A damaged car bumper is a complete eyesore, and often a reminder of a mistake or poor judgment call. Bumpers with scratches, dents, and holes are always aesthetically displeasing, but this is especially true when you own a luxury vehicle. Depending on your priorities and individual concerns, you may not care if your bumper has a few dents or scratches – after all, our cars are outside a majority of the time exposed to the elements, other cars, and shopping carts. However, if you are concerned about repairing or replacing your car bumper and which option you’ll likely need to follow, you might learn a little more from this article.
The truth about bumpers these days
The focus of auto manufacturing and design over the years has shifted tremendously. It used to be that bumpers were designed to absorb a significant amount of impact in collisions and accidents, as they were made of sturdy materials like solid metal. However, due to recent shifts in priorities of auto manufacturers, bumpers are now more for show – as before they weighed cars down contributing to muddled fuel efficiency and lower performance standards – even if they were safer. Most vehicle bumpers are made out of flimsy, cheap materials that damage rather easily with even the slightest bump or tap. Repairing bumpers today is often expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to achieve without substantial labor – of course, depending on the nature of the problem.
Why it’s important to address bumper damage
There are a number of reasons why bumper damage should be addressed in your own vehicle. Here are a few of them:
Safety reasons
Despite their flimsy nature, car bumpers are often the first point of impact in road collisions. They’re designed this way so that they can deter damage away from vital components under the hood. Therefore, reinstating the integrity of your car’s bumper is an important thing to follow up on.
Overall aesthetic
Especially when you own a luxury car, bumper damage takes away from the overall special look of your vehicle.
Car value
Any exterior damage that your car encounters significantly diminishes the value it holds. Furthermore, over time, as the bumper remains unfixed, it can begin to rust or become even more problematic to fix, which only further lowers your car’s value.
Professionalism and image
Whether we like it or not, our car says something about us. We may not need to drive a Maserati or a Bentley to show that we’re established individuals, but it is important to keep in mind that the outward care you put into your vehicle is a direct reflection of your ability to care for other important aspects of your life.
Things to consider when deciding to repair or replace your bumper
So, the big question is: can your bumper be repaired easily and affordably, or would it be better to replace it all together? Replacing a bumper isn’t the ideal solution for most, as it’s rather expensive to do; however, it might be a better option depending on the issue at hand. Here are some things that might affect your choice to repair or replace the bumper:
- Bumper material and its ability to be fixed
- Nature and severity of the damage – dents are usually easy to fix, whereas scratches require a lot more detail work
- The expertise and opinion of the detail shop – they know what is doable and what is not
- Cost-effectiveness – which option makes more sense financially speaking?
What you can do to adequately address bumper damage
Quick fixes are never the right answer when it comes to automotive repair, whether it’s internal or external. Here are a few things you can do to address your bumper damage properly and effectively:
- Hire an auto detailing specialist you trust
- Weigh your options carefully before deciding on one specific course of action
- Enlist the help of your insurance company when appropriate or necessary
At Conejo Auto Window Tinting & Detail, we have tackled some complex bumper repair scenarios for clients from the areas of Thousand Oaks, Westlake, Agoura Hills, Camarillo, Simi Valley, and Newbury Park, CA, making us one of the most well-respected and experienced detailing shops in the area. If you would like to know more about our bumper repair services, please call one of our helpful professionals today.
Car accidents can leave a lot of devastation in their wake. Crashes can lead to problematic internal issues with your vehicle, leading to performance and reliability problems. After an accident, the first most important things to address are the functional aspects of your car. There’s no sense in working on external damages until your car is able to be driven. Once the car is in good working condition, it’s finally time to address the external damages that become eyesores to us all.
Auto body repair can be expensive, so it’s important to do your homework when it comes to finding affordable prices and honest repair shops. Bumper repair in particular is a process that involves many elements—especially after a significant “fender-bender.” This job is best left to professionals who have extensive experience with the task. Whether the bumper is severely damaged or minutely scratched, it will need to undergo repair to be restored back to normal; but there are certain things to consider that should not go overlooked—especially if you want the job to be done right the first time.
Why Repair Your Bumper?
You might be surprised to learn that car bumpers play an important protective role for your vehicle. The bumper serves an essential aesthetic purpose in that it makes your car look good; however, it is also what shields the internal components of the car such as the engine and cooling system from significant damages during a collision. When involved in an accident, even if minor, a car bumper becomes compromised and isn’t able to perform its job well; therefore, replacing or repairing it becomes necessary. In order for your car to retain its value, the bumper must look right aesthetically as well as function properly. Repairing a bumper can help prevent damage to internal parts of your car if another, subsequent accident occurs. Aside from the functional aspects of bumper repair, the aesthetic look of your vehicle will also affect the resale value significantly.
What to Consider When Repairing Your Bumper
There are several factors to consider when repairing your car’s bumper after a collision. First of all, it’s important that this process is performed properly and thoroughly by a detail expert the first time around to avoid having to address problematic issues with repairs, such as chipping paint or corrosion. Repairing a bumper can be costly, depending on a few different factors, so it helps to have an idea of what’s in store for your vehicle. Here are a few things you and your mechanic must consider before attempting to repair your bumper:
Materials
The material that your car bumper is made of will greatly affect how to go about repairing it. Whether the part is made of rubber, aluminum, plastic, or steel, it will require access to appropriate materials as well as proper application of the materials. Some shops won’t perform repairs depending on the materials required, or they’ll use the wrong materials to cut corners. So, it’s important to check with your detail shop before you sign off on any repair work.
How Severe the Damage Is
Another important factor to consider is the severity of the damage done to the bumper. Whether it is slightly dented or damaged, dinged or scratched on the surface, or completely broken, the mechanic will need to take a different approach to repair work. Furthermore, the cost of the repairs will greatly be determined by the severity of the problem and the time it will take to address the issue.
How We Can Help
Here at Conejo Auto Detail Window Tinting, we have over 
two decades of experience under our belts. Hiring only the most qualified automotive staff and technicians, we pride ourselves on our ability to perform exceptionally thorough work with any task we encounter. If you’ve experienced an accident, it can be a harsh reminder to look at your car’s damaged bumper day after day. We offer competitive pricing, and have all the materials, tools, staff, and skills necessary to repair your bumper today. When you decide to tackle your bumper damage, please contact us here at Conejo Auto for an estimate or to schedule an inspection as soon as possible.
