Replacing the boot lid on a 406 Estate?

[Ripsnorterthe2nd]

Hello people!

I'm just after a bit of advice for my Dad. He currently owns a 02 reg 406 estate, unfortunately he accidentally reversed it into a skip last week ( sorry have to laugh!). What he needs to know is would it be easier to replace the boot himself, or just get it resprayed? Does anyone know how difficult it is to replace the boot?

I told him the best thing to do is buy a Haynes manual, but of course that involves spending money, so he's sent me on a quest to find the answer!

I'll try and upload some pics to give you an idea of the damage.

Thanks for looking.

[steve_earwig]

Hi there! Umm, I think it would be better to see the damage, but then either way it'll need a respray (unless you get lucky at the breakers). Not having had a tailgate off I'm not really sure how much of a job it is but it doesn't look such a nightmare in Haynes (remove trim, unplug & remove wiring from inside the car, remove plumbing, mark the hinges, support it and remove the struts (tip here: don't take the clips all the way off, they're a bugger to get back), unbolt the hinges and hup!). It says you'll need an assistant (well, duh) but I reckon two would be better.

Tell your dad the man with the chains will be with him real soon, I always worry Haynes will go bust and then we'd be completely screwed (not just the 80% screwed we are now ) or better still buy him one for Christmas!

[Ripsnorterthe2nd]

Thanks for the reply. Here are a few pics of the damage, it's quite difficult to see with it being a silver car, but then 99% of 406's seem to be silver these days!









He's managed to knock most of it out himself. I don't think it's too bad tbh, but he begs to differ.

[steve_earwig]

He certainly did a number on it! I don't think that could ever look right, unless you know michelangelo...

[Ripsnorterthe2nd]

Yes we don't do things by halves in this house!

So if it was you, what would you do? I'm thinking replacing it might be the better option!

[teamster1975]

I'd look around the scrap yards or ebay to be honest ripsnorter
Btw, excellent name I got very very drunk on ripsnorter on my 18th birthday!

[steve_earwig]

Exactamundo, you'll never get it straight and you'll need to respray it anyway so might as well save yourself a hell of a job (or the money you'd have had to pay Michelangelo) and put a new one on it.

[Welly]

This may sound odd but has he considered going through the insurance?

With a protected no claims, fully comp, and a 'reasonable' excess it may be woth coughing up the £200.00? excess and having it all done properly rather than pissing about with ebay and body shops and it still not looking quite right (the second hand unit is bound to have some dings or whatever and Silver is a pig to match nicely in "Big Dave's" body shop).

Just a thought

[steve_earwig]

A good one too!