Dented roof and smashed sunroof

[antonylees]

Hi all

Over the weekend storms a tree fell on my Terrano denting the roof and smashing the sunroof. Insurance company want to write it off which seems a real shame for a perfectly serviceable 4x4

I'm thinking that I'd rather just get it fixed, even if its ugly. It it weren't for the dent I could just put a new sunroof in. Could I somehow fill the hole?

Any ideas appreciated

Antony

 

[96terrano]

Hi all

Over the weekend storms a tree fell on my Terrano denting the roof and smashing the sunroof. Insurance company want to write it off which seems a real shame for a perfectly serviceable 4x4

I'm thinking that I'd rather just get it fixed, even if its ugly. It it weren't for the dent I could just put a new sunroof in. Could I somehow fill the hole?

Any ideas appreciated

Antony

have you got a picture of the dent? it might be fixable :thumb2

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Cut the roof off, and turn it into a rag top... that would be smart..:lol

 

[stinka]

Post a pic, we can't really say till we see it ...

 

[antonylees]

Haha that would be awesome! Was hoping for an easy fix though ;-)

Images should be linked below. The dent was hard to take photos of but if you look on the left of the sunroof you can see that it is dented in whereas on the right its ok

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5gfr60RQ0hv_cJhYsNh_iA_J8zmnEt3tCVEiX7OPdLI?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2IcX7Jw-2vfC0UtcDfUEdw_J8zmnEt3tCVEiX7OPdLI?feat=directlink

 

[96terrano]

I bet if you put a new sunroof in and pushed the roof skin back into alignment it should be fine, or, if you can't be bothered, get some sheet metal and spot weld and seal it over the hole.

 

[antonylees]

Cool, either of those ideas sound ok. Not something I can do myself so I'll try and find a garage that's willing to hack-and-slash as it were

In the meantime, do you reckon a tarp and duck tape would hold?

 

[Kamsin]

First, DONT let them take it away to apraise, have them do it at your house or ask for it in writing that it will be returned to your house from the garage.

Second, its worth about £200 to them in salvage, they just took my nieces and said i could buy it back for £235 on an 03 plate, just to give you a guide.

Third dont listen to any waffel about not letting you have it back, its your car and you pay a premium for its insurance, you dont pay a preimum and give them your car, its a scam thet they try to get the car off you.

Forth, if they have taken it away all ready, dont put up with any crap about it being in a salvage yard and you will have to pay to recover it. They put it there its there problem, simply inform them that if its not returned within 24 hours it will be reported as stolen and name them as the culprits.

I love insurance people!

 

[96terrano]

Cool, either of those ideas sound ok. Not something I can do myself so I'll try and find a garage that's willing to hack-and-slash as it were

In the meantime, do you reckon a tarp and duck tape would hold?

I don't see why not, as long it propperly waterproofed, when our vectra had a smashed window, we used ductape and clear plastic sheeting:thumb2

 

[antonylees]

Awesome! Good advice all

(On the insurance thing I already made them bring it back saying I'd get it fixed myself, not really sure why I bothered paying for comprehensive insurance right at this moment)

This place is worth my membership already

 

[stinka]

Drop the headling. Remove sunroof cassette. Push out dents then bond in a white acrylic sheet from the inside, about say 7mm thick with tiger seal or similar, holding it in place with gaffa tape temporary until tiger seal goes off, refit headlining

 

[antonylees]

That's not a bad idea either, I could almost do that myself

This has all made me realise though that it can likely be fixed, thus saving my beloved Terrano from the insurance idiots

 

[makeitfit]

As stinky says or just get a s/h one from scrappy and bolt the bugger back in :thumbs Simples.
By the way , what value have they given on the write off?

 

[cncfabs]

Haha that would be awesome! Was hoping for an easy fix though ;-)

Images should be linked below. The dent was hard to take photos of but if you look on the left of the sunroof you can see that it is dented in whereas on the right its ok

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5gfr60RQ0hv_cJhYsNh_iA_J8zmnEt3tCVEiX7OPdLI?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2IcX7Jw-2vfC0UtcDfUEdw_J8zmnEt3tCVEiX7OPdLI?feat=directlink

Got new sunroof here if you want to change it:thumbs

 

[Fez_uk]

Get it welded up, sunroofs are just a pain in the arse. It will end up leaking one day.

 

[antonylees]

They gave it £600, which is ridiculous. My excess if £450 :'(

 

[antonylees]

I'm starting to see that sunrooves are not worth it! If I didn't have one it would have just dented the roof, I could have lived with that

 

[96terrano]

It will end up leaking one day.

like mine!:lol

 

[makeitfit]

Maybe so but the easiest fix is a s/h sunroof. Fix it in an hour or so :thumbs
Welding in a panel is a can of worms with a very big lid

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Maybe so but the easiest fix is a s/h sunroof. Fix it in an hour or so :thumbs
Welding in a panel is a can of worms with a very big lid

Coming from you, that worries me, with the things you have done to your truck, I am surprised you didn't recommend converting it into an internal snorkel...