Accident Damage - ADVICE NEEDED!

cosb6 · Post by **cosb6** » 27 Jan 2006, 08:50

Hi,
It's been a month or so since I've posted (so appologies for not helping other people) but I need help again.

The missus has been playing bumper cars in her Mk2 Xsara, and has damaged the front bumper. It's moved down, moving the off-side headlight slightly but hasn't cracked or broken.

My questions are...

- How do I get it off
- Does anyone have any diagrams of what's behind it
- Does anyone know where I could (if needed) get a replacement.
- Does it sound expensive (the damage to the other car looked nothing so they might not claim).

Thanks in advance....

Stuart

Paul Mi16 · Post by **Paul Mi16** » 27 Jan 2006, 09:02

I'd suggest getting it looked at by a professional. Accidents do more damage than you think, especially as you say the headlight has been moved.

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 27 Jan 2006, 09:20

As far as the bumper's concerned, new replacements are expensive, so it would either be a breaker job, or ask one of the specialist automotive plastics repair firms to take a look.

cosb6 · Post by **cosb6** » 27 Jan 2006, 09:42

What I'll do is take some pics over the weekend, and post up here. I can then guage opinion off anyone who has had anything similar.

Might be worth £200 and an insurance job.... it seems then. Her premium is only £250, so it's unlikely to rise by more than £100 or more...

As for damage undeneath, if you can't see it, I'm not bothered.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 27 Jan 2006, 10:01

If the bumper is ever to sit correctly all its mounts must be in the right place. Sounds obvious but its the only way to get it right. You will only really discover what has happened when you get the thing off. In the meantime its well worth having a really good look around both underneath and under the bonnet for damage which may show as actual distortion or stretched welds, dislodged sealer or flaking paint. Some cars have concertina sections in the front 'chassis' memvbers and they could absorb impact - snd so must be examined properly.

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 27 Jan 2006, 10:19

(the damage to the other car looked nothing so they might not claim).

Don't believe that for a minute!!! Most people seem to automatically run to the doctors and blub about 'whiplash' and 'soft tissue injuries' at the slightest little tap

And if you have even put a minor scratch on their car they are probably going to be looking for it to be fixed, that means a claim from their insurer who will be onto your insurer for the money.

In the old days, you just thumped the bumper iron straight- not so on modern cars so you really need to get the bumper off and check for damage.

The light has probably just been pushed out of its clips. (With a BX you can just pull them out by hand)just try gently pushing it back into position.

cosb6 · Post by **cosb6** » 27 Jan 2006, 13:26

It's the guys company car. He said he'd ask them to take a look, and see what they said. He didn't think they'd bother though... I know where I work they wouldn't if it looked ok.

Anyway, Tescos have been excellent. They've said they'll leave it 3 months, and if he's not been in touch, and we don't want to claim, we can fix it ourselves if we wish. Or if we want to claim at any time we can....

They basically advised us to get some quotes, and they'll also advise on premium rises so we can do whatever works out cheapest. The service was excellent....

Insurance Companies are getting wise to whiplash now... if the car is undamaged, then they will question it.....

zxb29 · Post by **zxb29** » 27 Jan 2006, 16:07

not too sure what its like on the xsara but on the ZX behind the bumper was a steel fixture or bracket which kinda bolted from the chasis onto the bumper.

When it had a knock the fixture/bracket wud tend to kink out of place and move the headlights out of position.....so u might be able to get the fixture from citroen dealer.

Jus pop down to a citroen dealer and enquire of the fittings, they have blown up diagrams on there computers so u could see how it all fits together

cosb6 · Post by **cosb6** » 27 Jan 2006, 16:37

Is there nobody on here that has that kind of diagram.... surely there must be some people who work at dealers that could send me a diagram of that area, or confirm if the Mk1 is the same.

I've got the Haynes job for that... but I've no idea if it's similar of not.

Thanks
Stuart

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 27 Jan 2006, 17:28

Not many working for dealers which is why you will probably get a correct answer on here!

Sounds like you want the Citroen PR net which is access to their spare parts computer ordering system - a search may reveal how to use it - or it may be in the links.

cosb6 · Post by **cosb6** » 30 Jan 2006, 09:14

Cheers Jeremy, I'll try that..

Anyway I took of the plasic grill bit (behind the bonnet grill) and the damage is more clear to see. It's broken in half the panel that goes behind the bumper, which is why the bumper sits further back, and which is why the headlight has moved down slightly. I've looked about as much as I can (without removing the bumper) and almost certainly just this new panel will be enough in parts. The Bumper will almost certainly go back fine, although I might need to pursuade it slightly, so it's the the metal panel / cross-member that I need.

It's not the main structural one (that you can see), but one behind the bumper. It's quite thin.... anyway... that's what I'll need. Just need to get some Citroen Guru to tell me the part number... so probably a dealer trip....

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 30 Jan 2006, 10:03

If the bit behind the bumper is meant to be a straight(ish) beam and you've got it off it may be possible to straighten it as after all its not going to be visible. It may be that if its collapsed, that sawing 2 or 3 sides allows it to be straightened - then weld plates over the cuts and paint!

jeremy

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 30 Jan 2006, 11:48

probably a dealer trip

Not necessarily. If there's an automotive panel specialist near you, try asking them - it's probably a commonly replaced part, so they might stock it, and it WILL be cheaper than the original part.