Met a Land rover defender on a country lane last Thursday - drivers front wing, bumper, valance and indicator totalled.

Insurers say uneconomical to repair, which isn't exactly a suprise. I'll post some pictures later.

Upshot is that it may be available for sale if anyone is interested in fixing it up, or robbing it for spares - but it is a series 1 (e12 based) car. PM me if interested.

I'm still crying in my beer!

robmw750 wrote: Sorry to hear your news, Have you thought about rebuilding it yourself ?

That's what I did after I shunted a Fiesta on August Bank Holiday 2002.

Bought it back off the insurers, with a settlement sum, and the result was a grand car which the same insurers were happy to continue insuring, and which is still with me today...... and is subject to further interesting little modifications......

I know someone who can help with the Series 1 parts if you're up for it, Jimbob

Thats bad news Jimbob,

That car looked such a beautiful colour as well - I hope you're going to re-build it as I was hoping to catch a glimpse of it in the flesh as we're hoping to join up with the SE region for some of the race events at Brands Hatch

Paul

So soon after the new wheels Jimbob!

Don't give up on her, she deserves more than that!!!

Hey guys, there's good news and bad news...

The insurers are just not willing to pay enough for me to get it done, and I don't have the space, skills or time to do it myself. The good news is that its gone to a good home where it will be reapair and sold on - the end result of which is that I'm leaving the BMW fold for a (hopefully short) time.  Best wishes to all - and if you fancy those those 16" BBS wheels with brand new P600s, let me know, as they are still mine.

Here are a couple of pictures:

Inner arch is rusty, and quite a bit of "movement" in the suspension (whatever that means)

Also bear in mind that even if it were absolutely perfect it would still only be worth £3,000. 

Jimbob wrote: ...its gone to a good home where it will be repaired and sold on...

I bet it's Brucey who's taken it on..... After all, he took in Spokey's similarly damaged Series-1, so now he can build one good Series-1 out of two slightly-wonky ones

Derek M5 wrote: how the hell can that be an uneconomical repair?

Outer wing panel: £500 (inc VAT)

Inner wing panel: £ don't even go there

New indicator lens: £15

New chrome side trim: £130 (inc VAT)

Airdam can be re-used: £ NIL

Value of car before and after repair: £3K (Jimbob's estimate)

That will probably be "Cat. D" recorded. Mine was a lot worse than that after I shunted the Fiesta.

I saw your car last week. The damage is really not that bad. A second hand wing and a couple of bits and it could be sored. If the cars worth £3k and they give you £1400 that should be enough to fix the car. Looks like a very nice series 1. Bit of rust on one rear arch, but overall a clean car.

James

You're right, of course, James, except that the inner wing where the bracket was is pretty badly rusted. Part of the problem is that if I were to have it done I would want it done properly with all new parts - including having the rusty rear wing done.

That would mean spending the entire value of the car on repair bills (my £3,000 quote was for a perfect series 1 - mine's far from that, with 8 owners and virtually no history).

That would still leave me with a good car with some pretty hefty bills on the horizon - the head gasket is on the way for example.

But as I said its going to be fixed - by Mark at MJF who it now belongs to. I will do the 6 thing again - when I can afford a good manual early series 2 car.

The inner wing can have the rust cut out and new metal welded in. I know mark well as he looks after my cars. He will get it back up and running again i am sure so that someone else can enjoy the beast.

James