Some advice needed-My Accord Euro Front bumper damaged!!!

[praja6]

Hi guys,

Today when i tried to get my car out from my garage i turned the wheel bit earlier and the right hand side front bumper hit in my colorbond fence.. Please see the attached 4 pictures for more details..It made me really sad as there is a gap between the panel and front bumper joint and scratches as well(those brown colors are the paint from the brown colorbond fence)....I bumper still feels firm(not feel like comming off), i tried to push bit firm to realign it, but didnt work, seems like the clips may have broken or came out(you guys see that gap in the 4th picture)

I thought HOnda dealer service centre can fix this and sent mail to RIck damelian honda where i bought my car, the salesguy sold me the guy rang me in the evening. he said this type of fix can be done only by panelbeaters and he know a friend personally in petersham NSW, he may quote around 400-500 to fix this and respray professionally, no one can tell the different between new car and after respray....He said i may have to leave the car with him for couple of days to do this...He said i can still drive the car as is but wont looks nice..

NOw this makes me thing as well, one of the known friend mentioned its better to put the sports Aero front bumper, which is much better and comes with foglight... As my car is base model and didnt have foglight i was planning to install foglight and now seems like this is a good time....

Now guys, give me some advices...Has anyone fix front bumper for euro with any panel beaters in Sydney(i live in western suburb near Parramatta)and how is the rough estimate or anyone recently buy and install aero sports front bumper and how much that cost including fitting fees....

I am more leaning to if the front aero bumper cost under 1000, i may go with change the bumper form honda dealer. BUt dont know which dealer is cheap...

Thanks

[antony]

Keep the origional bumper,the non origional one will cheapen the cars looks.

Maybee its a good opportunity to have the foglights fitted now though ???

GOOD LUCK.

[chunsa]

Hi Raja, that is really unfortunate to happen. Maybe try a paint cleaner to remove some of the colour off first? Can you feel the scratches (If not you can fix it yourself with some ScratchX 2.0)

Aero bumper is not under $1000. It's actually more than that! I think it was around 1100-1200$ excluding foglights.

Try removing the whole bumper off and fit it on again (not sure if that will help but could help with some aligning). As you said could be just a clip. Other people will probably have some better advice on this.

[praja6]

THanks Anthony.. The bumper i meant is from Honda website, its a genuine Aero bumper comes with foglight (please see tihs website) http://euro.honda.com.au/optional-extras.aspx

THis means the aero front bumper comes already with color coded with silver from honda isn't it.

Only on Monday i have to check with dealers and don't know any other good panael beaters in Western suburb area in Sydney..

[antony]

I have seen those aero bumpers,and dont like the look,keep your car origional,it will always look best that way.

And it would look strange to have the front aero,and the back origional.

Future buyers might question why the origional front bumper was replaced...

Just my honest opinion...

[MikesVtec]

Oh damn praja I feel for you. I would be devestated if that happened to me.

I m leaning towards original bumper too, unless u do the whole car up ie front & back bumpers + side skirts. Just get original + foggies and it'll look pretty good.

Mike

[praja6]

Oh damn praja I feel for you. I would be devestated if that happened to me.

I m leaning towards original bumper too, unless u do the whole car up ie front & back bumpers + side skirts. Just get original + foggies and it'll look pretty good.

Mike

Hi MIkesvtec,

THanks. I know i was really sad, then what to do it happend.. You can't go back to that time like in time machine and change/correct my mistake.So you rekon can buy a brand new normal original bumper from Honda? I will give few dealers a ring tomorrow and see.. ANy idea how much would the original normal bumper would cost, plus fitting..

THanks heaps..

[antony]

Oh damn praja I feel for you. I would be devestated if that happened to me.

I m leaning towards original bumper too, unless u do the whole car up ie front & back bumpers + side skirts. Just get original + foggies and it'll look pretty good.

MikeThats what I was trying to say...lol,I agree with you Mike.

[limleong]

Hi MIkesvtec,

THanks. I know i was really sad, then what to do it happend.. You can't go back to that time like in time machine and change/correct my mistake.So you rekon can buy a brand new normal original bumper from Honda? I will give few dealers a ring tomorrow and see.. ANy idea how much would the original normal bumper would cost, plus fitting..

THanks heaps..

From your photo, the damage looks superficial (ie. no big crack or deformity). I would suggest taking it to a reputable panel beater which specalises in plastic repair. It will cost a few hundred dollars for repair and re-spray but it will be a lot cheaper than getting a brand new bumper. A brand new bumper is likely to be in $1000+ category.

[Type R Positive]

Hey Raj, sorry about the scratch mate.
Here's an idea, buy a lip kit like the mugen or type s, and get that sprayed and fitted at the same time they spray the front bumper.
$400 - $500 is the usual price for the bumper respray, I got quickly quoted $600 for front bumper respray last week here in Darwin.
I want to buy a lip kit, so if we get a few of us together, we can get for cheaper! The whole lot would probably cost less than a Honda aero bumper!

[MikesVtec]

From your photo, the damage looks superficial (ie. no big crack or deformity). I would suggest taking it to a reputable panel beater which specalises in plastic repair. It will cost a few hundred dollars for repair and re-spray but it will be a lot cheaper than getting a brand new bumper. A brand new bumper is likely to be in $1000+ category.

This is probably the way I'd go. Save some $. However for a new bumper, perhaps go to the Honda Wreckers. They sell new bumpers too at much cheaper price than the dealers.

[aaronng]

The bumper alignment can be fixed. For the paint damage, try cleaning it with ScratchX or similar first so that you can see if the clear coat has been damaged. There are a few small spots with paint missing. You can either respray the whole bumper and part of the quarter panel to match for $500 or so, or use touch up paint. With touch up paint, it will never be invisible. All it does is try to cover it up and prevent the paint from further peeling. You will see the touch up paint as it is obvious.

[Type R Positive]

Touch up paint.....
Good from far, but far from good!

I got some touch up paint for mine, cost $20 for 15mls.
15mls is plenty for heaps of scratches too.

[Lemonhead]

hey paja, sorry to hear about your accient, I know how you feel as I already scrapped the side of mine along the garden timbers. ooouch
I agree with what others say, you need the front and the back AERO kit to match, cause they got some horizontal lines/design that flows from front to back. also, I am pretty sure that the price you got does not include the fog lights. They are likely extra items. but fog lights look cool! cheers

[HunterZero]

Ouch, always sad to see a nice car damaged. The first scratch on a new car is always the hardest.

I'd say don't go for the Aero kit... As said before, you need the rest of the body kit for the car to 'match'. I personally prefer the car without the Aero kit, it looks a bit too much like an Aurion with it on.

I'd recommend that you hold off on attacking it yourself with polish or other stuff... Instead, take it to a few paint and panel shops and see what they say. You might be lucky and the damage might mostly buff out and the bumper just have a couple of broken clips. Unfortunately because you've caught the corner of the panel, it's more than likely that you will need paint repair, and they're going to have to paint the front bumper and likely the quarter panel as well.

My suggestion is to take it to Prestige Auto Salon in Rydalmere. They specialise in minor cosmetic scuff and scratch repair. They will only do what is necessary to restore the car, nothing more. They use Glasurit paint which is top quality and will be as good a match as you can get for your car, and I know they do a lot of stock repairs for Trivett Honda, so they know what they are doing with Hondas. I've personally seen brand new CU2 Euros in their workshop.

As long as the rapairer you choose uses either PPG or Glasurit paint and are certified in the system they use, you should get a good match. When you get the car back, make sure you look at the car in sunlight, and if you are not happy with the result don't be afraid to tell them so. They are professionals, it's their job to get it right.

Unfortunately the CU2 has a lot of fussy creases and folds in the bodywork, and these could get sanded down by someone who isn't being careful enough. Pay particular attention to these details, and make sure you are clear and tell the repairer that you don't want those details to look less 'defined' by a bad repair.

And whatever happens, let us know how you got on.

- HZ

[Type R Positive]

and I know they do a lot of stock repairs for Trivett Honda, so they know what they are doing with Hondas.
That is a great point there Hunter!

I rang honda here in Darwin to see who they used for repairs, when I had to get a insurance quote.
Found that they use a great shop that does all the BMW's and Mercs too.

[praja6]

Hi guys,

Today i took my car to Western Smash Repair in Seven hills, Sydney, which is recommended by Trivett honda Parramatta to get a quote. THey guy look at my bumper, said he can do something...He took the car inside and took nearly 30mins, removed all the paint marks and realign the bumper(please see the 2 latest photos).

He said one of the bumper clip broken, the proper way is install new bumper which cost around 1000(unpainted 650, then respray and install).

On top of that they didn't charge me any cent from me:)...

I am happy with the outcome.. May be in 1yr or 2 i will change both front and rear bumper as aero bumper kit..

Thanks guys for all of your advices..

Raja

[Type R Positive]

That is awesome news Raj!!!
As is the custom, you must now drop a carton off to them tomorrow mate!

[praja6]

That is awesome news Raj!!!
As is the custom, you must now drop a carton off to them tomorrow mate!

Thanks Type R, Please look at this pic to give you guys some idea how narrow the driveway which is around 8-10 meters from the road to my garage..for small car like my previous corolla can take the car easily, as with this Euro is wider body always i have to be carefull..

THanks guys

[antony]

That is awesome news Raj!!!
As is the custom, you must now drop a carton off to them tomorrow mate!

I would definatly drop them off a small gift,think this is brillianr service...WOW.