Hi guys

I watched a guy back a chevy pickup over the top of my front bumper. I saw the whole thing and my heart sank as I walked toward my parked 997. The bumper is creased on the top and thankfully the hood was not touched. Just a long thin line about four inches from where the hood starts. There is scuffing around the crease which is two feet long.

Aside from whether the guys remains honest and files the claim on his insurance, the question is getting a new bumper or having it repaired and repainted. It's a silver car and I've seen terrible resprays in this metallic color.

I know this question has been asked before. What do you guys recommend? I'd tend to favor a new bumper as I don't think a crease repair would come out good.

 

my advice is get his info, claim it on YOUR insurance, specify a new bumper and be on your way. Make your insurance carrier chase after payment.

 

Correct. And for the record, whether its a re spray, or spraying a new bumper cover, it's all about the prep and quality spray work of the shop.

And this sucks...sorry.

 

Exact same thing happened to me except the vehicle that hit me was dishonest and just drove away. Bumper had to be replaced with a new one and painted seal grey. It looks perfect. Color match is exact with no need to blend the fenders. This was my requirement when I met with the body shop and they committed they could do it. Find a good body shop and ask for them to guarantee a match. If they won't then move on to another shop.

 

Aside from the agony of watching it happen, it might just be Good For You!

If your Porsche is a "driven" car, it probably has picked up various nicks and chips from the flotsam and jetsam that seems to mysteriously populate our roadways.

I look at front-end damage as a blessing - New Bumper! Yahoo!

If someone else's insurance is picking up the tab, so much the better.

It really shouldn't be too tough to find a shop that can paint the new bumper properly, and anyway, bumpers are never 100% match to the rest of the car at the best of times, even right out the factory door.

 

I'm really sorry to hear this. The good news is that this is just about as good a scenario as is possible under the circumstances. You were there to see the accident. You got the other driver's information. They "only" damaged the bumper and the damage was cosmetic not structural. And finally, you have insurance. I agree with what others have said - file a claim with your insurance and insist on a replacement bumper. Make sure you also insist on only using Porsche OEM parts, and that the work is done by a bodyshop of your choosing. Porsche has an "Approved Collision Center Program" who should be able to do factory quality work. Check with who your local dealership recommends as well. When you take it in for assessment, ask to see some of their work. A good bodyshop will be proud of their work and will want to show it off to you. Not only will they be able to match the color, but they will also be able to replicate the Porsche paint finish, which has some orange peel to it.

I know this sucks, but after all this is over you'll be thanking everyone for having a new bumper and no rock chips.

From your avatar it doesn't look like you have a front license plate, but this is also a great opportunity to have the mounting holes filled.

Good luck!

 

Well, the only thing harder is getting your first rock chip on your fresh bumper once the paint cures, you may want to think about clear bra = stress free driving.

 

When my rear bumper was dented in a hut-and-run, I replaced it with a take-off one of same color. Luckily, it was cheap and I put it on myself.

If that's not feasible, your bumper is probably fixable. Color can be matched if the shop takes the time to do it right.

If you ever thought about a gt3 bumper, this is the time!

 

It's all about the right shop! I had a very bad accident a few years ago when someone hit me at a stop sign.

I had angels and artists at Martino's Auto Concepts on Long Island put her back together and she's perfect. A front bumper to an excellent shop is a no brainer.

Good Luck to you! ............and don't take the dealers recommendation!

Tom

 

wow, I hate people for these reasons.......good luck OP

 

The only good news, is that you might be able to get a different front end (depending on your body shop), maybe the aerokit bumper, the price might be very similar to the OEM bumper.
That's what I would do.

I had woman rear end me on the highway in my subaru a few years back... I was stopped (traffic) and was just watched the rear view mirror as she plowed into me. Upgraded my exhaust for "free" due to it, since it mangled my muffler & bumper.

 

Look at the bright side. I actually wish that someone would back into my front bumper. I've got enough rock dings and scrapes that I'd love to replace it.

And I agree that a GT3 Front valence would make a nice replacement.

 

This raises a good point....has anyone priced what a replacement OEM bumper costs without repaint?

 

I would not do this. One is one has sometimes less leverage with his insurance company. Two is the insurance company will not go after payment. Insurance companies have some sort of abrogation agreement that essentially means that below a certain dollar amount each insurance company just pays for the claim regardless of fault.

My advise to the OP is to file a claim with the other insurance company and get the bumper replaced with a new one. Painted of course to match. A good body shop will be able to match the paint.

Early in 2009 I had a lapis blue Boxster bumper cover replaced, two in fact, and of course painted and the colors still match even after years.

Then in August of 2009 I had an arctic silver Turbo bumper cover replaced and painted and the bumper cover still matches the panels.

A good body shop with the proper paint and paint system (Spies-Hecker, Glasurit or Standox) should be able to do a real good job.

 

Depending on the repaint cost. I would double check against the possibility of a carfax claim. My stepfather had someone bump into the back of his new Lexus. He found the right shop. They took it off the car, repaired it, and back on for $5oo bucks. Cost vs Carfax.
Even if you claim. Take lots of pictures. Have the new or repaired bumper painted off the car, then re-installed. Maybe your first, most likely not your last.