Bollard 1, Cali 0 Cost £6000!!

[Zebedee]

Following my brushing against a bollard at 5 miles an hour I have been quoted a repair cost of £6000. Worryingly they also want to remove the whole innards of the Cali to effect the repair. This worries me greatly. They are VW approved but I can't find anyone who can tell me if they have ever removed the inside of a Cali before.....any suggestions?
A sad Zebedee

 

[Zebedee]

A pic of poor Zebedee

 

[Meoncoast]

If they say it has got to come out they would know best. I would be more concered, are they cutting out the side or not. I would not want it knocked out and full of filler. I watch a bodyshop down the road cut the whole outer skin out of a Bongo, and put a new one on. Looked a good job.

 

[Zebedee]

They are indeed cutting the whole side of the van off and putting on a new one. Going for a second quote tomorrow somewhere else....just to make sure.
Z

 

[Meoncoast]

Somewhere on the forum there is a link to a youtube Cali factory build , the kitchen went in on a "jack"( like something an engine would be taken out with) + about 45 degree's then tilted into place in one lump then conected up

 

[briwy]

I feel for you zebedee. I had a similar brush with a bollard last year, drivers side. New door and bottom half of the door frame. £3500. I was turning right into a garage in Santander and the bollard was right in the blind spot of the A pillar. I'm sure the side bar prevented worse damage though.

 

[MichaelB]

Ouch... I feel for you!

We had our kitchen removed for some work and unless you are a bit OCD and know what to look for you would never know. I think I would get this done by a VW Shop for the back up it offers. Heritage did mine.

 

[snowy55]

Ouch

 

[Californiaman]

Bugger. Sorry to see that. I think Kernowlad did something similar and the repair to his van was very good. Not sure where you are but try AB Crush near Dover perhaps - they are amazing...
If you are paying your hard earned moneys for the repair, I would be tempted to run it for the rest of the season, with that 'character' left in place - knowing my luck I would have it repaired only to have earn other minor prang straight after...

 

[Ajspicer]

Don't worry about the removal of the kitchen pod, before we had our California, We had a T5 camper conversion with a California kitchen, it comes out really easily once the rear bed is taken out.

Once done you will never know, these kitchen parts are designed to come in and out of the van, although maybe not quite a smoothly as in the aforementioned video.

I know it seems bad now but just think what some early Splitscreen vans go through during their restoration and how perfect they are once finished.

Andrew.

 

[BMVS-Camper-Hire]

Ouch. But thats exactly what they will have to do. Once the interior is out, its a fairly straightforward repair, as the side comes as one whole piece. We've done a few T5 sides in our bodyshop, after damage similar to this.

Its just amazing how much damage you can do as such little speed

 

[dannosail]

Gutted. Perhaps you could take the opportunity to plumb in a shower connection whilst it's out?

 

[motacyclist]

Following my brushing against a bollard at 5 miles an hour I have been quoted a repair cost of £6000. Worryingly they also want to remove the whole innards of the Cali to effect the repair. This worries me greatly. They are VW approved but I can't find anyone who can tell me if they have ever removed the inside of a Cali before.....any suggestions?
A sad Zebedee

I feel for you, it's not something that affects the usability of the van but you can't stand seeing it like that.

One thing you need to watch out for when selecting a repairer. We had an issue with insurers with one of our company vans a while back. A car coming in the opposite direction had lost control and took out the offside of our van. The insurance company wanted to use a local "approved" repairer, but we were reluctant having had poor experience with this workshop before, so we asked if we could use the Mercedes workshop (the van was a V6 Vito so we were a bit fussy).

The insurance agreed, but when the vehicle was returned and it was apparent the (silver) paint did not match the original, so we refused to accept it. The issue that arose then was that the insurance company refused to pay for the extended hire of a courtesy vehicle because we had not used their recommended repairer. So be careful with the insurers.

Colin

 

[777111]

That is grim - sorry to see this. Not a great day that...

Yes, as others have said already, the selection of body shop is crucial. Suggest you make your selection from VW approved in the locaility and post it here before signing up. Any bad experiences will no doubt come back but quite possible could leave you feeling a lot more comfortable too.

When you collect it - a MOST thorough ( as long as it takes without somebody watching over you - maybe get a mechanically minded friend with you?) inspection before sign off !

 

[Zebedee]

Just went to get another quote at Hamilton Palmer in Bermondsey. Will know how much on Monday but he did say it would be off the road for over a month, when they could book it in....and no courtesy car because it was my fault. My insurers preferred repairer did not want to touch it.....and it needs to be a VW approved shop for sure. H&P are the one that Alan Day use but it wasn't as impressive as Twickenham could have eaten off the floor. Anyone any experience of these?
Thanks Zebedee

 

[Noeleen]

Sorry to read and see the damage, Zebedee.

Maybe my comment will shock some forum members but if insurance not paying for this I would just leave it as it is

It is only a van after all, it's not your face

It doesn't effect the drive or the use, and you can be more relaxed about future use. And being without your Cali for a month leads to more expense, insurance and road tax paid and being wasted.

Or if that suggestion doesn't appeal, would you consider leaving it for a few months anyway to see how you get on with driving it over the next few months?

Noeleen

 

[Raggedroy]

I'm guessing body shops don't want to take it on as they don't know how to remove the units along that side. Would your local dealer or independent remove the units so the body shop only has to carry out the body repair. I know its not the ideal solution but it may get it done a little quicker. Plus you could still use it with out the units fitted until it gets to the body shop.

 

[MKRW]

Oh m g.... I scratched the side of mine last year driving through a narrow gap in Crawley heading to go ape the wrong way. (got in fine, just caught the back corner on the way out).

Whilst the damage is not as bad and its a little scratched, with a very small dent over the wheel arch, I've left it.

I'm interested in what your final quote is and how the fix it.

Good luck.

 

[motacyclist]

Maybe my comment will shock some forum members but if insurance not paying for this I would just leave it as it is

I suppose some "patina" can be tolerated in an older camper van I don't think I would be happy seeing that every time I went out. Sooner or later it would have to be repaired to sell it, so why not enjoy a pristine van while you are using it?

 

[Meoncoast]

I think it is good some repair company's will not touch the repair, makes force use of approved body shops who should know what they are doing with such an in depth repair.

 

[WelshGas]

As you will probably be without the vehicle for some time and you seem to be looking for repair shops within the Greater London area, and having problems, maybe you should look further afield. SMG might be able to help and advise?

 

[Meoncoast]

Think SMG work closely with AB Crush