AAAAHHHHH All that work down the drain!

jdumont · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:50 am

So yea its a great thing I did such a good job trimming my bumper this past weekend. I was at a red light last night and this little POS in front of me went backwards instead of forwards and cracked into me!!!! I guess he went past the intersection a little and reversed and then just forgot to shift back to D. All that work for nothing. Im wondering how I can get a nice aftermarket bumper now and have the insurance co. pay for it. It would prob be cheaper than a factory one anyways right...?

Ill post pics tomorrow.... unfreakinbelievable....

raceinfan · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:19 am

that sucks

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:37 am

NEW BUMPER!!!!!!
Shop around and see if an aftermarket is cheaper than stock - most likely not
But... If you are going to get a free stock bumper, use that for partial payment on an aftermarket

unixxx · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:44 am

If I remember correctly, the factory bumper cover will all the trim and rivets should cost around $200.

jdumont · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:04 am

Ewww thats it, wow. I figured waaaay more. I just took it to the other guys insurance agent who did an estimate. There is a little more damage than just the bumper. Not sure what to do, I may just let them fix it so I know its done right. I worry that if I get a rocklizard or something that I may have alignment issues if something is tweaked a little that I cant see now.

....Maybe Ill get the chance to cut the fogs out again. All that molten plastic hitting me in the face from this bumper was really fun, I cant wait to do it again!

jason thompson · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:02 pm

jdumont wrote:

Ewww thats it, wow. I figured waaaay more. I just took it to the other guys insurance agent who did an estimate. There is a little more damage than just the bumper. Not sure what to do, I may just let them fix it so I know its done right. I worry that if I get a rocklizard or something that I may have alignment issues if something is tweaked a little that I cant see now.

....Maybe Ill get the chance to cut the fogs out again. All that molten plastic hitting me in the face from this bumper was really fun, I cant wait to do it again!

bring it to the body shop and try to work with them
that is they will charge you to paint and prep wich you dont need if you go after market and there MAY not be any thing else wrong with it
other than an alignment

I know that when my wifes KJ got KEYED and I cought the punk kid who did it her ,thats right it was a 13 year old girl, farther told me and the police that in lew of his kid going to jail that he would agree to paying to fix it we agreed on a local body shop and I got a price
$860 to paint and prep 1 fender and 1 door and buff/compound the other door

If they have to paint they may want to paint the whole front end so that it maches or blends well in that case if the hood and grill are in good shape I would tell them to skip all that and install an ARB bumper it will cost the same if not less

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:50 pm

That's how I got my new ARB installed and painted! A truck dumped it's ramp (car carriers) on the highway and it hit about 6 cars, including the one in front of me that flipped that ramp into my bumper and front fender.

The front bumper is made up of several components. If you need a few, it'll quickly add up to the cost of an ARB. It cost me a few extra hours of installation time since the ARB required fab and trimming work. But check out my pics and see if you think it was worth it. I DO!

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:02 am

The first estimate from the insurance company was $1100 but nothing has been looked at by a tech yet so that number will prob go up a little. As much as id like a ARB or something I think Im just going to let them fix it. We'll see what kind of mood im in though when they say the estimate goes up to $2000!!! lol

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:02 am

Hey Adam, was anything else damaged under your bumper or was it just the fascia? I have some structural damage on the actual bumper not just the cover. My hood also doesnt close 100% tight anymore. I think the two braces that you can see through the grill got pushed back a little. I have a come along that I can hook to a tree or pole and pull out some minor damage to straighten things. Maybe ill let them give me a full estimate and then see whats what. I like $$$ and it is driveable as it is now so it cant be that bad. Im gonna run out in the lot and snap some pics now.

bbo · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:17 pm **Posts:** 382

another note ... don't use an insurance companies estimate. They will use salvage and subpar parts to get the work done. And try to stay away from any "insurance authorized" centers as well. they are authorized for the same reason as above.

Find a good reputable shop that will quote on all OEM parts ... also have them quote to re-do the custom work you had put into yours. No reason to settle for nothing less than the pristine condition you had it before that other car tried to get up all in your grille.

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:45 am

Good point. Im waiting for the agent to call this AM and tell me everything is all set to get the rental. After that im going to drop it off for an estimate at the shop. Im sure it will be much more than the agents 15 minute external check she did....

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:54 am

.... and here we are....

Gris · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:06 am

I wish someone would ram into me (front or back) like that. Light enough to not cause major damage, but hard enough to need to replace stuff with ROCK LIZARD!!

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:15 am

Rock Lizard you say? Any reason why them and not ARB? Any issues with the Rustys 2.5 coils and supporting this much weight up front? I dont want to sag or reduce the lift at all. Whos bumper is lighter?

Thanks for the post..... Josh

Gris · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:28 am

Personal preference I guess. I like both, but like the RL ones betters.

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:43 am

Do either the Rocklizard or the ARB come with the directional covers already installed? Obviously one of mine is smashed now....

unixxx · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:25 am

Only the ARB bull bar for 05-present Libertys comes with turn signals. I'm not sure whether the Rock Lizard bumper does; you might want to ask Marty.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:59 am

I did not have any structural damage at all. I had only cosmetic damage to the front fascia (even turn signal and fog light survived!), and my RF flare was ripped off, and the inner fender splash guard was damaged.

All else was OK and that was still something like $1700 all told.

check out pics here: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/325889/14

How's this for a perfect hit! Didn't even break the fog lights!

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:03 pm

Yea i saw, thats pretty good luck for you. Where do the aftermarket bumpers mount to though? Do they mount to the OEM bumper (without fascia obviously) or is the entire bumper assy get discarded?

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:07 pm

It completely replaces the stock bumper assembly. Mounts to frame and IT'S STRONG!

AAAAHHHHH All that work down the drain!

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