[JimHare]

Just a quickie here - my g/f just backed the Deville at an extremely low speed in to her daughter's friend's Eclipse. The E suffered a minor depression that looks like it can be pulled right out - didn't even chip the paint. The plastic covering of the bumper on the D suffered a minor chip and there are a few small pieces that you can flake off with a fingernail...

I'm assuming that the only real fix is to pull the bumper and have it recovered, but I really don't think it's worth it to do that - does anyone know of a better fix for this plastic flake job????

TIA

 

[Kev]

I think this will do better here. By the way Jim, I like your sig!

Anywho, I think you will find that there are not too many options for quick and lasting repairs on that kind of damage. You have to seal the loose paint to keep it from flaking off farther. The bond may be compromised farther than what you now see, a strong stream of water from any kind of pressure wash or even a nozzle on a garden hose could make matters worse. Another bump at or near the same place..... The best repair would be to re-shoot the bumper cover.

 

[turbomangt]

Pictures would be helpful in this case to help evaluate. . Gary

 

[JimHare]

Pictures - yes, as soon as the torrential rain and wind stops for a few minutes. We are currently enjoying a patented "Nor'easter" here on the mid-Atlantic coastal areas, and within a few hours, I expect the emergency management system to broadcast an appeal to start building in cubits and gather two of every animal... :histeric:

 

[turbojimmy]

If there is no crease in the bumper it can simply be repainted. Even if it is creased you can repaint it, you'll just see the crease through the new paint. I'd worry more about the Eclipse bumper. Once you pull that indentation out the paint may crack and you'll need to refinish that one too.

My new DTS rear bumper is being painted right now. It had similar damage - the flexing caused the paint to flake. Mine had been poorly repaired in the past so I replaced it.

I'm currently embroiled in a debate with the people that hit my wife's van. Similar story as the DTS, but it got hit harder. They want to have the cover repainted, I want it replaced. It's creased and won't look right if just repainted. They think I'm being unreasonable, but if I were to turn it over to insurance (which I haven't done yet as I'm trying to be nice) they'd write it for a new cover.

Jim

 

[JimHare]

The deluge has let up for a moment. I dashed out and took these. As you can see, we're not talking a BIG chip for now, but I'm concerned that more flakes will come loose... any thoughts?

 

[turbojimmy]

The deluge has let up for a moment. I dashed out and took these. As you can see, we're not talking a BIG chip for now, but I'm concerned that more flakes will come loose... any thoughts?

That will continue to get worse unless you seal it. That cover won't need replaced, though - just refinished. FWIW, mine was $537 (with NJ tax) to refinish the cover (R&I labor plus materials).

Jim

 

[Kev]

The bond from paint to plastic has been compromised and as I stated before, any spot repair will end up being a temporary bandaid fix unless all loose paint is removed and the surrounding paint with a good bond is feathered down. By the time they do that your thumbnail areas are going to grow to at least a 6"x6" area in my guesstimation. I say have the cover stripped and repainted.