Calling anyone who knows about body work

[Snifferdoodle]

This is my husband's 2011 VW Jetta SportWagen TDI.

This morning we noticed that someone tapped our bumper during the hour or so the car was sitting in a mall parking lot. He literally got the car on Monday!

The plastic is buckling up slightly where the red rectangle is.

Honestly, I don't really care about the dimple and the buckle. They're so minor anyway. It's just that the paint cracked and now it looks like crap and there's got to be a way to just make the paint not look like crap anymore. I don't particularly expect it to look as good as new but there's got to be a way to get rid of or conceal the paint cracks without replacing the whole bumper cover.

The dealership's like "We might have to replace the whole bumper cover!!!" :sadbanana:

 

[Sneakerfix]

You can try having it buffed to remove the lines but it may need to be repainted

 

[gixxerkiid]

Buffing won't remove cracks in the paint. If the shape of the bumper is warped it will need to be replaced can't use bondo like on metal panels.

 

[Snifferdoodle]

Yeah, there's a tiny dimple on the back of the bumper and the top of the bumper buckles up very slightly. Honestly, I wouldn't care about the tiny dimple if not for the cracked paint.

The paint shouldn't have cracked from such a minor ding. That's why I want to have it simply touched up instead of completely replaced; I probably wouldn't have spotted the dimple if the paint hadn't cracked.

 

[CheapFuneral]

My guess is he may have left a ding but he hit u hard. The plastic folded up causing the cracks but returned to normal after he took of because it's plastic.

Just have the insurance cover it.


**** you auto correct!

 

[Snifferdoodle]

My guess is he may have left a ding but he hit u hard. The plastic folded up causing the cracks but returned to normal after he took of because it's plastic.

Just have the insurance cover it.


**** you auto correct!

Even a new bumper cover wouldn't meet the deductible.

COULD I afford a new bumper cover? Sure. But it's the principle. I feel like its a huge ripoff to get a new bumper cover for something that at this point is merely a paint issue. It seems like it could easily be touched up. Maybe not completely restored to its former glory, but at least to mask or eliminate the ugly cracks in the paint.

 

[CheapFuneral]

The thing is, if the bumper is fine, removing it and painting it may cost u more than a bumper. Take it to a body shop (not a dealer) for a free estimate. Smaller shops may have what your looking for while the dealer will want to do it right.


**** you auto correct!

 

[Scot]

Even a new bumper cover wouldn't meet the deductible.

COULD I afford a new bumper cover? Sure. But it's the principle. I feel like its a huge ripoff to get a new bumper cover for something that at this point is merely a paint issue. It seems like it could easily be touched up. Maybe not completely restored to its former glory, but at least to mask or eliminate the ugly cracks in the paint.

I guarantee you, once they remove the bumper cover, there will be more that needs replaced.

 

[Beastlick]

Agree with all said above. It called "spider cracking" from an impact. The bumper flexes and the paint cracks in ridges. If left, could get moisture under and chip away. You will need a repaint to fix.

Like Scot mentioned, whats leering underneath is what i'd be worried about.