Bumper Replacement

[tms90]

Hey community, I've got some bad news... despite having a 2012 regal premium three with back up assist, I backed straight up into cement poll and really did a number on my bumper.

Does anyone know the best most cost effective way to get it replaced? I believe I have the carbon metallic black paint. Also, does anyone know if regals are easy to come by in junk yards or collision lots. I feel like that would be cheaper and easier than buying a primered bumper and having it paint matched etc.

Also on the off chance anyone has one to sell, please shoot me an offer!! I'm in Iowa

Sorry if this belongs in the buy/sell thread. I wasn't sure if anyone looks at that anymore.

Thanks!

 

[MelsRegal]

Your best bet is to contact a junkyard that can check not only what they have but other yards inventory also. You do realize trying to find the same color makes it more difficult but it would be the less costly approach either way. You don't have collision insurance?

 

[James Fogg]

I just hit a raccoon on Friday. Cracked the bottom of my front bumper. So, comprehensive claim and $300 deductible later and I'll have a new cover.

 

[Walt G]

The junk yards by me that say they can search the inventory of other yards are just using www.car-part.com

You can use that web site yourself to search for parts, but it's not very user friendly. Often I can't find something and then my guy at the junk yard can because he knows what other names the part would be under. The site has a giant drop down menu of part names... you'll see if you try using it. It can be difficult to figure out what to look for. But 'bumper cover (rear)' is pretty clear.... or is it? If you search for that selection, you find pretty much nothing. But instead pick 'bumper assy' and you get quite a few hits.

And even after I find a part there are often a bunch of three-letter-acronyms used to describe it that only a junk-yard worker could love.

I put in a central Iowa zip code and found 2 or 3 in 'black' within a couple hundred miles. Probably worth a phone call to confirm color and condition before driving out there. You just might get lucky and find one for less than your deducible (before they raise your rates for making the claim).

This description in Stillwater, MN (for example): *** GRADE A- ***, 3S0.5, 5S0.5, *** COMPLETE ASSEMBLY ***, BLACK, $285. 212 miles from dead-center Iowa. My junk yard guy might know what that 3S0.5 crap means. If that was driving distance from me, I'd call up the place.

Good luck.

EDIT: figured out the 3S0.5 stuff... for bumpers, they divide the cover into 6 segments from left to right... the '3' means segment 3, which is just left of center. S means 'surface scratch', and 0.5 means the scratch is 1/2 of a bumper scratch unit long (???). So I guess it's got two scratches on it.