Hi Guys

I have not long been an owner of a Fiat multipla,
I was VERY lucky to have found a first owner, 32,000 mile car in un touched condition.

The weekend just gone, as I was returning from a short brake from Ghent (Belgium) on the French side BUT UK border desided to stop me and do a very thorough on my poor car,

I was not even carrying fags, booze or any contra ban, yet they set about my car with NO VALID reason, I could understand if I was found to be carrying some thing on my person, or I smelled of drugs etc.

anyways to cut a long story short, they damaged a few bits of trim on there search.

They said they pay for such things (we are are to find out) but the parts they broke, two of them are unavailable and hence I cant get a quote from fiat for the parts and fitting.


WHAT to do ??????

the bits they broke are the long finishing strip, where the carpet ends at the boot floor door opening (this is available)

The scuttle, the long plastic molding that sits on the out side of the car, just under the wind screen, where the window wiper arms are, there is an access panel in this scuttle, they broke the scuttle at that access panel point.
This part is not available.

The Third thing they broke was an other access panel,
if you imagine sitting in the driver seat, and you was to press your right knee against the dash, there is a small access panel there, well they broke that

How can I get a quote for parts that are not available ????

Please help

My guess is you'll have to search breakers, Ebay, etc., to find what you need and present receipts.

I've seen a few programs on the telly of this sort of thing, sadly the customs officers have no expertise in taking things apart, and seem happy to drill into stuff on a whim. If taking something off breaks it, it is unlikely to be hiding anything.

Perhaps your car was used before, by a previous owner, so has a marker on it. Or they've experience of previous Multi owners smuggling stuff.