Trd Front Lip (And "sports" Grille)

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

Use the Photobucket app from the app store (free). You can upload pics from the camera roll and copy and paste an image link into the forum post

Your just full of useful information today fella.... Lol!!

Thanks. Will take some photos of the bumper close up tomorrow and post them on here. See what you think. :)

[matt-c]

No worries ;)

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

Ok so here's some pics as requested. Hope the links work as I've never used photo bucket before :)

My IS:-

http://i1247.photobu...rt/8443a1e5.jpg

As you can see from a distance looks in great condition :)

Smashed mesh:-

http://i1247.photobu...rt/b6441f73.jpg

http://i1247.photobu...rt/e63917ab.jpg

Tar marks on front bumper:-

http://i1247.photobu...rt/2289cf81.jpg

Impossible to clean these off, believe me I've tried!

Scratches around headlamps:-

http://i1247.photobu...rt/4f042147.jpg

These may be stress marks not scratches but they annoy the hell out of me and really show up in the sun.

Stone chips:-

http://i1247.photobu...rt/f50cd214.jpg

These are all over the front bumper, hundreds of them!

Scratched edges, prob from speed bumps. Both sides are like this :-

http://i1247.photobu...rt/ac1cae58.jpg

[matt-c]

There is nothing wrong with that bumper. Mesh is easily replaceable - you can pick up mesh from most auto spares shops, or on eBay, for next to nothing (and if it's not the right colour, spray it). Other than that, it's surface marks. Can't see any cracks or anything "broken" on that bumper. Any decent body shop could sand and respray that for a fraction of the cost of a new one (and you could get them to fit the mesh too if you weren't feeling confident enough to do it yourself. I've done it to loads of cars - cut it to fit but oversized (and inch or so all the way round, where it permits) then use a decent bond compound or fibreglass resin; layer some on the back of the bumper, lay the mesh on, position, slap some more gunk on the mesh, smooth over and leave to dry. Done)

[matt-c]

By the way, if you choose the links with the tags, and paste those in, the pics will show as actual pictures instead of links ;)

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

Reason I wanted a new one is that I thought I could pick up one for about £50 on fleabay and fitting a new one would be easier than a repair. I guess I can't get one for that price :(

When you start talking about cutting mesh myself and bond compound and fibreglass resin I have absolutely no idea what your talking about! Lol.... All this goes way over my head! I'm not mechanically minded or practical in any way. I can change brake pads, oil and air filters, Battery and thats about it!

I'm gonna take it to the local body shop I drive past everyday and see what they say.

Thanks for the help and tip on putting photos up :)

[matt-c]

Mate, if you can do brake and oil changes, you can cut and glue a but of mesh in!

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

Mate, if you can do brake and oil changes, you can cut and glue a but of mesh in!

Lol I like the confidence you have in me! :)

Nah I don't fancy doing that. I had to be shown how to do the filters a few times and brake pads I still won't attempt without my mate around to help! :)

Anyway local body shop will put it back as new for £150 inc VAT. Does that sound good to you?

They quoted me £1700 for a full re spray and I can choose from from pretty much any colour I want! Ouch! Won't be doing that. The paint is £320 a litre and will need just over 4 litres. The rest is labour charge!

[matt-c]

If the £150 is to supply new mesh, fit it, sand, prep, prime and spray the whole bumper, then that's not bad.

They said £1700 for a full re spray with any colour you want? That's an amazing deal, as a colour change is a HUGE task - you have to strip the engine bay, all the interior including roof lining, carpet, all the wiring, all the boot trims, the doors need to be stripped of door pads, window mechs etc. I'm guessing for £1700 they won't be doing any of that, and unless you're having a full colour change (ie, everything above) then I wouldn't do it. I mean, who would want a red (for example) car on the outside, but when you open a door, or the bonnet, you can see the original silver paint?

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

Yeah £150 all in. Mesh included.

£1700 was silver he just said at the end that I could change colour if I wanted but by that point the £1700 had scared me and I just wanted to get out of there! Lol...

Never went into detail about another colour. After what you said I think it would be a lot more than £1700 if done properly.

I re sprayed my MG metro turbo for £500 when I was 17 (20 years ago now). I had it done in purple by some cowboys. When you opened the doors, bonnet or boot the metal inside was the original white. Looked rubbish! Lol :)