fix or replace front bumper???
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
fix or replace front bumper???
So unfortunately my wife and I were on our way back to Las Vegas from California when a 4 foot rod came out of know where. The car in front of us could see it and swerved (may have hit it as well) but it was in the air by the time we saw it and pretty much no where to go. Fortunately it didn't spear our windshield or else my wife could have hurt. With all that said, I am trying to decide if I should try to have it fixed or just replace the entire bumper? Looking for opinions and also how much you feel each would/should cost. Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,338
Likes: 2,438
From: Eastern
OUCH!!! Lucky no one was hurt.
I personally would get a new bumper, or 2nd choice would be a good shape used one of the same color as your car. I'm sure there is someone out there who replaced theirs with a Z06 style bumper.
Try the WTB: section. Never know
Good Luck
I personally would get a new bumper, or 2nd choice would be a good shape used one of the same color as your car. I'm sure there is someone out there who replaced theirs with a Z06 style bumper.
Try the WTB: section. Never know
Good Luck
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 577
Likes: 22
From: Longview Texas
My daughter had a tear on her rear bumper from a wreck on her Maxima. Body shop said they could fix it. I didn't know they do that. Anyway, they did a great job, can't tell it ever happened. The only good thing about that is maybe they wouldn't have to take the nose off the car to repair.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 220
From: Akron Ohio
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
my hood had a crack in it I had it repaired it looked good as new but they bumped it putting it back on the car an it cracked again in the same spot. so I then replaced it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 1
From: Long Island NY
Since the whole bumper will get repainted, then you might as well replace it instead of fixing it. This way it can also be painted off the car instead of the shop masking things off like the fenders and headlights. Rarely will it look as good painted on the car.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Thanks for the responses everyone. I actually have an extremely nice forum member hooking me up with a front bumper so all I will need to do is have it painted!! Plus the fact that I won't have to worry about the new one cracking for minimal wear makes things a lot better.
To answer your question about the insurance yes it is covered under and will not penalize me but I didn't realize our insurance was set to high deductible so I'd basically be paying for it all out of pocket anyway, if rather not have to hassle with a claim. However I did change the deductible down to $100 now
) lessons learned.
To answer your question about the insurance yes it is covered under and will not penalize me but I didn't realize our insurance was set to high deductible so I'd basically be paying for it all out of pocket anyway, if rather not have to hassle with a claim. However I did change the deductible down to $100 now
) lessons learned.
Last edited by presto205; Feb 1, 2015 at 01:49 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 475
Likes: 158
I hit a piece of bouncing firewood, which made a pretty good dent in my bumper and took out a couple of pieces of the grill. The insurance company covered it as comprehensive. I have an old policy - no deductible for comprehensive (my agent said they don't even offer that anymore). If I had run over it, it would have been a collision - go figure. Anyway, insurance wouldn't pay for a new bumper, so the body shop fixed it, and did a great job - you can't even tell where it was. Your damage, however, is quite a bit worse than mine was. With yours, I would push for a whole new bumper.
Last edited by JScottH3; Feb 1, 2015 at 10:17 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 123
Likes: 1
From: Kinderhook NY
That's my vote- these things can be "fixed" so that you wouldn't know it ever got hit....this will last for a year or so...till the heat of the sun causes it to expand and contract and starts showing cracks where it was fixed...not worth that...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 44
From: If you wanna live life on your own terms, you gotta be willing to crash and burn Florida
Dear God! Luckily it hit your bumper instead of the windshield. I think you would replace the bumper if you have the funds.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,801
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
It is close. I have gone both ways on that type of damage. It all depends on whether or not your insurance will cover it. If the object was moving when you hit it your comprehensive insurance will cover the damage and if you planned properly you will have a low or no deductible comp insurance. If the object wasn't moving then your collision coverage comes into play and then the cost of the repair is used to see if they raise your rates or allow you to keep your safe driver discount. I had one fascia replaced when I hit a 5 gallon bucket blowing around on the road and the new one replaced a year later after an autocross incident. One was covered by comp with a $200 deductible and the other under collision with a $500 deductible. A year later I was back with another hole in the fascia and the shop told me it would be best to replace the fascia but I told them to try and save it. They were able to do that and the cost of the repair was less than the deductible I had on collision insurance. That all happened on my C5 but the third hole was almost in the same place as yours and about the same size.
Bill
Bill