swansea2007
Member
Hey guys had a crash this week. need a new bonnet and headlight i have priced them up and only 160 quid total. How easy are these to fit. And how much would it cost to get bonnet sprayed. Aslo the bonnet wont open 
General new bonnet/ Light how easy to replace after crash
- Thread starter swansea2007
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General new bonnet/ Light how easy to replace after crash
john55
Established member
You will probably need to replace more than just the panels. Have you actually opened the bonnet to have a look. Usually the large plastic panel that holds the radiator and bonnet catch breaks. Can you post any photos of the damage?
Usually it is better to buy panels from a scrap yard rather than the cheap aftermarket ones. The ones you have prices for will be a bad fit. They never line up with the existing panels and usually have to be shaped a bit to make them fit. Also the bonnet will be steel and very heavy compared to your existing alluminum one. If you are going to get after market ones, make sure they are thatcham approved parts as these will have better fit than really cheap ones. The best way is to find one in a scrap yard that is the same colour as yours, but that can be hard to find.
Spraying: To do a good job, they will have to spray the whole front of the car, to blend the new paint with the existing colour. No matter how accurate the colour match, it will always look different if the paint changes from new to old on a line. If they just spray the bonnet, it will always be obvious that it is different to the rest of the car. Allow about £300 for painting if you want a reasonable job, and make sure whoever does it has a proper heated spray booth. Anything less and it will just look crap when on the car. The bonnet is a large flat obvious part of the car and any imperfections will be easily seen so get it done right. Look in your local yellow pages and start phoning/ visiting places for quotes.
Usually it is better to buy panels from a scrap yard rather than the cheap aftermarket ones. The ones you have prices for will be a bad fit. They never line up with the existing panels and usually have to be shaped a bit to make them fit. Also the bonnet will be steel and very heavy compared to your existing alluminum one. If you are going to get after market ones, make sure they are thatcham approved parts as these will have better fit than really cheap ones. The best way is to find one in a scrap yard that is the same colour as yours, but that can be hard to find.
Spraying: To do a good job, they will have to spray the whole front of the car, to blend the new paint with the existing colour. No matter how accurate the colour match, it will always look different if the paint changes from new to old on a line. If they just spray the bonnet, it will always be obvious that it is different to the rest of the car. Allow about £300 for painting if you want a reasonable job, and make sure whoever does it has a proper heated spray booth. Anything less and it will just look crap when on the car. The bonnet is a large flat obvious part of the car and any imperfections will be easily seen so get it done right. Look in your local yellow pages and start phoning/ visiting places for quotes.
swansea2007
Member
I replaced my bonnet and light, bumper and grill
£40 for light
£80 for bonnet- brand new
£50 for grill
£40 for abarth front bumper
I too couldnt open my bonnet, dropped it off at the garage, had them fitted. and had bonnet, front bumper and wings sprayed. cost me £300 for all the spraying and fitting
so good estimates
£40 for light
£80 for bonnet- brand new
£50 for grill
£40 for abarth front bumper
I too couldnt open my bonnet, dropped it off at the garage, had them fitted. and had bonnet, front bumper and wings sprayed. cost me £300 for all the spraying and fitting
so good estimates
swansea2007
Member
I replaced my bonnet and light, bumper and grill
£40 for light
£80 for bonnet- brand new
£50 for grill
£40 for abarth front bumper
I too couldnt open my bonnet, dropped it off at the garage, had them fitted. and had bonnet, front bumper and wings sprayed. cost me £300 for all the spraying and fitting
so good estimates
Where you get your parts from??
swansea2007
Member
The wing got a tiny bit but im not to bothered about that probally bend it back so small didnt notice
my headlight was cracked from underneath, where the bumper pushed in to it. so no damage to the wing.
I got all my stuff from ebay.
i went and picked up the bonnet as it was local, so they knocked £10 off
and same with the bumper
john55
Established member
my headlight was cracked from underneath, where the bumper pushed in to it. so no damage to the wing.
I got all my stuff from ebay.
i went and picked up the bonnet as it was local, so they knocked £10 off
and same with the bumper
ebay is usually cheapest by far.
