I'm broke and rear ended someone.

[Indigo_I_Rolla]

So ok, here's the thing. I hit an SUV's truck hitch at about 10mph and I'm broke. I want to fix it myself because it's not all that bad. The bumper doesn't sag, I just have this punch out of the trailer hitch on my bumper. It's not completely missing, so my first thought is Bondo.

That's basically the main damage besides some scuffing. I was thinking that if I took the bumper off, pushed that piece back into place and created a temporary stablizing plate to place behind it while I bondo'd over it and smoothed it out, I would be ok. Then I would just get some paint with the paintcode from the toyota dealership and repaint it. Then of course bondo it from the back for extra stability. I know it is sort of a long shot, but they want me to pay $706 bucks at the cheapest for a whole new front bumper and all that jaz. I wanted to know your guys' opinions before I dove off of the deep end on this one. I have a car payment comming up and I don't get paid tell monday cause my boss is on vacation. Even so, I don't have enough to buy a new front bumper, or pay to get the springs put on my car. I don't have the tools to do the springs myself, but this is something I could easily do. What are your thoughts?

[burnt03]

I vote for do it yourself.

Might use fiberglass sheeting/resin on the back instead to give it a bit of extra strength though?

[freestylez]

should be under $400 for a new bumper + paint...if not i say fix it up urself

[Chinasgotrice]

Thats seems like a pretty big area you have to fill with Bondo....
wouldnt that bondo crack after some time? I'm not sure, but I rather try the bondo way and if you mess up its not hard to break the bondo off. Better then paying $706 bucks...ripoff

[skewe]

for my camry rear bumper, they quoted $640 for a replacement bumper (spray and installed). camry though. might be slightly cheaper for rolla/.

[89TCGTS]

i would suggest some fiberglass. You could just put the piece back in place and use fiberglass on the front and back and it should be good......Bondo would probly hold it but if you so much as kick it, it'll break again. bondo gets brittle......very brittle. its ok against a solid piece but not for holding something together, and fiberglass is really easy to use just look around on the net.

[Indigo_I_Rolla]

Awesome. Thanks for the opinions guys, really helps me and my bank account. Thanks!

[REN69]

It's gonna look ugly and cheap if you've never done something like this plus is not like its a small hole.. I vote new bumper + paint = fork out money now or lose more later on when trying to sell the car.

[karugs]

Leave it that way for now. Save up some money. Then go fix it. No need to rush.

For now consider it a lesson to be learned.

[silkydraws]

Those are meant to be plastic welded. It works fine. Body shops do it all the time.

[woody]

Do NOT use fiberglass.
Use a 2 part semiflexible urethane adhesive.
This stuff is costly ($50) but is the only thing that works and sticks to the bumper material.
The glue will be black looking and will require some paint removal around the area you are going to bond, also, when you have applied it, it is a bitch to sand, and make it look right.
Also, you will have to respray the whole bumper to make it look right.

[ZXT]

Why not just get a bumper from parts yard and paint it like the color of your car? Thats prolly be cheap. Then you can try to repair your present bumper on your own time if you want.