Repair or replace front bumper?

[dumdumhead]

I hope I got the right forum for this one.

So I went to out of errands last week and when I got home, I noticed that someone had carelessly backed into my front bumper. I'm usually really good about parking away from people, but being a really low black car, I guess this was inevitable, even though I've had the car less than 6 months. Anyways, the damage looks fairly light, and I've heard that fiberglass can sometimes be repaired, so what do you guys think? There are cracks and scratches in three areas of the front bumper, in the middle section, as shown in the pics below. Luckily, the star shield sort of prevented a lot of scraping, and is currently holding everything together well, but there are some cracks and such that look troublesome.







Still haven't told my insurance guy yet...i knew I'd regret the $1000 collision deductable.

Thanks,
Chris

[charliex]

looks very repairable, ask a corvette shop, or surfer repair place.

[TheViper]

I presume you parallel parked.....as unusual as it is, a cardinal rule in this car, as it has no bumpers, is NOT to do that Hope you get it fixed OK .
Michael

[Darkside Eng]

Not bad at all... If you have insurance, i would tell them to replace it and then get it fixed. But if not, it looks like a repair job.

Still sucks that someone would do that...

[Darkside Eng]

THey should have at least left you a note... good or bad lol

[dumdumhead]

Originally Posted by Darkside

THey should have at least left you a note... good or bad lol

Ouch, I'd rather not even get that kind of note. That would make me

[BertPervert]

Sorry to hear about the damage. That sucks and the person that hit u should walk the plank! That looks totally repairable, you should try to send your car to Dentwerks, they are in L.A but I know they can have your car shipped to and from and are the utmost professionals. They have worked on plenty of lotus cars and several members of the forum have used them. If anything, you should give them a ring. (310) 360-0948

[Illumiloti]

I found a Corvette repair shop near my home that repaired worse damage than that and charged me $400.

[dumdumhead]

Originally Posted by BertPervert

Sorry to hear about the damage. That sucks and the person that hit u should walk the plank! That looks totally repairable, you should try to send your car to Dentwerks, they are in L.A but I know they can have your car shipped to and from and are the utmost professionals. They have worked on plenty of lotus cars and several members of the forum have used them. If anything, you should give them a ring. (310) 360-0948

Hm, I'll probably be moving to LA in the Spring, I might be able to wait it out. Thanks for the tip.

[dumdumhead]

Originally Posted by Pestodude

I found a Corvette repair shop near my home that repaired worse damage than that and charged me $400.

Cool. I can live with $400. What color was your car? Did the paint come out okay? I'm not really sure how easy it is to match the Starlight Black paint that I have.

[BertPervert]

Originally Posted by dumdumhead

Cool. I can live with $400. What color was your car? Did the paint come out okay? I'm not really sure how easy it is to match the Starlight Black paint that I have.

Also FYI, you get what you pay for, and I really doubt that your clam damage is repairable and painted for $400. Just be careful to where you take your car is all i am trying to say.

[Illumiloti]

"Cool. I can live with $400. What color was your car? Did the paint come out okay? I'm not really sure how easy it is to match the Starlight Black paint that I have."

Mine is Phantom Black.

Originally Posted by BertPervert

Also FYI, you get what you pay for, and I really doubt that your clam damage is repairable and painted for $400. Just be careful to where you take your car is all i am trying to say.

Actually, I've had it done twice! Positive results both times.(The Corvette Shop in Canoga Park CA. (818)992-8388, ask for the owner. Can't remember his name). As has been posted here before, anybody with a working knowledge of fiberglass repair can fix a minor ding like the one the OP posted. There was a thread on LT about a guy who's friend (a surfer) came over and they repaired fairly significant damage for 60 bucks in supplies and a case of beer.

[kaiynne]

This is why if i ever have to park near another car, even for a few minutes i always take a pic of the license plate with my iphone. Thankfully i have never had to use it, but i rarely park on the street. The reason i take a pic is because then i get the color of the car so insurance can verify if there is any paint transfer. I know you probably couldn't prove it but i figure if you call the person and say you hit my car most people are going to assume that there was a witness and fess up.

[Scrumpot]

My Daily Driver is a Jag Saloon (Sedan, for you non-limey-terminology-familiar). It has "bumpers", but they are that rubber-mold painted uni-cover type things. So "bumping" them is never good/not an option either.

Last week, I had to meet a friend in downtown DC, and I had no other choice but to parallel park, curbside. All the garages were closed/locked down for some visiting dignatary thing or what-have-you, at the building across from the restaurant we were meeting at.

I just KNEW it was gonna happen too. But what can you do? I hoped I was only being paranoid (as I usually am by nature with such) - and convinced myself not to worry about it, for the hour or so I was gonna be at the bar meeting up just briefly anyway. I figured those front & back of me, would probably just be there longer than me anyway themselves, and all would be well. - Right?

Well NO!! Of course not. When I come out, I notice the spot behind me was empty/open (meaning whoever it was, must have JUST left, b/c spots don't stay open long at "prime time" in DC!) - and sure enough, whoever pulled out of that slot played "bumper-cars" with my rear "bumper"!!

I just can't believe that people would just routinely be THAT CALOUS and IGNORANT!!

Oh well. I've gotten my "rant" out now at least, for the day. Good luck with your repairs too. I also carry a $1k deductible, looking at insurance really, as my "disaster" relief/coverage, more so than for the just (relatively) minor nuisances. I figure too, the total cumulative savings I keep in my pocket versus shelling out on-going higher premiums, more than offsets/pays for itself as a result, in the long run.

Get your estimates 1st, before reporting anything. Then decide what you are going to do.

[kestrel74]

THIS........is a bumper.