What's the Best Way to Fix This Bumper? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

SilverCamry02 · 04-01-2008, 11:19 PM

njerald · 04-01-2008, 11:21 PM

Replace the bumper cover is the best way.............

MrSo0h0o · 04-01-2008, 11:23 PM

is that down past the paint. from the pics it kinda looks like something else rubbed off onto your bumper.. if this is so, you can just buff all that out.. if it is down to the fiberglass, i would just live with it or get a new bumper..

ebumdude · 04-01-2008, 11:27 PM

I am going thru the same problemo.

Mine is down all the way past the paint but not as noticeable as yours. I too was told it would be better to just get a whole new one.

I mean, think about it like this....

The area has to be prepped and painted. The bumper might even have to come off for them to paint it....

Then they have to put it back on.

You will come out ahead by at least 100 bucks or more just by getting a new one.

SilverCamry02 · 04-01-2008, 11:29 PM

I've taken my trusty 2002 Camry SE to some body shops and asked my mechanic about this bumper scrape. Since it's so deep the whole bumper would need to replaced and it would cost several hundred. Since I'd like to keep my Camry until "The wheels fall off!" I thought about trying to fix this myself! I don't particularly like this scrape and there are some other defects, dings, and scrapes on the bumper.

I was thinking to fix the bumper I could go to a Junkyard and find a bumper from another Silver Camry. Since they are so popular it probably wouldn't be hard to find. I've never done any bodywork before though! Would I need to sand it down and paint it? What tools would I need? Would people even suggest that?

ebumdude · 04-02-2008, 02:07 AM

If you are a rookie to prep and paint, I wouldn't even attempt it.

I am no pro by any means....

I am just trying to save you the trouble from spending 50 or 60 bucks worth of materials, just for the paint job to come out like poop and you get mad at yourself.

A new bumper is like, what....around 180 for GEN6, it can't differ too much in price for the Gen5.....right? You will probably spend about 350 just to have that professionally repainted.

A new bumper and changing a few bolts is a lot easier than prep + paint DIY, or having that done by a pro.

I remember first starting out on my first few paint jobs. I did a lot of reading and had a ton of patience for coat after coat to dry.......when you first start out, painting skills look like a 3rd graders'. It just takes time........

or an expensive paint sprayer.

Let us know what you end up doing.....and good luck.

Rapid Roy · 04-02-2008, 03:19 AM

Fixing that yourself isn't too hard. Just take your time and get the right stuff. Basically you sand, fill, sand, prime, paint, clearcoat. You need various grit sandpaper, flexable primer etc. You can find lots of DIY's on repair and painting so I won't go too much into detail here. Preparing prior to painting is the key. If you don't like the way it turned out, sand and start over.

SilverCamry02 · 04-02-2008, 11:05 AM

Are you saying it's better to get a OEM bumper? I know you can order them painted, but don't they usually come unpainted? Getting them painted is also much more expensive, Right? Don't they also have aftermarket bumpers that fit well and are less expensive?

If I got a bumper from a junkyard wouldn't it probably be fine? I mean the color won't match completely even if I had it done by a pro or got a bumper and did it myself. I don't particularly want to have to paint it, but people I've talked to said it probably would be good to do a "Scuff-and-Shoot". That way the color would come out better. I would have to worry about finding the correct bumper though for the model years that would fit if I went to a junkyard. Any suggestions on how to do that and make sure it will fit?

SilverCamry02 · 04-10-2008, 08:48 AM

What tools should I get to do this Job as well?

Gellenole · 04-10-2008, 08:56 AM

^^ new unpainted bumper -- get pro painted, spend the cash to get it well done. I was happy, you know you will!

if you messed the sides up, it'll be an eye sore for a while.

Netforcer · 04-10-2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rapid Roy

Fixing that yourself isn't too hard. Just take your time and get the right stuff. Basically you sand, fill, sand, prime, paint, clearcoat. You need various grit sandpaper, flexable primer etc. You can find lots of DIY's on repair and painting so I won't go too much into detail here. Preparing prior to painting is the key. If you don't like the way it turned out, sand and start over.

You forgot to repeat sand and fill a couple more times... and paint x3 (need a few coats of it)