Someone crashed into me yesterday

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 12 Feb 2010, 22:38

Peter.N. wrote:Its always a good idea to carry a camera in the car for such eventualities, it can remember things we forget and provides evidence for the insurance company.

Has this forum gone widescreen or is it my computer?

It was due to the size of the photo.

I've changed it to a clickable thumbnail, hope you don't mind miggy.

Post by **myglaren** » 12 Feb 2010, 22:41

Peter.N. wrote:Its always a good idea to carry a camera in the car for such eventualities, it can remember things we forget and provides evidence for the insurance company.

Has this forum gone widescreen or is it my computer?

It is just the oversized images above.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 12 Feb 2010, 23:03

Ah that's better - thanks.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 13 Feb 2010, 00:53

i was told in this sort of claim, you cant claiim through the uninsured lose's insurance if the police dont have the identity of the uninsured driver

regards malcolm

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 13 Feb 2010, 10:56

I don't know why UK won't adopt the same system as in France and many other Eurolands.

It's trivially simple.

Insurance details have to be displayed on windscreen.

MoT has to be displayed on the windscreen.

Numberplates have to be rivetted on.

OK, not foolproof, but at least a good simple way without all the bl**dy cameras and databases at DVLC checking MoT and insurance etc.

While I'm on a mission, it's just the same with the health system. Get the responsible minister to come over here and see how to run a proper health service. Strange, but it's just the same as the UK system was 40 years ago. Simple, but works better than anywhere else in the World.

Moan over.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 13 Feb 2010, 11:06

And

In France you have to carry your d. Licence with you when you are driving.

And

the police here do carry out random stops. I've been stopped twice (lived here 4 years) - neither was local - they demand to see licence and they check the windscreen details (while also looking at tyres and lights).

So none of those 'producers' and this system here guarantes that defaulters are caught.

Shimpls .......... click click!![/b]

Post by **myglaren** » 13 Feb 2010, 12:34

Too simple by half for GB. They always have to complicate the hell out of everything to create jobs for pen-pushers.

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » 13 Feb 2010, 13:22

That said, anyone who has had the misfortune to deal with French bureaucracy will know that they're pretty good at it too...

f00lzz · Post by **f00lzz** » 14 Feb 2010, 08:19

On a lighter note... an ideal time to overhaul your washer bottle connections and pumps etc.

Re. insurance. I think it was 1969 that the insurance companies 'clubbed together' to create a fund which was for payouts when an uninsured driver was involved.. too long ago for all the detail to be recalled from memory and the only reason I know is that an uninsured L driver knocked me off my motorcycle and I was able to claim off this fund.

Ian

miggy24 · Post by **miggy24** » 14 Feb 2010, 14:31

Hi guys thanks for all the comments.2moro i wanna get the xantia stripped down of the damaged parts.Can anyone tell me what tools i will need as i`ll be getting a bus and walking to get to the car so i dont really wanna carry to much.Its only really the headlight and wing that need to come off

Post by **CitroJim** » 14 Feb 2010, 14:59

Very few tools are needed to get the wing and light out.

You should be OK with a small 10mm socket, short and long extensions, a 10mm spanner and a T20 Torx.

Wing is entirely bolted on and one bolt is in the door-shut. It is thwen held on with some mastic so a stout screwdriver and maybe a craft knife may be useful.

To remove the bumper, you'll additionally need a 13mm ring spanner.

Pleased you're going for a repair

miggy24 · Post by **miggy24** » 14 Feb 2010, 16:27

Thanks Jim

miggy24 · Post by **miggy24** » 14 Feb 2010, 20:08

How do i get the front bumper off and where are the 13mm bolts

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 14 Feb 2010, 20:18

If you look where the damage is, you should see a bolt sticking out from it with a captive nut on it (looks a bit like a thimble I suppose).
There's one on each side, and usually they rust into the nut so can't be removed.
If that's the case on the passenger side, get a pry bar and use that to pop the nut out of the old bumper.
Inside the wheel arch right at the end of the top of the bumper is a 20/25TX screw which holds it to the wing there.
Then there's 3 10mm bolts underneat and you just pull the bumper off forwards.
There's a press clip connector on the NS for the fogs.

Once the bumper's off, you can get some grips or a socket on the un-captive nuts and remove them ready to fit the new bumper.

If you get a bumper from a scrappy like I did, and have the same problem with the captive nuts, again use a pry bar to pop them out to remove the bumper, then get new bolts with washers and epoxy them through the holes left by the captive nuts.
Then once you re-fit the bumper, you can use new nuts on the bolts and it's all held securely.

The captive nuts are in a [ shaped bracket, held to the bumper by what appears to be a series of protruding gromets.
I believe what should happen in an accident is the bumper flexes, and pops itself off the [ brackets reducing the damage done to the inner and outer wings.
As the rubber of the gromets ages and goes hard, the [ bracket can't pop over them and so bends the area the bolt is secured in.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 14 Feb 2010, 20:21

I was going to say that removal of the bumper fastener that runs through
the wing can sometimes be impossible and a right git but revisiting the
picture again half of that job has been done already! This would still leave
the nearside though! What usually happens is the captive nut in the bumper
splits off the bumper and the bolt just turns indefinitely. This could be the PITA
job that stops progress.

Andrew

aha - I see XAC has beaten me to it!