After a minor incident involving my defrosting Multipla rolling (unoccupied) lazily down the drive into the house, I claimed on my insurance (Direct Line) and was duly booked in for repair (Thank goodness for No Claims Discount protection and a small excess!) The damage was caused by the corner of the house neatly stopping the Multi pretty much dead centre of the bumper/ tailgate. Because of a slope on the drive, the tailgate was quite sharply creased/torn. I suspected that they would renew both body parts.
After almost 4 weeks, 'Just Car Clinic' the authorised repairer have failed to fix the car, stating that they were struggling to fit the new parts. I was told that the car would be ready and went to pick it up today. On arrival, I spotted the car in the compound, shiny new tailgate fitted and old bumper dangling precariously below. It wasn't ready. Not only that, but My Multipla is a May 04 model (Original shape). I was alarmed to see a New model tailgate, complete with large round FIAT badge instead of the MULTIPLA 'lettershape' badge. I was told that the original tailgate part has been superceeded. The Bumper appears to be the old one- though I was told that a new one was to be fitted. I suspect that this will not work as the profile is slightly different and will probably not fit properly with the rear quarters which are reshaped owing to the changed light clusters. Does anyone know if this is the case? If this is so, will they be forced to fit new quarter panels as well? This will give me a Multipla with an original nose and a facelifted rear!!!

Insurance wont have that they class that as a bodge phone them tell them it wrong parts for car and so on or i have been told if they cant supply original parts they will write the car off but there is no way ya cant source the parts from fiat as for the face lift boot does it fit and work ok

Thanks,
I will check with FIAT that parts have been superceeded - it may be bull. As a point of interest, the facelift bumper does not include separate reflectors like the old one which would probably, technically make the car illegal if it retains the old light clusters. I'll let you know what happens.

Nick

....and the new light clusters won't fit the old wings.

It'll be interesting to hear the outcome of this. I thing you've got a pretty strong case!

Re: Multipla tailgate and bumper fitting

Car was returned with Nosejob tailgate and original shape bumper (New). All seems to fit and work OK. I suspect that the tailgate trim (the bit that surrounds the numberplate) is the key to making this fit. On nosejobs it has a slightly sharper profile which matches it with the rear wing/quarters. My car has the original shape trim and so matches with the oldstyle bumper.
Actually, it looks pretty good. The big round badge now matches all the others on the car. Part of me misses that old MULTIPLA outline badge. I'm a designer by profession and it doesn't feel right to mess with original designs. Then again, I saw the full repair bill - thankfully paid by insurance (minus £125 excess) A whopping £1,800+!

Nick

post some pics so people can see what it looks like thanks

Pics Attached.

looks pretty good like that, I normally leave my tailgate off when I'm not using it, it saves it getting stuck.