Hi

I am wondering if anyone knows how I can get this repaired as cheap as possible as due to health reasons I am unable to work and so on Benefits.

I have fully comp insurance but the car is only valued at around £800 and my first repair quote that I got today was £720, bearing in mind I have excess to pay and the knock on effect of it hitting my full NCB as well, it would does not seem worth it going down the insurance route, though I have notified both the Ins Company and reported to the policel.

Who caused it never bothered to let me know, the car was parked on the road outside my home for two days, I guess it was quite possibly done by a 7.5t lorry or a van (flatbed type), too high for another car.  

I had it in mind to be keeping my car on the road for a long as possible, it flew through the last MOT and I also had the cambelt done with the annual full service, it has 207,800 miles on the clock.

This may sound mad but is it possible to get this part of the body cut from a scrapped car at a breakers and replace it? 

Any ideas and advice would be greatly received, I am in Gloucestershire.

I know you don’t really want this answer but just leave it as it is. I doesn’t affect the driving of it or it’s ability to get a mot. 

No matter how it is fixed, unless you do all the work yourself the repair will take 5 or more hours and hence will be at least £500.

You can probably push 50 to 60% of that damage out from the inside using some soft wood blocks and a hide mallet. Other than doing that, that I would leave the rest.

I had something similar happen to my Mk 2 a few years ago, but self inflicted and not as bad.  I left it as it was partly because the cost made no sense for a badly depreciating car, intending one day to knock it back into shape myself but never got around to it.  It doesn't affect anything really but I still grimace whenever I see it and serves as a useful reminder to be more careful when reversing. I would live with it or have a go at a DIY repair if I had the time.

12 hours ago, Paddy D said:

This may sound mad but is it possible to get this part of the body cut from a scrapped car at a breakers and replace it? 

Yes.  But at considerable cost for the welding, blending & paint.  The cutting is the easy part.

I'm afraid, as others have said, that's simply not worth fixing professionally unfortunately.  I do know how frustrating it is to look at though.  You can try knocking it out from inside but I think that's on the double skinned part and not easily accessible?  So the alternative is to use pullers instead, either suction type (Google it and you'll see people even use 'adult toys' for this!) or the glue on type.  You also want to get the bodywork as hot as possible so not easy to do outside this time of year.

Some tcut and rubbing compound would improve it a bit , not a lot, but a bit better

The plus side of just leaving it, is that you will be able to park anywhere in the future and not have to worry about anyone bumping their dam shopping trolley into you, indeed, I would be scared to park next to you as you're obviously a 'hard man' who could care less giving my own car a bump LOL

1 hour ago, isetta said:

Some tcut and rubbing compound would improve it a bit , not a lot, but a bit better

Yes, I would have thought you'd be able to just polish that out, no bother!😀

But being serious, I know how annoying it is, but as others have said, it shouldn't affect ability to pass MOTs so you should get a bit more use out of it ok. There's an otherwise immaculate early Mk 2 near me with similar damage in the exact same place, been like that for several years.

If you can get access, you may well be able to pop it out a bit, I did something similar on the rear side panel of an old Mini years ago and was surprised how easily it sprang out, but I could get decent access after removing the trim.

It might be worth asking around if anyone knows a good cheap repairer in your area. A mate of mine has used a guy several times to do repairs on older cars and he has done some amazingly decent looking jobs for £150-200 on damage that I would have estimated at £750 plus. Unfortunately the guy is in Castleford, West Yorkshire so not much use to you I'm afraid.

 

Wrong time of year in the UK. Sunny day, hot water and suction cups will pull the majority of the slight dent out no problem.

14 hours ago, isetta said:

I know you don’t really want this answer but just leave it as it is. I doesn’t affect the driving of it or it’s ability to get a mot. 

Thank you for your reply, it is an honest and a sensible one.  I think it will be left untouched for a while, apart from me putting a temporary rust prevention bit of paint on it where the bare metal is showing.  I suffer badly with anxiety and depression, the damage to the car has not helped at all but I am hopeful that I can sort of ignore it over time, pennies are rare and everyone counts these days.  Take care, stay safe, have a great Christmas and a healthy lucky new year.

14 hours ago, isetta said:

I know you don’t really want this answer but just leave it as it is. I doesn’t affect the driving of it or it’s ability to get a mot. 

 

12 hours ago, unofix said:

No matter how it is fixed, unless you do all the work yourself the repair will take 5 or more hours and hence will be at least £500.

You can probably push 50 to 60% of that damage out from the inside using some soft wood blocks and a hide mallet. Other than doing that, that I would leave the rest.

Thank you for your reply, I think it will be left untouched for a while, apart from me putting a temporary rust prevention bit of paint on it where the bare metal is showing.  I suffer badly with anxiety and depression, the damage to the car has not helped at all but I am hopeful that I can sort of ignore it over time, pennies are rare and everyone counts these days.  Take care, stay safe, have a great Christmas and a healthy lucky new year.

3 hours ago, south_bound said:

I had something similar happen to my Mk 2 a few years ago, but self inflicted and not as bad.  I left it as it was partly because the cost made no sense for a badly depreciating car, intending one day to knock it back into shape myself but never got around to it.  It doesn't affect anything really but I still grimace whenever I see it and serves as a useful reminder to be more careful when reversing. I would live with it or have a go at a DIY repair if I had the time.

Thank you for your reply, I think it will be left untouched for a while, apart from me putting a temporary rust prevention bit of paint on it where the bare metal is showing.  I suffer badly with anxiety and depression, the damage to the car has not helped at all but I am hopeful that I can sort of ignore it over time, pennies are rare and everyone counts these days.  Take care, stay safe, have a great Christmas and a healthy lucky new year.

33 minutes ago, Wino said:

Wrong time of year in the UK. Sunny day, hot water and suction cups will pull the majority of the slight dent out no problem.

I think it will be left untouched for a while, apart from me putting a temporary rust prevention bit of paint on it where the bare metal is showing.  I suffer badly with anxiety and depression, the damage to the car has not helped at all but I am hopeful that I can sort of ignore it over time, pennies are rare and everyone counts these days.  Take care, stay safe, have a great Christmas and a healthy lucky new year.

Leave it as is, or push some of the bump out as others have said, but maybe check the rear of the panel for cracked paint etc. and slosh some waxoil ont the metalwork behind the bumper, which looks as if it is still securely fixed. Lots of polish on the scrtched bit, trying to spray it will probably make it look worse. Dents can be pulled and fixed up to a point (see old episodes of Car SOS and wheeler dealers) but I doubt you could make use of Ed China's skills!

3 minutes ago, RMurphy195 said:

...and wheeler dealers) but I doubt you could make use of Ed China's skills!

Seeing him weld on the straightening rods to that old Ferrari 308 is still one of my favourite episodes!