Leenseen

Wife took the car out to get the dog... Backed into a power pole.

Need a new bumper... Any suggestions?

Also it let all this brow residue which I can't get off... Anyone!?

Convergence

based on the pic, you may not need a new bumper. do a google search on bumper repair in your area. there are some shops that do great repairs w/out having to replace the bumper.

btw...i do feel your pain. hope you get if fixed soon, i'm sure it's bugging the hell out of you.

bigigg

from what I can see.. looks like you'll just need it repainted

JohnnyUte

Suggestions? Get a new wife.

I'd check with your insurance to see if that's something they might cover, but try something like Goo-Gone (make sure it's safe for car paint) to help cut through the grease and tar. Once you clean it, it may just need to be polished.

Matsui03

Ouch. That sucks.

Convergence

I don't think that'll help either. I think wives are universally the same. My wife has gone through two MLs and has either managed to shut the garage door while the back lift was up or scratch up the front bumper while parking into the garage or trying to squeeze through and scratch the side from a chain link fence. Fortunately, no other cars were involved.

Btw, with the addition of our third baby, she wanted sliding doors so we recently got a new Sienna Limited. And guess what...garage door while the back lift was up! But I still love her!

Riviera

A few years ago my wife has ruined her whole car from right rear door to the rear bumper, door handle broken etc..., while parking into the garage "i heard a little noise i thought it was on the radio...", well...

The day before giving back the old car to the dealer to get a new one, she scratched the front bumper... mkay...

2 month ago while parking her 1 year old car, she touched a pole while parking, the car has both radar and camera... "i don't like the rearview camera so i don't look at it" , minor scratch, thus the bumper will stay like that until the next dent...

Fortunately she's not using my car

elmariachi304

Hahah was gonna tell you to replace the wife instead of the bumper but Johnny beat me to it

moegunz

1) GET IT BUFFED OUT....COST LIKE $30 AT A DETAIL SHOP

2)RE-UPLOAD PICS AND I WILL EVALUATE....YOU DO NOT NEED A NEW BUMPER...

Nanook

That mostly appears a a creosote deposit that should be easily removed with a petroleum based solvent..even WD40..if the bumber cover is scratched that ay remain but it will look 90% better...try it

Leenseen

Thanks for the responses (and sympathetic ears)...

There are a few scraps on her R350 but generally she's good although I don't let her park in the garage!

I got the WD40 out tonight and with a bit of elbow grease removed 90% of the gunk... Still needs some more work but tons better thanks!

There are definitely a few cracks in the bumper which I'll upload tomorrow when the light is better...

I heard a new wife costs you more on the front end and just the same on the back end so I guess I'll stick with what I have!

andrew e coupe

~ the easiest way to remove excess paint on factory paint is with standard finger nail polish remover...

but... pour the product on a microfiber towel and rub lightly - allowing the product to do the work (not elbow grease). acetone and plastics are not the best combination but this works very well and is effective. then polish the bumper with a mild polish such as meguiars.

this is coming from a prior owner of a highline detailing business of 15 plus years.

hope this helps!

Leenseen

Thanks for all the help.

Great advice from Andrew...

This stuff wiped off like butter using nail polish on a microfiber cloth. Here's what it looks like now...

As well as the cracks there are some crease marks which probably don't show up...

JohnnyUte

Yikes. When I hit a raccoon at 70 mph the damage to the bumper didn't look, too bad but there were fold marks on it, as well. I talked to my insurance and they covered it. Would've cost me $1800 if they didn't.

moegunz

leenseen, your gonna needa have that bumper repainted....where do you live?

Leenseen

I'm in Burbank, CA... Looks like I need a new bumper as well right?

Anyone have ideas on cost? Good places to do the repair? And any aftermarket bumper options?

Thnks in advance

rediesel

That may be repairable for a couple hundred, but likely you need a new bumper. I'm not an auto body pro, but I'd guess about a $1200 for a new bumper (maybe more if they want to "blend" the new bumper paint with the adjacent rear 1/4 panels.) Depending on your estimate if you pay out of pocket rather than claim insurance you might save more than the repair by keeping your carfax clean, and avoiding a claim.