Rear bumper mega scratched/gouged..repair or replace?

[edco]

Greetings:

While shopping at a local NJ Mall with my lovely wife this weekend, some idiot in a Honda got a little too close and damaged my rear bumper, and then bolted before I could get a plate number. It's not out of alignment, but it's scrathed/gouged pretty severely.

So today I talked to my brother in law who used to be in the auto body business. He recommended buying a new bumper cover, as the scratches are fairly deep (left side on the corner), and his experience was that since bumpers are often "tapped", that filler often comes loose over time.
Keep in mind he's been out of the repair biz for about 10 years so bonding products may have improved significantly since then.

Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations (yes, I shall add pictures tomorrow when it's light out to make this request clearer)...?

I found one on ebay but its about $160 shipped and still would need to be painted, also it's not a PDC cover, but I assume that could be drilled..maybe..

So I dont want to go throught the insurance company and ruin my otherwise pristine history (especially with my son about to start driving soon..), so my choices seems to be:

1) Bring it to a shop and have them either find a replacement cover (I have PDC) from a boneyard or repair the one I have.
2) Buy a new one from BMW ($636) and have it primed and painted.
3) Live with it.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Ed in Metuchen, NJ

[nra0707]

PDC holes are outlined in the back of the bumper, and it'll take a couple hours time to drill/dremel the holes out. Not a huge deal, but you must test fit/re-fit each time to get the PDC holders in snuggly but not too loose. Not sure if you can find a body shop to paint it cheaply, but if you do the math $160 + ~$200-300 for repaint, for that amount, i would rather buy new at the dealer and not have to deal with paint/fitment problems with the used bumper later on.

[rastaFarai]

put a picture up.. I had an issue with the painted part of my bumper.. same thing.. i contacted bmw and it was expensive, and even though the old lady that was at fault was paying, i couldnt see her paying $1500 for the job (replace and paint bumper quote). So i went to a re ally good body shop in LI, and they did it and it looks like new! all the painted parts of the bumper looks brand new. so i guess it depends where your issue is - is it just on the painted bumper? and how deep is the affected area??

[edco]

Originally Posted by rastaFarai

put a picture up.. I had an issue with the painted part of my bumper.. same thing.. i contacted bmw and it was expensive, and even though the old lady that was at fault was paying, i couldnt see her paying $1500 for the job (replace and paint bumper quote). So i went to a re ally good body shop in LI, and they did it and it looks like new! all the painted parts of the bumper looks brand new. so i guess it depends where your issue is - is it just on the painted bumper? and how deep is the affected area??

Thanks for the input. I got home too late to take pix today (man it's getting dark early already !)..but I should be able to do it tomorrow.
Can I ask what it cost you for the repair..? Depending on where it is in long island it might be worth a trip for me from NJ.

Updated 9/16 - Added pix of DS..and noticed for the first time a scratch on the PS..

Thanks
ED

[edco]

Added pix above

[FSETH]

That sucks. You have a few deep grooves there. I would say find a good body shop.

Is that Boston Green? If so, I have that color as well. My wife backed our X5 into a barrel the other day, so I now have the joy of trying to fix a few small surface scratches. Nothing as severe as you have. I am going to try to use a color pen and buff it out.

Good luck.

[mrbmwx5]

Originally Posted by edco

Greetings:





1) Bring it to a shop and have them either find a replacement cover (I have PDC) from a boneyard or repair the one I have.
2) Buy a new one from BMW ($636) and have it primed and painted.
3) Live with it.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Ed in Metuchen, NJ

1) it can just buff it off and repaint it may run some where about $300-$400.
2) no need to buy new one it will cost you total about $ 1100-$1200
3) you can not live with it.

[edco]

Originally Posted by FSETH

That sucks. You have a few deep grooves there. I would say find a good body shop.

Is that Boston Green? If so, I have that color as well. My wife backed our X5 into a barrel the other day, so I now have the joy of trying to fix a few small surface scratches. Nothing as severe as you have. I am going to try to use a color pen and buff it out.

Good luck.

Mine is Huntington Green..and yes it SUX..

[edco]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

1) it can just buff it of and repaint it may run some where about $300-$400.
2) no need to buy new one it will cost you total about $ 1100-$1200
3) you can not live with it.

1) I have tried to buff it out. I have a Porter Cable and compound. The gashes are too deep.

2)I'm trying to find a used bumper cover with the holes for the PDC, so that would keep my costs down

3) You are correct !

[mrbmwx5]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-04...mZ310084039555


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-06...mZ120305715058