(G) A Cautionary Tale - the front of the new Fiat 500s unbolts and can be stolen

In that case, it might work out better for you if they do write it off.

Perhaps a fresh start would be better after all that has happened?

Fingers crossed you get the result you are hoping for, whatever that may be.

This happens quite a bit I think. The first one I sold to someone which wasn't a write off got done a few months ago. The bodyshop I used told me about it and the penny dropped that it was the one I sold.

They had the whole front, and the steering airbag, right outside her house.

The good news is, it's an easy fix. I could do it in a couple of hours.

Scour ebay for a bumper and bits in the right colour and you're half way there.

There's actually a set of Xenon headlights for sale in Downham, just up the road from you for £100. Don't worry, they're not off your car, I know the bloke and he gets his cars from insurance companies.

If you saw my video of changing a lock recently, you will see how easy it is to pop a hole in the door and operate the rod to open and unlock the door.

It's not just 2 bolts though, you have two underneath, 4 on top, 2 in each wheel arch so it would take a few minutes to do it. I've done loads of them and it still takes me a good 20 minutes to get one off.

Here's the link for the lights. He is actually breaking a new shape 500 at the moment. Not sure what colour it is, but you never know, he may have a bumper.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-Fiat-...s/253147177342

Thanks for all that research but it's in the hands of Mr Aviva and his Erith repairer now - my days of repairing motors ended 25 odd years ago.


Good find though on the lights - are the 2013 ones the same as the new shape from 2016?

Not sure possibly not.

Just spoke to my Fiat dealer about getting an alarm fitted and they also have had TWO fronts of Fiat 500s stolen from their lot recently. Plus cutting of the wires to the lights means a new wiring loom which is a lot of labour charge on top of all the parts.


Beware.

I know nothing, but I suspect they will offer you settlement figure rather than attempt to fix it now it needs wiring loom too. What would you get instead?

No it's going to be ready by Friday apparently. The Fiat parts guy told me about the loom problem. You have to strip out the inside to fit it. 7-8 hrs labour.

Now I would be doing some soldering and joining wires to a second hand plug.

Especially when the insurance is paying, I would solder new connections on and use adhesive lined heatshrink that would last the life of the car.

Sadly not confined to 500s. I remember reports of a spate of similar thefts from Corsas a couple of years ago, and presumably many other cars are vulnerable too. Hope you get it all sorted.

Back in the early 2000"s I heard of Renault's, then "new" hid headlights being stolen.

Fiat could fix this immediately by using locking wheelnut style bolts where the main front fixings are. £20 solution.

They also need to sort a workaround part to repair the wiring ends/plug. Also a simple fix costing pennies.

Sorry to hear about this.


Be interested to see what the quote is for the alarm, as it does make you worry about the hassle to fix this even if the insurance will cover everything, I guess the main attraction for the thieves are the xenon lights.

The alarm fitted price (which I suspect was guessed as it was shouted across to the receptionist I was talking to) was 'about £550'


The actual part is £220 inc VAT (part no 50901734)


For anyone interested, I found these instructions here and it sounds like a bit of a job to be fair: https://www.metasystem.it/content/do...Fiat%20500.pdf


And it has several sensors and a separate siren.