CityOfAngels

How much did it cost around? For front end and rear as well.

AKnight55

Ive heard around $2k for just the front..Not sure about the rear

PACougar

I did. If you don't have to pay for installation and you buy everything new after paint your around 2500 for the front.

pearlpower

If you take time, source wisely, it can be done properly for under $1500.00.

Eurohorses

Just completed mine for about 2500. Parktronics had to be custom mounted and was the biggest PITA. Other than that, its not too difficult.

AKnight55

Really? How so

pearlpower

Mine was actually under $1k but I also paid near nothing for my bumper and the paint work myself. If you do most of the work yourself you will save considerably vs having a shop do it even if you just have them paint. Also, check Ebay /Craigslist for used parts such as bumpers which will also save substantially. Otherwise $2k+ is right.

Try these guys, they get them from time to time for a great price.

http://www.bumperwholesale.com/category/amg

PACougar

I'm glad you were able to do it for so cheap, but I think for most people that would be a dream.

E55Dimon

Glad you got the sensors in. Pita eh haha.

My front ran between 2k-2500 and I also saved on everything I could. Small parts add up.

Alps

im still surprised you guys are finding the sensors a PITA, they are really easy, just prise the original sensor brackets off and stick on the new ones part number fyi A1718850014 (x6) and the stock sensor clips right in.

2500 sounds about right to do it properly, all the little bits add up.

tbal

Yup 2-2500 sounds about right

PACougar

That's strange everyone has so much trouble with the parking sensors, I didn't have any problems at all.

AKnight55

If I can do it for under $1,500 I might start looking for the parts.. Where do you find the paint for the bumper??

pearlpower

Also factor in selling your old bumper/parts. I sold mine for $700.00 shipped and it cost me $37.00 to ship the entire thing UPS at a discount.

AKnight55

True.. Do you have any pics of the finished product?? Want to see how it came out in Pewter..

tbal

Are you serious? DIY paint job? Please, if you cant afford to get it professionally painted, dont do it! Its not a civic. If your gonna do something, do it right, or dont do it at all

AKnight55

Where did I ever say that I was going to paint the bumper myself? And thanks for telling me what to do with my car. I'm just wondering where to get the paint to get it done professionally.

pearlpower

Paint can be had a variety of places and in various grades. I like PPG and Chromabase myself. Shops get paint at a discount so you may not save anything by purchasing yourself. I would look elsewhere to save on the project, such as used parts, etc.

AKnight55

So if you just bring in an unpainted bumper the paint shop will be able to just match the color to the car perfectly? I would figure you would need the exact paint form MB or something

pearlpower

Nope, and that is the problem. 99% of the people on this board and in the world are satisfied with subpar paint work, whether orange peel or mismatched color, overspray, scratches, etc. The photos on-line are hardly indicative of the quality or not of the paint. Dark colors being much easier to match vs. metallics such as silver,etc. which take more time. In fact if two painters used the same exact paint from the same can, mixed with same, the job could very well come out differently due to air pressure, flow,angle, distance from surface, speed ,etc.

Figure this, it took me over 10 hours to prep my bumper. Most 'pro' painters would not invest that much time in a customers bumper. Seen many jobs from so called pros, many being rubbish due to increasing bay turns (more cars more customers) I especially love the comments on-line that a shop works on Ferraris, etc....blah blah blah. Seen the crappiest paint jobs on the high end also.

Best method is to really blend into the fenders which will end up costing much more than the $2500 tossed around above and of course every painter has a different opinion.

You play with the mix until you get real close otherwise. It is all technique. I have seen on more than a few occasions people that that used a cheap $40 Harbor Freight gun and sprayed better than someone using a Devilbiss. Takes practice. The really good shops that spend the time to get it right 100% with perfection in mind are not cheap by any measure. Have to balance it all out in the end. I have made many mistakes in my years painting, it just takes a while to pick it up and patience and prep is most of battle.

Pearl paint is the absolute worst-been there also.

tbal

lol, if auto-body shops couldn't perfectly match paint, there would be a crap load of pissed of people around the world, who pride n enjoy could not look like original again. All you need is the paint code, and you are set. In a lot of cases aftermarket paint jobs can look better than the OEM paint work, as oem paint tends to have a lot of orange peal these days, bmws especially.


10 hours, holy crap!

bamaster

I'm not sure about that. On a Torch Red Mustang I used to have they removed my gas tank cover to have it color matched. As I was told, there are a few different shades of red within the same color code. The only way to match the color was to have a sample of the actual car (I didn't leave the Mustang with them to paint the hood/bumper).

It could have been a bunch of malarky about the different shades, dunno. But I thought it came out pretty perfect.

tbal

True sometimes there are different variations. When I had my bumper,
Lip painted there wasn't