Utter A*se!!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:26 am

Bugger and balls! I've completely fecked the car - was driving to a zone meet with Tedswagon and Topblag yesterday (they were in the car in front, thank god!) and this happened coming out of a roundabout. Serious lack of talent on my part - the tail whipped out and I couldn't correct it in time - the front end hit the barriers resulting in this:

Any hint/tips on what I should be doing with the insurance company would be very much appreciated - the car is currently impounded in a recovery yard and a claim has been started.
Similar stories/results would be appreciated!
Many many thanks to Tedswagon, Topblag and Fuzzy for their help, advice and support - rather that going off to the meet, they stayed with me for 3 hours in the pissing cold until the car had been taken away, and then gave me a lift home - Top top blokes!!
Needless to say I'll either be getting another E30 or trying to get this mess back to what it once was, so I'll be scouting about for complete front ends soon.
Utterly gutted does not even come close!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:37 am

Sorry to hear about the car! It's a lovely touring

. The only advice I can give with the insurance is to stand your ground on the value of the car. They can be b

s when it comes to older cars.

I'm sure you've heard it before, but look on the bright side, it could have been a lot worse. Although we love them cars are replaceable. Respect to Tedswagon and Topblag too!

Good luck finding a replacement or sourcing the necessary parts!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:46 am

another touring meet wreck

unlucky m8,
Beermerlad [Lee] should be able to give you some advice.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:59 am

[quote="Beermerlad [Lee] should be able to give you some advice.[/quote]
I think Magpie is right here.

Hard luck Al. At least you had some moral support.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:07 am

Difficult to tell from that frontend shot but is the n/s chassis leg bent?
My understanding is that will be the deciding factor in any possible repair...

Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:10 am

Currently going through this sh*t myself, after pranging my Minor Traveller's front end last week after slipping on wet leaves in the storm, so you have my sympathies

I have instructed my classic car insurance company that I want to buy the car back. Currently awaiting their engineer's report but I think they have declared it unrepairable (at least to them, economically speaking).

Try to regain possession of the wreck asap else it sits in a recovery yard accruing storage fees.

Good luck sorting it all out...

Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:12 am

thats a definate writeoff

if the legs n rails arent too bad you should get away with cat c on that and full payout

similar damage to my tch 1, single car accident etc

good luck

Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:20 am

That's a sad sight

Best of luck with the insurance... and at least you're OK.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:01 pm

I might not actually be that bad once you get the bent panels off as the bumper doesn't look out of line that much.

Definitely get it back anyway as the amount paid out will be nothing near the value of the car unless its a poverty spec 316

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:27 pm

gutted for you mate, such a nice car, how long before the vultures come i wonder?

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:28 pm

Any time Al, no probs.

I think that Maurice's advice is the best for now, get the car back. I agree it'll be written off as it's not economical to repair in the insurers eyes.

From what I saw of the car I reckon the chassis leg will be straight, it needs at least one new front wing, new bonnet, front slam panel, front valance, front bumper, NS lights, NS light wipers, NS indicator, NS fog light, both grilles, kidney grill and probably a bit of panel beating to get the innards back in line.

I can supply you with used parts to cover the list above except the body panels (although I've got a bumper that may fit) at what they cost me and will be happy to help fit them also.

Let me know, I'm happy to help and you'll find the other guys up here will have the same approach.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:50 pm

Sorry to see this. I hope there is a good outcome

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:53 pm

Al I'm totally gutted for you. Just bad luck, combined with some bad driving conditions. It was raining when it happened - light shower but the road was greasy and pretty slippy. The rozzers said they had just pulled someone out of a lamp post on the same round about the night before. The Armco has been replaced numerous times in the past. As Topblag said above, the near side chassis leg looked straight, just a bit of a bend at the junction with the slam panel. The impact was at about 20/25 mph at the most - it's not like we were booting it or anything, just unlucky.

You have to fix this up. Even if you just fix it up to sell it - but if you can help it you cant let it end up a scrapper.

Look on this linked site with e-bay, it saves a bit of time when searching for parts on the bay. http://www.e30auctions.com/

Other thing to look for are breakers on the bay.

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get a white bonnet and a couple of wings with change put of £100. Valance will be a bit tricker, lights and grills are always for sale on here, wiper motors a bit tricker to get - but every thing should still be available.

Everyone on here will help if they can.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:55 pm

ye teds right you will get parts no probs, i seen a white bonnet go for 9.99 a few weeks back so hopefully the parts wont break the bank

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:58 pm

As if by magic, look what I found - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 500wt_1182

White tourer. There are plenty of White ones out there so body panels in the same colour are easier to find than, say, bronzit!!!!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:58 pm

get the car back and see from there, hope all isnt as bad as it seems.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:20 pm

Tedswagon wrote:As if by magic, look what I found - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 500wt_1182

White tourer. There are plenty of White ones out there so body panels in the same colour are easier to find than, say, bronzit!!!!

Rocking Horse Sh*t is easier to find than Bronzit bits, although I hear the ex Eastern block is a good place to start....

Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:25 pm

Sorry to hear about that mate looked like a clean car as well, this is the very reason i want to get a cheap FWD for the winter E30's are bad enough in the wet let alone in the snow and ice

Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:36 pm

Sorry to hear the news, glad it's just the car damaged. What tyres were you using??

Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:37 pm

What a shitter

Get it out of the salvage yard asap.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:54 pm

Morat wrote:That's a sad sight
Best of luck with the insurance... and at least you're OK.

^What he said.

Cars can be replaced, people can't.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:14 pm

the insurance will wright that off almost certainly, hopefully it wont be any worse than a cat c

if there was no other car involved you can offer to pay for the damage of the baraier and recovery and avoid a claim!

I would try and get the car brought back to your place so that it is in your possesion!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:47 pm

Message left on your mobile Al

Cheers
Lee

Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:51 pm

Bummer

Hope you get it sorted without too much faffery!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:55 pm

hazd31 wrote:the insurance will wright that off almost certainly, hopefully it wont be any worse than a cat c

if there was no other car involved you can offer to pay for the damage of the baraier and recovery and avoid a claim!

I would try and get the car brought back to your place so that it is in your possesion!

I'm sure Mr Beemerlad knows much more on this subject but have you any idea how much you get charged for someone to come out to a bust barrier (on a sunday), securing and cleaning the scene, then returning to make the repairs. This all involves man days, coning operations, large vans full of equipment etc. I would estimate (having once worked for a local authority) that the cost of repair to the barrier will run into many thousands - my estimate is £5k.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:56 pm

Would it be worth pressing for payment in lewes( don't know how to spell it

)??

Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:00 pm

oakey wrote:Would it be worth pressing for payment in lewes( don't know how to spell it )??

I doubt it, considering he's from Edinburgh and Lewes is in Sussex!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:03 pm

Speedtouch wrote:
oakey wrote:Would it be worth pressing for payment in lewes( don't know how to spell it )??
I doubt it, considering he's from Edinburgh!

Oh dear

Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:15 pm

Leaves have got a lot to answer for. Ive seriously spun a Spitfire and a Boxter in the past, and both times got away with it, just! They get my respect now..
Sorry to see you wern't so lucky, hope you do well out of it and break even at least.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:35 pm

al i have new front valance in primer a grey bonnet just needing painted and possible front grill plastics if u want them to get u sorted free of charge let me know mate

Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:33 pm

jimbojetset wrote:al i have new front valance in primer a grey bonnet just needing painted and possible front grill plastics if u want them to get u sorted free of charge let me know mate

Bloody hell, that would be brilliant - Can I come back to you in a couple of days once i've got a better idea of my position.
Thanks again!!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:40 pm

no probs mate

Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:51 pm

Nooo, this car looked mint

something about touring crashes and e30 meets

Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:23 pm

Sorry to see this Al, but she'd def a rebuild and keep case.

Have wiper motor/arms etc available.

If you get the car out in time, we could have a reduildathon on the 12th

Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:42 pm

That would be great - would be amazing to ge the car back on the road before christmas. After speaking to Lee (E30beemerlad) I feel a wee bit better about the whole thing.
Thanks for all the kind words/support/offers/advice from you all - Much appreciated and what a genuinely great community this zone is. Really proud to be a part of it!