Slam Panel

  1. L-plater Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 36
    #1
    Foolishly, I decided to drive my car into the back of a Clio. Albeit at a low speed.

    Basically broken the brackets for the headlights so have purchased new ones, driver side has been replaced, and I'm waiting for the passenger side to show up. The bonnet will need doing at some point but it's just pushed back slightly, and the bumper will need doing but not a pressing matter, not cracked or anything.

    I'm a little worried that the slam panel might be a little twisted or pushed back and the lights won't line up properly - I've had to have it MOT'd again before the insurance company will continue to insure it - they wanted to write it off.








    Am I panicking over nothing? If push comes to shove and it is slightly bent, is it a simple job to straighten or am I better off getting one in from a scrappy?
  2. Established Member Joined: Sep 2010 loughborough Posts: 2229 1988 ford fiesta mk2 1.4- 2001 black saxo furio (d
    #2
    don't really see a problem with that but could be wrong, easy to repalce with a good 2nd hand one.
  3. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 gateshead Posts: 807 vw golf GTI citroen saxo forte 02 plate vw polo
    #3
    its not too bad, did it fail the MOT on it?
  4. L-plater Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 36
    #4
    I was expecting it to fail the MOT, but wanted to make sure it failed on the things I was expecting it to, IE the headlights.

    If it had failed on anything more major I would have let the insurance write it off, taken the money and run.

    In the end it failed on the headlights, which had a sum total of 3 intact brackets over the two headlights and the rear brakes which I had pads and discs for that had been waiting to go on anyway.

    The only reason I'm a little sketchy on the slam plate is because the headlight trim that is now sat under the replaced headlight on the drivers side doesn't line up perfectly, it sticks out slightly, which makes me wonder if something is twisted somewhere.

    I'm assuming that the 3 headlight bolts only attach to the slam plate?
  5. Frequent Poster Joined: May 2006 Bognor Regis,West Sussex Posts: 707 Phase 2 Saxo VTS
    #5
    on the back of each headlight there should be 2 black plastic lugs the outer one on each sdie goues thru a small hole in teh front panel, the inner one kinda rests against the front panel, make sure they are lined up. If they don't line up then forget trying to staighten it a second hand one is about £15 and is 2 x 13mm bolts and about 4 or 6 10mm bolts and if you have the bumper off is about 20 mins to fit
  6. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2
    #6
    mate if ur worried bout it jsut replace it, i did myne took a day but it all lines up nicer. and hey atleast uve then got some piece of mind if nothing else
  7. L-plater Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 36
    #7
    To be honest its not the time to do the work and I know the part second hand is relatively cheap. Its more the time in which to find one and get it delivered.

    I wouldn't be so worried about it if the insurance weren't aware of the damage but being as I was going to have it all done on the insurance until they wanted to write it off (the bumper and bonnet have some minor damage so will need doing as well at some point).

    Obviously if I need to replace or straighten the slam panel then there is a risk the bonnet won't catch and it fails something else...

    Still waiting for the second headlight to show up though so could all be ok.
  8. L-plater Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 36
    #8
    Apparently it was straight (at least straight enough). Had the garage adjust the light alignment (£12) and through the MOT no issues.