Filling in bumperette holes- some questions
10-02-2003, 10:51 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Filling in bumperette holes- some questions
I have to let the body shop know by tomorrow morning what all I am going to paint. The RS splitters are going on (sweet!) and I am pretty convinced I want to fill in the bumperette holes. For those of you that had this done, did they patch behind and fill it in or did they cut out a piece? The shop said they are not sure whether it would turn out good if they patched it. I asked about getting my rear grill painted, but they wanted $160 (!) to do that. I am probably going to paint my rear bumperettes also (about $50 or $60). Is there anything else I should do? I have clear turn signals on my car right now (for bumperette bumpers), how much could I get for these? Thanks in advance.
10-03-2003, 09:41 AM
#4
Rennlist Member
Mark,
I had my bumperettes removed FR and RR last year. The body shop will use a "bumper cover patch kit" that is compatible with the bumper cover material. I think it is polypropylene.
They epoxy a woven backer material into the hole and bondo over it. It should come out PERFECT (mine did). This is a standard repair procedure for anyone's bumper cover that has a hole punched in it. This is done a million times a day. It makes me a little nervous that your body shop said "they are not sure whether it would turn out good if they patched it."
Removal of the bumperettes FR and RR is the nicest (and cheapest) cosmetic improvement to our cars. You will be stunned at the difference it makes.
May I suggest you get rid of the rear bumperettes as well? After the aluminum brackets are Dremeled off, you are left with two rectangular holes that are dirt simple to patch. And the rear bumper cover really lends itself to masking and painting, with the breaks and angles of the cover. You DO NOT have to remove the rear bumper cover to do this. An extra $200 to $300 should more than cover this rear end work.
Please feel free to call me if you have a question on this procedure. You will be very pleased with the result if you get rid of all four bumperettes.
My office number is 800-333-0519 x 106.
Good luck on your project.
I had my bumperettes removed FR and RR last year. The body shop will use a "bumper cover patch kit" that is compatible with the bumper cover material. I think it is polypropylene.
They epoxy a woven backer material into the hole and bondo over it. It should come out PERFECT (mine did). This is a standard repair procedure for anyone's bumper cover that has a hole punched in it. This is done a million times a day. It makes me a little nervous that your body shop said "they are not sure whether it would turn out good if they patched it."
Removal of the bumperettes FR and RR is the nicest (and cheapest) cosmetic improvement to our cars. You will be stunned at the difference it makes.
May I suggest you get rid of the rear bumperettes as well? After the aluminum brackets are Dremeled off, you are left with two rectangular holes that are dirt simple to patch. And the rear bumper cover really lends itself to masking and painting, with the breaks and angles of the cover. You DO NOT have to remove the rear bumper cover to do this. An extra $200 to $300 should more than cover this rear end work.
Please feel free to call me if you have a question on this procedure. You will be very pleased with the result if you get rid of all four bumperettes.
My office number is 800-333-0519 x 106.
Good luck on your project.
10-03-2003, 05:48 PM
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
Mike,
Thanks for the help. I don't think I'm gonna splurge and get the rears done; they don't bother me enough. I am getting the rears painted to match the car ($40 more). I am already in a $2400 repair, so I just don't want to spend that much on the rear bumperettes. I think the shop was worried about the bottom part. They said they can do it fine though; I should have my car by Wednesday the latest. I'll post some pics after I give it the polish/wax/interior clean/stereo finish I have been needing to do for the past several weeks.
Thanks for the help. I don't think I'm gonna splurge and get the rears done; they don't bother me enough. I am getting the rears painted to match the car ($40 more). I am already in a $2400 repair, so I just don't want to spend that much on the rear bumperettes. I think the shop was worried about the bottom part. They said they can do it fine though; I should have my car by Wednesday the latest. I'll post some pics after I give it the polish/wax/interior clean/stereo finish I have been needing to do for the past several weeks.
