Front Bumper question for anyone familiar with body work

[STLsport]

If the bottom of one of the pillars on the lower grill gets detached from the base, is there anything that can be done to reattach it?

Hardly worth the cost of a new bumper, but still an annoying defect.

Any suggestions?

 

[diskfunktional]

There is such a thing as "Plastic welding". I've only seen it successful a handful of times but in your case shouldn't be a problem. Just ask your body shop guy about it. Its obviously going to take some sanding and painting to fix the "defect" though.

 

[k9t8m]

Your 2 options are:

1. plastic weld it
2. use a 2 part epoxy and "glue" it

either way, Id really have to see it to recommend which is best, but you may be able to do either of the above repairs to the back side to avoid painting.

 

[STLsport]

I'll go get some pics real quick and get back to you guys

 

[diskfunktional]

Your 2 options are:

1. plastic weld it
2. use a 2 part epoxy and "glue" it

either way, Id really have to see it to recommend which is best, but you may be able to do either of the above repairs to the back side to avoid painting.

Good advice right there.

 

[STLsport]

Here's some pics to give you a better idea...



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[diskfunktional]

I say repair it, (best method possible) and paint the lower grille black. I wish I could find a good picture of Pektels car from recent but he did that mod and it looks great.

Edit found the picture

 

[LDM]

Looks like your far upper left part of that lower grille is coming loose too.
Repair with best method, then touch up with color match paint pen/brush from dealer.

 

[STLsport]

Looks like your far upper left part of that lower grille is coming loose too.
Repair with best method, then touch up with color match paint pen/brush from dealer.

I really should've had an estimate before replacing the $55.00 engine splash shield.

The lower black plastic trim under the bumper is $88.00, so that's $143.

Sounds like this could be getting close to my $500 deductible. Got $357 to go before surpassing that price. Surely the repair discussed in this thread won't cost any thing near that, would it? I could get a new bumper for that price.

 

[k9t8m]

anytime you can avoid turning a claim into your insurance company I would recommend it. If you can do they repairs yourself I bet you can do it for less than $20 if you epoxy it, and less than $100 if you plastic weld it, and that's including the plastic welder.

I like the painted black idea. That would save you a lot of time, hide the imperfections if you had any after the repair and give you a custom look.

If you dont feel comfortable doing the repair yourself then I would probably turn it into your insurance because if you take it to a body shop to have faxed. it will most likely still be over your $500 deductible but like I said try not to turn it into insurance.

If you have more than 1 claim in a year your rates could go up, or they could drop you if you got into another accident.

Just something to think about.

 

[RichieboyLS]

Maybe get a flat piece of metal that's narrower than the pillar and epoxy that behind where it's broken so this way you don't have to worry about glue running in between where it's severed.

 

[STLsport]

I did some reading on epoxy and I think that's probably the route I'm gonna take.

As far as painting it black... I'm trying to picture it in my head and I can see it looking really good or really bad. I'd have to see a picture.

 

[diskfunktional]

pektel's car with the lower grille painted..looks awesome if I had the standard front bumper I'd do it too