Ebay Bonnet? Anyone Bought This? Claims Has Sold Hundreds...

[MeR]

my mate wrote off his SS ute with a fibreglass gts bonnet and insurance still paid out????????????????????????????????????????????

[tab]

Is that a question??????????????????????

If the insurance company doesn't realise, and the bonnet is not hit/damaged in the accident, then of course it wouldn't matter.

But you guys seem to be missing the point...THEY ARE F*CKIN DANGEROUS Why would that not be a concern? Who really cares about getting a canary or voiding your insurance when it changes the crash dynamics of your vehicle.

[Redback]

Crumple zones are embedded on a factory bonnet along with catches on the hinges which will cause the factory bonnet to fold in a collision. This prevents the bonnet from entering or smashing through the windscreen in the event of an accident. Seeing as fibreglass will just break/shatter I don't see any prblems with them being dangerous in an accident? Can someone shed some light on how they are dangerous? Also all the insurance companies care about is whether or not the parts they are changing cost more than what the original would be. If you take it into a panelbeater who is an authorised repairer for your insurer he'll just simply claim for a standard bonnet.

[ratter]

the bonnet breaking may take some strength away from other crumple zones rather than absorbing some of the impact.

Just a question off topic, but similar thing, are some people concerned about safety when they cut their bumper reinforcement bar to fit larger coolers, this bar would have a major affect on impact crumple zones, air bag deployment etc ?

[xr6greg]

Apologies for being a bit generic in my comments about Qld Legislation. I was trying to avoid discussing the TORUM - Vehicle Standards & Safety Regs 1999, in particular Chapter 2, Part 1, sections 5 & 6. These to be read in conjunction with Schedule 1 (Vehicle Standards) Part 2 Divisions 1 & 2. Simply put it makes it illegal to modify a vehicle from standard without a 'compliance plate' being fitted after the modification is approved by an authorised person.

And I certainly didn't want to discuss the provisions of the ADR's (Commonwealth Legislation that most State Legislation is derived from in relation to vehicle standards) which generally prohibits any alteration that may cause a reduction in the level of safety or overall strength of the vehicle. Yes. ADR 10B, 10/00 & 10/01 impacts on the decision to fit a non-standard bonnet along with ADR 69/00 or 72/00 as the after market bonnet may increase the likelyhood of injury to the occupants in a frontal collision.

However, all I was suggesting is that before you spend a squillion dollars on a carbon fibre, or fibreglass, bonnet check with your local transport authority for a definitive answer, and make sure they give it to you in writing.

Edited 01/09/09 02:33 PM by xr6greg

[jEtONiT]

stupid question. What about all these new European supercars with full carbon fiber panels etc.. would it be illegal to drive them on our roads since carbon fiber on other cars is illegal?

[howitzer85]

its got nothing to do with the material the bonnent is made out of, to be legal the bonnet needs to be ADR complient.

To be ADR complient it needs to undergo destructive testing and pass the criteria (expensive and something not alot of aftermarket companies like to do)

[MeR]

mates fibreglass bonnet splinterd up and snapped, still got paid out so hmm

[xr6greg]

MeR. Happy that your mate's fibreglass bonnet was replaced by the insurance company which I guess is definitive proof that you can now fit fibreglass, carbon fibre, or any composite material panels to your vehicle and it will not effect your insurance or road worthiness of your vehicle.

Must get out my fibreglass kit and start replacing my boot and door skins. Might even fit my Jason recliner rocker as a driver's seat so I am comfy in my light weight (with all those fibreglass panels) car. Now where did I leave my old chrome chain steering wheel from the sixties, that would look way cool instead of the factory fitted one with the air bags...

An insurance contract is a private contract between the parties; if the insurance company is OK to cover modificatons that may not be legal, not a problem.

Again, after my outburst of sarcasm, all I said was check with the relevant people (insurance, transport authority) before you start fitting up non-standard body panels.