Bodywork repair help

[wyattclan981]

Hello
I have been trying for a number of weeks to find Jaguar experienced bodyshops within 10 miles or so of Solihull to quote and perform a repair.

An angled impact on the front NSF has left a small dent in the wing by the nacelle, the headlamp and fog lamp broken and scuffing with a small hole in the bumper. Mountings inside all seem fine inside the bumper and wing. Brilliant Jaguar design having failure points and a bumper the deforms and returns to shape.

My local region have only suggested I come to a meeting to ask around but unfortunately the dates haven't worked with my diary. There is nothing on the website or in Jaguar Enthusiast I can find or elsewhere. So trying the forums.

I don't wish to use the large matrix based bodyshops not used to XK8/R as a risk of anything broken will be a replacement. I want someone who knows how things come off and fit on my 2001 XKR.

Does anyone have first-hand experience of a bodyshop please.

Many thanks
Martin

[SimonR]

Hi Martin,

I can't help by recommending a bodyshop, but I do have experience with repairing this sort of damage on my own car;



Headlight, bumper and wing removal: https://youtu.be/JY-nOkYlOBc?si=IUoPrjxZGApl-cGt

If you are at all inclined to try and dive in yourself, you could save a lot of money and worry by replacing the lights and then getting someone like chips away to rectify the bodywork imperfections for you. The bumper hole and scuffing will need repair and paint, but the dent may be easy to repair using Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) - providing the paint isn't cracked or damaged. As part of my XK8 project, I'm learning how to re-finish paint imperfections - it's not all that difficult.

When I dismantled my car, I found that there was more damage than there seemed at first - and had to replace the plastic panel behind the bumper (the one that the plastic overriders attach to), and also re-shape the headlight support bracket which had absorbed some of the impact.

If you're lucky then the headlamp body itself may be intact, requiring only a replacement lens. My foglight on that side has a broken bracket and I'm considering whether to replace the whole thing (they're not that expensive) or just fix the bracket. If I can fix it, I will.

if you fancy a drive over to Cambridge, I don't mind helping you with it

[Lucky]

I use S H Auto in Bromsgrove. They have done bodywork on most if not all of our cars at some time or another, including our XK8, F-Pace, MX5 and Morris Minor. Give them a call and ask to speak to Gary.

[wyattclan981]

Hi SimonR and Lucky
Many thanks for taking the time to reply both.

I will give SH a call to start with, thanks.I sent the pics to a couple of dent people I have used and both said body shop! I like you think it may be “eased” out. I will post pics.
All the fittings I have now removed, cleaned lubed and attached to replacement lights. So ready to go there. I was lucky the mounts inside are all OK. Hopefully just needs the wing pulling out to shape. There is no paint damage, the bumper has scratches and a small repairable hole.

I have also now found a breaker locally who has a blue wing in stock, colour to be checked, price unknown but could be another route.

Martin
XKR 2001 cabriolet