Repair or scrap?

[pheelay]

Hey there!

So I joined these forums a little over a month ago but so far haven't shared any pics of my baby as she's not in the best of shapes at the moment...

To cut a long story short, one night back in January, I was hit by someone who ran a red light. Fairly low speed collision, point of impact: front corners. Car still drives, steering is straight, no leaks etc but front bumper (Mk2) is cracked + the bonnet shifted about inch and is jammed shut.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/pheelay/DSCF0278.jpg

Insurance have offered 4200?. The dealer and insurance costed the repairs at 3800-4000 (french dealer prices = ???) and that's basically just new bumper, bonnet, wing, headlight and labour, i.e. there was no check for more serious damage underneath. The problem is they cannot get the parts.

I'm trying to decide now if it's worth getting the car repaired myself for less or to just let them scrap it. I'm wondering if I would have the same problem finding parts?

I know full damage can't be guessed by one pic. but for the main body parts, how easy would they be to source in Britain? (bumper and wing seem to be the most difficult to find) or would I be mad to try to undertake these repairs at all given the the settlement offered by the insurance? I like my ZS and don't like seeing it go off the road for what seems like such minor damage!

Hope you all had a good Paddy's Day!
Phil

[stamford]

Not a bad payout all things considered. What have you been quoted for buying it back? That will determine if its financially viable. Other thing is, if it's a left hooker what's the chances of finding another if you intend to have another ZS?

[petet16]

The panels would be pretty easy to source in the UK, some new and some s/h, do French insurance repairs have to be with new parts as is the case in the UK.

The pay out offered isn't bad, but it seems a shame to write it off for such light damage.

[pheelay]

600? to buy back. If I understood the guy correctly (language barriers!) insurance would pay 4200 - 600 = 3600? to keep the car and repair myself. As there's no safety issue, there's no problem doing the repairs elsewhere and no need to get it checked/tested after the repairs.

It's right-hand-drive (took it with me from Ireland, complete with the awe-inspiring 1.4L engine) and if I replaced it I'd try pick one up in the UK. The second hand car prices here are ridiclous. Dervs are going for 7-8000?

[peterzs]

Could source 2nd hand parts and get them sprayed up, be a cheaper fix.

http://www.partsgateway.co.uk/presults/plhowitworks.php?slctCar=mg

Dont know about shipping costs but dont suppose they would not be too bad.

:yes::yes::yes:

[lawrence-zs180]

I found that when I was looking for a 4x4 when I lived out there... at least 3 times more sometimes.
Good luck with getting the car sorted.. or getting another.

[KevG]

New Wing
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-ZS-L-H-Front-Wing-BODYKIT-TYPE-ORIGINAL-MG-/110456828316?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19b7bd719c
Bumper
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-ZS-MK2-FACELIFT-IGNITION-BLUE-FRONT-BUMPER-BODYKIT-/370478739092?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item564240ee94
Bonnet
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-ZS-Rover-45-Bonnet-coded-CMU-red-/160532739823?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item25607f36ef

[wackyschild]

Got to be worth repairing I would have thought as long as the damage is limited to what we can see in the photo.You can get the parts in the UK, even 2cnd hand ones, I'd hope you should be able to repair her well within the money given out by the insurance.

[marts66]

Keep it on the road, the world needs more Zeds :judge:

[pheelay]

Keep it on the road, the world needs more Zeds :judge:


Lol, won't argue with you there!!

It's time I got myself a 180 all the same but I will go with the buy back option and do the repairs leisurely in the background.

[wackyschild]

Lol, won't argue with you there!!

It's time I got myself a 180 all the same but I will go with the buy back option and do the repairs leisurely in the background.

Nice one... Well worth repairing :)

[daytona365]

Keep it on the road, the world needs more Zeds :judge:


2nd that. They need to be repaired..........:thumbsup:

[andys1981]

do it mate ,u wont regret it

[dida4g]

Easy fix, I'd even get the bumper repaired.

[Huffy]

if you But it back for 600, you'll get that back + allot more if you strip it for parts, it has the 180 body kit on ?

[pheelay]

if you But it back for 600, you'll get that back + allot more if you strip it for parts, it has the 180 body kit on ?

Yes, I was thinking that even if the repair turned out too costly. It has 180 body kit. Official response going to insurance tomorrow. Claim + buy back.

[pheelay]

Yet more delays with insurance so not much progress on that yet.

I'm going to go collect it next Tuesday and drive it home (~500km) as I wait for parts. The garage are a bit upset that it's been sitting in their yard for 2 months! When I left it in, the bonnet was jammed as it had shifted right.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/pheelay/DSCF0275.jpg

How would you go about getting the bonnet open/off?

[pheelay]

Disaster!! Just went to pick the car up. Brute force got the bonnet open, but that has dented the right side wing. Checked the levels, topped up coolant and began the drive home. 10 mins later she was overheating a little. First time thats happened since I bought the car new. Stopped to take a look and found the coolant bottle was filled to the the brim and under pressure. Moments later, it was empty. We have mayo in the oil cap, water drops on the dipstick and I believe steam coming out exhaust.

Lads, trying my best here but with the crash damage to repair and now a blown headgasket (that sounds like there will be a big mess under the head), I don't see how I can keep this car on the road! I'm gutted!

[peterzs]

Not friday the 13th is it???

Shame, thats added quite a bit to the repair costs.

Best of luck, which ever way you go.

:mml::mml::mml:

[MG ZS STE]

In responce to the thread title, SCRAP! cut your loses. ?3600 [or even better ?4200 without buy back) would get you a nicely spec'd MK2 180 over here. Realise there would be problems in viewing one as your in another country. Just look for anything decent near dover then come over for the weekend. You might even have enough change left over for a pasty and chips.

[pheelay]

In responce to the thread title, SCRAP! cut your loses. ?3600 [or even better ?4200 without buy back) would get you a nicely spec'd MK2 180 over here.

Yeah, that's kinda what i'm thinking just it seems a shame to let it go. If the car was at home, I'd have a go doing the HG myself but right now it's 500km south. :angry:

I just got quotes for the repairs.
HG ?550
Bodywork ?1350
In both cases I need to source & ship parts myself. Adding the parts, that should still fall within the budget of the settlement but, really, should I bother with all this hassle for a 1.4 litre when I could walk away with a nice budget towards a 180...

I don't like seeing another one go to the knacker's yard either, but it's starting to look like a lost cause! :wall:

[talkingcars]

As it's only a 1.4 and it's that far away you'll proberbly be better off getting another.

Is there anyone near to where the car is who maybe interested in buying it to break?

[Murray203ps]

It's a damn shame!!:ohmy:

But i agree with it being only a 1.4 use the money to get the awesome V6.

Word to the wise though.If you can possibly do it try to get the rear spats of the bumper because they are rare as hens teeth. Thats if you buy a MK2 of course.:cool2:

[pheelay]

An update...
Finally the new head gasket is fitted and I'm back on the road :mml: The heater matrix is blocked, which was determined as the root cause. It's bypassed now until I replace it.

Next step is getting the crash damage repaired ...

[dida4g]

Good stuff.
Was hoping this would get repaired.
Just need a wing and a bonnet and bumper repair.

[pheelay]

and a new heater rad.. or it's going to be a cold cold winter!

Can anyone tell me are the heater rads the same between Mk1, Mk2, 400, 45, 25 etc? Is this what I'm looking for?

ROVER 45/416/420 (95-04) HEATER MATRIX (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROVER-45-416-420-95-04-HEATER-MATRIX-/300520017445?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item45f8638e25)

[pheelay]

Well, the ZS is finally back to it's former glory. I drove the car back to Ireland and dropped it into a local mechanic. 7 days (and many many pints of guinness) later and he was done. A dealer in France wanted 6 months, waiting for parts. New bumper, bonnet, wing and I got the rear bumper re-done too. The frame needed a little realignment on a jig which raised the cost a little. All in 2500? and he did a really fantastic job. I know some of you guys will think that's nuts paying out the value of the car in repairs, but hey, with the head-gasket done now too it's running like new. There's a lot more life left in this boy's ZS.

delighted :yay:

[lawrence-zs180]

nice one dude glad to see its all back together.. bet its been worth all the trouble.

[pheelay]

sometimes I wonder! But the car runs so well now it's like she really appreciates it.

[dida4g]

Nice one.
get some pics up.

[stamford]

Good to hear it is all sorted.

[Snoop]

Buy it back and use the rest to get a 180!

[dida4g]

Buy it back and use the rest to get a 180!

I would read page 3.

[pheelay]

Nice one.
get some pics up.

We all love oogling over our MGs, don't we?

I'm getting it washed tomorrow, will take some pics.

:beer2:

[pheelay]

It's quiet day on here today! Well, the Lidl car park is not the most scenic location but here we are anyways..

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/pheelay/IMG_2390.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/pheelay/IMG_2393.jpg
The RHS headlight mountings were broken. It was repaired rather than replaced as new headlight unit was too pricey.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/pheelay/IMG_2402.jpg
There were very nasty scratches on this corner so got them filled and bumper resprayed.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/pheelay/IMG_2399.jpg
I've never had an exhaust on this car.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/pheelay/IMG_2404.jpg

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/pheelay/IMG_2410.jpg

Must say it looks good in the pics, just after a wash and in the sun. But it's not so good up close, lots of little scratches and marks. I'm hoping I can let our resident detailer Steves loose on it next week :D

[caled]

I've never had an exhaust on this car.


Lol, me either. Looks great, you glad you got it sorted in the end?

[pheelay]

Lol, me either. Looks great, you glad you got it sorted in the end?

Cheers. Yeah, really looks like something's missing there. Fumes probably end up in the boot.