New panel following accident - how do they do it?
 

Hi All,

So I need a new rear wing / quarter panel on my XC60 following a minor accident. Panel includes rear wheel arch and seems to flow all the way along the roof to the front of the windscreen and both side doors appear to fit into it. Unless I am missing something it looks like most of the side of the car!

I'm a bit worried about the implications of this, presumably this is a major piece of work, looks like all the seats, headlining etc.. will need to be removed as they all seem to touch this panel on the inside of the car.

Dealer says new panel is nothing to worry about, standard job, will come matt black and it will be sprayed on the car. I am wondering a few things.

Why don't they spray the panel off the car, as presumably lots of interior bits like the insteps and pillars need spraying so how do they mask off the inside of the car?

Should I worry about damage being caused to other parts of the car when this is done (and check carefully for such on collection) or is this really just a simple job?

they will cut the original panel somewhere near the damage and just weld in a part wing ... this saves disturbing the factory welds and corrosion treatments as little as possible and saves them time of course .

Surely not. On a 5 month old car! I have been told they are replacing the entire panel. How could they possibly cut and replace without leaving a trace?!

In the hands of a skilled welder modern welding equipment can be used to weld through the middle of a mild-steel panel without leaving any distortion; it is then just a matter of spraying to match.

Hth and kind regards, C.A.

the whole side of the car is made in one part they cant change the whole side of the car so repair panels are available to make the job cheaper and quicker to repair . Imagine the labour time to change the whole side of the car when probably 80% of it is ok .
I wouldnt want all those factory welded and sealed joints disturbed . That's the skill of a body repair person of which one is joining panels ..

Ah I see, thanks for the pictures, it makes it much clearer (where did you get the image by the way?). I need an XC60 equivalent of section 4. That is actually quote good, I had visions of windscreen removal, new door pillars etc.. As long as the join on the roof is perfect then I'll be happy.

Lets see if I can work out how to upload pics...

ohh it makes me ill just to look at that , I'm sure it will be un noticable after the repair , by a volvo approved bodyshop i hope :-)

Me too! The wife opened the phone call with "you are going to kill me ...."
Hildenborough Volvo in Kent is where I bought the car so am planning on taking it to them.

A friend of mine at University (many years ago) performed similar surgey on his MG Midget. He had to cut out a section of the rear wing and weld-in a replacement - when it had been resprayed the join was completely invisible.
I'm sure Volvo will do a good job - woudn't be a good advertisement for them otherwise.

I have a couple of car-park dings in my rear passenger door - repair cost quote is over £500 because of the need for careful respraying of the whole side of my XC90 so it blends in. I'm not in a rush - I'm waiting for a lottery win first!