Ok this is very freaky. the last two cars I have bought have gotten hit in the bumper the day before the license came in the mail. My daughter reminded me last week of this and guess what? I was bumped in the front bumper when a car was pulling into the spot in front of me in my work parking lot. I was standing outside the car at the time talking to a friend when my car jumped back about 3 inches. The screws of her license plate put two gashes in my bumper. I got her insurance info and when I got home I got out the license cover and it will cover one of the gashes and almost the other. I called the dealer, (I have become friends with the finance manager) and he said he would have someone at the lot try and buff it for free tomorrow and put the front cover on for me. And then guess what? I got the license TODAY in the mail. Very freaky! I have ordered a personalized plate (XOTTOX) so I will put it on the front so I won't get a fix it ticket someday for not having one. Does anyone have any suggestions to how to "buff" a bumper. I do not want to have a whole new bumper put on for an 1/8 of an inch of scrape showing and the dealer said that on a lease they won't even look at it unless it is the size of a quarter or more. Too funny, huh?

 

The key is finding the right spot in the lot where that can't happen. Even if you have to walk a bit, park on the end. My last 2 cars had no marks like you mentioned front or back. I even had the last car in the City of Chicago for a year and a half.

Buffing the bumper will involve someone massaging out the clear coat until the surface scratch is no longer visable. If the scratch goes down into the plastic, it would have to be repaired, sanded down, and could be airbrushed / matched to the rest of the bumper. Replacing the bumper for a scratch won't happen. Not even necessary. Worst case, it would be stripped all the way down, reapired, and resprayed. Not necessary if you know of a good body repair guy who can blend w/ an airbrush.

 

There is some place here called "Bumper Medic" or something like that. Their ads are on TV all the time. Maybe there is a place like that in Southern California. Only problem with the Bumper Medic ads here, you can't tell if they fixed her cars bumpers - or "her" bumpers :wink: :lol:

 

This is Southern California. Believe me THEY will want to replace the whole bumper to get over a grand out of the insurance company! I will find out tomorrow if the dealer can buff it. it really is no big deal, but geez 3 new cars in a row getting bumps the day before the plates come in the mail IS very freaky!

 

do de do do, do de do do (best Twilight Zone I could come up with...)

 

I have already had a similar problem with both the front AND rear bumpers of my car..... One was my fault - one wasn't....

The cost to repair the bumper and the cost for a pre-painted new bumper is only about $120 apart.

Repair - about $400

New - about $525

I have a $500 deductible - Imagine that!!!!

 

I got tapped in front bumper while parked as well. Same spot, right where the front bumper comes to a point.

Body shop said $800 to take off front bumper and paint. Sounds like over-kill to me.

I have vanity plates and it is the law to wear two plates in CT. But I am loathe to ruin the looks of the front end with a plate.

I guess I will be hunting for a body shop that can touch up the spot at a more reasonable cost.

 

You've probably already thought of this, but if I were you, the next car
you buy, try to find out the approx date when your plates will arrive and
leave the car in some dark, secure garage that week util the plates
arrive (just in case there is some strange hiccup in the cosmos that's
causing your bumber to be dinged).

 

I took the car to the dealer today and they are going to fix it for free. Got to know the finance manager well when I signed on the dotted line and helped get his family in free to "The Happiest Place On Earth" so he got the general manager to do this for me. The paint guy will buff the area and paint it next week. Even get a free loaner and four free oil changes! All is well again.

 

whewwwwwwwwwww

 

Ok, he's all better now. The dealer had their paint guy work his magic on my bumper and it looks brand new again. I opted out of putting the front license plate on for now. I will keep it in the car and if I get a fix it ticket, then I will comply!

 

DFWSER is right on-park a distance from where you have to walk. It certainly doesn't guarantee that you won't be the victim of some inconsiderate ***...., but you'll at least tip the odds in your favor! Oh, and bye the way, walking/jogging/etc. is good for you- you'll get some bulk off the back end!!!!!! Especially if you live in Michigan, we are, unfortunately, one the the FATTEST states in the USA