[commodorenutt]

My wife’s VE got backed into by an SUV. Pushed the LH headlight in about 3 inches, popped the bonnet, and pushed the guard out. Insurance quote was over $7k. There was so much hidden damage. The rails weren’t touched. If they were, they said they would have written it off. I priced up all the bits 2nd hand for under $2k, and this was my backup plan. But in the end, insurance fixed it.

I’d be checking the rails carefully. As soon as any of those pre-formed dimples are folded up, they will want to write it off. Not saying you can’t fix it yourself, but it’s not a simple case of pulling the rails back out if they have been compressed.

I saw one at pick & Payless around 2017 that had a compressed rail on one side. The repairer fitted home-made plywood spacers between the rail cap and the radiator support to get it to all align….. anything is possible…. Only needed longer bolts….