QuestionQUESTION: Hi, great site.
I had a fender bender in an icy parking lot today. No damage to my 93 Oldsmobile but I bumped into the left rear bumper of a 2004 Saturn View. No visual damage to the outside of the Saturn but in the wheel well the plastic right behind the wheel was cracked and a small half fist size piece fell out.
This black plastic is part of the lower bumper that gives it kind of a two tone look and is one piece that continues into the wheel well. Overall this was pretty minor and not even visible from the outside. But I told the guy I would look after it. No need for an an official claim.
Now if I had to replace this entire bottom piece of the rear bumper, what would the cost? Probably pretty pricey. About the only other repair option I could think of would be to install a new piece of plastic over it. Maybe even install a splash guard of some sort that would cover and hold it all together.
Any advice appreciated.
Regards,
Randy
ANSWER: Replace the rear bumper would cost about $380.00 You don't really want to cobble somebodys car that you hit do you.
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QUESTION: Hi, thanks very much for your reply.
$380, that sounds like a pretty good price. Is that just the part or would that be an installed price?
You are right, I don't want to cobble over correcting something that was my fault. I want to do the right thing but I need to educate myself. They say you should get 3 opinions/quotes.
The owner of the other vehicle has already received a quote from a body shop in Newmarket, Ontario for $800.00 CDN (installed) but he'll take $400.00 to "forget about it". That tells me he is willing to live with it and pocket the cash. Know what I mean? Since the damage isn't noticeable from the outside, maybe the body shop he spoke with gave him a full new part price but said they could do something else for $100.
As far as the plastic in the wheel well goes, frankly I'm surprised that something that breaks so easily can actually stand up to the stuff that gets thrown off a Canadian tire in winter. Why wouldn't they have steel there?
Thanks again for your help and your website. There doesn't seem to be many places like this on the web.
Cheers,
Randy
Answer That was the price installed not painted. If the bumper is painted, add about $250.00. $800.00 is way too much. That bumper list price OEM is only $305.00 and the labor is only 1.2 hours plus paint. Is the car a Red Line model? If so, it's painted.
$400.00 is cheap.
