Dinged my PVC :( Repairer Near West Surrey?

[Kannon Fodda]

So I got it wrong and have made a quite a mess of the side of my PVC along with someone else's car I'm quite sure I'll be paying dearly for that when reinsurance comes round.

Insurers can only suggest an authorised repairer in Thurrock Essex. Their computer says its an hour away but it's all but the opposite side of London. Possibly if the M25 had no traffic at all and ignoring the Dartford Tunnel toll.

Any suggestions of a recognised accident bodywork repairer of panel van conversions in the West London, M25 Surrey /Heathrow, M3, A3 type area? Thanks.

 

[Lenny HB]

Oh dear.
How bad it is, because PVC's can be a nightmare as they often to get at the body panels they have to take the inside furnishing & insulation out if any welding is needed. Really does need a specialist.

 

[Quackers]

Sorry to hear that Rob, I take it that you are ok, the van can be fixed.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Van is driveable but nasty dented side panels where I took out the other cars front. No body hurt, just pride.

Yes it needs proper motorhome skilled repairer as the panel front of rear wheel arch no doubt needs internal access, and that's where the cooker and related units are.

 

[Lenny HB]

Van is driveable but nasty dented side panels where I took out the other cars front. No body hurt, just pride.

Are you owning up to it being your fault?

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[Kannon Fodda]

Are you owning up to it being your fault?

Very difficult to blame anyone else for my stupidity

 

[Two on Tour]

Van is driveable but nasty dented side panels where I took out the other cars front. No body hurt, just pride.

Yes it needs proper motorhome skilled repairer as the panel front of rear wheel arch no doubt needs internal access, and that's where the cooker and related units are.

View attachment 852660

Someone who knows what they are doing with a "pin puller" will get the panels back straight from the outside without any need to get inside and will only then require a light skim of filler and paint and new trim.

 

[Clivefog]

As above. The rear panel can be pulled out from the outside, no seam crease to worry about, the worst bit will be covered by the skirt piece. The door would be more of a job however a skilled body shop should sort it out no problem. Insurance may think otherwise.

 

[Coolcats]

Very difficult to blame anyone else for my stupidity

Not stupid and remember you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, once done it will be as good as new

 

[Nanniemate]

Very difficult to blame anyone else for my stupidity

I try to all the time you'd be surprised with practice hiw good you can get.

Looks wore than it is give it a clean and smother in grease / vasiline to protect it
That will give you time
There a well respected caravan repair place in Caerphilly but looking at it any good body shop may be able to help
Chin up if you've not had a dink you've never been anywhere

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[Quackers]

Cheer up.
Just read your footer
uıɐbɐ ʎɐqǝ ɯoɹɟ pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ buıʎnq ɹǝʌǝu ɯ,ı
Made me laugh.

 

[The Wino]

Things happen anyone can make a mistake at least you're owning it!
My 93 yo mother in law had an at fault accident last week looks like her insurance is likely to go from the current bargain price of £1800 a year to £5000! Makes taxis look cheap

 

[GerTee]

We've used Adams Morey body shop in Portsmouth before. Did a great job and would highly recommend.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

We've used Adams Morey body shop in Portsmouth before. Did a great job and would highly recommend.

Thanks, As a fan of AM after last year's comfortmatic issues (am I jinxed with this van?), they will be worth a look.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

I try to all the time you'd be surprised with practice hiw good you can get.

Looks wore than it is give it a clean and smother in grease / vasiline to protect it
That will give you time
There a well respected caravan repair place in Caerphilly but looking at it any good body shop may be able to help
Chin up if you've not had a dink you've never been anywhere

Might be just a bit too far away.

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[Dazzola]

I agree, that would be pulled from the outside, no need to strip anything out, bit of filler and new rubbing straps and you'll never know it was there

 

[gus-lopez]

Someone who knows what they are doing with a "pin puller" will get the panels back straight from the outside without any need to get inside

This^^^^^^^^^

 

[Brains]

Caravan Tech in East Sussex
I've not used them, but saw some of the work they did on a motorhome in campsite where I has staying.
So I got a card from the engineer for future use.

Apex near Maidstone in Kent.
Are very good, so good that you will probably have to join a queue to get in through the door.
But as it's out of season at the moment, worth a call.

 

[DangerMousy]

This place in Fleet has a good reputation locally: https://autopanelcraft.co.uk Might be worth giving them a call/sending them photos to see if they can help.

 

[Minxy]

Best and cheapest option is to go to a normal car/van repair place, don't go to a dealer or MH place as they'll charge an arm and a leg and then farm it out to the nearest repairs shop as they rarely do the repairs themselves.

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[maison]

Even if an accident is caused by “stupidity “ it hurts one’s pride.

Last week, at traffic lights, my concentration wandered and, with Auto stop-start and an automatic gearbox, I must have reduced pressure on the foot brake. My motorhome moved forward into the car immediately in front of me. I had applied the handbrake but obviously not fully.

Fortunately the handbrake friction must have slowed down my forward momentum so that no damage occurred to either vehicle. My pride was hurt, (accident free over fifty years of driving cars, HGV’s and motorbikes), and the driver of the car was shaken. After inspection of both vehicles we parted on good terms.

The saying “there, but for the grace of God, go I” sounds appropriate when thinking of your error.

Good luck with the repair. I feel your hurt.

 

[plug]

Van is driveable but nasty dented side panels where I took out the other cars front. No body hurt, just pride.

Yes it needs proper motorhome skilled repairer as the panel front of rear wheel arch no doubt needs internal access, and that's where the cooker and related units are.

View attachment 852660

If you take it to a good body shop and have it pulled out and re sprayed, it will be cheaper in the long run rather then going through the insurance company.

 

[The Wino]

If you take it to a good body shop and have it pulled out and re sprayed, it will be cheaper in the long run rather then going through the insurance company.

It depends on the other vehicle if they're happy to let the op pay for their repairs that might work although strictly speaking you are supposed to tell them even if you pay for the repair yourself. If the other party wants to go through the insurance you have no option

 

[KiltedCamper]

Please don't take this the wrong way. You would do well to have your eyes tested:

A few years ago I managed to smash the offside of my 4x4 along with more or less destroying a parked Audi. I was doing 25 mph at the time and couldn't figure out what had happened. To cut a very long story short, a friend suggested I get my eyes tested. We found that I didn't have vision on my right hand side. My eyes were perfect and I didn't know that I couldn't see - My brain was making up a story to fit what it expected to see. It turned out that I had a tumour under my skull which had been growing for probably 10 years or more and it was 6cm in diameter. The tumour was crushing my visual cortex and also damaging my brain - My IQ had dropped to 50 (100 is normal). If it had gone on much longer it would have permanently seriously damaged my brain.

The tumour was too big to treat with Chemo, and so it was removed. I believe the procedure took 7 hours. I was told I would never drive again.

Amazingly, I recovered fully, and 15 months later my full eyesight had returned.

Conclusion: If you ever have an accident that you can't fully explain, just get your eyes tested to be certain that you don't have something nasty going on in your head!

PS I had returned my driving licence on the day the optician gave me the bad news. 15 months later I phoned the DVLA to give them my good news. Amazingly my new licence arrived the next day!

 

[Dorwyn]

I did a very similar thing with my last van, a much missed pvc. A touch of over exhuberance at being out in the covid period, too much movement on the unaccustomed to use servo steering, big bash in the same place as yours while parking. I felt terrible. I got a price from a nearby well recommended local bodyworks of £500 plus vat. I didn't damage the door as much as fours, thought the price ok, but didn't rush to do it. Then the van was stolen, so I suppose you could say I did well out of it. I'd have preferred the van back!

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[Nanniemate]

Even if an accident is caused by “stupidity “ it hurts one’s pride.

Last week, at traffic lights, my concentration wandered and, with Auto stop-start and an automatic gearbox, I must have reduced pressure on the foot brake. My motorhome moved forward into the car immediately in front of me. I had applied the handbrake but obviously not fully.

Fortunately the handbrake friction must have slowed down my forward momentum so that no damage occurred to either vehicle. My pride was hurt, (accident free over fifty years of driving cars, HGV’s and motorbikes), and the driver of the car was shaken. After inspection of both vehicles we parted on good terms.

The saying “there, but for the grace of God, go I” sounds appropriate when thinking of your error.

Good luck with the repair. I feel your hurt.

6 weeks time you gat a whiplash claim

I did a very similar thing with my last van, a much missed pvc. A touch of over exhuberance at being out in the covid period, too much movement on the unaccustomed to use servo steering, big bash in the same place as yours while parking. I felt terrible. I got a price from a nearby well recommended local bodyworks of £500 plus vat. I didn't damage the door as much as fours, thought the price ok, but didn't rush to do it. Then the van was stolen, so I suppose you could say I did well out of it. I'd have preferred the van back!

With the dink.fixed would have been even better

 

[Kannon Fodda]

If you take it to a good body shop and have it pulled out and re sprayed, it will be cheaper in the long run rather then going through the insurance company.

Not with the mess I made of the other car

 

[gus-lopez]

6 weeks time you gat a whiplash claim

Thought gov.uk had banned the making of them?

 

[Dorwyn]

Not with the mess I made of the other car

What you don't think of, is the higher weight you are handling. Just a little glancing blow can do more damage both to your own vehicle and the one you are in contact with.

 

[Badknee]

Thought gov.uk had banned the making of them?

Under 30mph impact speed I think Richard.