Accident damage fixable?

[81AirCooled]

After 30 hours prep and rollering over the weekend I drove the van to work this morning only to get rear ended by a Mercedes driver, "my foot slipped off the brake" were her words

Anyway I've got my own assessor coming to take a look Friday and he´ll give me a sum sometime next week I expect, but I´m wondering if the damage can even be fixed at a reasonable price.
The bumper did it´s job but the bodywork behind and under it has been smashed against the silencer which is now crushed between that and the heat exchanger and fan housing. The connector from the heat exchanger that goes into the engine room/fan (hot air connector?) looks to have shifted a few mil as does the engine, at least from when looking inside the engine bay.

At the moment I'm hoping the rear bodywork can be beaten back out, the exhaust/heat exchangers changed and the engine bay seal adjusted to seal the gap now there. Does that sound realistic judging by the pictures?



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[CovKid]

judging by pic the engine carrier is twisted - try a second hand one and see if things line up - also check front gearbox mount!!!

[81AirCooled]

Cheers Cov, more than one pair of eyes really helps as I missed that. I can point this all out to the assessor on Friday. I don´t really have to worry about having it paid for but I don´t want anything to be overlooked. Either that or the insurance can give me 5K and I´ll get a new van

[CovKid]

Its certainly possible that it could have torn or damaged front gearbox mount so I'd factor a new one into equation. At £150 they're not cheap and if it isn't showing signs of damage, it may soon after. Engine carrier you could sort. Chassis members unlikely to have sustained damage and the items mentioned may well have absorbed much of the impact but you might find other items damaged.

Oh, and next time fit a meaty tow bar

[jamesc76]

I would factor in getinng the chassis checked just to make sure the rear rails havent pulled in!

[Munich Joker]

Hi Rob,
This might be what you need ........
http://cgi.ebay.de/VW-Bus-T3-Heckabschl ... 2a0cdaa232" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hope all went well with assessor!!

[81AirCooled]

haha no way, if it´s really bad i can slice it up like toast a flog the body that way for about a grand lol Damage to the bodywork isn´t bad at all, just the fact the engine has to come out to replace the engine bearer is the problem as that´going to be labour intensive i.e. expensive. My guess in 1200-1500 euros including parts, but i´ll need to wait for the report and take it from there.

Still rollering the last side in the a.m. though

[81AirCooled]

How long should it take a mechanic to remove the engine, replace the engine bearer and put the engine back in?

The assessor has the van down as an insurance write off and I need to gauge roughly how much it will cost for repairs.

Thanks

[sarran1955]

Hello,

You're not having much luck

I agree with what has been proposed.

New engine bar and gearbox mount.

At worst a new exhaust, if thats the limit of the damage. Heat exchangers are pretty solid.

To drop the engine, I'd allow 90 mins, particularly if anything is bent.

Box about the same, depending on condition of bolts and carrier.

I take it this means you won't be needing my boxes of tricks

I'm still on for a visit ....

Cordialement,

[81AirCooled]

Hi John. Typical isnt it get one thing sorted onto the next. Im booked into the garage tomorrow and theyll take a look at it. Assessor has iht marked as a 2k euro repair job but even factoring in high german prices id hope to get it sortedfor less than that.

[CovKid]

£2k? Whats he on? Two 80/90 lads (or lasses) and that'd be fixed in an afternoon

[Plasticman]

Christ, you could ship it over to me , have it done plus a load of other work and still have loaaaaaads of change over
Mike

[weldore]

hmm might be worth bolting some box section in behind my bumper ..hmmmmm...


hmmmm indeed

[81AirCooled]

It´s in the workshop now being fixed. I´m not worried about the cost really as the other party´s insurance has to cover anything up to 2200 € + vat.

As it´s an insurance write off I wouldn´t be able to take the cash and get it fixed myself so this is the only real option.

[sarran1955]

Hello,

Will you have the van back by the end of the month??

Cordialement