Got my car back last night... new OEM rear bumper and the bracing/supports behind it and new OEM muffler and headers (which is amazing quiet after my BB exhaust) and lots of little things like new heat shields and misc parts.

The repair center (MB collision in Cincinnati) wanted to paint from the doors back to fade in the bumper - I said no way - better to have a bumper that may not match exactly than to have a car that's half repainted. So they just painted the bumper and there's no paint work to the quarter panels and it matches just fine. I need new exhaust tips (mine are scratched), but that's it.

Really happy with the result:

 

Looks mint now!

 

I would have painted the bumper warts too

 

Looks perfect!

 

Looks good now.... but why not a techart rear bumper>?

 

Because the OEM bumper cover was $1700 and the techart was 2 or 3 times that.

 

Wow $1700 is insane....

... I guess it's too late but did you ever consider picking up a used one pre-painted?

 

I more than considered it - that's what I wanted to do and I had the used parts sourced, but MB wouldn't use used parts and do the repair the way I wanted which was to not repaint the quarter panels. Said they "would not participate in the repair".

So I could save some money with the used parts, but then I'd have to tow the car some place else and find some one else to do the work and it had been about 4 weeks already. So I sucked it up and paid for new parts. I don't think I could regret going with new.

 

Looks great, I happy your happy, not get out and start driving it!

 

I'd have totaled that pup.

I kid, I kid... looks really good. Given the minimal damage (visually) in the inset before pic, this was a good call.

The bumper really only lines up with the body for that short 12" line from wheel well to the light. Good decision to skip the total rear repaint. (BTW, you'd be looking at $1200per fender to paint, and totally removing the quarter glass!

A

 

Was there any damage to the turbos?

 

looks like they did a great job!

 

glad to hear youre happy! Most of my experiences with bodyshops never come out positive on the first try. THe only thing that concerns me is the gap between the trunk lid and the bumper... That space looks a bit large.