Earlier this week, I was an idiot backing up my RX350 into the parking space at HEB, managing to scratch the right corner of the bumper against the big concrete base of one of the light poles. Initially it looks real nasty with the yellow paint stuck to it. Took it to dealer for an estimate and got a quote of $1306. Took it to a local independent body shop (Santa Ana), they cleaned off the yellow paint and quoted me $893. Take a look at the pics and tell me what you think cost-wise. Thanks.

ETA: It doesn't have any big nasty dent and doesn't look so bad, now, especially with the yellow paint off. If it were cheaper, I might consider it, but at $900, I'm mulling just to leave the thing as is.

The scratch on top looks pretty deep, not sure what they use for filler on plastic bumpers, I know the paint needs some flex additive.
Between the repair time and paint cost , that price doesn't surprise me.

quote:

Originally posted by rizzle:
The scratch on top looks pretty deep...

Yes, that's the only spot with that little pointed dent. But the rest is ok.

quote:

repair time

Dealer's labor quote = $80 - $170/hr
Santa Ana's labor quote = $65/hr across the board

Did they break the estimate down with labor and materials? , or just lump sum price it. The bumper may be removed to do it, not a big deal but adds to the labor. They may have to reinforce the repair from the back side.

If you are up for a little DIY, check pricing on painted bumper replacement. My IT guy did same as you (twice), bought one on eBay for $300 and installed in a couple hours. Came in a box folded up with instructions to rest in sun for a few hours before installing.

We were skeptical, but it looked perfect.

Correction - Amazon
link

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Georgeair,

I might look for a whole used bumper in a junkyard and just replace it, then sell the old one on CL. I can't tell from the photos, but unless the car is in like-new condition and still under factory warranty, I'd not even think of paying a dealer for any body work.

Edit. Beat me to it.

If you are up for a little weekend repair work, or evening, order up the DR Colorchip kit with the paint for your vehicle.

Link

There are a few different kits, you'll want to pick the one for your situation.

And with a few hours going down the utoob rabbit hole on vehicle scratch repairs, you'll probably find one that fits and can show you the way...

You can also get a scratch repair kit from Meguiars and see how much of the scratches will come out before doing any DIY Dr Colorchip repairs. Link

In the old days we'd grab some Turtle Wax Rubbing or polishing compound. There are plenty of these on the market, Chemical Guys Clear Cut Compound, Mequiars Diamond Cut, you can get at any Autozone, Advance, PepBoys, Amazon.


Think I'd go at the area with a compound or scratch kit as listed above and see what you can get off. Once you get to the point where that doesn't help, DrColorchip or a auto body shop...

Or you could get a good detail shop in the area to look at it and see what they can do....

I think you are looking at an hour to take the cover off, removing the sensors, and reflectors. Another hour to reverse that. Three hours of repair and paint, plus materials.

Does your vehicle have Blind Spot Detection? If yes, The Blind Spot Radar sits directly behind the damaged area shown in your picture. No filler material is to be used to fill any deep scratches or gouges as the difference in material composition can cause false or constant detection when no vehicle is actually in your blind spot. Also the Radar could have been knocked out of alignment causing improper detection which would require a radar installation angle check followed by a radar calibration for the proper repair.

If no Blind Spot Detection, then repair away however way you want without worry.

quote:

Originally posted by Black Pepper:
Does your vehicle have Blind Spot Detection? If yes, The Blind Spot Radar sits directly behind the damaged area shown in your picture. No filler material is to be used to fill any deep scratches or gouges as the difference in material composition can cause false or constant detection when no vehicle is actually in your blind spot. Also the Radar could have been knocked out of alignment causing improper detection which would require a radar installation angle check followed by a radar calibration for the proper repair.

If no Blind Spot Detection, then repair away however way you want without worry.

Obviously no blind spot detection or he wouldn't have hit the damn light pole!!

I hit an empty 5gal bucket at 80mph on I40 about 7 years ago. Nissan Altima, it cost me $1000 for removal, new bumper, install, paint. Took 2 days for the shop.

Seems about right if they are gonna replace it, if it’s just a sanding, heat gun and maybe a little plastic filler then a repaint, it sounds like 6hrs of work and you’d need to do the math.

Then about six months later I whacked a HUGE raccoon in the same car and had to do it again. Same price.

Blind spot is for detecting vehicles in your blind spot as you are traveling forward down the highway. It would be the small circular ultrasonic sensor that is located just above the reflector in the picture that detects stationary objects in its detection range.

I feel your pain. My wife's car had a couple of scrapes down to the plastic and a crease on it, plastic bumper cover, of which it was cheaper to buy the new part and then have it painted by a company I noted online- Painted OEM parts and it is going to cost $650 for this stupid panel. The part itself is $200 and no painter in my area worth a darn, can paint it for less than $500.

Here are the breakdowns from dealer and from the independent shop. It's repair and paint, not a replacement.

Dang, if you were in Georgia, I could fix that for you.

Cost is about in line with the economy right now, 7 years ago probably 1/2 that. Pretty close between the dealer and indy shop, so it can't be too far off.

If I lived in Houston I wouldn’t repair that. Some jackass would just hit it again, shortly after it was fixed. At least that’s how Houston rolled back in the 1980s. I doubt it has improved since then.

I’d leave it for the price. That price isn’t bad really though.

You may check with a good detail shop, some will do touch ups on rock chips and such. It wouldn’t be full repaint nice but more subdued.

I think both are reasonable prices. I don’t think I could leave that on my car. I would pull the bumper and fill and paint it myself. Fortunately I have some of those skills.

If you’re not up for that I would definitely try a DR color chip. If used it for chips on bumpers and hoods and the final result is pretty darn good imo.

Those labor rates are both $40/ hr below what we pay around here. Expenses can be quite different regionally. Mistakes suck, but no one was hurt and money can fix this issue, while not a win it is far from a tragedy, best to get it fixed and move on. Sorry about your bumper, but as fuck ups go, I have done much worse, and am happy for you. Cheers!