DiscoKenya
New Member
- Posts
- 2
Jambo from Nairobi.
Hoping for some 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions please on whether I should attempt to repair my 1994 Discovery 1 200tdi after a crash that saw me lose control of the car and end up slamming rear of passenger-side into a concrete ditch between carriageways on a highway, then bouncing out of the ditch and ending up on driver's side facing back the way I was coming, on the opposite carriageway (ie I went over/through the ditch, about 3ft deep). Speed at time of crash probably no more than 30mph. I got up and walked out of it with only bruises from my belt, luckily. Wear seatbelts, people!
Pics are attached below. Main problems appear to be:
1. Cabin out-of-alignment over driver's side at the A-pillar, including metal breaks at foot of windscreen on both sides. But further back it looks to an untrained eye not badly out of line.
2. Rear axle shunted about 2 inches over to driver's side, apparently because the bracket holding the axle to the rear crossmember (I think - I'm no mechanic!) is bent. Chassis looks straight all the way through, however.
3. Two front doors don't open. Rear driver's side doesn't close. Back door opens but scrapes on bumper.
4. Front-end on driver's side appears bent floorwards somewhat.
5. Two passenger side tires burst.
6. One of the steering (?) rods, behind front axle, is bent.
7. Cracked front diff.
I'm sure this would call for a write-off in the UK. But I'm in Kenya, where a 1994 Discovery costs upwards of 6,000 quid, and this was insured third-party only. Thus, writing it off means I lose most of my initial investment (less whatever I can get for spares) and have to shell out for a whole new car. Ouch.
My mechanic reckons it's way too much of a job to panelbeat the cabin and the rear axle bracket back into shape - although I'm told there are computerised jigs in town here that'll wrench it back properly to how Solihull made it. Other repairs shouldn't be too complicated.
So - what think, all? Should I scrap it, or can repairs on a car this damaged effectively - and SAFELY - be done?
Thanks lots.
Mike
PS tried to make these pics smaller but couldn't work out how. Apologies if they load slow.
Hoping for some 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions please on whether I should attempt to repair my 1994 Discovery 1 200tdi after a crash that saw me lose control of the car and end up slamming rear of passenger-side into a concrete ditch between carriageways on a highway, then bouncing out of the ditch and ending up on driver's side facing back the way I was coming, on the opposite carriageway (ie I went over/through the ditch, about 3ft deep). Speed at time of crash probably no more than 30mph. I got up and walked out of it with only bruises from my belt, luckily. Wear seatbelts, people!
Pics are attached below. Main problems appear to be:
1. Cabin out-of-alignment over driver's side at the A-pillar, including metal breaks at foot of windscreen on both sides. But further back it looks to an untrained eye not badly out of line.
2. Rear axle shunted about 2 inches over to driver's side, apparently because the bracket holding the axle to the rear crossmember (I think - I'm no mechanic!) is bent. Chassis looks straight all the way through, however.
3. Two front doors don't open. Rear driver's side doesn't close. Back door opens but scrapes on bumper.
4. Front-end on driver's side appears bent floorwards somewhat.
5. Two passenger side tires burst.
6. One of the steering (?) rods, behind front axle, is bent.
7. Cracked front diff.
I'm sure this would call for a write-off in the UK. But I'm in Kenya, where a 1994 Discovery costs upwards of 6,000 quid, and this was insured third-party only. Thus, writing it off means I lose most of my initial investment (less whatever I can get for spares) and have to shell out for a whole new car. Ouch.
My mechanic reckons it's way too much of a job to panelbeat the cabin and the rear axle bracket back into shape - although I'm told there are computerised jigs in town here that'll wrench it back properly to how Solihull made it. Other repairs shouldn't be too complicated.
So - what think, all? Should I scrap it, or can repairs on a car this damaged effectively - and SAFELY - be done?
Thanks lots.
Mike
PS tried to make these pics smaller but couldn't work out how. Apologies if they load slow.
Last edited:
