182 rear quarter panel replacement - Part 1

[Darren S]

So, after a while of procrastination, I bit the bullet and decided to get the offside rear panel sorted. As most will be aware, the crap design of the fuel filler area and the lottery of the cill protection means that rust can be on a sliding scale of pretty much zero to a clump of brown metal filings.

I refer to this as being 'Part 1' as the nearside needs doing also. However, the rear arch was a lot worse for bubbling on the offside and along with the rust-ring surrounding the filler cap, both myself and the body-shop chose that side first.

I approached several body-shops with varying degrees of success. Some didn't even give me a quote after a visit. Some didn't even respond to initial emails. Others wanted me to source and provide my own panel (erm, wut?) and some seemed 'OK' but I just didn't get a vibe off them.

Having looked at some of the work that Bury Autobodies had done online, I got in touch and arranged a viewing for a quote one Saturday morning. Upon turning up, Mark had a long chat with me regarding the 182. I was impressed with his previous knowledge of them as he said he'd owned a couple of 1*2s previously and was aware of the usual suspects of failing bodywork.

I received a preliminary quote a day or so later and agreed to go for it. The first step was a rear quarter panel to be shipped in from France which took about two weeks to arrive. Rob, the other owner of the body shop messaged me to say that the panel had arrived in top condition - no markings or issues with it. All I had to do now was to drop the car off. Despite my confidence in those guys, I could help but feel like I was leaving a kid to be babysat by Jimmy Savile...

Anyways, during the time the was Clio there, I received regular updates of progress, along with photos. I've attached some below in no particular order, but I was genuinely surprised at how relatively good, the cill section was. Given its age and with 170k+ on the clock - I think it weathered the weather and the crap from the British roads, really quite well. The filler cap area however - lol. To be honest, that started bubbling around Year 4 of owning it - so the tin-worm has had another 14 years of chomp-chomping on that area, undisturbed.

The filler cap on mine before work.

After a few prods - lol.

Bigger (literally) lol.

Start of the fabrication work around the filler cap.

Cill area - not as bad as I thought.

First section of the rear panel removed.

Getting sorted.

Cut line.

 

[Darren S]

New panel fitment.

Paint booth.

Arch area protection.

Door getting painted too.

Almost done.

Finished article.

Overall, I was very happy with the service that Rob and Mark provided. So much so that I won't have any issues going back to them for Part 2 of the refurb - and potentially Part 3 when I get the front-end revamped too!

I've never had such aggressive bodywork carried out on a car before - so it was worrying at first. Thankfully, all turned out good and the 'ol girl continues to bring a smile to my face when I drive it.

 

[Daz...]

That looks excellent, it’ll be like new when you’ve had the other bits done!

 

[Martin_172]

awesome, nice to see a setup where they keep the customer informed with pics, shows they are confident in their work! looks top notch!

 

[mintno1]

@Darren S looks like they have done a great job, you must be well pleased! How were they on price compared to the other quotes you got? Do they go by BM Autobodies Ltd on Facebook? Do you live in Bury, don't see many Renaultsports when I am back up North visiting family, I am always on the look out

 

[Louis]

Fantastic work! Something a lot of these will need soon.

How much did this cost out of interest?

 

[Darren S]

@Darren S looks like they have done a great job, you must be well pleased! How were they on price compared to the other quotes you got? Do they go by BM Autobodies Ltd on Facebook? Do you live in Bury, don't see many Renaultsports when I am back up North visiting family, I am always on the look out

I am really pleased with it - just wish I had enough ££££ set aside to do both sides at once!

As for the company name - this is where it gets really confusing!

So, Bury Motor Bodies is the firm I used here. Though technically, they are a few miles north of Bury itself and are closer to me.

BM Autobodies IS located in Bury and I have used them in the past before to good effect. I believe a guy called Karl is still running it?

I don't live in Bury, but I used to live in Birtle - just a little to the north-east of there. Now, I'm in Water which is about a dozen miles or so north of Bury. I must admit, I do see very few RenaultSports around here - regardless of model.

Fantastic work! Something a lot of these will need soon.

How much did this cost out of interest?

I was originally quoted just over £2k - which included VAT and near enough £500 for the panel from France. It did creep up a little by the end for the additional fabrication work involved - but not by much overall.

At least I'll have a pretty accurate figure to go on for the cost of the nearside panel to be done.

 

[Brigsy]

Great job. Price sounds fair too.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Looks like they've done a cracking job Darren 😊 It sounds a lot of money, but when it means keeping it on the road it's well worth it.
I reckon my 182 has had somewhere heading towards £6k spent on it in the last couple of years 😲 but it's looking better now than it has since i bought it back in 2006.

 

[Darren S]

Looks like they've done a cracking job Darren 😊 It sounds a lot of money, but when it means keeping it on the road it's well worth it.
I reckon my 182 has had somewhere heading towards £6k spent on it in the last couple of years 😲 but it's looking better now than it has since i bought it back in 2006.

I reckon by the time I get the nearside done, I will have paid for the car again from when I got it in 2004!

It's strangely worth it though. Almost like you feel like you have a duty to the car to look after it - lol.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

I reckon by the time I get the nearside done, I will have paid for the car again from when I got it in 2004!

It's strangely worth it though. Almost like you feel like you have a duty to the car to look after it - lol.

I totally agree with you 👍 they're well worth spending the money on to keep them on the road.
If I hadn't been the first owner, from new, I might have felt differently though for some strange reason lol

 

[Krarl]

Can't believe nobody has tagged @Louis yet🤣

 

[Jonnio]

Looks great!

My car needs similar (and then some 🙈).

 

[Louis]

Can't believe nobody has tagged @Louis yet🤣

I already commented ya bast.

These are only 26 minutes from me so maybe worth a visit with mine! Not that I have a spare 4k 🤣

 

[JackJack]

Fair play for getting it done, most people would just scrap it when it got bad.

 

[Darren S]

Fair play for getting it done, most people would just scrap it when it got bad.

It's a commitment alright - but worth it. I really don't want to get rid unless I have to!

 

[Will2010T]

New panel fitment.

View attachment 1615097

View attachment 1615098


Paint booth.

View attachment 1615099


Arch area protection.

View attachment 1615100


Door getting painted too.

View attachment 1615101


Almost done.

View attachment 1615104


Finished article.

View attachment 1615105


Overall, I was very happy with the service that Rob and Mark provided. So much so that I won't have any issues going back to them for Part 2 of the refurb - and potentially Part 3 when I get the front-end revamped too!

I've never had such aggressive bodywork carried out on a car before - so it was worrying at first. Thankfully, all turned out good and the 'ol girl continues to bring a smile to my face when I drive it.

Hi Darren, my fuel flap area is starting to rust admittedly not as bad as yours, I’ve contacted where you went for an estimate, a few down the line are you still happy with the work they did? Paintwork all match up well, no issues with leaks or anything like that?. Very interested to know your after experience and whether you have had the other side done yet?.

Will.

 

[Darren S]

Hi Darren, my fuel flap area is starting to rust admittedly not as bad as yours, I’ve contacted where you went for an estimate, a few down the line are you still happy with the work they did? Paintwork all match up well, no issues with leaks or anything like that?. Very interested to know your after experience and whether you have had the other side done yet?.

Will.

Hi Will,

Yes, all still good. I'm actually more conscious of the other side that I haven't had done yet. In retrospect, I wish I'd saved up a bit more and got both sides done at the same time.

I know I've got a bit of corrosion on the floor pan near the OSF wheel and will probably get that addressed before the NSF rear quarter panel. I'll have no reservations in giving the work back to Dan and Mark when ready.

 

[Will2010T]

Hi Will,

Yes, all still good. I'm actually more conscious of the other side that I haven't had done yet. In retrospect, I wish I'd saved up a bit more and got both sides done at the same time.

I know I've got a bit of corrosion on the floor pan near the OSF wheel and will probably get that addressed before the NSF rear quarter panel. I'll have no reservations in giving the work back to Dan and Mark when ready.

Brilliant, thank you for your prompt reply

 

[Will2010T]

Hi Will,

Yes, all still good. I'm actually more conscious of the other side that I haven't had done yet. In retrospect, I wish I'd saved up a bit more and got both sides done at the same time.

I know I've got a bit of corrosion on the floor pan near the OSF wheel and will probably get that addressed before the NSF rear quarter panel. I'll have no reservations in giving the work back to Dan and Mark when ready.

Hi Darren

Do you have any pictures of the fuel flap area now after the work had been completed ? Very interested to see how they finished it.

Will

 

[Darren S]

Hi Darren

Do you have any pictures of the fuel flap area now after the work had been completed ? Very interested to see how they finished it.

Will

Hi Will,

Not on my phone - but I can take a couple tomorrow, if you like?

 

[Will2010T]

Hi Will,

Not on my phone - but I can take a couple tomorrow, if you like?

Hi Darren that would be brilliant if u don’t mind.

 

[Darren S]

Just sent you a PM

 

[high_octane]

Good thread! thanks. I'm looking for a company who can tackle rust on clios along the south coast. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Darren, is this repair place now called B M Autobodies on Church Street in Bury?

 

[Darren S]

Darren, is this repair place now called B M Autobodies on Church Street in Bury?

Hi Dave - no, these guys are Bury Motor Bodies, ironically not actually located in Bury.

Gets confusing!

Bury Motor Bodies Ltd

Experienced vehicle body shop in Edenfield, Rossendale, specialising in all aspects of bodywork, accident repair and vehicle restoration.

burymotorbodies.co.uk

 

[GavC]

Hi @Darren S Where did you source the new quater panel, through Renault dealership or other?

 

[Darren S]

Hi @Darren S Where did you source the new quater panel, through Renault dealership or other?

Hi Gav,

The bodyshop sourced it directly from Renault in France and had it shipped over.

 

[GavC]

Hi Gav,

The bodyshop sourced it directly from Renault in France and had it shipped over.

Thanks mate

 

[BIFCAIDS]

Sorry, but why the f**k do these still look so good? They've not aged in my eyes for something 20+ years old.

 

[Darren S]

Sorry, but why the f**k do these still look so good? They've not aged in my eyes for something 20+ years old.

True - they still look good now.

Plus, I can't even recall in the last month or so of seeing a 1*2 on the road - so they are more rare too.

 

[Bmac]

have you got round to having the other side done yet?

 

[Darren S]

have you got round to having the other side done yet?

Not yet. Probably not this year now, but I will be at some point.

If I had somewhere to store the nearside panel, I'd probably order it now as supplies won't be limitless.

 

[Cookson]

I saw an artic blue one on the road last week and nearly snapped my neck copping a look. You just don't see them now.

 

[Darren S]

Just for reference if anyone is interested, I received a price back from Renault in France this morning that the nearside rear panel costs £583.89+VAT with 7-10 working days for delivery.

No word on their rarity or potential EOL status yet, but I might order one - just in case and find somewhere to store it in the interim.

 

[KevC]

Just for reference if anyone is interested, I received a price back from Renault in France this morning that the nearside rear panel costs £583.89+VAT with 7-10 working days for delivery.

No word on their rarity or potential EOL status yet, but I might order one - just in case and find somewhere to store it in the interim.

Good to know. I'm just after receiving two spurious panels from Estonia for my PH1 after trying a few Renault dealers in Ireland with no luck.

 

[TheBluuu]

Sorry to bring this back up, I've just had a smack on my driver's side rear quarter whilst car was at mechanics which has also taken out the window. How much would this be for them to do fully with the new panel just needing ball park prices really.

TIA

 

[Darren S]

Sorry to bring this back up, I've just had a smack on my driver's side rear quarter whilst car was at mechanics which has also taken out the window. How much would this be for them to do fully with the new panel just needing ball park prices really.

TIA

No worries at all. Not sure of the current price for the OSR panel, but the NSR panel was £533.89+VAT when I ordered it the other week. That's from Renault in France via the local Renault dealership. Although the OSR panel has the fuel filler cap area, I'd be surprised if it was much different in price.

From memory, the issue you might have is that side rear glass. I'm sure I read on here that they are no longer available new - so it might be a case of obtaining one from a scrappers, perhaps? I could be wrong on that though.

 

[TheBluuu]

No worries at all. Not sure of the current price for the OSR panel, but the NSR panel was £533.89+VAT when I ordered it the other week. That's from Renault in France via the local Renault dealership. Although the OSR panel has the fuel filler cap area, I'd be surprised if it was much different in price.

From memory, the issue you might have is that side rear glass. I'm sure I read on here that they are no longer available new - so it might be a case of obtaining one from a scrappers, perhaps? I could be wrong on that though.

Oh right OK, gonna have to see what can work with the panel and they said they can get a glass for £60 don't know where from but said they've found one. Thanks for the info