Car fix advice

[moosic]

Hi everyone, in need of people with some car knowledge. My poor hubby knocked into a car last week and we're paying for the damage. It's a Jaguar x-type (gulp!). The bloke reckons he needs a whole new car door, but as we have no idea about cars, we presumed it could just be straightened out and resprayed. 

 

So any advice would be lovely; is he trying to get extra work done, or is it a genuine request (and how much are we looking at?)

 

I hope this is ok to post Admin!

[The Deej]

While that probably could be fixed with the right person and skills, the time involved would out weigh the cost of a new door. Personally if it was my car I would insist the door be replaced. The value of the car goes down either way but more with patchwork. I could be wrong, so let's let some other voices chime in. 

[moosic]

1 minute ago, The Deej said:

While that probably could be fixed with the right person and skills, the time involved would out weigh the cost of a new door. Personally if it was my car I would insist the door be replaced. The value of the car goes down either way but more with patchwork. I could be wrong, so let's let some other voices chime in. 

Thank you for your input, as I said, we know absolutely nothing about cars so any knowledge is great! Apparently it wasn't in the best condition anyway, with scratches on the other side of car, so feel fortunate for that!

[boodles]

How'd that happen, was the door open? 

 

This might not be an option but we get parts from a car yard, where there's junked cars that still have usable parts that are a lot cheaper. Replaced a trunk that way.

[AH173]

I would think that an experienced body man (person) could heat up and bend back into shape then sand and put proper coats of paint on car door.  I guess.

 

Or let the insurance companies work it out.

[moosic]

23 minutes ago, boodles said:

How'd that happen, was the door open? 

 

This might not be an option but we get parts from a car yard, where there's junked cars that still have usable parts that are a lot cheaper. Replaced a trunk that way.

Yep, was travelling down busy road, had traffic coming opposite way. Hubby didn't see man with his door open (was open too wide for a busy road IMO) and hit it. A lot less damage than I thought it would be though

2 minutes ago, AH173 said:

I would think that an experienced body man (person) could heat up and bend back into shape then sand and put proper coats of paint on car door.  I guess.

 

Or let the insurance companies work it out.

Thanks, I thought that, but no idea what the bloke will decide to do (and what's cheaper 🤷🏼‍♀️) 

 

Hubby decided not to go through insurance as we're hoping it won't cost too much 

[Cushi]

That sounds about right. Nobody wants a car covered in body filler. If it were me I’d want a new door.

[pnutts]

Sometimes they can just replace the outer skin of the door.  Door opening into traffic?  Where I live in Canada that is a no no. People opening door into traffic cause all kinds of accidents sometimes involving people on bicycles and person in car is charged.

[moosic]

12 hours ago, Brother Jack said:

That sounds about right. Nobody wants a car covered in body filler. If it were me I’d want a new door.

That's fair, haha! 

 

9 hours ago, pnutts said:

Sometimes they can just replace the outer skin of the door.  Door opening into traffic?  Where I live in Canada that is a no no. People opening door into traffic cause all kinds of accidents sometimes involving people on bicycles and person in car is charged.

Unfortunately the door was already open as we were driving along, otherwise it would have been completely the blokes fault. Just unfortunately my husband didn't see it already open 😔

[The Outcast]

You can find such doors on Ebay.
Price £ 500-2000. Often incomplete or they have to be painted.
So repairing the door in a small free auto repair shop will be the cheapest, if accepted.
But it is probably better if the insurance does it.