The car is about 3 weeks old and a stone got me!

It is the lense right next to the fog light on the driver's side. Any ideas on how hard it is to replace? Is it s viable DIY job or do I have to go to the dealer? Maybe a body shop? I wonder what it costs to replace?

 

Easy DIY Don't pay for a tech.

 

how do I access it? Do I have to take off the bumper? Any directions?

 

Is it just craked or actually broken?

 

The lense is broken with plastic pieces inside. I stopped by my favorite body shop and they declined the work. The dealer said it would cost a little over $200 for the part and labor. They say they have to take off the bumper cover to get at it. Does that sound right?

 

post pictures.

 

I don't know how to post a picture. It is clearly broken. It must have been a rock about the size of a quarter that hit it.

 

I would try to do it yourself first. If it's too complicated I'm sure a local shop mechanics could do it for you. That will suck if they made it that difficult to change.

 

I have the same problem on mine but mine is a spider crack, can't even feel it if you run your fingers across it. So I decided to leave it and it has been good for almost a year now.

But, in the first few days after the crack I was investigating the exploded diagrams on Bernardi's website. The part is around $90. It appears that it's an easy replacement. I doubt you have to remove the front bumper.

From what I saw on the diagram it's held in there with a single bolt. The other end is kind of dovetailed into a recess or some hook and latch set up.

If you craw under the front bumper, you can see the single bolt and it appears that you have lots of room to work. Look for a 10-15mm hex bolt.

Of course, this is all speculation on my part as I didn't actually perform the replacment. But that's what it appears from what I saw on the diagram.

I would give it shot and you can always tell the dealer to do it if you can't. It's not like the car will be disabled if you goof up. Worse case if you foobar it, use some duct tape to hold it until you get it to the dealer.

 

That's why I asked earlier if it was cracked or broken. I have a cracked fog light on the Maxima and what I did was order the Lamin-X protective film and put it on so it would not get worse and protect it if it gets hit again.

 

I got it fixed at the dealer for $165 all in including tax. Back in business again. Washed, waxed and ready to go.

 

With State Farm insurance you can set your deductible for your Comprehensive coverage (fire, wind & theft) as low as $50 without significantly affecting the cost of your policy. (Comp. coverage is relatively cheap) Most auto insurance carriers won't let you have separate deductibles (St. Farm is the only one I know of). Anyway, a Comprehensive claim does not affect your rate or claims history, just don't abuse it else you could get cancelled. Besides fire, wind & theft, and flood loss, "Comp" also covers your headlight & taillight lenses and all glass. Over the course of the last 30 years with State Farm they have replaced 3 windshields, 1 complete taillight assembly and 1 complete car (a Lexus LS-430 that my wife drove into a flooded underpass) all with only $50 co-pay each time. $50 deductible comp coverage is one of the best kept secrets of having State Farm car insurance. (our collision deductible is $1000).

 

Coincidentally, an update. I just received the renewal notice in the mail yesterday along with an "important notice" about not-at-fault accidents or claims, in other words, Comprehensive claims.

What the notice boils down to is saying that 3 such "comp" claims occurring in any consecutive 36 month period can result in my deductible (for Comp) being increased to $250 (or the next higher increment than my current deductible. Ergo as I said above, the protection is there but don't make a habit of filing this type of claim.