wondering if bonnet will need replacing

markg86

Images now included : )


my girlfriend ran into back of Jeep today,

Wondering does a bonnet need replacing when its pushed up couple inches each side or can it be beat back down. its a 3d 00 corolla so wouldn't need to be perfect its only worth about a grand..

If so anyone rough rough figure on cost,,

Cheers guys

Nissan doctor

Pics?

listermint

If its creased up, chances are high that yes it does need replacing. Id imagine youve damaged the bonnet frame and not just dents.

Pics would be helpful.

markg86

haulagebasher

If you are only worried about fuctionality and not bothered about cosmetics, a competent person should be able to straigthen it and get it to open and close properly. However if cosmetics is a concern then you'll probably have to replace. You might get a fairly decent one from a scrapyard. If yer lucky you might get away without having to respray it if you come across a clean one.

dgt

Straightening a bonnet back to the way it was is hard enough and with the popularity of those cars I'd source out a decent 2nd hand one out, which would be cheaper than straightening it

markg86

is there much in replacing a bonnet? if I was lucky and found one to match.

Where would be the best place to start the search? Galway city btw.

Cheers lads, fair clueless with cars. must get better.

Avns1s

Looking at your pictures, I'd say you're going to need to straighten a lot more than your bonnet. It looks as though the crossmembers are well bent judging by the position of the lights, the look of the bumper and so on. A second hand bonnet will not be likely to fit and close on the car as it is now.

You need to get it looked at by a body shop but it's probably going to cost close to the value of the car just to get it straightened out even using a second hand bonnet.

I am sure plenty will jump in and say it can be done for €35 but that's my 2c!

aujopimur

A used bonnet is your best option, if you're not too fussy just jump on it a few times.

markg86

Avns1s wrote: »

Looking at your pictures, I'd say you're going to need to straighten a lot more than your bonnet. It looks as though the crossmembers are well bent judging by the position of the lights, the look of the bumper and so on. A second hand bonnet will not be likely to fit and close on the car as it is now.

You need to get it looked at by a body shop but it's probably going to cost close to the value of the car just to get it straightened out even using a second hand bonnet.

I am sure plenty will jump in and say it can be done for €35 but that's my 2c!

OH sh1te,,

markg86

anyone else have anything good to tell me, Avns1s comment got me worried considering he said its basically a write off,,

cant make it to garage Saturday morning,

haulagebasher

Exactly what I was saying, any kind of half competent person would be able to straighten the bonnet enough to get it to funtion -ie. open, lift, close , latch. That is assuming that you are not worried about the cosmetics of the car. Also assuming other ajoining structural members are not unduely damaged. From the pic, all I can see is superficial damage but a closer look is needed to confirm.Bonnet should be a pice of cake to replace if you are doing a scap one. If you are any way handy at all you could do it. You'd probably need a competent helper to give a ahand though for lifting and holding sh!t.
Remember though, you'd want to straighten up your lights so they are aimed correctly, so if broke maybe get those from scrapyard too. Otherwise just straighten the mounting points.

Avns1s

markg86 wrote: »

anyone else have anything good to tell me, Avns1s comment got me worried considering he said its basically a write off,,

cant make it to garage Saturday morning,

It's really virtually impossible to give any reasonable or realistic assessment from pictures regardless of how good they are.

You can tie down the bonnet and get on with it from there or you can do a full job. The balance is somewhere in between but in reality at a very minimum, you need to make the car safe and functional and such that it will pass the nct if you intend holding onto it for any length of time.

Those lights need to be properly fixed. The holding lugs may well be broken requiring ne headlamps. These need to be focussed.

The cross members need to be straightened and the various bits aligned with their corresponding components, e.g. the bonnet locks.

The bonnet will need to be replaced with one from a breakers.

What other damage is not visible? Likely the bumper brackets need straightening.

Is there any damage to the rad or is it stressed because of the bent crossmembers.

Anyway, someone who knows little about the make up of a car will look at this kind of damage and dismiss it as a "dent". In reality, there can be a lot of hidden damage. You need to get someone in the trade to have a look and see what needs to be done to make the car roadworthy and in such condition as to pass the NCT.

markg86

Thanks a million for the informative reply man, I don't need it perfect at all but the nct is due now so I have to get it passable as you said. I am a student for another year at least so will be holding onto this for a while, going to take it to a garage this evening and see what they say.

And message to all don't let your girlfriend drive your car...

Avns1s

markg86 wrote: »

Thanks a million for the informative reply man, I don't need it perfect at all but the nct is due now so I have to get it passable as you said. I am a student for another year at least so will be holding onto this for a while, going to take it to a garage this evening and see what they say.

And message to all don't let your girlfriend drive your car...

I lol'd!

Look, I hope it works out ok for you. These are the joys of motoring I'm afraid. Just see if you can get it past the NCT and make it safe. Your garage, (hopefully an indy??) will tell you much better tha any of us here can do as they will actually be able to see the car. It might not be too bad if you can get an indy garage and parts from a scrapyard.

Let us know how you get on.

markg86

Thanks a lot Man, Will do...

For a student friendly budget job: A strong rope/tiedown belt attached to a sturdy tree and the bend cross member -> leave plenty of slack -> keep bouncing it off the tree (slowly first to get a feel to it and don't overdo it). Eventually the bonnet will close, job done. You might also need to fine tune the crossmember using rubber mallet.

It won't result a factory fresh job but with a little bit of patience you'll have a fully closing bonnet. And find a sturdy tree.

L-M

samih wrote: »

For a student friendly budget job: A strong rope/tiedown belt attached to a sturdy tree and the bend cross member -> leave plenty of slack -> keep bouncing it off the tree (slowly first to get a feel to it and don't overdo it). Eventually the bonnet will close, job done. You might also need to fine tune the crossmember using rubber mallet.

It won't result a factory fresh job but with a little bit of patience you'll have a fully closing bonnet. And find a sturdy tree.

That or another car.

The only problem is it's slighty off centre so it'll be hard to get the angle right.