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[SeaJaySee]

I guess it was bound to happen but I had hoped it would take a bit longer. My son has had a coming together with another car and damaged the face of the car. It now has a bit of a broken nose with a crack across the panel between the bonnet and the grill. The grill surround has been demolished and there is a slight crack in the valance panel just to the side of the grill. It appears to be largely cosmetic but I fear that if the official repair bill comes to much more than our excess the insurance will write it off.
Does anyone have any advice on the prospect of handling these repairs ourselves. Are the panels repairable (like motorcycle fairings etc) or are they easily available from online breakers.
Cheers
Cameron

[Ocracoke]

Sorry to hear about the crash... never fun I know. 

Getting hold of replacement panels isn't difficult but getting the right colour may be a problem. If you can get hold of the right colour (you have Star Blue panels I seem to recall), it would be the simplest and cheapest way to deal with this (assuming that the car is OK under the panels with regards to the crash bar et al).

If you need to repair + paint them, I am reasonably confident that they can be repaired like fairings can but if it is beyond a few cracks (sections missing and major cracks), I would replace the panel and then get that painted if needed to.

[SeaJaySee]

Thanks for your advice.
At the moment not too concerned about the colour but would be nice to put the car back to a presentable state so it can go to MOT shortly.
I can see there are a few forfours breaking on the bay but have only ever bought identifiable items for other cars before such as  light units, drivetrain and engine parts. No idea what the breakers are like handling panels and stuff.

[SeaJaySee]

Looking at the post on how to remove the front panels they mention the blue clips that hold the panels together. It looks like the accident has probably popped/unclipped a few of those on one side. Are they available anywhere new?

[Ocracoke]

They are Speedfix clips I believe (http://wirralsmarts.co.uk/maintenance-guide.php?id=16) and are very easy to get hold of (https://www.smart-stuff.parts/speedfix-clips-10-1156 for example).

As for panel delivery... I've had panels delivered before by Smart Parts Direct and they were OK but it is bulky. If the breaker knows what they are doing, I would hope it would arrive in a box with suitable packing in them. If circumstances allow, I'd get a friend to deliver them from the breakers or simply walk there if one is very close by. I recall getting a whole 450 panel set in the back of my Dad's Mercedes Vaneo... interesting that was.

[SeaJaySee]

Thanks again. I'll order some just in case.
Travelling to a breaker might be an option but we don't seem to be that well served by friendly sites around where we are. And finding one with a forfour would be a task in itself.
I think we'll have a go at taking everything off and putting it back together maybe with the aid of some glue and sticky tape. Then we can keep an eye out for suitable replacement bits as they come up.

[mr singh]

pictures of damage will help us help you.

we dont know if you need a new panel(s) or they can be repaired. they are plastic so i cant see why they cant be plastic welded.

[Brabs]

Not the right colour but the price is a steal!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172360211325

[Problemchild]

hopefully this helps.......

http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5137.msg55517#msg55517

.........its all pretty simple

(and make him do all the work)

JJ

[Problemchild]

and crazyG may have one of the replica BRABUS grills which are like £15

JJ

[CrazyG]

Other front centre panels....

£70 (or Best Offer) + £15 p&p
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMART-FORFOUR-1-1-TURBO-BLACK-FRONT-BUMPER-CENTRE-SECTION-2004-2006-/252449281553?hash=item3ac7265611:g:l4UAAOSwuzRXenZd

£70 (or Best Offer) + £20 p&p
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMART-FORFOUR-2004-2007-5-DOOR-FRONT-BUMPER-CENTRE-SECTION-IN-SILVER-/232074086256?hash=item3608b18770:g:t2wAAOSwgY9XfOfk

[SeaJaySee]

Wow. Thanks for those ebay hits. My search skills must be slipping as I didn't see any of these. At least replacement is looking much more attractive.

[CrazyG]

and crazyG may have one of the replica BRABUS grills which are like £15

JJ

All gone now I'm afraid.....I may see if I can get my hands on some...

[SeaJaySee]

I've taken a chance on the cheap ebay front and will see how it arrives.  I notice both the other breakers are offering the upper grill panels at around £60 so I'll wait before jumping in on one. I can make do with some plastic mesh and cable ties for a while. I might even live with the colour mismatch. I've yet to see a Smart with the full Benetton multi-colour scheme.

[SeaJaySee]

I notice one of those fronts is a 1.1 Turbo Black. Is that a colour description or engine. I might make an offer on a 1.1 Turbo engine.