Front bumper partially pulled off!!!!!

[bmwrocks]

Pulled up to a parking spot, it had one of those concrete low barriers at the end of it. No big deal right? WRONG!!!!!!!

I get out , go about my business, get back in, put her in reverse and I hear this HORRIBLE GRINDING SCRUNCHING NOISE.

I get out and my bumper is hanging off the car on the left side!!!

I get out and notice it is caught in a protruding piece of rebar (sticking up 2 or so inches from flush) from the concrete thing. So I pry it off from where it is hung up, tears rolling down my face.....

Anyway there is only plastic damage, no body damage at all thank God.

Bad news is, the two plastic loops on the bumper part are ripped clean through, as are two attachment areas on the lower left black plastic underneath. SUCKS SO BAD.

So the bumper will not reattach. The lower plastic part is one peice all the way across the front so I am afraid I am going to have to buy the whole front piece (and one black plastic piece underneath.

I am hoping they can salvage all the honeycomb black pieces, reflectors, etc. from the damaged one.

Does anyone have any info or experience with this kind of damage????

I AM SO BUMMED OUT, the car has only 1300 miles on it, one month old.

 

[vlad]

Sorry to hear that! I know how you must feel, that has been one of my big concerns with my BMW. I usually end up parking 18"-24" away from curbs just because of that!

The parts that you mentioned should be able to be reused, unless they're permanently adhered to the bumper skin.

 

[MrElussive]

Yeah, you have to be careful. When you pull into parking lots or whatever, make sure you go slow so you don't bottom out. Also, you have to remember that your car probably won't clear a lot of parking curbs. Sorry about that bad luck, but hey, at least you won't ever forget to be more careful next time !!

 

[bmwrocks]

I don't think any of the parts are permanently adhered to the skin, everything seems as if it snaps together and/or fastens together with clips and screws.

I am worried that the skin is going to cost a small fortune, not to mention the labor to take it all apart and put it back together again.

I am of course going to take it to the BMW Center as I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it.

As far as insurance goes, this is covered under collision ($500 deductible for me). I will probably make a claim if the cost runs more than $1000 to fix it.


Funny thing about this is I have owned a low clearance vehicle since 1999 and am very conscious of where I park.

Yet another lesson learned the hard way.

You know I went back and looked at the parking lot where this happened and NOT ONE other parking spot has the problem that killed me!!!! Only that one spot has the rebar sticking up, and I parked there. SON OF A BEACH!!!!!!!

 

[Tom]

Sorry to hear man, I think that is also one of the main reasons I dont like letting someone else drive my car. Most people just don't know how low the BMW front ends are.

 

[codex57]

plus, they have those weird black plastic pieces below the bumper lowering your ground clearance even more. Didn't realize those existed until I scratched them on one of those concrete curb thingies at the end of a parking space.

 

[Tom]

haha...that pic is funny Codex.

 

[Dan]

Those flaps in front of the wheels are appearance only - they make the car look lower. They will not clear most curbs, and if they get caught, they can pull the bumper out which happened to you. I cut the flaps off on my car.

 

[BMWCA]

If you have the time and energy, try this...
Find out who owns the property where you parked. Then, perhaps through the city, try to find out if there is a building code regulation as to how high the curbs must be (your library may have a copy of the local building code. If you have any friends that are architects, they would also have access to a copy of the book). There may be a maximum height. There also may be a requirement for the rebar to be cut flush with the top of the concrete curb. If there are, then you may be able to contact the owner and prove that they are liable for any damages due to their property not meeting local building codes. If you do decide to persue this, take pictures of the curb and the property, damage, etc. This may take a lot of time so if you think it's worth saving the $$$ go for it! Good luck.

 

[bmwrocks]

Actually my bumper got caught before the black plastic flap on that side made contact.

Are you sure those black flaps are non-functional?

I suspect they may be some sort of airfoil to improve overall drag numbers.

I also have them on my 03 Corolla, and I am relatively sure they are not for looks on the Toyota.

 

[bmwrocks]

Thanks for the idea BMWCA. I am going to take your advice and take pictures.

BTW it was in a Burger King parking lot about a mile from my house. At worst my insurance company may want to make that case with the BK.

Great idea.

 

[mscoins]

Those flaps in front of the wheels are appearance only

I believe they help direct air around the lower part of the tire as part of the aerodynamics of the car; therefore, they are functional in my opinion.

 

[bmwrocks]

I have an appointment at the BMW Center tomorrow morning to get an estimate on the repairs.....I'll let you know what happens.

 

[Dan]

I believe they help direct air around the lower part of the tire as part of the aerodynamics of the car; therefore, they are functional in my opinion.

May well be. My mechanic (non-dealership) routinely snips them off. I will take the higher drag over driving a car without a front bumper.

 

[bmwrocks]

I looked closely at the "black flap" and calling it a black flap does not do it justice. It is actually an airfoil shaped like a quarter circle (on left side, arc starts at front left and arcs toward center rear) directing air around each front tire.

I have come to learn that everything on these cars has a purpose and was well thought out, and if you take the time to think about how or why any feature works, you will understand how these cars are engineered so well.

No offense Dan, but if your mechanic ever "routinely" snipped anything off either of my BMWs, I would routinely snip off his nutsack!!!

 

[bmwrocks]

She is fixed now, total price $215.

There was a skilled body shop guy (about 50 years old) at the dealership who was able to epoxy the skin back onto the bumper and refit and secure all the plastic farings underneath.

There is still the gouge on the underside of the skin of course, but it cannot be seen unless you look under the car.

They told me this is a one time fix, and if something like this ever happens again, they would have to replace the outer skin.

BTW I really like my dealership (Fields BMW, Winter Park, FL). They are friendly, courteous, prompt and the service dept. is excellent.

 

[mscoins]

Good to read that the damage to your wallet wasn't bad and you are happy with the dealership, something that makes a world of difference in maintaining the car.