In this video I run through how to repair a crack in a plastic bumper bar in a complete DIY Do It Yourself method.All you need is a heat gun. Boil a full kettle of water (you will likely need to go and refill the kettle a few times). Lay the towel over the area that you want to work on and gradually pour the boiling water on the towel being sure to keep your hands out of the way.
97% of car bumpers on the roads today are made from plastic for two reasons, 1) Cheap to produce and replace. 2) Easy to repair. The old style metal bumpers were more expensive to manufacture and costly to repair. The other types of bumpers you can get are generally found on high end sports or luxury models and are produced out of Fibre Glass or Carbon Fibre, these style of bumpers drastically reduce the cars overall weight which increase the cars performance but are expensive to repair or replace.
The plastic bumpers are generally held onto the cars chassis with clips or bolts that can be easily removed in minutes. Most accidental collision damage on cars occur on the most protruding part of the car like the front and rear plastic bumpers so it makes sense that this part of the cars bodywork can be replaced or repaired at low cost.
How we differ from body shops or accident repair centres when it comes to fixing plastic bumpers is down to the methods we use in their repair. Below are some examples of plastic bumper damage and the repair methods we (Mobile Car Body Repair Service) would use compared to a body shops and rough estimates for costs on both.
Crack Repair on Plastic Bumper
As you can see from the photo above the crack on the plastic bumper is quite severe. Some body shops would just replace the bumper for a new one, respray and blend in the adjoining panels; others would staple the bumper and respray the whole component and blend up the adjoining panels. As a Smart Repair Service we would plastic weald the crack back together, plastic fill any imperfections, spray a localised area and blend in on the same panel. The body shops approach on both possible repair methods would require them to keep the car for up to 3 days while our technique can be carried out at your home or place of work and be completed within 3 hours
This crack on the plastic bumper took us just under 3 hours to fix. Average costs for bumper crack are around £120 - £180 while body shops would be around £350 - £450
Scuff repair on Plastic Bumper
A body shop would just respray the entire bumper and possible blend up the adjoining panels. We would just repair and respray the damaged area and blend in on the same panel. Body shops would require the car for 24-48 hours we can fix the plastic bumper repair at your home within 2 hours.
This scuff on the plastic bumper took us just under 2 hours to fix. Average costa for bumper scuffs are around £95 - £150 while body shops would be around £300 - £400
If you need a quote on a Plastic Bumper thats been scraped or scratched and live within Hertfordshire Essex and North London give us a call on 08000778832 or fill out our Plasic Bumper Repair Quote form
How to Repair A Cracked Bumper
Car bumpers can crack for several reasons, but most commonly because the car has collided with something unexpectedly. A minor collision with a bollard or high kerb can cause a bumper scuff, bumper scratch or even a bumper crack. Most modern Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) bumpers are made from plastic with a steel reinforcement bar hidden in the centre, so the plastic bumper may easily crack if damaged.
Bumpers that are cracked or dented can not only look unsightly but can also be a safety risk. Fixing damage to your bumper is imperative, as a cracked bumper can’t necessarily absorb impact as well as an undamaged bumper can. Find out more on why you should get your bumper repaired here.
How To Fix Plastic Bumpers
Bumper repair over replace
A cracked bumper does not always mean that the whole bumper needs replacing. SMART car body repair specialists can often repair minor bumper cracks and scuffs, saving time and money.
DIY Bumper Repair Kit
In some cases, bumper scratches or scuffs can be repair at home, with a DIY repair kit. However, if your bumper is split or cracked, it is recommended that you speak to a professional. Attempting a cracked bumper repair with no experience could lead to further costly complications.
For step by step instructions on how to use a bumper repair kit, read our guide here.
Professional Bumper Repairs
How To Repair Cracked Plastic Bumper Bar
Most ChipsAway specialists offer bumper repairs, either on your driveway, workplace or at one of our conveniently placed Car Care Centres. ChipsAway specialists offer professional and convenient cracked bumper repairs, which save time and the cost of a replacement bumper.
Plastic Bumper Repair Kit Autozone
At ChipsAway, we specialise in SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair) bumper repairs, which means specialists don’t always need to replace or remove the whole bumper. Instead we conduct a highly focused bumper scratch, scuff or crack repair and blend the repair into the surrounding area.
Plastic Bumper Repair Kit
- Our specialists begin by cleaning the area, to access the damage.
- Then the damage is repaired by heating, sanding or filling the bumper.
- Once the bumper is repaired, the area is then primed and cured with a specialist heat lamp.
- Once the damage has been primed, ChipsAway specialists mix the colour code in their mobile workshop using a spectrophotometer to ensure a perfect colour match.
- The repaired bumper is then resprayed, lacquered and cured with heat lamps.
- Once the repair is dry, the area is polished to ensure the bumper looks as good as new.
How To Repair A Cracked Plastic Car Bumper
So, if you have a cracked, scuffed or scratched bumper, contact your local ChipsAway specialist today for a free no-obligation estimate.