Every experienced driver agrees that the bumper in a vehicle is one of the most vulnerable places. In fact, the bumper is just designed to take a hit, protecting the metal body from serious damage.
Very often, in minor accidents, the bumper acts as a shock-absorbing element that does not aggravate the consequences of the situation and increase the damage from the accident. However, having taken the blow, it is deformed and scratched, and chips and cracks appear on it. If you are sure that you will not sell the car and you do not need a total loss car value calculator after an accident, then you should think about what is better: repair the bumper or install a new one.
Bumper repair or replacement? Opinion of automakers
According to the current recommendations of companies involved in the development and production of plastic parts for cars, with a certain level of damage to a plastic bumper, it is permissible to repair it.
It is noteworthy that large-scale studies were even carried out in this regard, which showed that competently carried out work using certified technologies and high-quality materials guarantees a full restoration of the structure, while the driver can significantly save on the purchase of a new product.
In addition, according to statistics, very often in minor accidents, fastening grooves that are inserted into the bracket suffer. With special equipment, such plastic elements are very easy to restore. Such a restoration will not cost too much, while the design itself, in terms of its technical characteristics, will not be inferior to the new bumper.
In addition, breakdowns in the form of individual chips and cracks are not uncommon. You should not worry about whether it is possible to restore the part without having a similar plastic, which is especially worrisome for owners of expensive foreign cars. If you contact qualified specialists who are familiar with all the current technologies for working with plastic, you can be sure that they will quickly test and determine the specific type of material, as well as select consumables that will match the original in terms of their operational and technical characteristics.
Features of bumper repair
There are several modern methods of bumper repair. Let’s consider them.
- Bumper soldering.
In fact, there are several technologies for working with automotive plastics. Soldering is the traditional method. In this case, any dents, as well as deformation, can be restored by heating the plastic material. Moreover, in this case, the qualification of a specialist is extremely important, because inept actions can lead to even greater deformation of the plastic or loss of technical characteristics.
- Bumper bonding.
In some cases, bonding technology is relevant. This method is suitable in situations where there is a crack on the bumper, but all its parts remain in place after damage. It is noteworthy that bonding is the only acceptable way to restore thermoset plastic, which must not be heated.
- Bumper lamination.
Lamination is most often used if significant fragments of a plastic product have been lost or completely destroyed. The simplest type of restoration is the restoration of the paintwork. Professional technology can help restore the appearance of the bumper to perfect condition.
This procedure is recommended to be carried out on a regular basis in order to maintain the aesthetic characteristics of the bumper of a particular vehicle at a high level while remaining confident that in the event of an accident, the bumper will fully cope with its original function.
- Bumper repair with fiberglass.
Also in practice, specialists can apply the so-called gluing procedure using fiberglass and epoxy glue. In this case, it is possible to quickly and almost imperceptibly restore the external and technical characteristics of the part. Reinforced soldering is designed to eliminate serious holes that violate the overall geometry of the bumper. Double-sided soldering and special staples or a metal mesh are used as reinforcing products.
When is bumper replacement the best solution?
If the damage is minor, in any case, it is more advisable to repair the deformations on the bumper resulting from an accident. If the shock-absorbing elements had to take on most of the damage, then it would be more profitable to actually purchase a used or new part for a particular model. In addition, the reason to replace the bumper is the lack of highly qualified automotive plastic repair specialists. If you doubt the skills and abilities of the masters, it is better not to spend money on repairs, especially if there is no guarantee for the services performed. Moreover, if other elements of the car were also damaged when hitting the bumper, then you should use the total loss car value calculator and possibly sell the damaged car.
What is the cost of bumper repair?
Experienced specialists always tell the cost of plastic bumper restoration in advance. If the masters offer the calculation of the final price only after the work has been completed, there is every reason to doubt their qualifications. At the same time, the cost itself depends on several factors, including the nature of the damage to the bumper, the extent of the damage, the material from which the part is made, the urgency of the work, as well as the model of a particular vehicle.
Practice shows that the most common types of bumper repairs are repainting and polishing, applying a protective layer, replacing or restoring brackets and fasteners of any type, as well as eliminating through damage.
Each type of repair work necessarily implies the final stage in the form of painting the element. Depending on the scale of damage and the work performed, spot or partial paint coverage is acceptable. If most of the bumper has been repaired, as a rule, experts recommend using a full painting.
Summary
The bumper during the operation of the car takes on all the bumps and collisions. If you plan to sell the car, be sure to put it in order. The appearance of the car will change, and it will be possible to sell it faster and more expensively. However, you can sell the car without repair, in any condition. JunkCarsUs is is a reliable buyer of junk cars, so if the repair of your car is expensive, then it makes sense to sell the car.
