Ok, bad news... Saturday some turd head hit my car in the parking lot. What happened was when he pulled into his stall he pulled too far forward and it my bumper with is. Not only did he not hit it, but he didn't pull back away or tell me. Ok, so I'm in the bowling shop (at the bowling alley) talking to a client (who owns the place). In walks the guy who hit me and does business with my client (bought a bowling ball), then went and bowled. Meanwhile I leave and go to my car. I put the car in reverse and then release the e-brake (normally when I park I put the e-brake on, then put the car in neutral, then release the brake, then put the car in park). When I do this my car moves back a little and his car moves towards me, ok, not good is what runs through my head, so I put the I put the e-brake on, then put the car in neutral, then release the brake, then put the car in park and get out to inspect, sure enough, this turd heads car is pressed tight against mine. So I get my camera out and take pictures (we'll see if they turn out), get all the info I can, then go in and have the owner of the car description paged. We go out and I back the car away, there's a deep scratch on the bumper about 1.5 inches long, then a few light indentations from his license plate frame in my bumper right next to the center detail line. I look, he looks, he says he doesn't see anything (he's old, and obviously doesn't see well or he wouldn't have hit me). I get his info, and I have to take his drivers license number based on good faith because he doesn't have his license with him. So, after that I take more pictures, then go home and call my insurance.... I'll see what happens with the adjuster. So, the bad news is some guy hit my car in the parking lot, good news is that I caught the guy too (very rare for parking lot situations)!!!!

My question to you guys would be, do I bother having the bumper removed and repainted? What kind of warranty on labor and paint stipulations do I put on the repair shop (I want to have atleast the same coverage as my Acura warranty)? And do I ask for a new bumper or have them put that plastic filler on the indentations in the bumper (right over the center detail crease)? Suggests please....

 

How deep is the scratch? Is it really deep into the plastic, or just through the paint? How wide is it? Width of a penny or a razor blade?

You can very effectively sand it down and have it re-painted, clearcoated and "baked". I've had this done, it is about $300 if you find a good bodyshop to do it as an out-of-pocket job. $500 if they know insurance is paying.

You really don't want the plastic filler. You will be much better off having a bodyshop sand and paint. I believe a new bumper cover is over $1100.

 

I don't know much about auto repairs, but I do know one thing: Unless it is your fault, never ever settle for plastic filler on your bumper.

 

At this point I'm trying to decide as to whether or not I'm going to fix it. It's not my fault and I have the guy so I know my comprehensive policy won't have to cover it, it'll come from his collision policy. I know that if I do have the work done then I'm surely going to demand a new bumper cover and that it come from the dealer only.

I'm considering taking the cash and buying a bra for the car, then using that to keep things like stones from messing the car up (kinda preventative measures), then at the end of the lease put the front license plate cover on and that'll cover the scratches up. They're not bad, they're about 1/32th of an inch wide. I wish I had a picture of a Satin Silver 99 through 2001 TL with the Acura bra on it as that would make my decision easier. I'm not sure silver and black will mesh that good and if I'll like the look. So, does anyone have a picture of a 99, 2000, or 2001 Silver TL with the bra that I could see, thanks!!!!

 

Unfortunately, you'll have a very hard time getting a new bumper cover for what you have described, but give it a shot. They will likely cut you a check for the repair estimate, which depending on where you live is about $500. As I said, someone can do it for about $300 if you tell them it is out of pocket. Take the difference and buy the bra.

You'll have to decide if you like the look or not, but the water-based paint our Acura's are painted with are soft and chip easily (as I'm sure you've seen). If nothing else, the bra is a resale investment.

To ease your concerns, I worked in the Marysville and East Liberty factory for a few years (and worked on the 99-01 TL's) as a production engineer, and I can assure you this is how they get fixed at the factory when we scratch one. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

 

Wow, cool, you worked at the Marysville plant? Yeah, I'm very much considering taking the cash and putting it in my pocket, then fixing it closer to the end of my lease because I know it's going to get knicked by a rock or bug eventually, and most likely Honda will make me pay if it's excessive at which point I could use that money to cover the cost then or have the bumper repainted. I've got a lot of choices so I'm gonna think a lot about it. Hopefully I'll find a nose mask picture, if not since I know the owners of the dealership maybe they'll let me put the mask on before I buy it (they have one in stock, but they are higher than Tim by $40). Thanks for your input!

 

You might be interested to know....

If your lease is through Honda, they give you a little breathing room on damage.

Quoting from the lease on my 2001 Accord (I bought the TL)...
"I remain responsible for damage from any single event that would cost $500 or more to repair. However, for damage from any single event that totals below $500, American Honda Finance Corp. will waive up to $1500 of excess wear and use charges for the total of these single events."

Clarifying, multiple chips to your bumper that occured at different times count as a single event, as it is the same piece of plastic.

Just an FYI

 

Yeah, I think I'm going to just use the money to buy the nose mask to prevent further damage, then when it's time to turn the car in (if I do) then I'll just put the front plate back on and that will cover the damage.

 

Update: I've contacted their insurance company and they're paying for everything and I've got the shop lined up too. As to whether I'll get a new bumper or whether they'll patch it I'm not sure at this point and I'm really not sure if I should demand a new bumper cover....