Write-off or what?

[Druk]

So! The SL has been lying for an hour or so under a torrent of water cos a pipe connection burst in the garage. The water was up to the door cill level when I found it. Carpets, seats, doorcards, center console are soaking. I've tentatively told my insurance.

Where do I go from here?

 

[stevieb15]

I am so sorry to hear this, good luck with the claim

 

[wemorgan]

Which insurance, home or car? I'm guessing home.

Good luck.

 

[Dai rees]

Which insurance, home or car? I'm guessing home.

Very sorry to hear your news Derek, re: above I would approach both home and car ins: -- What are the chances of placing a Dehumidifier in the car for a couple of days??

Dave

 

[Lugy]

Firstly I'd pull all the carpets out and do the best job to dry everything I could, once you've done this you could stand back and take stock of what you've got before getting insurance involved.

 

[davidjpowell]

Most home policys exclude car related items. Sure this would include the car itself...

 

[219]

Sorry to hear this .

If they do write it off , you could buy it back and then start off with the bare-shell project you were thinking of anyway ?

For water damaged trim items , somebody will have a rusty or accident damaged SL or SLC to donate these . Mr Collins , perhaps ?

 

[corned]

Sorry to hear this, Derek.

My advice, FWIW:

I think the best course of action is to pull the car out of the garage and do what you can to get the bulk of the water out of the car as fast as possible. As others have said, get the carpets up and try to get the interior dried out. Are there drain plugs in the floor pans? If so, remove them!

If the weather is fair, it will dry out far faster in the sun (?) and fresh air.

I would disconnect the battery too, in case of any potential electrical maladies which could be caused by the water.

Only when you are happy that the car has thoroughly dried out can you properly assess what lasting damage, if any, has been caused. Then get in touch with your insurer.

The best of luck to you!

 

[st4]

Derek, I am really sorry to hear this. Its a lovely car.

I'd get all the carpets/door cards etc out the car and dry it out. Might not be too bad. Depends if the water has flooded the engine and electrics.

 

[trapperjohn]

Sorry to hear this Derek. I'm sure once the plan of action is formed you will have her up and running in no time.

 

[Ade B]

Sorry to hear of this..

On a positive note, the electrics will be pretty basic and I would have thought that they'll survive this once dried out.

Best of luck.

Ade

 

[grober]

Take some date stamped pictures of the garage/car/burst pipe first as evidence of the severity of the accident. If you intend to make an insurance claim the assessors like to see the "scene of the incident" unmolested by any clear up/clean up attempts- makes it easier for them and ultimately may govern the success of your claim.

 

[jeremytaylor]

Sorry to hear of this, but I don't understand.

What stopped the water from the burst pipe flowing out under the garage door? Is the garage floor lower than the garage door threshold? If so what drainage arrangements are there in the garage?

 

[Druk]

Thanks everyone. Got to be pragmatic I suppose. Got the loose carpets out and drying in the greenhouse. The seats and fixed carpets I'll probably leave to the de-humidifier. Thanks for that suggestion. Four grommets out the floor drained the worse out. There's water dripping out the sunvisors
and the radio looks like it's maybe had it. Got the center console out and there's a gallon or two under there but the airline has dried the switches (I hope). Never thought about taking pictures but will now. Bit of a panic earlier. First thing I did was dis the battery but I'm going to have to try it again soon cos the cars now outside on a sloping drive.

 

[bpsorrel]

Sorry to hear that!! Real bad luck!

Wouldn't comprehensive car insurance cover it, even if it's in your own garage?

 

[Druk]

Sorry to hear of this, but I don't understand.

What stopped the water from the burst pipe flowing out under the garage door? Is the garage floor lower than the garage door threshold? If so what drainage arrangements are there in the garage?

The water was running out the garage when I got to it. I think maybe you're confused by my use of the 'door cill' phrase?? I mean the car door cill (or sill). 6" of water in the footwells.

 

[jonnyboy]

Jesus Derek, I'm so sorry. I had no idea when I emailed you earlier. Car insurer will payout, but may seek contribution from house insurer as the house "caused" the incident. I think the only thing I can add to the advice you have had is to get the door cards off, rear trims/boot trims out, raise soft top to check its compartment.

An insurer will definitely write it off as the labour value of stripping it out alone is too much. You may well be better off either "negotiating" contribution from them for what you are doing, or just sucking it and see.


Check the location of any control units and get them dry before you even think about conecting the battery.

If you need anything, give me a ring.

 

[janner]

Check the location of any control units and get them dry before you even think about conecting the battery.

Under the back seat is the soft top ECU. Maybe remove it and dry it out separately?

 

[Druk]

Calmed down a bit now. Got a de-humidifier going in the back seat so we'll see what that produces. I'm not going down the insurance road I think. Unless I find something drastic later. It would be nice to get the seats re-covered and them to pay but TBH I'm sure they'll be OK once dried out and a bit of dressing applied. Total unfixable damage so far...

Old Grundig CD radio.
2 X Mercedes baseball caps. (leather peaks collapsed)
2007 Collins roadmap.


Hey-ho.

ps...it's a 107, so no control units under seats or carpets...thankfully.

 

[renault12ts]

I,ve got a 2008 Collins if that's any use.