I have unfortunately caused a dent on the front right hand side in the bumper on my 2019 MB E450 wagon. I am trying to determine what is the best path forward from the following options:

1. Do nothing.
2. Go to a body shop and get the insurance to pay for it.
3. Go to a body shop and pay for it out-of-pocket (it was advised but I am not sure what the benefit would be).
4. Try to watch YouTube videos and figure out how to do it myself.

I intend to drive the car for a long time and really hate having this blemish! I would love advise from knowledgeable minds.
Thanks in advance.


Dent on front right

 

Just my $.02:

As you plan to keep your car for a long time, I would have the bumper fixed by a professional body shop. The bumper is not metal and may not be repairable but must be replaced.

I have no idea what this will cost nor your deductible.

I have a $1000 deductible as I do not intend to put a claim through my insurance unless it is significant. If a repair cost less than $2000 I just pay it myself - do not bother with my insurance. Whenever your are at fault and put a claim in this gives the insurance company an excuse to raise you premium.

What I would do is get an estimate and then decide whether it makes sense to put it through your insurance or pay it yourself.

 

Thank you for this very sound advice!

 

If you use insurance, it will show up on a CarFax report as an accident. BTDT

 

I agree, it is a body shop job. But before you do that - you don't have anything to lose by trying to "pop" that dent out with a big pair of pliers. Could pad them with a towel and carefully squeeze from top and bottom to see if it "remembers" what shape it was. If it pops out, you could touch up both spots with factory touch up paint. Won't be perfect but it is low enough on the car that it might pass the "4 foot test." Worst case, you try it and then maybe need it fixed anyway. And as another poster said... could potentially avoid an accident entry on Carfax.

 

Thank you all. I will report back once I make any progress.

 

Take it to a reliable body shop and pay for the repair yourself — unless the cost is very high, which it might be if the shop tells you that the bumper needs to be replaced, in which case you'll need to do the math to determine which is the more expensive option, pay it yourself or submit the claim.

I had a similar scrape on my front bumper, although not as bad as yours, and to my surprise the shop was able to buff it out so the cost was minimal, around $80 if memory serves. If I had initially reported it to my insurance company, I'm pretty sure they would have counted it as a point against me (it was entirely my fault) and could very well have raised my rates. YMMV, of course.

 

Don't leave it

you'll always think about it and it ruins the car for you

fix it and pay out of pocket; life happens and the cost of this is irrelevant to you in the big financial picture; own the car, don't let the own you.

you may consider selling the old bumper cover if it's feasible - someone will be able to fiberglass and bondo rehab that thing -- they do it on YouTube all the time, I am not sure

 

Got this fixed in $250! So happy to get this done with!
Thanks all for the advise above!

 

What route did you go to get it fixed? How does it look? Pics?

 

Good decision, especially since it was only $250. That way it's fixed and you forget about the damage and the $250 you paid.

 

I will post some pics next week. But I am happy with the result!

 

Here you are... this is what it looks like after the repair. It is almost perfect!
I believe they heated the damaged area and pushed it back out before hand-finishing it. Only half of the bumper was repainted.


After repair

 

I hope you tipped the person that repaired that for you. They did a great job

 

Nice job. Looks great!