Hey everybody :)
New to the club thought i'd show everybody my dilemma. This is my 2004 Magna ES http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/album.php?albumid=779&attachmentid=46118
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/album.php?albumid=779&attachmentid=46117
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/album.php?albumid=779&attachmentid=46116

The Story goes, Mum pulled out in front of a ute and ended up being dragged behind it by the bonnet.
:mits:

I'd like any opinions on a cheap way out of this.

Pics aren't working for me?

Get panels from a wrecker and use a hammer and block of wood to knock out the structural bits. Pics would be good.

Welcome to the forum.
Can't really help without pictures. In general though, the more work you can do yourself the cheaper the fix will be.

Sorry still trying to get the hang of things with the pictures. I can't seem to work it out.

Ow! (pics work if you look under his profile)
Bonnet's a gonner, bumper's a gonner, light and side panel may be salvageable, or at least workable.
Where in Qld are you? If in the Brisbane area, ABC wreckers (there's a few of them) may have the panels cheap, but with the Wacol one at least it's pretty rare to find a TL/KL/TW/KW model, though they do pop up occasionally. Sometimes they have the "$49 all you can carry" days.
I think they can also get the "brand new unpainted" panels relatively cheaply, I seem to recall a bonnet being in the order of $89 but that could be waaaay off.

testing a link to image...
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46118&d=1337213850

OK that worked, here are the other two:
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46117&d=1337213842
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46116&d=1337213833

Dunno the correct way of doing it, but I just right-clicked the image from your album and copied it's URL (properties/address in IE, or view image in FF)

Bonnet from a wreck ~ $100
Bumper bar from a wreck ~ $100
Headlight from a wreck ~ $70
Guard from a wreck - ~$80

3 hours of work.

Good as new.

May not be as simple as that.
you may have bent the radiator support! coz uve broken the front bumper

Chek chasis too.... driving straight? - . get quote from smash repairer - atleast then ul know what needs to be done :)

Not just cheaper to pay the excess and get it done professionaly? Or no comprehensive?

For it to be damaged long enough for rust to come though and show run marks down the bonnet I think it's safe to say this happened quiet some time ago. I'd say un insured.

For it to be damaged long enough for rust to come though and show run marks down the bonnet I think it's safe to say this happened quiet some time ago. I'd say un insured.

Well spotted, Sir! Yes, quite some time ago by the looks of it.
The cheap option is to leave it like this. lol
Second hand panels, money for a respray, and she would be fixed.

If your Magna was 'dragged along' by the other vehicle, is there any damage to the steering, suspension or tyres? If so, it will make your repair a lot more expensive and a lot more complicated.

If your Magna was 'dragged along' by the other vehicle, is there any damage to the steering, suspension or tyres? If so, it will make your repair a lot more expensive and a lot more complicated.

It happened a while ago and I'm sure he would have noticed wobbly wheels, steering pulling to one side, and funny wear on the front tyres by now.

I doubt the radiator supports are damaged. Even if they are it wouldnt be too severe. hammer and block of wood, you won't notice the difference. looks like that damage is a few months old at least. Bonnet is all rusted up.

If your Magna was 'dragged along' by the other vehicle, is there any damage to the steering, suspension or tyres? If so, it will make your repair a lot more expensive and a lot more complicated.I agree


It happened a while ago and I'm sure he would have noticed wobbly wheels, steering pulling to one side, and funny wear on the front tyres by now.Max, check out the front tire, may not be related but looks pretty worn on the outer edge.

If your Magna was 'dragged along' by the other vehicle, is there any damage to the steering, suspension or tyres? If so, it will make your repair a lot more expensive and a lot more complicated.
Judging from where the damage is, I'd say she drove into the side of the ute, rather than in front of it. The cut in the bonnet is likely from the tray. I wouldn't think much structural damage could result from that without everything being visibly out of alignment, but I'd get it checked properly all the same. Nothing worse than investing money into something only to find out there's a lot more work needed in order to get the job done.

New bonnet and front bar, a heat gun and a couple hours work, maybe some various sandpaper to smooth out the headlight.
Under $200.

Go to a good tyre shop with a laser aligner and get a wheel alignment and new front, if not all, tyres.
$200-500.

Bonnet from a wreck ~ $100
Bumper bar from a wreck ~ $100
Headlight from a wreck ~ $70
Guard from a wreck - ~$80

3 hours of work.

Good as new.

Not sure where those prices come from for a TL

Panel shops are happy to pay $185 for a TL bonnet, TL front bars go often for even more when they are in good condition, headlight is close, guard is about right

Doubt from that there is any structural damage at all, is more cosmetic, guard and bar should bolt on given the headlight has not moved

I'm going off local prices from my local wreckers. If your prices are different, then I won't argue that.

Panel shops are happy to pay $185 for a TL bonnet, TL front bars go often for even more when they are in good condition, headlight is close, guard is about right
There's bonnets on ebay for $75 and $85 at the moment

Wow thanks for all of your help everyone. And thank you RoGuE_StreaK for the putting the pictures up for me.
luckily enough it didn't bend anything out of place although did leave us with a few bald tires. The alignment is working pretty well for now although I do plan to get it checked up once I have repaired the body. As I don't have my P's for another few months I'm not rushing through it. Painting the panels my self is fine. The car will likely need a new paint job all together as it is coming of age. Yes it did happen a while ago, Around last year I think. But I only just got the car from my mum as she got a new Holden Barina(N). I haven't had any problems with police or anything about it but I'm to scared to take it to a mechanic because they will deem it un-roadworthy. I'll have a look at my local wreckers that $49 all you can carry sounds awesome i'd love to try that out one day soon. I'm local to Thornlands (Cleveland area)

Mate as for respraying the car, even though the years might start showing through, a good polish will usually bring it right up.

That bonnet and bumper will need to be replaced though and that usually means paint matching.

She has a few paint dings from where my mum tried reversing, She is a terrible driver they should take her licence off her, I've never really given waxing ago to be honest. I'll try that out this coming weekend :):)
Yeah I have a feeling paint matching will be hard. Is my assumption right?

Thanks a lot :D

Yeah I have a feeling paint matching will be hard. Is my assumption right?


If you need to ask, you are not up to the job. lol
Joking aside, a friendly paint shop may be willing to eyeball the car or a panel off the car and mix you some up. They won't guarantee a match, as the spraying technique has a big influence on the final match. Better off in the long run getting the paint work done professionally once you get around to doing the panel replacement.

Yeah I didn't think i was up to the job anyway to be honest. I'm sure there will be a place that can do it for me around here anyway. I think there is a respray place like 15 minutes away. I'

Yeah I didn't think i was up to the job anyway to be honest. I'm sure there will be a place that can do it for me around here anyway. I think there is a respray place like 15 minutes away. I'

If you buy a new or second hand bonnet, bumper etc get them painted before you put them on, much easier for the painter. He might want to borrow your car for a while to get his paint mix spot on though.

I've never really given waxing ago to be honest. I'll try that out this coming weekend :):)
I would do some research into detailing before you commit to anything. A wax won't really do anything to improve the quality of your paint if it's lost it's luster.


Yeah I have a feeling paint matching will be hard. Is my assumption right?
Generally panel beaters will blend the paint onto the surrounding panels to minimise any differences between the paint. My parents had the driver's door replaced on their Commodore, and the panel beaters blended the paint onto the front guard and the rear door. Similar for a new bootlid on my Magna - they resprayed the quarter panels, and even up the C panels.

I would do some research into detailing before you commit to anything. A wax won't really do anything to improve the quality of your paint if it's lost it's luster.

Yeah that's true. I found some brand new wax in the garage so I guess ill give it ago anyway it isn't going to cost me anything hopefully *.*

Generally panel beaters will blend the paint onto the surrounding panels to minimise any differences between the paint. My parents had the driver's door replaced on their Commodore, and the panel beaters blended the paint onto the front guard and the rear door. Similar for a new bootlid on my Magna - they resprayed the quarter panels, and even up the C panels.

Well that could be very helpful.

If you buy a new or second hand bonnet, bumper etc get them painted before you put them on, much easier for the painter. He might want to borrow your car for a while to get his paint mix spot on though.

Yeah that's what i was thinking. Hopefully that way it will save me a couple of $$ to. xD

She has a few paint dings from where my mum tried reversing, She is a terrible driver they should take her licence off her, I've never really given waxing ago to be honest. I'll try that out this coming weekend :):)
Yeah I have a feeling paint matching will be hard. Is my assumption right?

Thanks a lot :D

Not just wax, proper polish that will bring the paint back a bit and even it out. Significantly cheaper to polish the car properly to reapray it. Will also get out some light scratches if you do it properly.

I'll have a look at my local wreckers that $49 all you can carry sounds awesome i'd love to try that out one day soon. I'm local to Thornlands (Cleveland area)I just did a quick search online, there's Capalaba Wreckers near you but they seem bloody expensive (it returned $275 for a TL bonnet!), and not sure if they're one of those wreckers that won't let you past the front counter.
The $49 at ABC (Wacol at least, dunno about the others) usually happens on public holidays, they send out an SMS beforehand, you could probably give them a call and get them to put you on the list. That said, they aren't really the kind of place you can ring to find if they have a part/car, they usually have no clue what stuff they've got. Usually at least 10 or so 3rd gens, but mostly earlier TE-H ones.

You'd probably be better off trying to find panels in the right colour as the car. Might take a little while longer and cost a bit extra, but it'd be cheaper than trying to match the paint and it will be a better match anyway.

I just did a quick search online, there's Capalaba Wreckers near you but they seem bloody expensive (it returned $275 for a TL bonnet!), and not sure if they're one of those wreckers that won't let you past the front counter.
The $49 at ABC (Wacol at least, dunno about the others) usually happens on public holidays, they send out an SMS beforehand, you could probably give them a call and get them to put you on the list. That said, they aren't really the kind of place you can ring to find if they have a part/car, they usually have no clue what stuff they've got. Usually at least 10 or so 3rd gens, but mostly earlier TE-H ones.
Yeah we had a look out at that wreckers too. They said the had a bonnet and guard and could do lot for around $400 maybe a bit less. I thought it was a bit pricey but. I'll defiantly have to take the journey out to Wacol and check em out.

Bonnet could be a pain to get home if the wreckers won't let you change it over in the carpark (likely) and don't want your old one for scrap (less likely)

Bonnet could be a pain to get home if the wreckers won't let you change it over in the carpark (likely) and don't want your old one for scrap (less likely)

That would be very inconvenient.

Hire a box trailer ~$25 for a few hours

Hire a box trailer ~$25 for a few hours

Yeah thats a good plan. Or we could just register ours.

side note.. can someone put up in th members section next time one off these all you can carry days are... ill take the wagon up and ill make sure ill carry out more than 49.00 worth of parts hahaha

Yeah I don't think they do that in NSW mate. I think that's a QLD thing.

side note.. can someone put up in th members section next time one off these all you can carry days are... ill take the wagon up and ill make sure ill carry out more than 49.00 worth of parts hahaha
That would still be very helpful if they don't mind. :)))

Well there was one on the Saturday that just went... Dunno if I want all you vultures decending on my "local" though! ; )
(not that I went anyway)

Wacol's usually pretty good with pricing anyway, unless you are picking up a heap of bulky bits. But I think you'll have buckley's of finding an L/W, especially in a specific colour; cost-wise, it probably would work out cheaper to track down panels from the same colour car, might be worthwhile contacting Mal (Madmagna). In theory there should be a fair few L/W's getting into the wreckers by now, but I've yet to see them (not that I go often). Maybe I'm in the wrong area.

Well there was one on the Saturday that just went... Dunno if I want all you vultures decending on my "local" though! ; )
(not that I went anyway)

Wacol's usually pretty good with pricing anyway, unless you are picking up a heap of bulky bits. But I think you'll have buckley's of finding an L/W, especially in a specific colour; cost-wise, it probably would work out cheaper to track down panels from the same colour car, might be worthwhile contacting Mal (Madmagna). In theory there should be a fair few L/W's getting into the wreckers by now, but I've yet to see them (not that I go often). Maybe I'm in the wrong area.


hmmm yeah true.
May I ask how I get onto like the mailing list or what ever for when these things happen? if you don't mind.

As I said earlier, maybe you could phone them and ask to be put on. I didn't sign up to anything, they must have just gotten my number from the sign-in waiver; you need to pay $2 and sign a sheet when you enter, for insurance etc.

As I said earlier, maybe you could phone them and ask to be put on. I didn't sign up to anything, they must have just gotten my number from the sign-in waiver; you need to pay $2 and sign a sheet when you enter, for insurance etc.
Oh okay sorry I completely blanked that. Thank you very much.