Sorry to hear this, its easily done though as many have testified on here! I did it on a meet and couldn't work out why the alarm would arm and then again on the M4 on the way home at about 100 or so the whole thing started vibrating as it was only held on by the catch. The guy who bought it off me did the same when he test drove it - er, its a feature of the car.

Thanks everyone for the condolences. I have been out for a few drinks so feeling more mellow now.
Planning a trip to Preston BCA tomorrow to get a cheap runabout, just can't be without a car where I live.

I've4 had it happen to me twice, in two different Land Rovers.

One was a mate's, he'd just bought it and I was driving it back for him, V8 powered and was trucking along a DC at about 80mph when there was an almighty bang and everything went dark! Managed to stick my head out of the window and get on to the hard shoulder.

Other time was my own Landie, about 60mph this time, except my bonnet didn't have the prop fitted.....and the hinges at the back of the bonnet are U-shaped to allow you to remove it easily.....first the big bang as the bonnet goes up, followed by the sight of a lightweight aluminium bonnet flying up about 30ft in the air and landing on the motorway behind me!!!

Managed to grab it back off the road before anything mangled it, slotted it back in, and carried on driving . Ahh, the benefits of an old Landie, add a few dents and scars and it just gives it more character!

Really sorry to hear about this Mitch

Hope you get things sorted out to your satisfaction, even if it means buying another coupé?

Oh well, to paraphrase a moderately successful comedy show, "I'm the only coupé owner in this village" now

Unfortunately you're not alone with this happening, we see it about once a week or so, always on the motorway sections

Hi All

It happened to me in my Xsara VTS coupe.

I got it fixed via insurance but it cost £2K and it involved a new bonnet plus cutting the roof off and welding on a new one

I can only imagine it'd cost a lot more on a coupe.

Do you have recaros? or any other spares

Glad your ok which is the main thing - Ive been fortunate lots of times and have driven ( by accident ) with the bonnet not firmly shut . As mentioned previously I have been lucky in all instances it was on the catch.

Hopefully the roof will just pop out - good luck.

Cant your insurance provide you with a courtesy?

<---- Runs off to check bonnet on Coupe is down!

Glad you are ok mate, the car is wonderful but i think you came away lucky.

Good luck with Insurance and if not the hunt for a new Coupe, Skint's is still for sale 5k LE No. 16 if your interested?

Yeah It was scary, It was on a short stretch of duel carriageway and I had just planted my foot in third to overtake a pickup truck, was just drawing level then WHAMMM! blackness in front of me. Luckily there was no one behind so I just yanked on the brakes and got it to the side of the road without hitting anything.

Seems another car had run into my headlight that flew out of the bonnet and stopped up the road but drove off without even coming back to see me. Then a police car happened to be passing and stopped to help me get mine to a safe place. Policeman was very sympathetic and even gave me a lift home, thanks whoever you are

Went to auction today and got something cheap to be driving while I sort out what to do with mine. I just cant see the insurance company repairing it.

Nasty, but it sounds like you (not the car) got off lightly! Must have been a real brown trouser moment. Just glad you're okay. I recall a similar incident about 2-3 years ago on here, can't remember who it was though.

Ermmm thanks for the offer Stan

I am going to miss it so much to be honest but I wont get another until I finish my studies and i'm working again.
Anyway, this is what I picked up today.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/mitch20vt/mondy1.jpg
1998 mondeo 84k miles and FSH

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/mitch20vt/mondy2.jpg
Bodywork its great, tint job is dodgy

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/mitch20vt/mondy3.jpg
I have a £500 bill for this system

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/mitch20vt/mondy4.jpg
Yes its a V6! (2.5 Si manual with aircon)

Not bad at £550, only problem is its a little tappety, I am hoping its just because it was low on oil when we picked it up. Anyone know much about these??

MrB's got a mondeo too I believe

yeah theyre shite!!! lol not bad for £550

if the roof repairable then the car might be ok to repair!

ive repaired many of these in the past and it has happened to me before in my old citroen zx but due to a centre parked single wiper it saved the screen!!

we do have alot of alfa's and fiats in work with flipped bonnets and alot of the time they do get written off but there are exceptions. all depends on cost and book value at the end of the day!!

i have been told by a contact in fiat parts that its a common fault for the catch to spring up un-noticed if worn. it might be a wise idea for all you owners reading this to go buy a new catch tommorow as they can fail!!
i guess fiat/alfa didnt want to waste time and money on a recall! just let their owners find out the hard way!

Sorry to read this - drove my first one for about 150 miles on the catch up the A1 not long after getting it. Fortunately spotted it and pulled over before something like this happened.

Well, maybe not everything

Cant believe you bought a mondeo - did the bonnet hit you on the head

Right then we need to organise some kind of coop meet and make mitch turn up in his Mondeo

I am a great fan of the 2.5 V6 in these. I used to own a 1999 V6 Ghia X Mondeo and then a 1998 V6 Cougar.

I sold the Mondeo at 110,000miles and the Cougar with about 140,000miles on it so they are good for a bit of abuse.

The cars were arguably the best "all round" car I have ever had. Quite lively with 170 bhp, sound great, loads of boot space and handle quite well as well. Just a real relaxing, easy drive with no paranoia! Bargain for £550.

James

Oh, also remembered. A VERY VERY common fault with these is for the IMRC (inlet manifold runner control) to pack up. (About £110 new from Ford). This is basically a motor (servo) in a metal box that lives under the plastic "2.5 V6" cover on the front bank of cylinders on the engine. It opens a second set of intake ports when the engine reaches about 3000 rpm. If you dont have a very sure kick (not in coop terms!) at about 3k then this is either clapped or the cable that comes from it is broken. Remove the throttle body and have a good look - you'll see how it works.
With a timing chain at least you have no cambelt worries!

Have fun.

James

gutted for you mate

really am

if it does get written off
and you decide to break it


can i have first dibs on your leather?


sorry..... i had to......

I just wanted to echo what everyone else has said and also that I have my fingers crossed your insurance company comes up trumps and does you proud.

I had my motorcycle stolen a couple of months back and finally got more than what I could have sold it for, even including the excess.

Good luck,

PS... overtaking a pickup with your foot planted in 3rd when this happened and you didn't crash - very impressive!

Are the spark plugs not a bugger on these or am i thinking of another 2.5v6 that can be a bugger to change them on??

Dont boterh topping the oil up mitch just get a good synth oil from Oilman in his sale and use it instead as it wont use much between changes..

Ok update for you all, Thanks Jap yeah I think that IMRC thing might be broken. Not sure because what is concerning me more is the rattle

I have done a full oil change with comma flush in the old oil to clean it all out, What came out was very thick and black but after filling it up with the correct stuff and changing the filter its still no better . It only starts when its really warmed up so I couldnt hear it in the auction, and it was a genuine repo, not a broken heap that a dealer had dumped so I am very unlucky I think, considering the millage, history and otherwise spanking condition of it. Ahhh well.. Guess its cams, tappets or little ends?

Yes KP the spark plugs look a nightmare and I bought some without checking, but they are extra long life 20k miles jobbies so I might leave them.

Craig, yeah we will have to see, too early to tell whats happening yet. I have been filling out my claim form today and drawing a sketch for them

All in all, what a crappy week I have had..

Again, mitch sorry to hear this happened to you.

But damn you. You've given me a whole other thing to be paranoid about now.

Sorry to hear this Mitch, but I'm glad you're unhurt. It must have scared the crap out of you.

I drove all the way home, after my last MOT, with the bonnet just on the safety catch as they'd not closed it properly

Just been reading Practical Classics magazine and they had an article on the Damlier SP Dart that shows a photograph of a little chain which owners have installed to stop this happening on that car.

Might be worth considering on the coupé?

Any word from the insurance company yet Mitch?

Are you considering buying the coupé back if they write it off?