For those familiar with the bay area, CA, I was on 880 southbound. That freeway blows!

I was just going with traffic, out of no where I hear a little dink, sounds like nothing. I get to my destination and come to find out there is a silver dollar size hole in my bumper, right below the foglight!

Just thought I would share my frustration with shitty roads and some possible suggestions to fixing it.

Were they shooting at you or were you just caught in the crossfire?

wow- I wonder what it could have been?

If you end up replacing the front bumper I'd like to have dibs on your old one. Some body places won't fix ABS plastics, some will fix it right up for you.

A good auto body/paint store has plastic repair kits and supplies. It's also possible to repair SOME plastic damage by "welding". Basically you heat the edges of the break or crack with something like a small (25-35 watt) soldering iron to the "soft putty" stage and use the "iron" to meld/mix the edges together. And you need filler rod as well to level the low spots. And often a means of reinforcing the area. I use stainless steel window screen mostly. I've fixed several cracks in my motorcycle fairing and a couple of coolant overflow tanks for friends. And I think there was an ATV fender in there somewhere too. It's very hard to describe but not that difficult to do. Mainly it takes a great deal of PATIENCE and a WELL VENTILATED WORKSPACE!!! You HAVE to know what kind of plastic it is as well.
The auto body/paint stores are a good place to start asking questions. A good store won't even charge for the advice. :-) And find a friendly bodyman and pick his brain. And there is always the internet. Try searching for "plastic welding", "plastic bumper repair", etc. The Eastwood Company (among others) sells plastic "welders" and can give you some guidance. And of course once you get it as good as you can, then comes the flexible body filler, sanding, more filler, sanding, priming, sanding, priming, sanding, and FINALLY you might be ready to shoot the base/clearcoat. That is IF you have a GOOD MASK, a GOOD spray gun, a compressor, regulator, drier, a well ventilated garage, etc. BTW most of todays catalyzed paints contain the some of the same type chemicals that are used in superglue. Make that a REALLY GOOD MASK!

Are you sure you don't want to take it to a bodyshop? :-)

If you don't already have all the necessary tools and supplies to DIY it, they will cost you at LEAST twice as much as a whole NEW bumper cover and paying a shop to paint it.

Were they shooting at you or were you just caught in the crossfire?

I hope it was crossfire, lest you may not see a "repaired" thread from me!


A good auto body/paint store has plastic repair kits and supplies. It's also possible to repair SOME plastic damage by "welding". Basically you heat the edges of the break or crack with something like a small (25-35 watt) soldering iron to the "soft putty" stage and use the "iron" to meld/mix the edges together. And you need filler rod as well to level the low spots. And often a means of reinforcing the area. I use stainless steel window screen mostly. I've fixed several cracks in my motorcycle fairing and a couple of coolant overflow tanks for friends. And I think there was an ATV fender in there somewhere too. It's very hard to describe but not that difficult to do. Mainly it takes a great deal of PATIENCE and a WELL VENTILATED WORKSPACE!!! You HAVE to know what kind of plastic it is as well.
The auto body/paint stores are a good place to start asking questions. A good store won't even charge for the advice. :-) And find a friendly bodyman and pick his brain. And there is always the internet. Try searching for "plastic welding", "plastic bumper repair", etc. The Eastwood Company (among others) sells plastic "welders" and can give you some guidance. And of course once you get it as good as you can, then comes the flexible body filler, sanding, more filler, sanding, priming, sanding, priming, sanding, and FINALLY you might be ready to shoot the base/clearcoat. That is IF you have a GOOD MASK, a GOOD spray gun, a compressor, regulator, drier, a well ventilated garage, etc. BTW most of todays catalyzed paints contain the some of the same type chemicals that are used in superglue. Make that a REALLY GOOD MASK!

Are you sure you don't want to take it to a bodyshop? :-)

If you don't already have all the necessary tools and supplies to DIY it, they will cost you at LEAST twice as much as a whole NEW bumper cover and paying a shop to paint it.


Thanks for the advice, I will definately be taking it to a body shop. It's a little out of my scope of experience.

In the event I do replace the cover, where's the best place to find one and how much would it be?

if you do need a new one check the group buy section of this board, theres usually a bumper buy happening.

There's a hole in the bucket...Eliza Eliza....

=)

that really sucks, sorry to hear that.

hopefully a hole isn't as bad as a long crack to repair. maybe you can use the same technique as repairing drywall with the string and folded up cardboard plus spackle (or whatever version is appropriate for ABS plastic)!

and WHERE did you get your M Parallels?!!!

i might want to pick up a set!