I ran up on the curb in my BRAND NEW 328i. I got it Saturday. I manage to do something stupid like this with every new car. I just drove too far into a parking spot. You can't see it, but I scraped up the underside of the front bumper. I'm not quite used to the length of the hood, I guess.

Even though I can't see it, it still sucks. Is there anything I should do to provent further damage (paint chip, rust, etc)?

-Tom

I would trade it in for a new one. Immediately.

Actually, I wouldn't worry about it unless you have fluids or something else hanging from the front end.

Nah... it's fairly minor. It's just some scratches. You can only tell if you you run your hands over it. It's just that "first scratch" dissapointment

That sucks, I've parked far away from curbs for a long time. Having low cars means you don't use curbs as parking brakes!

Nah... it's fairly minor. It's just some scratches. You can only tell if you you run your hands over it. It's just that "first scratch" dissapointment

Hello "tlester":

Did the same thing with the 335 about the second day. I would never admit it though.

look at it this way, if the damage isnt visible at least you have "christened" it and wont be treating it like your driving some peice of glass sculpture trying not to smash it 24/7. I think I read somewhere that this guy used to smack his new cars with a hammer when he brought them home to get past treating it like it was some priceless artifact. Cars wear over time, eventually that car of yours will be fed into a crusher and chopped into a zilion peices so dont worry about it - I say all this with one caveat - it isnt my car, if it was I would be punching myself in the face and screaming MF'er over and over again, but thats just me. Your mileage may vary.

I get pissed over bug splats. Area where I live and work is undergoing alot of development. Never seems to be enough malls and subdivisions in the world. My problem is all the gravel trucks, demolition debris, and mulch flying all over the place. Suppose to be state laws requiring cover on trucks. However, never seen truck pulled over by police, just the poor guys trying to get around the damn things without loosing a windshield or paint job.

I get pissed over bug splats. Area where I live and work is undergoing alot of development. Never seems to be enough malls and subdivisions in the world. My problem is all the gravel trucks, demolition debris, and mulch flying all over the place. Suppose to be state laws requiring cover on trucks. However, never seen truck pulled over by police, just the poor guys trying to get around the damn things without loosing a windshield or paint job.

Clear bra the bumper only!

Clear bra the bumper only!
Why bumper only? Been thinking about it. Friend at work had a bad experience with his 350Z with "professional" application so I am a little reluctant.

Why bumper only? Been thinking about it. Friend at work had a bad experience with his 350Z with "professional" application so I am a little reluctant.

It's a personal preference of mine. I had a Z and didn't do it when I got it. The bumper was ruined in 3,000 miles. My thought back then was I could get a new bumper painted for the price of the CB...I got a new bumper and paint match was an issue, and I still didn't have a bra.

The reason why I say bumper only is for two reasons.

1. I hate to see odd lines across parts that don't have them. The material will discolor, despite what they claim.

2. The texture difference from a plastic to metal is too much. Sort of along the lines of my first reason, but on the bumper it's plastic and the paint has a slight different look on that, the kit covers it pretty well so you can't see the difference. On the hood it's metal, the material will not only have a line across the hood, but it will also have a texture change.

Add in that most chips are on the frontal area, it's a lot of money for worse looks and little protection. To me having it on the bumper is worth it (I paid $350) but the rest isn't.

Great info. How do you keep the head light covers from getting crazed?

Great info. How do you keep the head light covers from getting crazed?


I think you can add headlight protection for $50, although newer plastics seem to hold up well.

Thanks. RSX-S I owned recently, headlight covers held up pretty well. I have owned other cars that looked like the covers were in a fog.

I once jumped over a curb in a parking garage, the garage was nearly empty, I was going around a 180 deg turn and for some reason the first stall had a concrete curb along the outer side instead of just painted markers. Didn't see it and hopped right over. Reminded me why I lease :D

2nd day I was driving through Palm Springs and I encountered a sand storm. I heard the sand hitting the car. I thought that when I got out and checked the car the paint would be falling off. To my suprise, no damage. Only that there was a bunch of sand in the engine compartment. Easy fix. After 3100 miles, I still (knock on wood) have not had a "curb" incident. Still drive it like its glass though, but at 100 mph.

My 1st was a week or so in with a curb in a dark lit soccer field parking lot. Also managed to scrape the bottom on a friend's inclined driveway while backing up as slow as I can. I guess I have to get used to the fact it is lower than my ti sport. Btw, both are small scratches and are not visible, but yeah I know they are there, however you learn to accept that such things will happen and get on with it, life is too short to worry about scratches and scrapes.

I had no idea E90s were considered low? I take mine over curbs all the time if I don't feel like backing up to do a u turn, in fact I just did it when I dropped my friend off at his house.

Hahaha...that hammer story is ridiculously funny. I haven't laughed out loud in a while but the image of a guy with crazy eyes taking a hammer to a brand new 335i was a little too much. Hahaha...and somehow it all makes sense.

I usually don't mind if I scratch the underside of my bumper. That happens and at least you can't see it. What would suck (and why I avoid curbs) is if you drive over the curb and it lifts your bumper off.

What kills me is when I take a turn and a curb scratches my rim. Pretty much ruins my day if that happens...should be real fun with these low-profile tires.

You might want to have the car looked at. Some of the people who come in for a scratched bumper or damaged rocker panels end up having damaged subframes.

Nah.... there's no subframe damage. I barely hit it. I was only going like 0.5 mph. I was pulling into a parking space. Another 2 mm and it would have cleared the curb.