Damaged my front lower lip / bumper

[AlexInTO]

I had a slow-speed accident in a parking lot this weekend... I was inching into a parking spot when my front end hit the curb. It just caught the lower lip of the front end and it bent backward and the stress on the pivot point resulted in a crack. I was going pretty slow, maybe 7 km/h (5 mph?), and I hit the brakes as soon as I heard the scratching sound. I immediately backed up and jumped out to check out the car but the damage was already done.

 

I felt terrible and just sat there looking at the brand new car (only 1 week old!!) with the front cracked. Since the entire front end seems to be an integrated piece, I think a repair job means replacing the entire front bumper panel. Does anyone have any idea how much this would cost? I'm trying to see if I can afford to repair something that's just cosmetic damage and would like a ballpark figure before I head to the dealership to inquire. I know the car hasn't suffered serious damage and it's not an absolute MUST to fix it but I just can't live with myself knowing that our brand new car is damaged. Suggestions?

 

(Sorry for the crappy pic. Taken with my cell phone. Car is a 2011 Fusion SE I4 Auto in Red Candy Metallic)

[mort]

Hi AlexInTO,

Tasca shows the 2010 bumper cover for about $350.

 

-mort

[drolds1]

Sorry. Having this happen to your brand -new car is really aggravating. I hate those damn high parking lot curbs. That should be repairable. I don't think the entire bumper cover needs to be replaced. There are places that specialize in this. Bumperdoc is one. Your dealer probably can point you to one of these specialists.

 

I couldn't tell you what it would cost. I'm guessing a couple of hundred, but get an estimate and decide if you can live with it or not.

Edited October 19, 2010 by drolds1

[08conFusion]

My car is dropped 1.6" and has the Street Scene Lip kit so it's extra low. Needless to say, I've become very good at pulling out of driveways and gas stations at fairly extreme angle lol. I've gotten the bumper re-painted twice now, but I definitely feel your pain though.

[tmdata]

Feel your pain! My FFH is only 6 weeks old and I caught the Undercar Shield of my Fusion Hybrid on a parking lot bumper this last weekend and tore the oil filter cover door and its insulation off! :banghead: This small rectanular part is $78 without even looking at the whole undercar shield $$ which has a couple of broken support tabs. I don't know if this plastic shield is unique to the Hybrid but it looks like it going to be hell driving thru any snow drifts or plow ruts this winter with a plastic under body!

[Blue Oval]

Unfortunately this is true about most of today's modern cars. Unless you're driving an SUV (which sits up higher off the ground) your car is subject to substantial cosmetic damage every time you park it. It has happened to me a few times so I feel your pain too. I got too close recently to a high curb while parallel parking and managed to scrape up my Hybrid's wheel rim. A similar low-speed curb contact with my previous vehicle, a Suburban, would have resulted in only a scuffed tire. I have seen numerous vehicles sustain the same front-end damage that yours did.

 

We can all thank the industry design morons who decided to lower the cars, eliminate sturdy, protective chrome bumpers and cover hidden reinforcement bars with body-color painted vinyl . . . all the while knowing they would be prone to damage resulting in expensive repairs.

[buster2209]

Yup, I've done it to my 2010 Fusion Sport.

 

I now reverse into parking spots.....

[xmech2k]

We can all thank the industry design morons who decided to lower the cars, eliminate sturdy, protective chrome bumpers and cover hidden reinforcement bars with body-color painted vinyl . . . all the while knowing they would be prone to damage resulting in expensive repairs.

 

While frustrating for the reasons you mention, I believe these design changes were mostly for aerodynamics and weight savings in the name of MPG and the increased performance we expect nowadays. Not to mention, maybe safer due to the change in mentality from lots of metal between you and everything else, to crumple zones. And I'm sure money could have a lot to do with it, too!

[dabige]

I feel your pain. Mine also happened in a parking lot, except mine was about 4 months in and happened while backing out of a parking spot. I was backing out extra carefully to avoid the person next to me. The gem of a lady next to me decided to leave her driver's door wide open while she loaded the back of her SUV. She knew full-well I was going to be backing out but lacked the consideration to shut her door. As I was just about to put the car back in drive, I heard a loud smack from the back end. :banghead: A guy backed into the left rear corner of my bumper. How can you not see a car that is fully backed-out of a parking spot?? :finger: I must admit it sounded much worse than it looked...just minor cosmetic damage, (if the car had been a couple years older, I wouldn't have cared as much). I took it to a couple body shops, (one of which even touched the scratch up with a little touch-up paint...the gouge looked 100x better just with that little bit); estimates ranged $500-600. All that for basically a repaint; thanks to the labor for having to remove and reinstall the rear assist sensors.

 

Still can't help but think of the irony that I was trying to avoid damaging my car and ended up worse for it. If only I had been a split-second quicker shifting to drive. :waiting:

[Snail]

Feel your pain! My FFH is only 6 weeks old and I caught the Undercar Shield of my Fusion Hybrid on a parking lot bumper this last weekend and tore the oil filter cover door and its insulation off! :banghead: This small rectanular part is $78 without even looking at the whole undercar shield $$ which has a couple of broken support tabs. I don't know if this plastic shield is unique to the Hybrid but it looks like it going to be hell driving thru any snow drifts or plow ruts this winter with a plastic under body!

So did you get this fixed and what was the repair cost the same thing happened to me.

[tmdata]

Yes, most of the damage was limited to "Oil filter door" or cover. I ordered it from a friend and replaced it myself. I had to fix/glue the main under shield bracket that the new door attached to. I don't know what Ford would have charged to replace it but they may not have repaired the main under shield and charge me for a complete replacement. The small door was about $70 and it took me about an hour all told.