Body Work - DIY?
#1
Body Work - DIY?
I clipped the edge of a telephone pole and my entire bumper & grill came flying off of my 2001 Toyota Highlander. The bumper is fine except for the fact that the little holes which are used to attach the bumper to the rest of the car are torn through. The grill has a bit of a crack in it, and the holes which hold the grill onto the car are also torn through.
Body shop claims that I need a whole new bumper & grill despite the fact that mine look fantastic (except for the 'hole' issue).
Is there a way that I can reenforce the holes or punch holes in a new spot *OR* attach a reenforcement strip along the edge where the holes are and drill holes in the reenforcement strip and fix things that way? I just can't bear the thought of $1K in repairs for my own stupidity. Also, I'd hate for the bumper & grill to go into a landfill since they're really in good condition.... I'm looking at them right now in my living room
Please provide any suggestions or advice on how I can turn this into a cheap DIY. Please note that I'm about to sell this car within the next 2 weeks to six months (depending on whether I get a car off the lot - 2 weeks - or if I order a Mini Cooper, which will take 6 mos), so I'm not as worried about longevity of my fix. I will, of course, disclose to new buyer what I did & they can decide if they want to go to body shop themselves & fix it "right".
Thanks!
Body shop claims that I need a whole new bumper & grill despite the fact that mine look fantastic (except for the 'hole' issue).
Is there a way that I can reenforce the holes or punch holes in a new spot *OR* attach a reenforcement strip along the edge where the holes are and drill holes in the reenforcement strip and fix things that way? I just can't bear the thought of $1K in repairs for my own stupidity. Also, I'd hate for the bumper & grill to go into a landfill since they're really in good condition.... I'm looking at them right now in my living room
Please provide any suggestions or advice on how I can turn this into a cheap DIY. Please note that I'm about to sell this car within the next 2 weeks to six months (depending on whether I get a car off the lot - 2 weeks - or if I order a Mini Cooper, which will take 6 mos), so I'm not as worried about longevity of my fix. I will, of course, disclose to new buyer what I did & they can decide if they want to go to body shop themselves & fix it "right".
Thanks!
#2
Does it look like you can reattatch the grille and bumper with the same holes, but using washers on the screws to keep them from pulling though the holes?
#3
Another question.
Does the fact the bumper came off the way it did have anything to do with impact absorbtion.
Does the fact the bumper came off the way it did have anything to do with impact absorbtion.