GT accident

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:29 pm

Yep. Today was a sad daY. I skidded into a Mondeo at abou 8-10 MPH, damaging the car

Whatever the bumper joins onto is pushed in, O/S headlamp smashed, bonnet slightly cracked but still in shape and one peice, with a nasty scuff. Front o/s wing lip is bent but easily sorted. The top front cross member looks straight, but the bonnet catch wont locate. Im not sure whats happening with the car yet as its halfway through being sold, but were sorting something out. I just feel so down about it as it is such a rare car that I got on the road and put so much effort into. The accident was an odd one. Im usually very good on observation, and can only think that it was a combination of late indicating of car in front coupled with me adjusting the heater or radio or something for a split second, plus icy roads. The MOndeo already had silver bumpers on a blue body and he got the police involved as "last time he tried to claim compensation, he couldnt as he could nt prove something...whatever, all I know is that they were compensation culture people

I got told by the policeman "you picked the wrong type of person to hit there". Im really upset about this. I wish I could just look at it as a lump of metal and a bit of money, but when that much work goes in to earning each, its nasty.

If im going to be fixing the car, im confident I can do it , apart from, brute force may be needed, and how do you smooth out cracks in that plastic bonnet? Once the bonnets fixed, it will be an easy respray as it only the front lip thats cracked so due to the angle differendce, the colour match can be blended in over the edge. The bumper is uncracked but mis shapen duie to the change of the structure behiind it.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:33 pm

Horrible thing to happen. Sorry to hear about it. Just think - it could've been a lot worse.

I'm sure the car will rise again (as all good BXs should do!)...

Chin up, pal.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:41 pm

Adam, are Mk2 parts all different to Mk1? If there`s any Mk2 parts that will fit and you need them then drop me a pm. Your`s for postage costs only and might be able to meet up somehere to save on that if you wanted.
Sorry to hear about your accident, main thing is no-one was hurt. The insurance will cover anything else.

Barnsley BXer · Post by **Barnsley BXer** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:45 pm

What disturbs me,Adamski,is the number of people who seem to be going out to have "accidents"It seems to be a common practice(loads of newspaper reports)for people to go out in their cars and have unsuspecting people run into the back of them,claiming large amounts of compo,for whiplash and the kind.Hope you haven't been scammed mate.

capri · Post by **capri** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:47 pm

So sorry to hear about this happening mate - it's such a shame. I know it's of very limited use, but if there's anything I can do to help (i.e. pony express for parts or whatnot) then do give me a shout.

BX Bandit · Post by **BX Bandit** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:50 pm

Awww, sorry about the accident mate. Take your time and get yourself sorted before the car matey....have a step back...cos it is only a lump of metal at the end of the day...even if it is one we collectively love!! She'll mend dude. I have no mk1 bits to offer mate I'm sorry but if you need a pint and a natter...give us a shout!! Chin up pal

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:38 pm

Thanks for the support guys. Its very much appreciated.

All I know I need so far is an o/s headlamp and indicator lense. The indicator is MK1 specific, but everything else is the same I think. The bonnet I was hoping to save/repair as it holds the GT badge.

Other than that, ill have to have a look in the light and see what can be jigged back and what can be replaced, but having thought it through, its probably one of those dramatic looking things that could be sorted in a few weekends and looking good as new (fingers crossed). Thanks again everyone for the offer of parts. Its vey kind.

Regards, Adam

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:55 am

"last time he tried to claim compensation, he couldnt as he could nt prove something...whatever, all I know is that they were compensation culture people

Having been in one accident where a Uninsured Driver slammed into the Back of my first BX, the compensation cheque 4 years later made up for it.

In the UK its way to easy to claim compensation for a minor ding and some people make a career out if it. Probably one thing NZ has got right is we dont have compolsury insurance but pay a ACC (Accident Compensation Levy) on just about everything. Its better as no one can claim a lump sum! You get compensation for lose of earnings and medical care thats all.

Even though you admit it was your fault, his claim to me is very weak and personally I think he is a money grabbing, dole bludging loser. No wonder insurance is so high in the UK.

Hope you get the GT back up and running, I had on once replaced the Bumpers with MKIIs a rare car and one to pride.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:25 am

Adam, I'm very sorry to hear about your mishap, but the most important thing by far is that you're ok yourself. It must be a real blow after all the work you've done, but let's hope that it turns out not to be as bad as at first sight.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:24 am

Adam.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune indeed.

If there's one thing I've learned about insurance companies, its that they're rubbish at keeping people informed. Make sure they let you know about EVERYTHING the other party does/says/writes, as I have had a situation where the other people blatently lied to their insurance company, and they believed them. It was only because I was copied in that I was able to spot it, and tell them it was a lie. Almost went to court too.

If you PM me your address, a used-but-good offside MK1 indicator lens will be on it's way to you.

I'm also about to break a MK1.. except it's red, so the bumper is probably of no use to you. If there are any bits of use, let me know.

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:31 am

We had a similar situation in the estate.

Pushed the slam panel back, cracked the bonnet etc. We straightened the slam panel back out....its weaker now but lines up.
Headlamps sit a bit wonky!

The bumper is an easy thing to remove and remount, so you'll get it all looking nice again. One thing to check with mk1's is the extra brace that runs under the engine....if the front end shunt is hard enough, it will buckle the bottom of the bulkhead. Doesn't sound like it was hard enough to do any real damage though, sounds more cosmetic. It shows how structurely solid the car is if its taken the impact without bending.

I think you'll be looking at a new bonnet though, but the stickers will be easy to get made....they're the same logo as the AX GT remember.

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:05 am

Cheers guys. David that indicator would be a god-send-thankyou

Ill PM you my address etc. The good thing about the bumper is that its not scratched or cracked at all. Amazing bumbers really. Im sure with a bit of planned brute force and leverage ill get it all straight again. Regarding the bonnet, I was thinking about the cost of a complete respray verses the cost of a plastic repair. There is a motorbike repair shop called the plastic surgery, so I might give them a try. Failing that, its a new bonnet, a massive area to paint the right colour and yeah I suppose I could get a GT badge made, somehow.

The first thing the driver of the car said was "you f%^7&8ed my engine", and that a new bumper for an M reg Mondeo is £150, and that he had a bad neck. Yes his engine did sound very odd indeed, but how on earth could I have done that if my car never stopped running, sounded fine, and drove off fine. I could understand if it was a Beatle or Porche etc, but hi engines in the front. I didnt even touch the exhaust as far as I could tell.

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:09 am

Adam

Get everything, but everything in writing. If anyone calls you, log name, date, time of call, action points/resluts and confirm in writing. Set up a separate file for the whole thing.

This is going to be tricky and you will need to make sure that you cover every point and your arse.

I hope you get it sorted.

Oscar

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:14 am

To repair the fibreglass bonnet basically you have to strengthen it by sticking more matting on the back.

The first stage is to trim the cracked edges so that they sit flat (remembering to drill a small hole at the end of any cracks. You then want to fasten it flat - if necessary by pop riveting plates on to hold it in position. The crack itself must then be thoroughly cleaned out and V'd so you can get filler etc to stick in there.

Probably best to do the back first - clean it really thoroughly with abrasive (sandpaper etc) to get the paint off and to roughen it then stick glass fibre matting on with resin - and repeat several times till you've got a good strong job - then attack the front and if you can get some resin and fine mat in the crack - so much the better - then fill, finish and paint.

A bit of ingenuity will save a load of work and you can make a job that will not show from the outside - you may even be able to hide most of the inside work.

The misalignment MAY be a bent bonnet hinge.

The secret with bumpers etc is to get all the fixing points properly aligned before you try and fix it. I don't know if the plastic end blocks are still available but I expect the little locating clips have broken off - in which case you may be able to make a steel plate with the clips on it and pop rivet it to the plastic so that they do their job properly.

cauchoiskev · Post by **cauchoiskev** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:32 am

Hard luck, mate.

What I can't understand is why the police accepted to get involved. Nobody was injured, and I take it both cars could drive away from the scene. Nobody did a runner. You were insured. They must have too much time on their hands ?

I'm pretty sure jokers like that would be told to scarper in no uncertain terms by the rozzers down here in France. What happened to common sense in GB ?

BTW, did you manage to get photos of the accident ? That can be handy if the other party starts playing funny games.