveway gate post) I will have a none fault accident on my insurance records. Premiums up for the next 5 years. OK, It’s probably not a bank busting increase but I’ve still got the task of sourcing the parts and doing the work me sen with £500. I might luck out and find the parts in Mauritius Blue (Pearl Effect) over the next year, in which case painting would be minimal. But you catch my drift.

I suspect if your insurer got involved a cash in lieu of repair settlement would be around £500. Could be less having recently seen how little value insurers put on these cars. Best accept the cash, but don’t be surprised if it never arrives.