I got in a fender bender (Literally) a while back. Summer is getting closer and closer and I want to get my car painted. Would it be smarter to just replace the bumper or can it be fixed? Bumpers are like 350$ and Fenders are like 250$ (I want GM, not aftermarket). I figure maybe have the body shop fix the bumper and just replace the fender. Anyone have any advice?



I don't want to pull my door off and swap interiors, I figure just have the skin pulled off and a new one welded on.

What I'm thinking of doing is getting the bodywork done now, get my fender, bumper, and door fixed in the next couple months. It wouldn't cost me too much, and the down time would be minimal. This way in July I can just bring my car back for a paintjob. Plus I wouldn't have to look at that damage anymore. Does that make sense? Thats pretty much the only damage on my car except for like 3 tiny little dings on the driver door.

Any advice?

 

Replacing the door would be easier and less labor for the shop then putting a new door skin on. You could find parts in good used condition for much less then what GM wants. For a drivers side fender GM wants $400, gmpartsdirect wants $244 + shipping. The bumper however is $284 GM, $168 gmpartsdirect+ shipping. You could probably get both used in good condition for the price of the bumper from gm partsdirect.

 

Go with used ones, much cheaper

 

I would recommend the used door. Doors for your car shouldnt be too hard to find. But I would have to say go with a new GM front bumper cover, you might find a usable used one but it would need somekind of work. Remember your car is black and black shows everything if its not done right. I think it would be money well spent for the new front bumper cover.

 

Definately go with some used parts. Check local junkyards, eBay, and the classifieds here for people parting out cars. Like they said, you should be able to find all that stuff in good used condition for much less than new GM parts.

 

How big of a PITA would it be to change all that out? Nothing seems easy with my car. Can the fender/bumper be changed with just sockets and wrenchs?

Won't I need a special tool to get the door off?

 

The nose isn't hard to get off. Just go along all the edges and remove the bolts and you should be able to figure it out.

The fender doesn't look like its that bad. If its just scratched, you might be able to repair it.

As for the door, I don't know. I've never removed mine.

 

i went to a local shop and it cost me $500 to get brand new aftermarket (but not ****ty fit they fit better than what was on there before the origional gm parts) Fender. Bumper Cover. And headlight argon. and the rock deflector that goes inside the fender. and have it all put on i think it was a good deal seeining as how mounts and **** were ****ed up. My friend put it into a concreat poll doing about 35 and tottally ****ed the pass side fender and what not so i say it was a good deal.

 

Ide def fix the front bumper it dont look bad at all i didnt see ne cracks or nething. I would look for a used fender shouldnt be hard to find and def a used door.

 

Well I was thinking that I could keep the bumper, my only worries were that there is a chunk missing in the center of that picture. If you look closely you can see. Plus where the bumper meets the fender it is cut....

 

yeh i see still easily fixed but if u can find a nice used 1 for not that much why not.