Let me preface this by saying the S snout is ALOT longer than I'm used to. I've only had my car for a month, so I guess I'm still getting used to it (I don't daily drive it).

Anyways, over the weekend, I managed to mis-judge the length of the front end and I ended up pushing my front bumper into the center post that seperates the left and right garage doors.

So, now my front bumper is pretty scratched up...one could say it's got 'character' Initially, I was thinking I would just submit a claim with my insurance. But after doing some research on hardtopguy.com, I discovered I could get another bumper for less than $250 (+ shipping ). So now I'm thinking I should just leave the insurance company out of this, esp since my deductible is $500.

My question is this, does anyone know of any online schematics of the front bumper area? I want to see if I've damaged anything behind the bumper cover. Or if I can just get away with replacing the cover, itself. Obviously, I'm going to have a body shop paint and blend the bumper to the rest of the car.

Or, is it just not fuss with it and claim it?

thanks
mike

 

You're going to have a tough time judging any damage behind the bumper, simply because you can't see behind it from under the car. You might be able to take a peek through the lower grill. There's a big metal bumper bar in there.

You'd have to have hit it pretty hard to damage that bar though.

I'd agree with leaving insurance out of it. Your deductable is probably right around what the new bumper will cost with paint, and insurance companies seem intent on raping customers any way they can.

 

This should be what you are looking for.

 

I doubt you did any real dammage behind there. There really isn't anything to hit.

go to http://www.ricks2k.com and look at the instructions on clearing the headlights. It has very good instructions on removing the bumper cover.

You might be surprised at how well a body shop could actually fix your exisiting bumper. Check that out before you buy a new one, also the body shop MIGHT have a hook-up to get the part cheaper than you can.

While you have it in the body shop, have them shave off the front badge and the license plate bumper plugs.

 

This car must meet standards for head on collision to the tune of what? ............. 5 or 10 mph? Unless you hit that thing faster than that, it should only be cosmetic damage. If you hit you own garage divider at faster than this, then judgement of the length of your car's front nose is not your biggest deficiency.

 

Also, if you hit that divider at any faster than 5-10 mph, chances are the divider would not be there anymore! Most 2-bay garages are clearspan, and the divider is onlt cosmetic (partition wall) to which the door tracks are installed.

John

 

'Clearspan'.....thet word makes sense. But I know what you mean, other garage in my neighborhood don't have the little divider thing...I'm starting to wish mine didn't either.

In any case, the divider consists of some 2x4s, drywall, molding and bricks on the front. It looks like a pretty sturdy structure.

I was barely moving when I hit it. Don't ask how.....it was utterly stupid. Suffice it it say, I won't be trying that EVER again.

 

I think the current impact standards are 5mph. But looking at the above diagram, it's just the bumper skin. I did get a little bit of the bottom of the headlight.....I guess I'll probably let the insurance company deceided whether it needs to be replace. However, it is scratched

 

That looks pretty good!! I was always wondering what that would look like to fill in the bumper plugs and the badge just annoys me (I can never clean that area very well)

I'll have to ask my body shop if they'll do that for me

 

New headlights are expensive, that would definately put you over the $500 if one has to be replaced.