Rear-ended. Bondo or replace?

[kevincao]

Hey guys, other day someone rear-ended me, their insurance company came by to take a look at the damage a few days ago, haven't gave me an estimate just yet (the driver of the other car isn't answering the company's calls). I was thinking about saving some of that insurance money, how ever much it may be, for college; bondo the damage and get my painter to paint it for a good price. The bumper, install, and paint will probably run: $400(sh included), $200 paint, I was just wondering if the damage is too large to actually even attempt to bondo. What do you guys suggest? Possible?

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6263/dcp00442oc.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2028/dcp00456vr.jpg

[Ritz S14]

It is fixable, but probably would cost more to rerpair than replace it.

Takes more than just bondo to repair fiberglass. You need to sand it down, reinforce the back with fiberglass. Then you fill in the crack with lightweight bondo filler.

[kevincao]

What would I reinforce with? I was thinking small 5x.5 thins of metal to level out the bumper, the vertical part of the bumper is just scratched and can be easily filled. The top (horizontal) area is actually cracked and thats where I was planning to mount the 2-4 thin metal bars underneath.

[Ritz S14]

You fix fiberglass with fiberglass and resin.

[sncs14]

^ditto. or replace it

[Hitawall]

buy some resin and sand it down yourself then see if you can get a peice sheetmetal screwed into it on each end of your patch and give it a quick fix yourself then if needbe tell an autobody friend to do some finishing . i fixed one at work and the patched part is stronger than the bumper , or a local stereo installer that messes with glass can get it fixed fast and easy . and if you try to match the paint you should be good as fixed for next to nothing but you probaly already knew anything i told you , good luck it should be easy . i like the coupes so make sure you get it blinggin

[infinitexsound]

id just replace it, labor and material cost would be more then just gettin a new bumper and having it painted

[sw20>>s14]

why would you shell out money to replace a 100% repairable, 100% functional bumper? what, youre gonna replace it and sell the "unsalvageable" one for a fraction of what you paid for both old and new? the way i see it is all you have to pay for is materials if you decide to repair:

-resin=$13.97
-fiberglass mat=$5.97
-bondo body filler=$7.00
-sandpaper=$8.00
-paint for your bumper=$200

or would you rather shell out:

-bumper w/ shipping and labor=$400
-paint for your bumper=$200
-money you lose selling or junking your cracked bumper=$???

plus, its fuckin' cake man...its rediculously easy...i just repaired a fiberglass front thrashed to hell and fiberglass sides that were split down the middle...fuckin' cake...here are some helpful links...i highly recommend you do it yourself...

http://www.dimnation.net/fiberglass.html

http://fiberglassforum.com/index.php?sid=6e5d02cad2498cae4e24d18f782e1b3c

[Hitawall]

Never replace it unless its gone!throwing money out sucks . cars chillin with the crack - its character on a s13 , atleast that what i say when i have a banged up peice . make up an ill story like you were on the show cops with lapd gunning for you and spun into a gaurdrail while while busting a 180 to go the wrong way up the expssway . lol , just play'n !

[nigel1]

thats soooooo easy to fix. just go get the things listed above and aly about two or three layers of fiberglass behind the bumper, just make sure you re-mesh the cracks so there are no gaps. lay the glass block it down, bondo, block again, then use filler putty to fill any pinholes or things you missed, spot prime, guidecoat, wetsand, take to the painter. itll take you a day to fix.

yes that was one big sentence.

[mr_240sx]

if it was my car, id buy a new bumper.... but then again its your car

[JDMvelocity]

ziptie it and keep on driving till the bumper is to pieces

[Irukandji]

^i was going to suggest the zipties. If your car sees a lot of track time, I'd just ziptie it for now, maybe use some touch up paint to paint the cracks.

save the $400 and get some multilink suspension parts. yay!

[RSP13-Sideways]

The fix is super easy, why the hell would you buy another bumper? Save yourself the money and just repair it. Get fiberglass and resin at your local ACE hardware or even Kragen/Autozone have those fiberglass repair kits.

Lay some fiberglass on the backside and lay some resin with it. On the front side, sand it all down. Lay some bondo where it got hit, re-sand it flat and bingo, bango you're done with the repair.

[Jung918]

http://www.stickergiant.com/Merchant2/imgs/250/b5780.gif

put this sticker on it

[SochBAT]

Or just call over some buddies and fix it with each other.

http://www.6park.com/enter7/messages/gvk21098.html

I thought that was fuggin awesome.

[infinitexsound]

if it was my car, id buy a new bumper.... but then again its your car
only true ppl who know about autobody would do that.... and im one...

[kevincao]

What can it hurt to try to do the repair myself, if it turns out looking like mess than get a new bumper with the insurance money. Won't regret that I didn't even try.

[HyperTek]

fiberglass it from behind, *super easy* then lay bondoglass on the surface and sand it down, then fill in with body filler.. done and done. =D . Its easy just time consuming.

[mrmephistopheles]

ziptie ftw.

[m0rex]

only true ppl who know about autobody would do that.... and im one...


Why? I dont understand. Everyone uses bondo.

Just fix it man. Save up that money until the bumper is on its last leg.

[sideview_180sx]

fiberglass it from behind, *super easy* then lay bondoglass on the surface and sand it down, then fill in with body filler.. done and done. =D . Its easy just time consuming.

This is done from well known experience ........ a car consistenting of 60% metal 40% bondo and fiberglass repaired aero and holes, just needs paint

[mr_240sx]

only true ppl who know about autobody would do that.... and im one...

im not sure if your being serious or sarcastic.... but i work in a collision repair shop, and all i know is, it takes quite a bit of time repair a crack that looks so minimal. so if you have the time then sure, go ahead and fix it, but if time is tight, then just get a new bumper

[infinitexsound]

ive use to work at a bodyshop... im serious... about not doing the work... i could do it by far.. but id rather just not and buy a new one... but if times are tough then i have the extra materials to fix it... in Ex. if i was him..

[p11driver]

this is what black duct tape is for!!!

[infinitexsound]

this is what black duct tape is for!!!
aka racer tape....

[kevincao]

Just blew one of my tires out the other day. Had to get a new tire, that cut away from some of the insurance company. I think I will try to fix it up and see if it looks at least decent. The way I look at it is my 240 is there to be driven, not babied (well not too much anyways). If worst comes to WORST than I'll save up and get a new bumper.