When a car become beyond economical repair?

[Dustydog]

You will know from previous posts our Kia Cee’d needs new head lights . £3000.

Getting Insurance renewal quotes this week , one insurer suggested the car is worth £3250. . Had her from virtually new, an ex demo

Repair or scrap? Where do you think the decision point is?

 

[otherclive]

You will know from previous posts our Kia Cee’d needs new head lights . £3000.

Getting Insurance renewal quotes this week , one insurer suggested the car is worth £3250. . Had her from virtually new, an ex demo

Repair or scrap? Where do you think the decision point is?

I would repair using the company that was discussed in earlier posts. Or use a dismantling specialist. What came out of your visit to the dealer, I guess their approach is to replace both headlights with OEM ones.

 

[JTQ]

Definitly, try dismantlers and the likes of eBay.

A main dealer is almost certainly contractually bound to only be able to offer genuine OEM, along with the massive mark-ups parts exploit.

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks ,
The Wakefield option is still a chosen route.

The problem with dismantlers is their lights will probably be as near to failure as ours.

I’m seeing the main dealer next Tuesday. More thereafter.

But what the insurance quotes are telling me is in the event of a minor bump the car is likely to be written off based on the oem cost of the headlights. I doubt any Insurer’s repairers would go down the Wakefield repair route.

Will keep you posted.

 

[JTQ]

With most likely an increased "excess" would not your insurer allow you to nominate the repairer, opening the option of negotiating with the "friendly repairer" to source the lights from other than a main dealer?


Why are the existing not passing the MOT, too opaque lens or tarnished reflector? Both possibly offering some DIY mitigation, at least enough to pass.

 

[Guzzilazz]

If your car has airbags, and they go off in a knock, they are about £6-8k to replace... So long as you can pass the MOT then keep it going, in the knowledge that any claim or failure is probably the car's' death knell

 

[Dustydog]

With most likely an increased "excess" would not your insurer allow you to nominate the repairer, opening the option of negotiating with the "friendly repairer" to source the lights from other than a main dealer?


Why are the existing not passing the MOT, too opaque lens or tarnished reflector? Both possibly offering some DIY mitigation, at least enough to pass.

Yes that is an option. But there are no copy versions of the lights, only oem available for this model.

The DRL Day Running Lights have failed . Flickering and on /off. Illegal and a MOT failure.
DRL have been mandatory in the U.K. for cars since February 2011.

 

[RogerL]

Yes that is an option. But there are no copy versions of the lights, only oem available for this model.

The DRL Day Running Lights have failed . Flickering and on /off. Illegal and a MOT failure.
DRL have been mandatory in the U.K. for cars since February 2011.

It may still pass an Mot test - Gov.uk guidance for MoT testers states "You only need to inspect daytime running lamps (DRLs) if they're fitted as original equipment to vehicles first used on or after 1 March 2018"

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - 4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Guidance - GOV.UK

Headlamp, position lamps, daytime running lamps, stop lamps, indicators, hazard warning lamps, fog lamps, reversing lamps, lighting ‘tell-tales’, trailer electrical socket, electrical wiring and battery rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

You can legally* disconnect the DRLs if it was first used before 1st March 2018, to stop them flickering

* this would be legal for use in the UK as Type Approval applies at point of first sale but may be illegal in Germany where Type Approval applies for the whole life of the car

 

[Buckman]

It may still pass an Mot test - Gov.uk guidance for MoT testers states "You only need to inspect daytime running lamps (DRLs) if they're fitted as original equipment to vehicles first used on or after 1 March 2018"

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - 4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Guidance - GOV.UK

Headlamp, position lamps, daytime running lamps, stop lamps, indicators, hazard warning lamps, fog lamps, reversing lamps, lighting ‘tell-tales’, trailer electrical socket, electrical wiring and battery rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

You can legally* disconnect the DRLs if it was first used before 1st March 2018, to stop them flickering

* this would be legal for use in the UK as Type Approval applies at point of first sale but may be illegal in Germany where Type Approval applies for the whole life of the car

If DD is able to use that loophole, then perhaps DD should look at trading in the vehicle? Seems such an expensive waste when otherwise the vehicle is probably in perfect working condition.

 

[Hutch]

Dusty Dog, I don't know the year of your Ceed.

Genuine KIA CEED 12-18 LED DRL Left XENON Headlight 92101-A2070 | eBay

UK : 92101-A2070, 92101- A2270. Genuine KIA CEED mk2 12-18 LED DRL left side XENON type headlight - RHD UK traffic. LED module replaced for new. Reference numbers Lens cover clear and transparent. Complete with all bulbs and ballast.

www.ebay.co.uk

I bought a new DRL and fog lamp on E bay for my Santa Fe for £75.

 

[otherclive]

Dusty Dog, I don't know the year of your Ceed.

Genuine KIA CEED 12-18 LED DRL Left XENON Headlight 92101-A2070 | eBay

UK : 92101-A2070, 92101- A2270. Genuine KIA CEED mk2 12-18 LED DRL left side XENON type headlight - RHD UK traffic. LED module replaced for new. Reference numbers Lens cover clear and transparent. Complete with all bulbs and ballast.

www.ebay.co.uk

I bought a new DRL and fog lamp on E bay for my Santa Fe for £75.

That’s the company DD and I referred to in earlier posts. That would be my first option.

 

[Beachball]

Thanks ,
The Wakefield option is still a chosen route.

The problem with dismantlers is their lights will probably be as near to failure as ours.

I’m seeing the main dealer next Tuesday. More thereafter.

But what the insurance quotes are telling me is in the event of a minor bump the car is likely to be written off based on the oem cost of the headlights. I doubt any Insurer’s repairers would go down the Wakefield repair route.

Will keep you posted.

I would do the Wakefield option and if that light is a fit you have saved paying out a big sum good luck

 

[Dustydog]

Where do you get this knowledge from Roger? Most impressive👏👏.
The car is the top of the range with 36k from new.
I’ve asked my regular garage engineer to consider your advice. He does the MOT and would be the final arbiter. Plus he will let me know how the DRL can be disconnected.
A much better answer than Wakefield.👍

 

[otherclive]

Where do you get this knowledge from Roger? Most impressive👏👏.
The car is the top of the range with 36k from new.
I’ve asked my regular garage engineer to consider your advice. He does the MOT and would be the final arbiter. Plus he will let me know how the DRL can be disconnected.
A much better answer than Wakefield.👍

If it works that would be the best solution by far. Fingers crossed. 🤞

 

[RogerL]

Where do you get this knowledge from Roger? Most impressive👏👏.
The car is the top of the range with 36k from new.
I’ve asked my regular garage engineer to consider your advice. He does the MOT and would be the final arbiter. Plus he will let me know how the DRL can be disconnected.
A much better answer than Wakefield.👍

I've "always" known that Type Approval regulation usually have two dates to allow manufacturers some flexibility - one for new Approvals and a later one for all production - so just did a quick Google.

Not to rub it in but your Touareg may also have the same issue - my 2016 base model doesn't have the issue but the more popular R-Line and other upmarket versions have LED DRLs and have a reputation of failure

 

[otherclive]

Dustys travails caused me such extreme anxiety that I traded in one of our Kia’s that had a DRL LED string. New car has single point LED DRL and cheap halogen fog light. No frills and few thrills, that’s more my style these days. 😂

 

[toad a caravan]

What is the problem with the existing headlamps ? DD

 

[woodsieboy]

I recently needed new door mirror and used a company called Trade Vehicle Parts based in Leicestershire, part arrived next day, may be worth trying them, part was new

 

[otherclive]

I recently needed new door mirror and used a company called Trade Vehicle Parts based in Leicestershire, part arrived next day, may be worth trying them, part was new

There are some excellent vehicle dismantling companies about with good stock inventories. With online searches the website will direct your query to a number of companies who will respond with prices and delivery details.. Different from the days I used to visit scrap yards and climb two or three cars up to find the bits required, or not as the case may be.

 

[Dustydog]

What is the problem with the existing headlamps ? DD

See This

 

[Dustydog]

There are some excellent vehicle dismantling companies about with good stock inventories. With online searches the website will direct your query to a number of companies who will respond with prices and delivery details.. Different from the days I used to visit scrap yards and climb two or three cars up to find the bits required, or not as the case may be.

But some consumable parts very near their failure date should be ignored.

 

[otherclive]

But some consumable parts very near their failure date should be ignored.

I think your best options are the Type Approval "get out" if within legal time frame, or the Wakefield repair business. Or is your wife's heart tending towards a new car? Thats the most difficult one to fight, but there are some good deals out there on new and pre owned. My RAV was discounted £3k, and daughters MG £3.5k with free paint upgrade and reduced APR, so it was cheaper to buy the car than to go through the NHS lease, which also meant she paid BIK, whilst now she gets a good mileage rate and in four years time the car will be hers.. Not an easy decision for you.

 

[Dustydog]

I think your best options are the Type Approval "get out" if within legal time frame, or the Wakefield repair business. Or is your wife's heart tending towards a new car? Thats the most difficult one to fight, but there are some good deals out there on new and pre owned. My RAV was discounted £3k, and daughters MG £3.5k with free paint upgrade and reduced APR, so it was cheaper to buy the car than to go through the NHS lease, which also meant she paid BIK, whilst now she gets a good mileage rate and in four years time the car will be hers.. Not an easy decision for you.

Kia Sat Nav now set back to her birthplace at CMC tomorrow morning . I’ll keep you posted.
Wakefield is probably our best option. Long term I know the Kia is still like new, was top of the range with all the gizmos.
We have discussed a swap but feel the time is wrong. A lot is going to happen in the car industry and who knows what the true reality will be.

I’m also confident the type , availability and range of EV batteries by 2030 should be twice as good as they are today. I say that only with confidence from what the EV pundits have written. Maybe not twice but certainly a big improvement. It still remains a possibility even more discounts will be offered on EVs over the next few years is a final push to achieve certain persons goals😉.