Oh, My F***ing God...

Well, after all that faffing around with the undertray and changing the oil etc, I was reversing down my drive with the door open ajar and my hand on the handle, when a gust of wind caught the door and blew it back.... it then got jammed on the fence post and before I could brake, it ripped it right off!

I do not f***ing believe it!!

Door is wrecked - big crease in it and the hinges are bust. It also fell against the bodywork and scratched the front wing.

I'm seriously gutted, as it's a tough time of year money wise at the best of times and I now probably can't take it to Scotland next week... in fact I probably won't be able to afford it anyway.

My insurance excess for accidental damage is £450!! Pretty sure my no claims bonus is protected, but they still ramp up your premium after a claim don't they? (Never made one before!)

So the big question is... do I put in the claim?? Or just try to find a matching door at a scrap yard?


GuttedDrew

Matching door will be the cheapest option, have a look on fleebay as there are nomally a few on there. Is it a 3 or 5 door? What colour? There is a large breakers near to me I can ask there if you want. What part of the country are you in?

Oh No!!! Sorry to hear it mate. I also think finding a matching door will be your best option.
I made my 1st claim ever a couple of years ago..............tree branch fell on my FL's bonnet..........massive dent!! I had protected "No Claims".........but they called it a "fault Claim" Basically as there was no 3rd party for them to claim from..........so my No Claims wasn't protected!!! (Bloody 'Diamond' Insurance!!). And as your excess is so high............I'd look for another door.

Good luck, hope you get it sorted soon!

and maybe another insurance companyfor next year.

good luck, mate. If you see one out of reach - try asking the "Landyzone Courier Company" to assist in transport. Yella is the transport co-ordinator, but only coz he uses it most.

put ya location in ya cp.

Did i see you snigger at this floppy?

Nope - not at all - poor sod - it's times like these that you think " that £150 the local stealers were gonna charge aint such a bad idea" tho.

morning mondeo - sounds like a fiat scenario

The Mad Hat Man said:

morning mondeo - sounds like a fiat scenario

Click to expand...

Yup! thats why i had a little smile on me face

glad it aint just me it happens to

Morning chaps and thanks for the well-wishes...

The car is a non-metallic (Java???) Black 5 door. 2002 model. If I could get a door and hinges for Sunday, I could still go to Scotland.

How easy is it to swap the locks, window etc over? I've had a the window mechanism off in the past, but no idea how to replace the glass.

I'm guessing the electics are simple plug and play type thingies, so not worried about them.

The other question is... will the new door fit well?

I don't think the frame is bent, as the door seemed to fold pretty easily and the hinges just sprung open.


If I can get a matching door, in good nick, to just outside Warrington for Sunday I have a good chance of making it to Scotland on Wednesday! Assuming it costs less than the insurance excess, of course!

I shall ask today for you at the breakers, I am only up the M6 a bit from you so getting it to you would be no problem. Swapping internals from one door to another normally is easier than having to repair a part within a built up door. As far as fit is concerned the replacement door should fit the same as your original, it is only when you buy a new door that variations come in.

ShotgunDrew said:

Morning chaps

The other question is... will the new door fit well?

I don't think the frame is bent, as the door seemed to fold pretty easily and the hinges just sprung open.

Click to expand...

It might be a good idea to take some measurements from the door A & B pillars and compare them with the passenger side, as it may not "look" distorted but you never know!!! It dont need to have moved much to make the replacement door look and fit like crap!

I'd be forever in your debt if you can help me get this sorted, Stig. Thanks.

Have emailed a few people off Ebay, so will wait for a response.


Of less concern to me is the bodywork... but... how easy is it to get rid of scratches on black paint? Is it a respray job, or can they be touched up with a pen??

mondo said:

It might be a good idea to take some measurements from the door A & B pillars and compare them with the passenger side, as it may not "look" distorted but you never know!!! It dont need to have moved much to make the replacement door look and fit like crap!

Click to expand...

Good thinking... sadly I'm at work now, so it'll have to wait until 5pm... by which time it'll probably be too late for me to get a replacement in for Sunday.


Although, having said that, I'm that desperate that if a replacement comes up, I'll buy it and if it turns out it doesn't fit, I'll just flog it on Ebay and go through the insurance to get it done "right".

I have just spoken to 8 breakers in my area, non of them have a door for the Freelander in stock. I have put the details on a few National Breakers websites, will have to await there response. If one of these Nationals comes back to me I shall PM the details to you.

Cheers Stig, may you receive much good karma for that unselfish work!

A promising lead from ebay though...

One of the guys off ebay has just come back to me and said that he has one off a 52 reg FL in "factory black"... I'm hoping that will fit!

It also has the window etc already in, so will just need the locks, electric mirror and trim replacing.


I've asked him to confirm that "factory black" means the finished non-metallic black and not just black primer!

The response that I got was "you'll be lucky to find one of those" so I would get that door irrespective of the colour ( it can always be painted).

I have just mailed by MercLand to say that they have a door for your Freelander.

Cheers stig, will give them a bell.

Just spoke to them... it's in dark blue.



The one I found elsewhere is the correct colour and is apparently immaculate, so I think I'll be going with that one... just waiting for the guy to come back to me.



Many thanks for your help though, stig...

You got any photos Drew???
just curious to see how much the door collapsed from the impact

Glad to be of assistance, that is what the LZ is for after all!!!!!!!!!!! Best of luck, if you need a hand fitting do not be shy in asking for help, I am a panel beater/maker with 32 years experience and am off work at the moment.
Barry