Front bumper repair/replace

[Babw]

Hi guys,

just wondering what the consensus was on the cumulative front bumper damaged my Z4M roadster has sustained over the years? Is it worth reshaping the fangs or just replace? Will the reshaped parts be weaker, I'm going to attach some RPI style fang protectors whatever I do.

I haven't scraped the front (afaik) for months and then it happened twice this week. The drivers side fang has the majority of the scraping, the cover/plastic trim on the underside was cracked and held together with zip ties when I purchased.

Anyone know what this part is called/part number (second pic)?

It's going for an inspection 2 on Saturday, Bilstein B12 with Eibach will be fitted so it'll be a bit lower again. I want to get it looking super for the summer and want to get the paint sorted then possibly wrap it to keep things interesting. It's just over 30k miles but has significant stone chips to the bumper so it's time to get some paintwork done.

 

[srhutch]

Bodyshop should be able to sort that out for you if you don't fancy fixing yourself.

No reason to buy new.

 

[Babw]

It'll be a bodyshop that's working on it.

Just some concern over attaching skid plates to a filler repaired area and repeated abrasion may damage/deform the filler. Also these bumpers seem to have some resale value so potentially reduced labour to smooth down and prime will negate some of the cost of buying a pre primed bumper from BMW. Also I want it to be perfect regardless of a few hundred pounds.

Will pop down to the bodyshop and get their take on it as well.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Without doubt repair and respray. Even if you buy new you'll scrape it again soon enough

 

[Babw]

Without doubt repair and respray. Even if you buy new you'll scrape it again soon enough

As much as I'd like to believe that I'm the most considerate car owner in the world, reality has proven otherwise! It is very much likely to happen especially as the car will be an inch or so lower.

The body shop mentioned melting plastic and reforming the taper on the edge of the fang, he seemed confident of building it better than new so will give it a go.

Thinking of a satin blue wrap with black mirrors and hardtop roof.

 

[nick_z4]

Bodyshop should be able to sort that out for you if you don't fancy fixing yourself.

No reason to buy new.

Mine need looking at as well, I heard the dreaded crunch from a low kerb the other day and low and behold there's another fang scuff!

I'll be taking mine down to a bodyshop to get it done soon.

 

[srhutch]

Without doubt repair and respray. Even if you buy new you'll scrape it again soon enough

As much as I'd like to believe that I'm the most considerate car owner in the world, reality has proven otherwise! It is very much likely to happen especially as the car will be an inch or so lower.

The body shop mentioned melting plastic and reforming the taper on the edge of the fang, he seemed confident of building it better than new so will give it a go.

Thinking of a satin blue wrap with black mirrors and hardtop roof.

Plastic welding, if they do that it will be like new. The under tray that has cracked needs replacing really but that has no affect on the bumper which is minor damage.

 

[zmaster007]

Slightly OT, but I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the B12 kit

 

[Babw]

Slightly OT, but I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the B12 kit

The air suspension on our A6 estate decided to self destruct, the car is just outside the warranty and Audi wanted a ridiculous amount to fix it so I decided to go for the B12 kit. The difference is remarkable, so much control yet so supple over larger bumps. It is a little firmer day to day but on the whole an improvement in every way. I can only imagine it'll be an even bigger improvement on the Z4 as the suspension must be made of some kind of non pliable/solid material. It makes my GTR feel like an S class :|

 

[zmaster007]

Yeah the B12 kits generally get good reviews, but because it's a spring/damper combo with no height adjustment, I want to see how the car sits before I put it on my car! Would love to get rid of the nose up stance