Ok, i really need help on this one
My younger brother and i went to pick up one of our vans that had been serviced today and on the way home my brother drove into the back of me
Unfortunately, as it was my brother my parents and i dont really want to go through the insurance as it will increase his premium which is already high as he is epileptic (controlled).
The damage is:
Boot wont close, looks like this is due to the floor having bent upwards
Rear bumper bent quite badly and broken most of the mounting points where it screws onto the car at the top
Boot lid bottom edge bent under
Boot trim broken off

I have tried to show all the damage as best i can in these pictures.

Rear

Image deleted by owner

Boot lid - a bit blurry but you can just see it is bent along the bottom edge

Image deleted by owner

Bent floor

Image deleted by owner

Bent floor close up

Image deleted by owner

OSR

Image deleted by owner

Even if the floor wasnt bent, i wouldnt be too confident repairing it myself so what i would like to know is
a) what is it worth (its a 98 S 1.6 8v auto 37k family owned and very well looked after)
b) what would the repair cost?
c) is it worth getting it repaired?

[Edited on 26-2-09 by speedyxjs]

Will vehicle be kept indefinitely? If so id say probs not worth the claim. The striker plate looks like it has moved - will probs be pursuaded back into position to allow hatch to close. Bumper may also be pursuaded back into better alignment.

Im guessing it was low speed shunt. Probs be more satisfying to give him a slap and tell your mother he was oggling some milf outside a school (assuming she will give a slap too)

easy fix that is. spot weld some pins on the deepest part of the dent then use a slide hammer to pull it back out grind off pins smooth out and paint.

wil cost about £400 in a backstreet bodyshop.

quote:

---

Originally posted by DarrenW
Will vehicle be kept indefinitely?

---

Get as much trim as you can out of the way and set about it with the hammer. You will most likely be able to get it somewhere near then adjust the boot striker by undoing the screws and move it back as far as it will go then forward a bit at a time till it catches and seals as well as you can get it. A scrapyard bumper shouldn't be too much but a new one may surprise you, we bought one for a Mondy for about £70.

You will impress yourself if you strip it down and set to with a lump of wood and hammer. As all this panel work will be hidden by plastic a coat of black paint to finish.

If you find bits are bending the wrong way as you hit the opposite way to the collision hence slide hammer drill out spot welds on the panels, once seperate they lose all strength, batter into shape and weld through the newly drilled holes.

If it was me and Mine I woud remove bumper.

Then tie ( with STRONG rope ) the strike plate to a bottom of somthing that does not move pole and leave the rope slack gently pull away say walking speed so the action is pulling the strike plar out ad down.

I think that would pull it somwhere close.

But dont blame me if it all ges t!ts up and I would go down all other avenues first.

regards

Agriv8

Thanks for the replies. Iv just suggested i have a go at repairing it to my parents (its still registered in my mums name) and they have said no

if it were me i'd hand the keys to brother & get him to bloody fix it! what numpty

cars worth £800 at best bodge it best you can and carry on as before

quote:

---

Originally posted by afj
cars worth £800 at best bodge it best you can and carry on as before

---

why would you pay for your brothers crash?

He doesnt have much money

Nothing to do with accident advice but your brother shouldn't be paying any more than anyone else because of his epilepsy.
I have it and as long as it's controlled i'm ok, if they charge him more because of it then that's classed as discrimination against a disabled person, check it out with the insurance company

So you parents say don't repair it yourself - why is this?

I'd not even entertain spending money on it to be honest, or claiming for it. Will push up all premiums and won't add any value to the car. Pull the latch back into line so the boot can lock and open again. See if the bumper will go back onto the mounts and stick the bit of trim back on with new clips.

I would put money on that damage has physically written the car off. New bumper, mounts, trim, painting.... Just not worth claiming but is worth it to fix it up yourself and save all the costs!

quote:

---

Originally posted by McLannahan
So you parents say don't repair it yourself - why is this?

---

Might be a good idea to disguise the number plate.
Insurance co.s will be interested in all accidents even if you don't make a claim.

So. Brother at fault. Parents don't want to claim. You are not allowed to repair. Brother has no money.




FIGHT!


No really. Something/someone has to give. Suggest brother probably has money if things are for him - he should pay.

quote:

---

Originally posted by speedyxjs

quote:

---

Originally posted by McLannahan
So you parents say don't repair it yourself - why is this?

---

They have this thing where they wont let me do anything like that unless im qualified. They dont even like me servicing it.

---

go o an independant and get a quote first you might be suprised! tell them you just want the panel work ! as I'm sure you cold fit a bit of plastic before you go home ! and what mam does,nt knoe wont hert her!

also what excess does he have, as if you make a claim and its worth 800 ,knock off the ?400? excess leaves you no car and less than a monkey

I dont want to do it through the insurance. I like the idea of getting someone to do the metal work though. My parents are going on holiday in a few weeks so i may be able to stretch it out until then and do the plastic bits myself

Your parents will naturally want it in the condition before the accident, but unless the car's in showroom nick to start with, it's unlikely to do so without a disproportionate amount of work and without them paying for it via their loss of no-claims and your brother's increased premiums. Everybody loses out.

Once you / they accept the above, you're back into "can-do". Given thatused car prices are so low at the mo., it would be cheaper to swap it than to make a claim!

Just my £0.02 worth...

Francis

quote:

---

Originally posted by HAL 1
Nothing to do with accident advice but your brother shouldn't be paying any more than anyone else because of his epilepsy.
I have it and as long as it's controlled i'm ok, if they charge him more because of it then that's classed as discrimination against a disabled person, check it out with the insurance company

---

^^^ Hmm. I might suggest he phone them today then and see what they say. I didnt think they should be allowed to up his premium.