Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

[mb911]

Hi everyone,

Hope the knowledge here can help me out a bit.

The other day at a red light, some guy hit my C Class. He then followed me into parking lot, but never got out of car, and then took off. Hit and run. Police couldn't find him.

Anyway, my car is just 2 years old and I keep it in shape with full detailing like we all do around here, claying, polishing, waxing, etc. So you know how the little things are important.

It put two very visible white chips in the bumper, plus a small (nickel size) dent. Plus, below the bumper, it put a chip/nick in the black plastic piece that is under bumper and over tail pipes.

Should I get it repaired? The color is Palladium Silver and of course it has the Cerami Clear that Mercedes loves to use.

I'm worried about how it will match being a metallic palladium silver color, PLUS the nano particle clear coat. Should it match? I mean they will do the entire bumper, but will it match when it's next to the side panels and trunk lid?

The body shop says it should not be noticeable. I can also pay an extra 100 to get the cerami clear. Should I? I thought it would be nice to keep the clear similar (in hardness and whatnot). What do you guys think?

Should I do it or not? I've heard some people say a repair hurts your car more than the damage. However, if it looks good afterwards, surely it would make me feel better and the rear bumper is certainly a noticeable location.

Also is just a reputable body shop ok to take bumper off and of, surely not too hard? If it was more mechanical I'd go to Mercedes authorized shop, but this is really just more the cosmetics.

I'll be paying all myself as insurance are jerks and of course the hit and run guy isn't a factor as his identity is unknown. It will be about 600 and then the extra 100 if I want cerami clear.

Advice please! Many many thanks. Enjoy the holidays.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

If the money is not an issue, then by all means, get it repaired. If the money is tight, wait a couple of months and see if the damage still bothers you. If it does, then consider getting it repaired. If not, then then you saved yourself $1000.

Always check with your insurance. If you went to the police, then you probably have a copy of the police report. Present this to your adjuster when he comes out to examine the damage. Likely, your rates will not be increased.

A year ago, someone backed into my bumper in a parking lot and left a sizable dent. I had it repaired and filed a collision claim with my insurance. My rates were not increased even though I couldn't identify the person who damaged my car and didn't have a police report.

[seth1066]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

I'm baffled at the suggestion of ceramic clear on the bumper. Most bumpers have to have a special paint that is just the opposite, it has to be soft and flexible so it doesn't crack from bumps and bruises or when the easily flexed rubber surface is even gently tapped.

I'll take a wild guess and say that at least 20% of used cars offered by dealers have had the bumpers repaired and sprayed. Mercedes are no stranger either to this process, so I wouldn't worry about what is termed "diminished value" for a repair in this area of the car. This is one place on the car that people don't expect to have the exact same gloss and shine as the rest of the body.

Specialists who do nothing but bumpers come to dealers on a mobile basis. They have an entire paint shops worth of color matching and paint mixing equipment in their van. If you can find a guy that does quality work, it may be a better deal than the body shop.

In many cases, your reputable local professional detailer will have a good idea who does the best work in your area, whether a bumper specialist or body shop.

[mb911]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

Many thanks. Great information. I really think I'll feel better to get it fixed, and then I can forget about it.

Most likely you guys think even a metallic paint can match up against the other panels ok when the rest of the paint is pretty new too? That was really my main worry.

Thanks again. You already made me feel better.

[seth1066]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

Most likely you guys think even a metallic paint can match up against the other panels ok when the rest of the paint is pretty new too? That was really my main worry.

Can match up-- when done by a good painter who has the expertise. Whoever does the work, check with a a body shop that is part of a Mercedes-Benz dealer and double check on whether ceramic clear coat is used on the bumper

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

A good body shop ought to be able to do a very nice match of the color. As for the ceramiclear finish, keep in mind that the curing process will be different at the body shop than it was at the factory so the hardness between the repair and the rest of the car won't necessarily be identical anyway. Factory paints are formulated in such a way that they MUST be cured at very high heat for a specific period of time, something that a body shop simply can not duplicate - the vinyl, rubber, plastic and leather components of the completed vehicle would be damaged by such heat.

Fully understanding the desire to have the vehicle restored to it's former beauty, you'd do well to ensure you've found a very good body shop, talk to the manager about your expectations beforehand, and carefully inspect the final product before accepting it.

[mb911]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

A good body shop ought to be able to do a very nice match of the color. As for the ceramiclear finish, keep in mind that the curing process will be different at the body shop than it was at the factory so the hardness between the repair and the rest of the car won't necessarily be identical anyway. Factory paints are formulated in such a way that they MUST be cured at very high heat for a specific period of time, something that a body shop simply can not duplicate - the vinyl, rubber, plastic and leather components of the completed vehicle would be damaged by such heat.

Fully understanding the desire to have the vehicle restored to it's former beauty, you'd do well to ensure you've found a very good body shop, talk to the manager about your expectations beforehand, and carefully inspect the final product before accepting it.

Thanks Michael. Great information. If they are willing though as they are, is it ok to let them use the Cerami Clear? I mean, it is approved for the repair specifically. It says so right on the PPG product info page for the product. I understand Nissan recommends the same clear now for repairs.

Thanks again. I guess I'll go for the repair fairly soon. Just might wait until after next week as holidays will hold things up. I'll just be happy to have it look right again and go about enjoying it again.

[CharlesW]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

1. I would definitely get it repaired. It will drive you crazy having to see the damage every day. (Even though 90% of the people won't notice it, you will!)
2. Look at some of the paint matches the body shop has done in the past with a similar or the same color. Talk is cheap, results are what you are looking for.

[mb911]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

Thanks guys..

you won't believe this!! tonight on highway, someone's ENTIRE bumper, flying through the air, my front end hits it!!

Now my front bumper needs to be repainted. How can get it worst? Ha-ha.

AT least I have to do it, so I might as well get both done at the same time.

25,000 miles and 2 years, not a single problem. Now this within 48 hours!!

The fog light got scuffed a bit too, but I might live with that, so they can get started repairing it.

Wish me luck. Oh....when you get a nick on the mercedes paint, the under coat is like WHITE. On a repair job, will that still be, or is it likely be be black underneath now?

Thanks.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

Wow, that's really a run of bad luck, sorry to hear it. You know, if it was going to happen, better it happen now rather than 2 weeks after you had the rear bumper fixed. Just stay clear of Vegas and Atlantic City for a few months!

Most primers are white/light gray but the urethane bumper covers are usually black. Usually. Once repairs are finished it really shouldn't matter at all what the underlying color is, unless with the urethane the color indicates an OEM part or an aftermarket part. Even then, if it's a quality part that fits as well as the OEM, it may not be an issue at all.

Good luck with the repairs.

[seth1066]

Re: Should I get my bumper repaired??? Help

If they are willing though as they are, is it ok to let them use the Cerami Clear? I mean, it is approved for the repair specifically. It says so right on the PPG product info page for the product.

Do you have a link for this product sheet? I couldn't find the use for bumper refinishing in the product guide, which was for PPG's Deltron DC4125 CeramiClear:

https://buyat.ppg.com/refinishProductCatalog/ServeFile.ashx?FileID=4916edcf-01f4-4a8c-987a-83f0ca6b6a63

If the application requires the use of a flex agent, this will make the clearcoat softer, which would seem to be at cross purposes of using the CeramiClear in the first place. If they are charging you extra for soft CeramiClear, it may not be a good value for the money.