Please please help Nissan Homy beyond repair from Insurance company new door and bumper needed (1 Viewer)

[jennifer boyd]

Hi looking for any help would be greatly appreciated, we hit another car at the weekend a complete accident and bumped our Nissan homy campervan- damaged the bumper and the light and probably the main thing that has happened has been that the door has bent outwards- I think we need a new door- insurance company arent interested as its too old... just saying its beyond repair for them to fix. But surely there must be somewhere that we could get a replacement door- or one custom made? Does anybody know any specialist places for campervan repairs? Any help please, one extremely sad campervan owner

 

[Cat53]

Sorry I can't help. Just wanted to sympathise.

 

[emjaiuk]

No idea I'm afraid, but I would have thought you'd be better off asking on a Nissan forum, stating the van model it's based on. Also are there still companies that specialise in Japenese imports? I'd so one of them might be able to source spares.


Malcolm

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[Lenny HB]

Hi you could try Broken Link Removed, if they can't helf they may be able to give you some other suppliers.

 

[Enword]

JB a couple of photo's of the damage would help

 

[tonka]

I see its also called an URVAN..
This any help
Broken Link Removed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Caravan

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[jennifer boyd]

sorry here are some pictures thank you for all of your help!!

 

[WSandME]

I would be looking to a body shop. Looks to my untrained eyes that the door could be repaired (massaged back into shape) as could the bumper. Lights could turn out to be generic and available from breakers? The trim might be specific and so difficult, but I would attempt to straighten it out?

 

[Lenny HB]

I would be looking to a body shop. Looks to my untrained eyes that the door could be repaired (massaged back into shape) as could the bumper. Lights could turn out to be generic and available from breakers? The trim might be specific and so difficult, but I would attempt to straighten it out?

I agree looks repairable to me as well.

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[tacr2man]

If you cant repair Australia would be a good source for the parts as loads of them over there , quite often used by couriers , dry so no corrosion HTSH

 

[rangi]

Take it to a decent Panel beater they will be able to fix the tinware.
That'll give you to time to source a light, the internet is a wonderful thing.

If you are anywhere near Chesterfield, Pheonix Motors at Sheepbridge, have a good reputation, I have seen a Volvo P1800 (Saints Car) and a 1932 Morris 8 they worked on, from rusty wrecks to Concours winners.
Good luck anyway
(If you are scrapping it can I have first dibs at the fridge?)

 

[TerryL]

From the pics I'm wondering if the doorframe isn't also a bit out of shape - but a good bodyshop can work wonders. Definitely worth repairing though as cost of a replacement will far exceed anything the insurers will offer you as a "write-off".
Don't despair! Good luck and let us know how you get on.

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[DavidG58]

on a positive note, most insurers will allow you to buy back the vehicle for very low value and pay you the extra up to the insured value, then just get it mended and keep it. Only real negatives are hassle for you and it will be recorded as a write off, but you will have paid very little for it by then

 

[pappajohn]

Take the insurers offer, assuming it's insured fully comprehensive, then buy it back off them.
It will always have a cat D right off flag on the database but that won't exclude you getting future insurance after its been repaired, inspected and MOTed.
The money from the insurers will help pay for a good bodyshop.

 

[jennifer boyd]

Thank you all you have been most helpful, I feel better about it now, we have completely refurbished the inside and its cost thousands, so I dont think id get anywhere near it from it being a write off do you? The insurance company have said they wont cover repairs, so I guess the next option is to find out from a few garages and body shops (as you have suggested) how much it would actually cost to fix. At least it is the winter and we can wait for parts (from australia maybe) we just need to find someone who is willing to repair. Seriously the insurance company has been most unhelpful, which makes me think if you have an old van you may as well just have third party insurance as they wont fix an old van anyway? I will keep you updated... thank you again

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[Rob and Val]

So sad to see a beautifully looked after MH damaged. What part of the country are you located. Maybe fellow funsters could recommend a bodyshop?

 

[emjaiuk]

Unfortunately it doesn't have to be that old. We've had two cars written off by the insurance co., both of which we'd had from new. One was a six year old Nissan Pixo.

Malcolm

 

[jennifer boyd]

Hi we are located in Leeds... as the van isnt drivable.. im guessing we would have to pay for a tow truck its so sad

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[tacr2man]

Make sure the ins co know you want to retain ownership.
They will make you a write off settlement figure , you don't have to just say yes , if its as you say , above average , try and find examples of very similar , to base your increased value on . They may well increase the offer . The wreck value will be deducted from the final settlement and they base it on a percentage of the write off value . less than 10% and then add a little bit ,IIRC .

 

[glastry]

papajohn -gave good advice. arrange the buy back before you take their offer and get it delivered to the repair shop.
it should cost about 100 to have it delivered to the repairer,and as it looks very fixable you will soon be on the road again.
just a thought - but, often the accident management companys appear to get better results ,and can be less stressfull for you than handling the claim personally.(take local advice).
you do not need a specialist campervan repairer.
the value to you after repair is what counts !
good luck -you can do it.

 

[Teuchter]

on a positive note, most insurers will allow you to buy back the vehicle for very low value and pay you the extra up to the insured value, then just get it mended and keep it. Only real negatives are hassle for you and it will be recorded as a write off, but you will have paid very little for it by then

I have done this twice - once with a car cost £50 from ins co. (all they do is send you a cheque for the write off value less the fee you pay for ownership of the vehicle - a very easy process)

The 2nd time was my last caravan - some cosmetic damage but "beyond economical repair" this time it cost me £200 for the van.

In both instances I fixed the vehicles up myself with the aid of a scrap yard and a paint shop and then retained them for years to come - eventually part exchanging them!

Go for it

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[Xabia]

Jennifer, As has been said previously make a claim to your insurers, if the cost of the repair is more than around 60% of the value of the van they will,write it off and pay you the market price. You will need to haggle with them on the value as they will start low so if you can find some for sale to back up your opinion that would help your case.

Don’t overlook that you have a contract with the insurers which in essence says that they must put you back in the same position after the accident as you were before. They can do this by repairing it (declined) or paying the market value.

Once you have the cash you can then use the money to have it trailered to a repairer. It will go back on the road as a Category N (renamed D) but if you keep the photos you can demonstrate to any future purchased how comparatively minor the damage was.

As you have already reported the incident to,insurers it will be on future records so you won’t do much harm to future premium cost by proceeding with a formal claim.

Mike

 

[Puddleduck]

I found these people very helpful:

http://www.bbcspares.com/

They specialise in Toyota but may well have contacts for Nissan. Worth a phone call maybe.

 

[Lenny HB]

Take the insurers offer, assuming it's insured fully comprehensive, then buy it back off them.
It will always have a cat D right off flag on the database but that won't exclude you getting future insurance after its been repaired, inspected and MOTed.
The money from the insurers will help pay for a good bodyshop.

Unfortunately it doesn't have to be that old. We've had two cars written off by the insurance co., both of which we'd had from new. One was a six year old Nissan Pixo.

Malcolm

BIL's 3 year old X250 van was writen off after a truck reversed into it, it only had dented rear doors and rear quarter panels. Gave him £9k for it and he bought it back for £2k. One new rear light and he was back on the road with a few dents in it.

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[jennifer boyd]

Thank you for all your help, my husband is on the phone to the insurance company now, to ask about buying it back. Its reassuring to know that they write our poor vans off for next to nothing. I understand that the van will then be a cat D, but the thing is its more sentimental to me than anything as my uncle built the inside for us from scratch. All new electrics brand new everything! As you say we may be able to trade it in, in the future if we upgrade. Right now we would just like to get it fixed.
My husband has just called and the insurance company have said that they need to asses it- take it away, then they need to make us an offer on the van depending on the market value and damage, so I guess our starting point is to find out ourselves how much the repair would cost us. He is going to ask some body shops locally if they can help and an idea on cost. I have everything crossed for us!!

 

[me you and pogo 2]

Hi Jenny,
Sorry to hear about your accident, like others have said I also think that can be repaired.

I've quickly googled "accident body repair Leeds" and a couple of suitable business came up.

Make a few calls to them along with emailing your photos over will get you started. Usually if the company can't do it they are very helpful and they recommend someone who can.

All is not lost and good luck.

Regards
Dave

 

[TerryL]

Jenny, you've now used up your 5 free posts so suggest you subscribe as a full member - it's only £15 p.a. which you'll easily (actually probably already have) recoup as well as having access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. Use the "Subscribe" button top left of the page.

Things looking very hopeful for you.

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[mitzimad]

do not let the insurance take the vehicle away chances are you wont see it again

 

[glastry]

do not let the insurance take the vehicle away chances are you wont see it again

Yes, if it on the street ,get it to a repair shop,and keep it there under your control,until the money bit has been sorted out.
Leave strict instruction that it is Not to be collected unless they discuss with you!

I will probably get corrected here, ---but from the photographs it looks like it could be driven to a repair shop?
Just a thought.