Chances Of Fixing This One?

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 03 Aug 2005, 02:15

I take it this is grounds for a new tailgate? I can't imagine a bit of polyfilla and a can of green paint sorting that out... You can really make it out in the third pic, but there's a hairline crack developing across the tailgate under the window rubber. [xx(]
A bin lorry reversed into it BTW... [}:)][}:)]

rossnunn · Unread post by **rossnunn** » 03 Aug 2005, 02:19

ouch! Where are you? I think I've a spare in black if your after one?

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 03 Aug 2005, 02:25

Cheers, I might take you up on that. I'm wrangling with insurance companies just now though to get some compensation. Although the tailgate on its own is £370, and then the labour etc etc. Could work out to be nearly as much as the car is worth... [;)]

mpr1956 · Unread post by **mpr1956** » 03 Aug 2005, 02:42

hi there, I wonder if it could be repaired by one of those companies that repair bumpers.. They reckon their repairs are almost invisible...

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 03 Aug 2005, 02:47

I dunno - I was thinking it's probably structurally f&%*$d. It looks to me like the cracks have spread since this morning...

wilkobob · Unread post by **wilkobob** » 03 Aug 2005, 03:00

Depends how "bothered" you are about it. If you are patient, then you could fill it with some plastic bumper repair filler (not sure who makes it). Its black and i got some from our local motor factors for less than a fiver, and it is much much better than the normal white body filler. Sand it and sand the paint around, prime and then paint, use plenty of wet and dry paper, when you are satisfied with the finish, laquer it. Have done a fair few repairs like this, namely the bumper on my zx which was hanging off, and also the tailgate (someone drove into it),once repaired, you couldnt tell. Careful of the brand of paint you use, as in my experience, the more you pay the better you get (cheap aint cheerful).

mezuk04 · Unread post by **mezuk04** » 03 Aug 2005, 03:51

Do have to agree with Wilkobob comments, he's done a few and on the zx like he mentioned, you could hardly tell at all.

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 03 Aug 2005, 04:05

When glass fibre gets cracked like that the repairs are expensive, if it was the hull of a yacht it would be worth repairing, but since it's the back door of a ZX, I think a scrap yard tailgate is going to be more cost effective.
To fix it properly, you'd have to clean it up and remove all of the loose cracked GRP, then put some new glass in with resin, time consuming. After you'd done that it would need priming and painting.

Unread post by **alan s** » 03 Aug 2005, 04:24

I'd be swapping the panel. In my opinion, once it was fixed, it would look as though it was fixed and would eventually scream at the rest of the car as the paint weathered.
Alan S

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 03 Aug 2005, 04:55

Yeah cheers guys - I thought as much. I'd go insane filling that in. It'd probably disintegrate anyway next time a bird took a dump on it.
It's covered in duct tape at the minute, so that'll do until I hear back from the council's solicitor with regard to money...
BTW, just in case anybody's curious - it's £370 quid for a new tailgate on citroen-pr.[:0] Add in the labour for swapping out the glass, lock, etc and you're probably not far off the price of another 96 diesel ZX. [B)]

Paulmi16 · Unread post by **Paulmi16** » 03 Aug 2005, 13:14

Tailgate swap option, i'd be worried about filler falling out one day when closing the tailgate.
Paul

wrinklet1 · Unread post by **wrinklet1** » 03 Aug 2005, 15:31

Plenty scrap yards have Zx's in nowadays, I would look around, I saw 4 Zx's in our local scrap yard last weekend.

sponix · Unread post by **sponix** » 03 Aug 2005, 17:31

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by mpr1956</i>

hi there, I wonder if it could be repaired by one of those companies that repair bumpers.. They reckon their repairs are almost invisible...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I had some damage repaired (Caused by a windscreen fitter) repaired by one of those companies and it was very, very good.
Even knowing where the repair is you can't see it.

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 03 Aug 2005, 17:46

This is a simple fibreglass moulding. To repair get some resin + hardner, some coarse mat, fine glass fibre paper and some filler. Clean up the broken bits and drill holes at the end of any cracks to stop them spreading. Cut mat to go over the holes and thoroughly clean the reverse. Mix resin and hardner and apply with a brush ( sacrifial) to the surrounds of the back, and stick the mat over the holes. When its held in place, stipple more resin in and let it set. Build up several layers of matting in the same manner to the original thickness or greater then simply fill and sand to shape, prime with the appropriate primer and paint.
Should be as strong or stronger than the original!
Jeremy

ActivaV6uk · Unread post by **ActivaV6uk** » 03 Aug 2005, 17:48

i would replace the lid with one off another car its not as hard as it seams ive already replaced 2-3 on xantias and BX's
Andy