ACCIDENT! Replacing grill & spotlights?

[electricfurnace]

Hi guys

Some idiot driver rolled back into my girlfriends 1999 Mini Cooper this morning, on Llantrisant Road, Llantrisant. Other driver swore blind she didn't, which is bullsh*t.

Damage looks to be dented front grill and two smashed spotlights.

How easy is it to replace the grill and spotlights myself?

Insurance companies have been informed but I'm reluctant to let insurance company deal with repairs etc as if third party do not hold their hands up we'll be looking at a loss of £500 excess and 2 years no claims for what potentially could be a cheap repair.

Any help grateful appreciated!!

Thanks
Alex

[Custard]

Sorry to hear about the accident-repairs is easy peasy as long as you know how to work a screw driver-how bad is the damage to the grill you may be able to push it back out-and the spots what damage pics would be good as some spots have replaceable glass

[cbrown]

As long as there's no bent bodywork a new grille and spots fitted by a professional would still be a fraction of your excess. And as custard said, it's easy to do yourself. Even I would give that one a go.

[coopdog]

easy mate
dont worry

[coedy]

Swapping the grille will take you 10minutes, max.
And providing you find a set of spots that are the same as what you have now then those will be about 20mins work also.

But as custard said,they may be replaceable glass ones.

Don't worry, its easy provided your front panel isn't damaged.

[electricfurnace]

Damn idiot driver!

Thanks guys, appreciate the replies. Here's a pic of the damage. I've contacted Mini Spares and they said you can't buy the glass covers for the lamps seperately?

Any ideas who do sell the glass covers?




ps. white marks are ice, not paint chips

[gar1380]

there are a few spots on ebay you can have a look at, mite even be cheaper than buying just the glass thats if you can get them.
also i mite have a spare grill if you need it vgc
gareth

[electricfurnace]

Would the grill you have fit this cooper which is a 1998 (not 1999 as I put in my first post - whoops!!)

If so I could be interested in picking it up from you tomorow morning, how much you after for it?

[electricfurnace]

Oh, and the fogs never get used, so could I get away with fitting four spots to the front? Would this be ok/would it look standard. LA1009 part no on minispares

Genuine fog and spot are not in stock and for the two I'd be looking at over £150!!

[ljonez]

i recently sold a set of 4 genuine spots&fogs for £60 so buying a second hand set should not be to expensive.

as for grills, the grill fitted to the mpi's is different to earlier cars, it has no centre support and is slightly curved to allow clearance for the front mounted rad. im pretty sure you can use a earlier type grill just be careful when fitting that it doesn't touch the rad

[Huntyfm]

Yeah spots aren't that expensive, If need be could replace with non gen Wipacs, Sold my 4 for 20 nuggets, more things to go wrong if you ask me

[gar1380]

Dec 10, 2010 16:12:15 GMT 1 electricfurnace said:

Would the grill you have fit this cooper which is a 1998 (not 1999 as I put in my first post - whoops!!)

If so I could be interested in picking it up from you tomorow morning, how much you after for it?

pm sent

[electricfurnace]

to take the grill off, are the screws on the front? had a quick look but cant see which screws to remove!

[Ainsley]

Yeah there should be a few screws on the top of the grill, maybe four or five from the top of my head and should be a couple down either side.

[Custard]

To remove the grill, look through the grill both sides, shoud be 2-3 screws you can see each side, take these out , then pull the ends of the grill off-you;ll then see the rest..