You probably can get your alloy wheel repaired.
Here is a alloy wheel repair shop in Ohio that I have used twice for our 2001 XJ8.

First time when we purchased the car, the full size spare had a broken rim bead ($85 for welding/painting repair plus $14 shipping).

Second time when I ran into a sharp turn curbing, front right rim bent ($100 for repair plus $14 shipping).

Cliff Jacobs Wheel Repair work is outstanding, both rims look like new.

Cliff Jacobs Wheel Repair ; We straighten Bent Wheels

Jim Lombardi

 

@dsnyder: so far the decision is, pay cash. Insurance deductible
is only $500, but the long-run cost will run into the manymany-thousands.

So, off insurance is the current plan of action. As you saw, that
is $200, the rim is a lost cause. It was bent and has been refubished
before, Jim.

 

Despite the way things initially looked, the cradle needs replacing entirely apparently. The oil leak/pressure loss was described by my mechanic as "serious", but he has yet to work out where its leaking from. (he has only glanced at it, and I have class until he closes) the lower control is ok as far as i know, as well as the shocks which are at angles in their mountings. The upper rh control arm is bent. I will get a quote/details tomorrow I suspect.

 

UPDATE:

Pretty good news. The "framerail" (main monocoque arm) is
fine, the lower cradle needs replacing. The oil pressure problem
was due to a hole in the end of my oil filter. So, cheapest possible
fix on the oil presure/loss. Quote is about $2900, so this is not the
worst. I feel like a pillock though and the 'doh factor was very
high on this one. Not sure how long 'till I have the car back though,
being without it since January (having no other car, being too
young to rent) is not fun.

Ian

 

Nice!

 

The car is back on the road. Tracks straight, front end
feels tight as a drum, new control arms upper/lower on the RH side,
no funny noises from the front suspension.

The guys at the shop recommended a front pad replacement, so
they went to the counter at O'Reilly's and asked for 03 XJR pads,
and fitted them. They only sweep the outer 1/2 of the rotor, so
the car is driveable, sort of... braking is there(ish), they apparently had
bled the system for some reason (Thanks a lot for getting rid of
my $70/L Castrol, without ever talking to me about it) and the pedal
was super soft. Since it was 4:55 on a Friday, it was too late to get parts.
They bled the brakes again for me, and got the pedal harder, so
now I have the car until Monday or something, when I shall continue my
have-no-car marathon. My mechanic told them what pads it needs and
will ensure they are installed.

After sourcing a remanufactered ZF Servotronic from CarSteering.com
for about $325, and sending it to them (they were having no luck
getting a steering rack from used sources) the steering feels like trash.

They said it might be a "break-in" period type deal, this being a re-man.
It is using the original solenoid, but the rack is replaced. at 90 degrees
left it resists turning a lot, and at 270 deg right it will hold itself in place
and you could drive around in circles for hours hands-off. I have put about
100 miles on the car as-is, (being very easy on the brakes) and the
steering doesn't seem to be improving. So on Monday I will discuss sorting
it out with the provider of the rack and disclose my unhappiness with having
a notchy steering rack.

 

Ian, sorry to hear about your misfortune but glad that you're not hurt and seem to be back on the road.

Sorry I haven't responded to your latest questions on youtube yet- I litterally get about 10 questions from folks via email from online daily and I have so much to do myself IRL.

My car's been off the road for so long- am really considering spending good money and giving it to someone to get my diff jobs done.

Someone talked about space savers: FWIW my car has a full size in the boot- not sure if it was an optional upgrade.

 

Thanks Iblis (forgot your first name!)

The rates have been really reasonable, 29hrs
on the cradle install but only $85 on align, and
$225 for the wheel, no charge on mt/balance,
it was done for me really well (my mechanic went
to bat for me on getting this done and saved me
a lot of time.) and at low cost (if that can be said).

It was an option at the dealer, the full size spare.
Today I cleaned mine up so you can handle it and
aired it up to 60psi, it was at 30 before, not good.

Get to the YT response whenever you can, I thought
you had just forgotten or never seen it. I can imagine
you hear a lot of questions. Maybe just archive them all
and post here on JF. Thanks for answering though.

My diff is whining, despite receipts for a diff replacement
I have from a now-defunct Jaguar dealer in Southern California,
and I am going to add a few g molybdenum disuphide to it, hopefully
that will stop the stupid whine. I knew in the back of my
mind that this diff was not a leave-alone item.

Ian