Body work on 328i (SOMEONE HELP!)

[Stockmoose16]

I have a 2007 Alpine White 328i that I damaged by accidentally running the bumper into a tall curb. I indented the bottom half of the bumper 3-4 inches and created a large scratch at the impact point (4-5 inches long).

I live in Los Angeles. How much should I expect to pay to repair this type of damage?

[anE934fun]

I have a 2007 Alpine White 328i that I damaged by accidentally running the bumper into a tall curb. I indented the bottom half of the bumper 3-4 inches and created a large scratch at the impact point (4-5 inches long).

I live in Los Angeles. How much should I expect to pay to repair this type of damage?
Presuming no parts need replacing and it is just filling and painting, you are looking at something in the $1,200 territory. I recently had one of those lawn signs for political campaigns attack my front bumper cover - there was a pencil diameter hole along with abrasions from the sign, and my bill for the repair was $1,100. If the bumper cover has to be replaced, you could be out north of $2,000.

[Stockmoose16]

Presuming no parts need replacing and it is just filling and painting, you are looking at something in the $1,200 territory. I recently had one of those lawn signs for political campaigns attack my front bumper cover - there was a pencil diameter hole along with abrasions from the sign, and my bill for the repair was $1,100. If the bumper cover has to be replaced, you could be out north of $2,000.

$1200 to pull out a dent and paint a few inches of bumper seems hefty, no? I scratched my bumper about six months ago and they fixed it for $400. Does the 4 inch dent really make the job $800 more expensive?

Also, what is the difference between a bumper and a bumper cover, and how would I know if the bumper cover has to be replaced?

[anE934fun]

$1200 to pull out a dent and paint a few inches of bumper seems hefty, no? I scratched my bumper about six months ago and they fixed it for $400. Does the 4 inch dent really make the job $800 more expensive?
It all depends on the labor component.

Also, what is the difference between a bumper and a bumper cover, and how would I know if the bumper cover has to be replaced?
The bumper cover is the plastic/composite 'cover' that you see when you look at the car on the showroom floor. The bumper is the metal structural component that absorbs the impact when the car is hit by (or hits) something in a collision. Replacement is required if the cover can't be restored to its original condition. If it was torn (like a 4+ inch tear), it would probably need replacing. Dents/indentations, if they affect the integrity of the cover's original formed shape can likewise require replacing the cover

White is a bit more forgiving (color-wise) than something like black, so scratches that can be fixed for $400 for white may take an additional $800 on a black car. My E93 is the Black Sapphire color. The entire front bumper cover on my E93 had to be sanded and re-clear coated, even though the impact damage was just a pencil diameter hole on the lower chin.

[Stockmoose16]

It all depends on the labor component.


The bumper cover is the plastic/composite 'cover' that you see when you look at the car on the showroom floor. The bumper is the metal structural component that absorbs the impact when the car is hit by (or hits) something in a collision. Replacement is required if the cover can't be restored to its original condition. If it was torn (like a 4+ inch tear), it would probably need replacing. Dents/indentations, if they affect the integrity of the cover's original formed shape can likewise require replacing the cover

White is a bit more forgiving (color-wise) than something like black, so scratches that can be fixed for $400 for white may take an additional $800 on a black car. My E93 is the Black Sapphire color. The entire front bumper cover on my E93 had to be sanded and re-clear coated, even though the impact damage was just a pencil diameter hole on the lower chin.

Wow, that is insanely expensive for what amounts to be a small part of the car.

How can you tell the difference between a bumper cover "tear" and just scratch/dent that can be painted/popped out? The damage was caused by hitting a curb at about 2 mph. I can't imagine that a small impact like that would require $2000+ in repairs (or even $1200). Then again, I'm always shocked by the high price of body work.

[anE934fun]

Wow, that is insanely expensive for what amounts to be a small part of the car.
Welcome to the world of car parts. If you were to add up the replacement cost of a car based on the price of the individual parts, the number would probably be north of 10x the selling price of the car new.

How can you tell the difference between a bumper cover "tear" and just scratch/dent that can be painted/popped out? The damage was caused by hitting a curb at about 2 mph. I can't imagine that a small impact like that would require $2000+ in repairs (or even $1200). Then again, I'm always shocked by the high price of body work.
The body shop will tell you. If you think the body shop you are dealing with is blowing smoke at you, take the car to another shop. If the quotes come in within a hundred $ of each other, they are thinking a similar level of effort. Parts replacement will definitely be more than a hundred $ variance.

[320what?]

you guys willing to pay 1200usd just for sh!ts and giggles? Crap, what is wrong with you. A little dimple and a scratch from kerb and you want to replace the whole thing? If you MUST, why not get Mtech bumper instead or aero lip to have that take all the brunt of kerb impacts in future? It's so stupid to waste money on repairing this when 1000 bucks can be spend on little vacation weekend or whatever. Where your priorites lie? :eeps:

[Stockmoose16]

you guys willing to pay 1200usd just for sh!ts and giggles? Crap, what is wrong with you. A little dimple and a scratch from kerb and you want to replace the whole thing? If you MUST, why not get Mtech bumper instead or aero lip to have that take all the brunt of kerb impacts in future? It's so stupid to waste money on repairing this when 1000 bucks can be spend on little vacation weekend or whatever. Where your priorites lie? :eeps:

My damage isn't insignificant. You're talking about a serious indentation all the way down the side of the bumper. If it were just a scratch, I wouldn't care, but right now, my car just looks damaged.

[BMW4Lee]

People have used http://www.bumpersolutions.com and were happy with their work.

I have a 2007 Alpine White 328i that I damaged by accidentally running the bumper into a tall curb. I indented the bottom half of the bumper 3-4 inches and created a large scratch at the impact point (4-5 inches long).

I live in Los Angeles. How much should I expect to pay to repair this type of damage?

[mean7_714]

A picture of your bumper will help us alot

[anE934fun]

My damage isn't insignificant. You're talking about a serious indentation all the way down the side of the bumper. If it were just a scratch, I wouldn't care, but right now, my car just looks damaged.
Is there any reason you aren't going to a body shop to get a repair estimate? It is just an estimate; you are not obligated to have the body shop do the repair. Maybe the body shop can do the bumper cover for $400. At this point, you seem to be burning way too many cycles over the damage.