Tore small hole in wheel arch panel - duct tape over it till fixed?

pinkteapot

So annoyed with myself! Overtaking a (stopped) bus and clipped the passenger side of my car on his back corner. :mad:

No visible damage on the bus and minor cosmetic damage on my car, but all going through insurance because it's a bus.

Anyway, the problem - we're going on holiday for two weeks on Friday and will be driving about 1,500 miles in two weeks (south of England to Skye and back, plus driving around up there). My wheel arch has a small hole in it now (maybe 1" diameter?). Photo below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45711141@N05/27517844135/in/dateposted-public/

We probably won't be able to get it repaired before we go. Should we duct-tape over the hole, given the amount of motorway driving we'll be doing?

I was wondering whether wind being able to whistle into the panel at 70mph would be bad for it. :eek:

I know a duct tape patch on the car is the ultimate in classy looking. :rotfl:

Panel will need replacing so duct tape residue won't matter...

Iceweasel

By all means put a patch over the hole.

But I would think the panel will be repaired rather than replaced.

Sticky residue won't matter to the panel-beaters.

megaginge

Get some tape over it, it'll be fine. Proper duct tape.

That's pretty minor

Enjoy your holiday!

pinkteapot

Iceweasel wrote: »

By all means put a patch over the hole.

But I would think the panel will be repaired rather than replaced.

Sticky residue won't matter to the panel-beaters.

Oh! I thought they usually just replace panels these days unless it's a really minor scratch/dent.

We have fully comp insurance and - with it being a bus and therefore definitely getting reported to insurers - we're claiming, so the repair bill doesn't matter that much as we're only paying the excess. I'm therefore less fussed than usual on exactly what they do to fix it.

Thanks guys - and for not commenting on me hitting a stationery bus.

I was having visions of the hole ripping bigger from the wind if we didn't tape over it, but that's probably not likely really. :rotfl:

megaginge

No its not, but if there's anything sharp on the car traffic police won't like it ...

It's a solid structure, it won't just collapse with a bit of wind now theres a pin hole !!!

pinkteapot

megaginge wrote: »

No its not, but if there's anything sharp on the car traffic police won't like it ...

I was worried about that - there is a fairly sharp bit on the edge of the tear. Tape will cover it.

I'd thought we might catch our legs on it if we're not careful. (Or other people in car parks, now I think about it)

Silver-Surfer_2

Bend the sharp piece inwards before you tape it. You don't want to be done for dangerous condition or even prohibited from driving it if an officer thinks it poses immediate danger to someone.

pinkteapot

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Bend the sharp piece inwards before you tape it. You don't want to be done for dangerous condition or even prohibited from driving it if an officer thinks it poses immediate danger to someone.

Good idea, thanks.

Now need to take it to the garage for its assessment/estimate this evening (things are efficient when it's an insurance job!) - might smile nicely and see if they'll bend/break off the sharp bit for me.

Still won't be repaired for a few weeks - not booking it in for Thursday and risking having to go on holiday in a courtesy car.