02 Bumper Repair

[jlavarro]

Hello all,

I've been reading here for about 5 months and have learned a lot. This is my first post and don't know what I'm doing.

2 days ago, something (car/suv with a trailer hitch or something) backed into the front bumper of my 02 Boxster, just above the license plate. The mark is about 2 inches wide and 4 inches long and rectangular and left about a 1/2 inch depression (dent).

I don't know anything about anything so please bear with me. Can this be fixed? Is it plastic or fiberglass? Do I have to replace the whole bumper cover?

I love my car so much and it hurts me to see this damage. I literally squint every time I look at it, so as not to look at the whole ugliness. Any help? suggestions? recommendations? where to send it? Any idea how much it will cost?

I don't know what to do, and out of desperation, decided to post this PLEA here. Everyone here seems knowledgeable and helpful so, here it is.

aaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!

I live in New York City area, but also have access to the surrounding area, NJ and thereabouts.

Please help. I am not even sure how to see if any, responses to this post, so if there is anyone nice enough to help or suggest, you can also e-mail me at.... email-jr@hotmail.com

Thanks

J.R.

:(

Edited September 25, 2007 by jlavarro

[ADias]

Find a body shop with experience working with Porsches. The bumper can be refinished or replaced. Either way it will cost about $1000. Your insurance comprehensive should pay a good chunk of that.

[jlavarro]

Find a body shop with experience working with Porsches. The bumper can be refinished or replaced. Either way it will cost about $1000. Your insurance comprehensive should pay a good chunk of that.

Thanks for the reply, its my first ever. Now I guess it "can" be repaired/refinished. Now it's just a matter of finding an experienced (Porsche) body shop in my area. If anyone is from the NYC area and can recommend one, that would be great. Also, about the insurance part, long story but it's not covered... so it's all CASH for this repair. Thanks for the reply though, I hope I get more suggestions or responses. It's appreciated for a first-timer. JR

[1schoir]

Hello all,

I've been reading here for about 5 months and have learned a lot. This is my first post and don't know what I'm doing.

2 days ago, something (car/suv with a trailer hitch or something) backed into the front bumper of my 02 Boxster, just above the license plate. The mark is about 2 inches wide and 4 inches long and rectangular and left about a 1/2 inch depression (dent).

I don't know anything about anything so please bear with me. Can this be fixed? Is it plastic or fiberglass? Do I have to replace the whole bumper cover?

I love my car so much and it hurts me to see this damage. I literally squint every time I look at it, so as not to look at the whole ugliness. Any help? suggestions? recommendations? where to send it? Any idea how much it will cost?

I don't know what to do, and out of desperation, decided to post this PLEA here. Everyone here seems knowledgeable and helpful so, here it is.

aaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!

I live in New York City area, but also have access to the surrounding area, NJ and thereabouts.

Please help. I am not even sure how to see if any, responses to this post, so if there is anyone nice enough to help or suggest, you can also e-mail me at.... email-jr@hotmail.com

Thanks

J.R.

:(

J.R.:

In many cases, the type of damage that you describe can be repaired without a complete bumper cover replacement. The bumper cover is not made of fiberglass. Fiberglass does not dent, it cracks.

Any competent body shop could handle this job, as there is no specific Porsche cars knowledge required for this kind of repair. The most critical parts are that the color match be done properly (and the most demanding test of this is by looking at the repair under fluorescent lights after you have inspected it in bright sunlight, from different angles) and to insure that high quality base coat and clear coats are used with sufficient (no skimping) amounts of flex agent mixed in so that you don't end up with a paint job that is inflexible and will thus crack easily.

Remember, the bumper cover is flexible and the paint must flex along with it, or it will produce cracks or spider web-like concentric circles when pressure is applied.

If you are going through insurance, let your body shop show the damage to the insurance appraiser and let the body shop negotiate for the cost of the repair. Do not do this part yourself.

If you would like the name of a reputable body shop on Long Island (Nassau County) that will guarantee the work, drop me an e-mail and I will supply it to you.

Regards, Maurice.

[jlavarro]

Hello all,

I've been reading here for about 5 months and have learned a lot. This is my first post and don't know what I'm doing.

2 days ago, something (car/suv with a trailer hitch or something) backed into the front bumper of my 02 Boxster, just above the license plate. The mark is about 2 inches wide and 4 inches long and rectangular and left about a 1/2 inch depression (dent).

I don't know anything about anything so please bear with me. Can this be fixed? Is it plastic or fiberglass? Do I have to replace the whole bumper cover?

I love my car so much and it hurts me to see this damage. I literally squint every time I look at it, so as not to look at the whole ugliness. Any help? suggestions? recommendations? where to send it? Any idea how much it will cost?

I don't know what to do, and out of desperation, decided to post this PLEA here. Everyone here seems knowledgeable and helpful so, here it is.

aaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!

I live in New York City area, but also have access to the surrounding area, NJ and thereabouts.

Please help. I am not even sure how to see if any, responses to this post, so if there is anyone nice enough to help or suggest, you can also e-mail me at.... email-jr@hotmail.com

Thanks

J.R.

:(

J.R.:

In many cases, the type of damage that you describe can be repaired without a complete bumper cover replacement. The bumper cover is not made of fiberglass. Fiberglass does not dent, it cracks.

Any competent body shop could handle this job, as there is no specific Porsche cars knowledge required for this kind of repair. The most critical parts are that the color match be done properly (and the most demanding test of this is by looking at the repair under fluorescent lights after you have inspected it in bright sunlight, from different angles) and to insure that high quality base coat and clear coats are used with sufficient (no skimping) amounts of flex agent mixed in so that you don't end up with a paint job that is inflexible and will thus crack easily.

Remember, the bumper cover is flexible and the paint must flex along with it, or it will produce cracks or spider web-like concentric circles when pressure is applied.

If you are going through insurance, let your body shop show the damage to the insurance appraiser and let the body shop negotiate for the cost of the repair. Do not do this part yourself.

If you would like the name of a reputable body shop on Long Island (Nassau County) that will guarantee the work, drop me an e-mail and I will supply it to you.

Regards, Maurice.

Maurice,

Thanks for your very informative reply to my dilemma. I have e-mailed you to get more information on the Long Island place you recommended. Just wanted to say thanks in forum for taking the time to answer. Best to you. J.R.

[pk2]

Maurice is spot on. Those are just plain old flexible bumpers (poly urethane I think) , cinch to repair. Don't let anybody b.s. you. Ive repaired one of my mine way back. Recently had my current boxter repaired (perfectly fine) ...even with a tear.

PK

Edited September 25, 2007 by pk2

[fastboydave]

Repair definitely. What colour is it?? I had a similar issue with my '02 Box. Mine was "Lapis Blue" and the official Porsche repair centre had loads of probs matching the paint! Apparently 'dark colours' are easy but they had to contact Porsche GB to get "field matched" paint. After a couple of re-try's, they got the paint good enough. So like 1schoir said, check all angles in different types of light. Incidentally, mine showed up in 'sunlight'. It was perfectly fine in 'artificial' light!!

[jlavarro]

Maurice is spot on. Those are just plain old flexible bumpers (poly urethane I think) , cinch to repair. Don't let anybody b.s. you. Ive repaired one of my mine way back. Recently had my current boxter repaired (perfectly fine) ...even with a tear.

PK

PK

Thanks for the reply. I am in touch with Maurice and he is really kind enough to follow through and try to help me out. I've taken pics as he suggested so he can at least assess the damage. Thanks for your feedback it is really appreciated.

[jlavarro]

Repair definitely. What colour is it?? I had a similar issue with my '02 Box. Mine was "Lapis Blue" and the official Porsche repair centre had loads of probs matching the paint! Apparently 'dark colours' are easy but they had to contact Porsche GB to get "field matched" paint. After a couple of re-try's, they got the paint good enough. So like 1schoir said, check all angles in different types of light. Incidentally, mine showed up in 'sunlight'. It was perfectly fine in 'artificial' light!!

Hi fastboydave,

Thanks for your reply and background of your car's issue before. My car is black (exactly which black I don't know). So I assume based on what you said that "dark" colors are easier. I will take yours and 1schoir's advice by checking all angles in different types of light. Thanks again for your feedback. This forum is awesome and everyone seems so well-meaning.