Hail Damaged Disco 2

[mrapocalypse]

My beloved Disco 2 was out in the street and was pelted with golf ball sized hail yesterday.

So now the bonnet, Roof, and all the panels down the driver's side are dented, the roof and bonnet very badly.

So interested in what the best way to deal with insurance is?

This car is far more valuable to me than what I imagine it's agreed value to an insurer would be? but then how do I find out how they will value it.

Any other pitfalls I should worry about.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/99.jpg (http://s518.photobucket.com/user/NomadCamera/media/Disco-1.jpg.html)

[Discofever]

My beloved Disco 2 was out in the street and was pelted with golf ball sized hail yesterday.

So now the bonnet, Roof, and all the panels down the driver's side are dented, the roof and bonnet very badly.

So interested in what the best way to deal with insurance is?

This car is far more valuable to me than what I imagine it's agreed value to an insurer would be? but then how do I find out how they will value it.

Any other pitfalls I should worry about.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/99.jpg (http://s518.photobucket.com/user/NomadCamera/media/Disco-1.jpg.html)

Ring your insurance company they will have a market value that you've agreed to. The insurer will obviously almost certainly right it off and you'll just have to grab what you need from it. Sorry to hear about this.

[Mick_Marsh]

My Commodore is worth more to me than the insurance company. That is why I self insure (third property only).

Fix it yourself and don't claim the insurance.

[loanrangie]

My Commodore is worth more to me than the insurance company. That is why I self insure (third property only).

Fix it yourself and don't claim the insurance.

This is what i'd do too, a bonnet and guard is cheap and then its just the roof and that plastic trim from the scuttle to replace.
Much easier than chasing insurance repairer or hunting for replacement with the little amount they will give you.

[Eevo]

what about one of those suction dent pullers.

[mrapocalypse]

If you lodge a claim and don't agree can you withdraw it and just fix it yourself ?
My excess is $600?..

I can easily replace a bonnet and placcy bit with that and maybe just bog and buff the worst of the rest out.

Not sure.

Insurance companies are a little snowed under in Brisbane at the moment.

My wife's 18 month old VW Polo is pretty knocked about as well but it's not part of there family like the disco. And we just spent $4k getting the engine freshened up!!!

[JDNSW]

It is almost certain that the insurer will want to write it off. I am currently in dispute about damage to my 110, but I have a lot better footing than you do, as it is the other bloke's insurer, not mine.

You need to talk to them, but best of luck! Make sure that if you do submit a claim that it is possible for you to withdraw it. And check on the insurer's complaints procedure before you start.

John

[mrapocalypse]

It is almost certain that the insurer will want to write it off. I am currently in dispute about damage to my 110, but I have a lot better footing than you do, as it is the other bloke's insurer, not mine.

You need to talk to them, but best of luck! Make sure that if you do submit a claim that it is possible for you to withdraw it. And check on the insurer's complaints procedure before you start.

John

Good advice. Thanks.

Ian.

[Disco Muppet]

Definitely DIY. Even if your insurance didn't want to write it off, they'll have so much on their plate ATM that you'd be doing lots of chasing.
Bonnet and windscreen plenum cover are easily DIY. As you say, the rest can be bogged.
CJT has a post in his build thread (in the GCLRO members rides section) where he repaired a dent in his D pillar by drilling small holes in the panel, then placing pop rivets through the holes and pulling the dent out as best as possible with pliers on the 'stalk' of the rivet. The rest was then bogged and repainted.
Alternatively you could try and find some replacement doors and a rear quarter panel? I know Redback on here has replaced a rear quarter panel before, it's not too tricky.
As for the roof, you could have a go at minimising the dents yourself but you'd have to drop the roof lining. Or just bog it up, repaint and stick a roof rack on.
Best of luck with it.
Cheers
Muppet

[zulu Delta 534]

I personally would buy some second hand parts and fit them myself if it was my pride and joy.
If the insurance Co writes it (off as they most likely will) someone else will be able to pick up a perfectly good (mechanically any way) car (yours) for a song, pay a pittance to remove it from the WOVR and the only loser will be you.
It is only a car after, all and my Fraud Ranger is still going strong even though it still shows hail damage from three years ago. Don't wash it ever again and down the line somewhere you will be able to write the hail damage off as "character marks". The car will still go the same.:D
Start watching the Insurance Companies' auction sites now the storm season is upon us, there are bound to be an abundance of "Hail damaged" repairable write offs popping up. Pick one up and use it for the daily hack and you can then leisurely repair yours and return it to its once pristine self.
Personally I wouldn't bother with an insurance company for what is really a cosmetic complaint on an older model vehicle that is as unpopular (with insurance Companies) as are aluminium bodied European models. There are other ways around it. Think outside the square.
Best of luck
Regards
Glen

[BMKal]

We had a Berlina wagon damaged by a hail storm in Kalgoorlie a few years back. Difficult to tell from your photo, but I think that the level of damage was probably similar.

After speaking with our insurer, I lodged a claim so that they could send out an assessor, and then advise me what their course of action would be likely to be. In due course, they advised that they would write the car off and pay me the agreed value.

I then formally withdrew my claim against them and sold the car privately to a mate of mine who had wanted the vehicle for some time. Insurance company had no problem with this, as it meant them not forking out any money - and I got more by selling the car than I would have had I proceeded with the claim.

Saw the Berlina recently - my mate who lives up north of Geraldton still has it. He has had the dents removed by a panel beater mate of his (years ago) and it is still a decent looking wagon.

[Graeme]

If you lodge a hail damage claim but withdraw it the insurer's records will still show that the vehicle was hail damaged.

[DiscoMick]

At least you weren't in the car when it was pelted with hail, like two of my workmates. They were jammed in traffic and couldn't move with huge hailstones smashing down. Every window in the car is smashed and they were showered with glass. It must have been absolutely terrifying and there was no way to escape.
The car is being written off, but the payout won't cover the real cost of the loss, of course.

[Fast Freddie]

There are small businesses that specialise in removed these tyres of dents almost flawlesly. Of course, in your area, they've be making a fortune right now , travelling from Merc dealers to BMW dealers. If you have family interstate, maybe it's time for a short holiday. If you come to VIC, I can give you the number of a reliable operator. Good luck, what ever you do.

[Fast Freddie]

(I really must check my text, before clicking 'send')

[Pickles2]

Very sorry to hear this. A car of ours got smashed by hail a few years ago. 480+ dents!!!
We still have the car, & it's as good as new.
I'm sure that your insurer will know about the paintless dent removal process,...you'd be AMAZED what these guys can do.
Don't let your insurer write it off, ask 'em to get a quote from a good paintless dent removal guy.
Pickles.

[mns488]

sorry to hear, if you want to keep the car you could consider collecting the insurance and buying it off them as a hail damage writeoff. I've never done it but know people who have.

[mrapocalypse]

Well we have the Insurer on the phone, have been on hold for AGES for wife's car.

Holding off on mine. Few phone calls and with the $600 excess in mind and a 14 year old 4x4 that actually goes bush? well - Rang the wrecker, $400 for a bonnet plus paint and waiting on a panel for Windscreen. Might get a black widow roof rack for the tent to cover dents on roof and the rest I think I will be able to live with. Let's face it, all I'm gonna do is dent it even more!

So we have that in ou back pocket.

Red Book says its worth $51000 btw?

I

[The ho har's]

I didn't know you moved to Brisbane. Agree with everyone else, don't go through the insurer. We know an excellent painter, if you need the phone number send a PM. Recently sent a slightly damaged bonnet to the scrapies:(

Mrs hh:angel:

[mrapocalypse]

Got through to Insurers.

Going to get it assessed on Tuesday in a Mass Assesement.... Storms were pretty bad up here so there are thousands of claims.

Whatever happens can either withdraw claim and self repair... or retain salvage rights to "Wreck" after they have taken it away...

Whether it still has the Mickey T tyres, bulbar, snorkel, LPG, long ranger tanks, triple batts, lift kit, driving lights, bash plates, shelving, recovery points, lamp guards, water alarms, fire extinguisher, nag I mean Nav lights and any other bits that are cool left on it after time in a yard who knows?????

Been in Brisvegas for years now.

Ian.

[loanrangie]

What about a sheet of checker plate for the bonnet and paint it matt black ?

[Bytemrk]

Red Book says its worth $51000 btw?

I think you might find that is what Redbook says it cost new...;)

[bob10]

It's only cosmetic. No major mechanical damage, if you love it , fix it ,one panel at a time. You'll get there. What's a genuine 4x4 without a couple of dings? :D Bob

[mrapocalypse]

What about a sheet of checker plate for the bonnet and paint it matt black ?


ha Ha. Yeah I thought of that. Well matte black at least. I'm not really Checker plate guy though.

I'll actually be glad to see this bonnet go. The flying foxes have really trashed it.

I.

[mrapocalypse]

Well?.. update is ?. They are going to fix it.

Obviously Insurer has taste and respects the high replacement value of a beaten up series 2 Disco V8.

Buy shares in the Paintless dent removal companies right now, talk about overloaded!

Thanks for all the replies. You just never know do you.

Regards

Ian.

[DiscoMick]

If people held off getting repaired for several weeks they might get a much lower quote than now. A full length roof rack and a checkerplated bonnet are sounding good for future hail protection.

Sent from my GT-I8730T using AULRO mobile app

[Tombie]

Once you claim, if they write it off - legally they own everything on/in it.

Keep that in mind ;)

[UncleHo]

Any easily removable bits I would take off before it saw a panel shop, "wasn't on the vehicle when we received it" I have heard that sentence so many times! :mad::(

Our D1 has hail damage on the roof and right "D" pillar,I believe it received a Bonnet,RHF door,and guard.

[Alex 110]

I've got all the panels for a d2 (complete body shell etc) I'm in Sydney - pm if interested

Sent from my GT-I9505 using AULRO mobile app

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Thats a buggar Ian,, after all your efforts.
Good to see a winning outcome!:cool:

[mrapocalypse]

Thats a buggar Ian,, after all your efforts.
Good to see a winning outcome!:cool:

Actually I'm happy.

I read the RAVE and it's a lot of tedious work inside guards and swapping door skins and locks etc. Then I have to find space to store the old doors and bonnet while IO worked out what to with them.

And I wasn't going to be able to repair the roof myself.

So good result.

Matte Black Bonnet might still be on the way but this one will be nice and new with fresh paint.

Cheers

I.

[Tins]

Very sorry to hear this. A car of ours got smashed by hail a few years ago. 480+ dents!!!
We still have the car, & it's as good as new.
I'm sure that your insurer will know about the paintless dent removal process,...you'd be AMAZED what these guys can do.
Don't let your insurer write it off, ask 'em to get a quote from a good paintless dent removal guy.
Pickles.

Absolutely. Mine got whacked back in 2010 I think it was. The panel shops were swamped. We 'imported' paintless guys from Sydney and Brisbane to cover it all. Mine came back perfect, and there is still no sign that it had ever happened. And the colour matches, of course. The only replacement parts were a tail light and the sunroof glass, which will show you how hard it was hit.