SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Front Bumper Holes Plugged and Painted???
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Front Bumper Holes Plugged and Painted???
When I ordered my 2007 SL55 AMG, I specifically opted to NOT have the front bumper holes and it was written all over the order. When I received the car last December, there were no holes visible that I noticed. However, a few months after Sam from Premier Protective Films (a sponsor here) installed a polyurethane bra on the car, some kind of "dimples" appeared and it became obvious that there were holes there that were plugged and painted. (The bra made them visible).
I just brought in the car for the 1,000+ mile complimentary service and the service advisor confirmed that there must have been holes there before. I told them to talk to the Salesman - don't know what they're going to do yet.
I looked at new cars in the show room to see what a "virgin" bumper would look like and there are no traces at all on those that don't have the dealer plates yet. (I was thinking that perhaps, new cars get some kind of dimples to mark where the holes are usually drilled for the front license plates). The lady who ordered the car for me remembered the specific instructions.
What would you do? Would you press the dealer to replace the bumper? I don't think I really want them to re-plug and re-paint the bumper, even if they offer that as solution...
I just brought in the car for the 1,000+ mile complimentary service and the service advisor confirmed that there must have been holes there before. I told them to talk to the Salesman - don't know what they're going to do yet.
I looked at new cars in the show room to see what a "virgin" bumper would look like and there are no traces at all on those that don't have the dealer plates yet. (I was thinking that perhaps, new cars get some kind of dimples to mark where the holes are usually drilled for the front license plates). The lady who ordered the car for me remembered the specific instructions.
What would you do? Would you press the dealer to replace the bumper? I don't think I really want them to re-plug and re-paint the bumper, even if they offer that as solution...
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Camarillo CA
2007 SL55-AMG, 2006 Cayenne Turbo S, 1989 560SEC
Front Bumper Holes Plugged and Painted???
Be careful about asking for a new bumper replacement which will arrive in primered condition!
Your dealer's local car painters may be legally EPA-restricted to use water-based paint and will not be able to duplicate the ceramic-type OEM paint that the MBZ factory uses. Application of this paint requires specialized handling and equipment. The original paint applied on 2005-and-on cars is so much more durable and resistant to scratching or chipping.
I know you intend to use a 3M clear bra but that will not cover all frontal surfaces either. Besides, the clear bra will also start to degrade in less than 3 years. That's about how long I've had one on my Titanium color '04 Cayenne Turbo. In the beginning, the clear bra was not noticeable from a distance of over 10 feet but now it has lost a lot of its lustrous surface and turned matt. The difference is quite obvious!
However if you still intend to have the bumper replaced, allow the repainted surfaces to totally outgas and dry up a few weeks before installing the clear bra.
Your dealer's local car painters may be legally EPA-restricted to use water-based paint and will not be able to duplicate the ceramic-type OEM paint that the MBZ factory uses. Application of this paint requires specialized handling and equipment. The original paint applied on 2005-and-on cars is so much more durable and resistant to scratching or chipping.
I know you intend to use a 3M clear bra but that will not cover all frontal surfaces either. Besides, the clear bra will also start to degrade in less than 3 years. That's about how long I've had one on my Titanium color '04 Cayenne Turbo. In the beginning, the clear bra was not noticeable from a distance of over 10 feet but now it has lost a lot of its lustrous surface and turned matt. The difference is quite obvious!
However if you still intend to have the bumper replaced, allow the repainted surfaces to totally outgas and dry up a few weeks before installing the clear bra.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Just as I suspected...
Lesson learned: Dealers are dealers - just nice when you're in the process of buying! Once you're in - you're at their mercy!
