p38 hit telegraph pole after steering drag link balljoint failed

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
yes the chassis is straight - just bent the radius arm.
Engineer is saying the inner wing and upper wing reinforcer is structural damage.
Cant upload report as it is 4.9 Mb and forum allows up to 3.9Mb.
 
I have a Tatty but working p38 going for scrap value (been offered 232 quid online) if you can collect it. You'll need to trailer it though as it's been laid up for a while.
 
I believe that the insurance company have to write it off and after yu have fixed it then to "Unwrite" it off it needs more than just a normal MOT.
I would get Wazzajnr's and use yours to fix his
Saves any chance that the chassis is bent which I reckon is very possible but would require a jig to test.
The company dont care if chassis is bent as it has already been written off with the other damage
 
If it is cat B rather than cat S then I very much doubt you will be allowed to buy it back. You have to be a licensed breaker to get Cat B's
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/what-is-an-insurance-write-off/
Waiting for a second opinion from an independent engineer. Copart engineer used the phrase "end of life". I would have thought that structural is rather the chassis rather than bodywork, after all the body bolts onto the chassis. Inner wing is £100 from Britpart and stiffener about £85. Brand new genuine front panel is already on its way from Germany, as are the secondhand airbox, headlamp, indicator, n/s foglamp, bumper and lower baffle and bumper bracket. Have held off on the bonnet and wing and inner wing and upper wing reinforcer - if it comes to the crunch (lol) I guess I can always sell on the parts that are already in transit. :(
Quote from Honest John :-
"You can cancel and get the car back, though they will argue they still need to place a Category on it. If they do, advise you will sue under the "interference of goods act". You can challenge the category, request from the insurer the name of the engineer and what their AQP number is (Appropriately Qualified Person). In the new code of salvage, you can ask it to be reviewed by an independent AQP. Request your insurer to deliver your car back immediately. Do not let them take control of your asset. They are probably trying to place that categorisation as they may see it as an "end of life vehicle". If they do, ask them "does the vehicle have structural damage?" If not it should not be a Cat B."
 

Attachments

  • DSC_0082.JPG
    DSC_0082.JPG
    325.1 KB · Views: 95
Last edited:
If it was me, I'd get the best offer from the insurer and let them have it. You may find more damage as you start stripping off the parts and end up abandoning the repair halfway through. What was it worth before the accident?

Col
 
yes the chassis is straight - just bent the radius arm.
Engineer is saying the inner wing and upper wing reinforcer is structural damage.
Cant upload report as it is 4.9 Mb and forum allows up to 3.9Mb.

As said earlier if the radius arm is bent the cross member it attaches to at the rear cannot be in good shape. Engineer is talking out of his arse.
 
There's a fair but if work to put right there and as said the unseen repairs as well which there will be. Wammers saying about the crossmember attached to the bent suspension component could also be affected is a good point. Insurance inspectors are specialized in looking for the more obvious things from my experience.... That's not an easy decision and I don't envy you.
Get it back off the insurance, find another to fall in love with and modify your old one for offroading:cool:
 
Really?????
:rolleyes:
Sorry I was using the term "structural" in the context of how easy it would be to repair.
If the chassis was twisted then I would accept the Cat B assessment and take the money,
But I can't accept it being Cat B due to structural damage stated as inner wing & upper wing strengthener when you can buy a LH FRONT VALANCE ASSEMBLY ALR8645 £96.32 + VAT & LH SIDE MEMBER ALR8391 £57.22 + VAT from Britpart.
Basically it is uneconomical for the insurer to repair it and obviously Saga have an agreement with Copart to handle the disposal. Copart will probably make more than the £2k payout offered when they break it for parts.The engineer used the phrase "end of life" because basically they don't want old vehicles still on the road and they stand to make money out of it.
How many members' vehicles on here fall into the category of end of life I ask you ? Cat B my arse. As for "end of life" I've got a 30 year old 2.0 dohc efi mk3 granada scorpio saloon on classic insurance that still passes its MOT every year.
 
Last edited:
Quote from a senior AQP from the Honest John website:-

Advise the assessor to read the ABI code of salvage,
The chassis is seen as being different to the cab on that vehicle.
Unless the chassis is damaged, or the shell is beyond repair then it is repairable.
The vehicle IS a classic vehicle of special interest, as such it is "EXEMPT" from having ANY categorisation attached to it.
You do have the right to challenge the insurer and can request that the category is reviewed by a senior AQP.
 
Well it got re-categorised as S today.
So I am getting paid out and get to put it back on the road before winter hopefully.
Radius arms arrived today.
Indicator, headlamp, foglamp, air filter box, front baffle & bumper bracket already here
Just waiting for some new bushes and bolts for the radius arm and front panel and bumper to arrive.
Bonnet and wing (same colour) paid for just got to arrange collection from Taunton and Blackpool
Just got front valance and side member to buy.
 
Back
Top