A bumper is the part that is attached to your vehicle’s front and rear ends. The purpose of this structure is to reduce car damages in case of a collision. Nonetheless, the extent of the collision determines whether you need to repair or replace the bumper. If, for example, you are involved in a minor accident with minimal damages, a paint touch-up on your bumper would help. However, if the accident is severe, you may be required to replace the whole of it.
What is a Bumper?
A bumper is a protruding feature made from plastic or metal that is found on the front or rear end of a vehicle. It is designed to absorb impact and minimize collision damage in case of an accident.
Most standard bumpers today are embedded with a rigid reinforcing bar beneath the outer cover consisting of plastic or comprehensible foam. In the U.S., a bumper in a passenger vehicle must absorb an impact of 5 mph from another car while ensuring the car body does not get damaged. The plastic or comprehensible foam ensures this is possible.
When Should Your Bumper Get Repaired?
You can choose to repair your car bumper instead of replacing it if;
- The dent is small: If your bumper only has a tiny dent, it is more convenient and cheaper to repair and repaint that it instead of replacing. However, you may require the services of a technician to fix the issue, especially where there is a big dent.
- There is only a tiny crack. A small crack may not affect the ability of your car bumper to absorb shock and reduce collision damage. Therefore, you can choose to repair the affected part.
- You are dealing with a specialty vehicle. It is difficult to find the bumpers of certain cars in the market, for example, if the model is no longer being manufactured or it is an old-generation model. If you own such a vehicle, you may be forced to repair the bumper as opposed to replacing it.
When to Replace Your Bumper
It is recommendable that you replace your bumper if;
- It is dragging or falling off
- It has big cracks or dents in it
- The bumper repair cost is more than the replacement cost
Note: if your car bumper is falling off or has big dents, it may no longer be effective in ensuring the safety of your car. Hence, it would be best if you replaced it as soon as possible to ensure your vehicle does not suffer massive damages in case of an accident. A new bumper also makes your vehicle appear more attractive.
The Process of Car Bumper Replacement
If you need to replace your car bumper, you can seek the services of a mechanic or visit an auto body shop. If you own a luxury vehicle brand, such as Mercedes or Audi, it is recommendable that you visit an authorized service center, so that your car can receive specialized treatment.
Unless you have the skills and expertise, it is not advisable to do car bumper repair and replacement by yourself. This is because most vehicles, especially the luxury brands, have their bumpers interconnected with the lights, sensors, and airbags, among others. Hence, if you don’t do the repairs or replacement correctly, you may end up interfering with the vehicle’s other functionalities.
Steps Followed during Bumper Replacement
Here are the steps followed by a technician when repairing or replacing your bumper;
- The technician assesses the bumper and all the integrated components to ascertain the level of damage
- They determine what needs to be done
- They remove the bumper
- They remove any cracks, dent, or scratches in your bumper
- They apply specialized tools in smoothening the affected part
- They repaint the repaired part
- If you need your bumper replaced, they will remove the old one and fasten a new one.
Bumper Replacement Cost
Typically, the cost of a bumper lies between $880 and $1390. However, the price you incur is dependent on your model type and the amount of time and labor involved in the replacement process. In most cases, the front bumpers tend to be a bit more expensive than the rear bumpers, although this also varies with different manufacturers.
Why are Bumper Replacement and Bumper Repair Costs so High?
What many people don’t understand is that a bumper is an essential component of your car. In case of an accident, this is the part that could prevent you from incurring high costs on damages. For this reason, repairing or replacing this part tends to be quite pricey.
Again, bumper replacement or repair is a complex process that requires the services of an automotive technician. Remember, the bumper is connected to other parts such as the lights, sensors, and airbags. Hence, the technician is forced to assess all these parts when repairing or replacing a bumper. This requires time, skill, and expertise, thus the high prices.
Cracked Bumper Repair Cost
Cracks are minor splits or fractures in the bumper. In most cases, they occur on a car’s front part after a collision. The good thing is that these cracks can be fixed by applying plastic filler in the affected part and sanding the material to turn the surface smooth again. After that, wait until the filler dries, and paint the whole section into its original color.
Due to the time, labor, and materials involved, cracked bumper repair costs revolve around $325-$425.
Other Bumper Repair Costs
Apart from cracked bumper repair costs, you may also incur charges from the following problems:
- Scratches. This is where the bumper is scratched or scraped. The repairs cost around $250 to $350.
- Holes or Punctures. Repairing holes or punctures will cost you around $325 to $425 depending on the extent of the damage.
- PDR. This means paintless dent repair, and it involves a technician using special tools to remove a dent and reinstate a bumper to its former state. This kind of repair will cost you around $250 to $350.
The Takeaway
A bumper is one of the essential components of your car. In case of an accident, this is one of the parts that ensure your car’s safety, thus saving you severe collision damages. If you are involved in an accident, and your bumper is damaged, you can either have it repaired or replaced. However, it is advisable that you consult a professional technician to assess the extent of the damage and advise you on the right step of action.