Firstly, I hope this is an ok section for this thread as its something that I see as more of a Leisure thread rather than car specific, or member motors as I don't plan on keeping the car.

Now it all started about 2 weeks ago when I saw a lovly looking Panda Eleganza Dual Logic for sale on eBay as a CAT-D total loss write off salvage vehicle.

The car is a 2009 '09' registered in July 09 and with only 447 miles on the clock! A car that cost just short of about £11k new.

The car is structually straight with just pannel damage, and a few front parts, as well as a gearbox fault. Out of interest I enquired into Delivery cost, and was pleased with the quote of £270, bearing in mind the car was located over 300 miles away from me.

Advertised for an alreay reasonable classified ad price of £2895 I thought I'd be a tad cheaky and make an offer of £2600, which the seller happily accepted. Infact I was a tad annoyed, as the seller accepted it so easily that I thought I could probably have got away with an offer of £2500 lol.

Anyways, after paying and speaking to the seller he told me that they had infact got it running and the gearbox fault laid with some electrical connections on the front of the box. But they'd now got it stuck in 2nd gear and couldn't get it out

So they said in order for it to be delivered they'd moved the clutch arm and wedged it open to disenguage the clutch.

So 9 days after paying the Panda arrived

Still smells like new, and even starts

As far as the gearbox goes there were two issues. First was simply electrical connections that had been knocked out of place in the accident. 20min later these were all in place correctly with gearbox pump operating aswell as the car recognising that it was in gear, preventing me from starting it any longer due to the starter inhibitor doing its job.

I then discovered the remains of a Selespeed Resiviour in the boot amongst some other damaged parts. Thus finding out that the gearbox had no hydraulic fluid to enable operation of the different solinoids. So a new Selespeed Resiviour and 'CS Speed' fulid is added to the 'to get' list for replacement.





Work to the car will include replacement of

• Both Front Wings
• Both Inner Wing Splashguards
• Front Pannel
• Front Bumper Support
• Front Bumper (in lower inserts)
• Radiator
• Air-con Condenser
• Cooling Fan
• Selespeed resiviour (gearbox hydraulic fluid tank)
• One Alloy Wheel Centre Cap

Also included will be the repair of 2 alloy wheels, a scratch to the Drivers door, scratch to the rear N/S door, scratch to the rear part of the O/S sill, damage to middle leading edge of the bonnet, as well as headlamp brackets with kits from Fiat.

The car will then be insured and Taxed to be taken upto my body work guy who has priced painting of replacement pannels and repair of the minor bits for about £300-£350.

All replacement parts will be new, and the majority of the parts are being purchased off of eBay for two reasons. A)Cost. Somehow it would seem that sellers are able to sell new parts on eBay at prices lower than what they can be brought at trade! (not that I'm moaning), B) For all purchases I make through eBay I use a cashback website where I recieve a percentage back on my purchases, so even more money saved!

So far the most interesting bit has been obtaining replacement cooling fan, radiator and A/C condenser. As some will know with the Panda, if you don't have A/C you have the expansion tank on the side of the rad, and if you do have A/C you have the expansion tank mounted on the inner wing.

On Dual-logic Panda's though it would seem different. Due to the Gearbox Auxiliarys the radiator is the same as none A/C Panda's due to size and space constraints, and a A/C condenser is quite nitrally bolted onto the front of this radiator.

As a result, obtaining a replacement has been interesting. I've taken the origional parts to my local motor factors and they were nitrally arguing over the phone for the best part of 40min saying its got a seperate A/C condenser and not one built into the Rad.

Eventually we get through to someone who knew what they were on about and said that they are indeed available, but are sold seperatly. Thus incouring a higher cost. In the region of £130 a peice

Having previously checked Shop4Parts though I recall them quoting £141 plus carrage for a radiator with A/C condenser and expansion tank on the side of the rad. By the time I returned home from the motor factors though they'd shut. So I'll be calling on Monday morning to double check that its the two parts together, failing that I'll be looking at £130 a peice.

With all posts I'm going to openly include all parts prices, so everyone can see what repair is costing me with my own labour. I will only post whole prices though, so for bits brought from eBay etc, I'll wait until I know my purchase cash back amount and show this before posting a items price (You'll see what I mean as I do it).

So running total so far:
Purchase Price £2600
Delivery £270
Cooling Fan £130

Total cost so far £3k











Jon.

Wow, Great post! I am so happy someone is using the Panda section!

I agree, this will be a very interesting thread!

Got a few links for you Jon for the body work if that would help..


http://www.paintedcarparts.co.uk/index.html


http://www.paintedcarparts.co.uk/index.html


http://www.carcooling.co.uk/index.php?p=home


http://www.nicedeals.co.uk/index.php...ef1f112d49559e

indeed very interesting stuff mate, well even if you would spend about 4k on it i think you will get it back with a lump on the top of it

Indeed, interesting read

Have to say it's like house renovation - make some profit and stop a car from being killed off prematurely. From the pics though, interesting to see Fiat have stopped painting the underside of the bonnets properly

Originally Posted by muppet42

From the pics though, interesting to see Fiat have stopped painting the underside of the bonnets properly

I know. They've been like that with most mk3 Panda's. I've aways seen it as cost cutting which is a bit of a shame.

Price update, running total so far:
Purchase Price £2600
Delivery £270
Cooling Fan £130
Wings (@ £35.45 each) £70.90
Wing Splashguards (@ £15.43 each) £30.86
Front Bumper £58.50
Bumper Front Grille £13.72
Front Panel £59.74
Front Bumper Reinforcer £37.78

Total cost so far £3271.50

All prices so far are the costs delivered, but without the cashback I'm awarded though the cashback website I use. I'll include the cashback later on when I'v recieved it so the figures are accurate

Just a little update, having great fun trying to get the replacement cooling system parts.

Apparently according to on parts supplier, the car is Scandinavian spec and that parts are not available in the UK. What a load of Bull. So a good worker at the motor factors has taken it upon himself to find these parts and not give up until he has lol.

I've left all broken cooling parts with him, and he's going to send them off to origional manufacture asking for replacements if needs be.

I have to admit, I'm very lucky with the motor factors I use. They're real dedication.

Ordered some parts from Fiat, and brought a Litre of CS Speed fluid for the hydraulic system on the gearbox. Also been into the DVLA and applied for the V5, and have been told its been assigned to me ok, so thats one less thing to have to worry about. Should be with me within 4 working weeks.

Jon.

good news mate,its always good to see people go out of their way to help others. shows there is some decent people in the world.

do you not have to get the car VIC tested before you can get a V5?

Originally Posted by scottie2065

good news mate,its always good to see people go out of their way to help others. shows there is some decent people in the world.

do you not have to get the car VIC tested before you can get a V5?

Luckily not as this is a CAT-D it's exempt. It's only CAT-C's that require VIC checks.

Slight update. Removed front wings and Front Panel this afternoon. Never realised that the wings were glued into place as well as bolted! All I can say is you'll never remove an origional wing without damaging it as you have to nitrally yank the origional off to brake the glue which in turn creases the wings. Not that it mattered in this case though as they were already damaged.

Spoken to my Motor Factors and with his contacts has hopfully managed to find a Radiator, Condensor and cooling fan for it. We'll see if they're the right ones when they arrive.

A few pic's of todays work;





The Glued on wing's





Replaced the heatshield as it's still fully functional





Price update, running total so far:
Purchase Price £2600
Delivery £270
Wings (@ £35.45 each) £70.90
Wing Splashguards (@ £15.43 each) £30.86
Front Bumper £58.50
Bumper Front Grille £13.72
Front Panel £59.74
Front Bumper Reinforcer £37.78
CS Speed 1LTR £10.11
Gearbox Reservoir £68.57
O/S Headlamp Bracket Kit £18.49
N/S Headlamp Bracket Kit £20.76

Total cost so far £3249.43

I've removed the cooling fan price as an incorrect one was supplied. I'll up-date it when the correct one and its price arrives.