On this very sour note I messed up yesterday and bumped into a low invisible curb. I was turning into a parking lot and somehow the sun's caught my windshield at just the right angle to put up a sheet of glare that was made it very difficult to see into the dark garage I was turning into. The temporary blindness was just for a sec or so, but I couldn't see the low curb that was at the corner of the entrance.

Just the bottom end of my bumper/air dam caught it just above the black rubber plastic strip so it hit metal and bent the lower part enough that its rubbing the front tire. I was going no more than 2 miles an hour, no air bag was deployed.

I'm very mad at myself, grr. So looking at the damage I'm guessing about $1500 to repair. But then that's for a normal car, including the Porsche tax $3000? Probably will have to replace the whole bumper, though none of the lights appear to be damaged.

I live in Redondo Beach. Can anyone recommend a good body shop that can handle a bumper repair on my car? I may have them respray the hood to fix all the nicks and chips from road debris that have collected over the years.

Thanks, Derek

 

In San Diego, West Coast Specialities -- very good work!

 

Just messed up my front bumper. I was quoted $2400, but that includes reapplying the clearbra. The OEM bumper is $1385. I am using this as an opportunity to go Aerokit and adding the GT3 air vent. You can get an Aerokit bumper for $1472 (less than $100 more that the original)
BTW mine is a 997.1 so price might be different if you have a 997.2

 

I went to a local place based on the recommendation of a friend who is a mechanic. I got a quote of $2154, with the option to go higher. He thinks that one of the radiators might be damaged and won't be able to tell until after the bumper is off. The bumper price he quoted was about $1400.

Do you have a link to this Aerokit bumper? What is the advantage of it over the OEM one?

I kinda wish I had a clearbra on my car, the hood has many little nicks and stone chips in it. I asked him about reparing those and he said he didn't think the cost was justifiable, kinda talked me out of it because there was so much labor involved and blending the paint with the front fenders.

Derek

 

Suncoast has the Aerokit here - http://www.suncoastparts.com/product//997777.html
I am getting mine through Sunset in Portland, OR. It is a little less with a PCA discount and they are local, so no shipping. The Aerokit is a more aggressive front bumper. Not a real benefit other than aesthetics.

 

Hi Derek. I have had a Lexus and an Acura done at Ron's autobody shop in old torrance. The Lexus was a full front white section, (I killed my wife's car in an accident but that's another story). The Acura was was a simple door key scratch (black). They did a very good job. They are a little OCD which you can tell when you walk in.

Sorry about your car, good luck with the repair

Tim

 

Try jack and Jim's in El segundo. They do quick good work