bodywork question...front bumper cover

solteroblues · 10-05-2016, 08:08 PM

Hey guys, I just bought the '15 NISMO front bumper conversion for my '12 base. I plan on taking it to a body shop for paint, but I was wondering, if I wanted to save a little money and install it myself, would it be better to install it before or after having it painted?

I assume a good shop would remove it to paint it anway, but I'm worried about transporting it separately after paint, because I don't want the paint to crack if it flexed or anything... Or should I just pay the extra bucks to have them completely install it, too?

BTW, it's the OEM version from Z1, not a fiberglass copy...

Thanks.

JARblue · 10-05-2016, 08:28 PM

As long as the shop is competent at both, I'd be tempted to just leave the car with them. It allows them to blend it into your existing fenders better.

Transporting should be fine as long as you aren't too rough with it and the paint shop did a decent job and allows sufficient curing time. A full cure can take 4-8 weeks sometimes, so check with the shop to make sure how long you need to wait to wax and such.

solteroblues · 10-05-2016, 08:46 PM

thank you, good point about the blending into the fender!

axmea? · 10-05-2016, 09:03 PM

There are many who did it the way you have it planned. If your paint cracks when the bumper flexes, then you took it to a bad shop. You will not save much by installing it yourself but pick up on knowledge and personal satisfaction. Personally it is better to have it seen and worked on by the shop.

nis350 · 10-05-2016, 10:00 PM

there is special additive to make the paint more flexible and a good shop should not have problems matching the paint.

Is it a direct fit without mods? I imagine the labor cost of RR would be around 200 to 300 if it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by axmea?

There are many who did it the way you have it planned. If your paint cracks when the bumper flexes, then you took it to a bad shop. You will not save much by installing it yourself but pick up on knowledge and personal satisfaction. Personally it is better to have it seen and worked on by the shop.

nis350 · 10-05-2016, 10:07 PM

Probably not needed if the paint is still good. It would cost quite a bit more if you throw in the fenders and the hood....

Also keep in mind that the color will be a bit different on the rubber vs metal surface.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solteroblues

thank you, good point about the blending into the fender!

FNR32 · 10-05-2016, 10:36 PM

What color is your car? A competent shop should be able to spray a test panel and get a great paint match without having to blend into the hood and fenders. You want the shop to install the bumper so you can see it against the other panels to make sure there isn't excessive trash in the paint or orange peel in the clear that would require color sanding and buffing to get out.

solteroblues · 10-06-2016, 11:38 AM

I have a gun metallic. When I bought the car, it had a couple scratches on the back bumper and the dealer (I bought used) took it to their body shop to repair them. Turned out they were deeper than thought, and they did an immaculate job of respraying. It looked like nothing ever happened. Maybe I should take it to them... But I'd be scared to death of the price! Haha

nis350 · 10-06-2016, 06:09 PM

well.. you get what you pay for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solteroblues

I have a gun metallic. When I bought the car, it had a couple scratches on the back bumper and the dealer (I bought used) took it to their body shop to repair them. Turned out they were deeper than thought, and they did an immaculate job of respraying. It looked like nothing ever happened. Maybe I should take it to them... But I'd be scared to death of the price! Haha

madeinjapan · 10-07-2016, 08:06 AM

remove it and sand it yourself

saves $100s

flyguy0812 · 10-08-2016, 03:41 PM

google painting urethane bumper cover. You don't prep or sand them like a metal or fiberglass panel.

Nizmo.Man · 10-09-2016, 06:50 AM

The bumpers are covered in a protective film. You must lightly sand them, we usually do 600 grit wet and make sure to do it very lightly to not burn through the primer they have over the plastic.

Jinxx · 10-09-2016, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nizmo.Man

The bumpers are covered in a protective film. You must lightly sand them, we usually do 600 grit wet and make sure to do it very lightly to not burn through the primer they have over the plastic.

If the scratches are really deep you can fill them with body putty and wet sand it smooth with 600 gritt or better and have it resprayed

10-05-2016, 08:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
solteroblues Base Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: atlanta Posts: 60 Drives: 2012 370Z Rep Power: 9	bodywork question...front bumper cover Hey guys, I just bought the '15 NISMO front bumper conversion for my '12 base. I plan on taking it to a body shop for paint, but I was wondering, if I wanted to save a little money and install it myself, would it be better to install it before or after having it painted? I assume a good shop would remove it to paint it anway, but I'm worried about transporting it separately after paint, because I don't want the paint to crack if it flexed or anything... Or should I just pay the extra bucks to have them completely install it, too? BTW, it's the OEM version from Z1, not a fiberglass copy... Thanks.

10-05-2016, 08:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	As long as the shop is competent at both, I'd be tempted to just leave the car with them. It allows them to blend it into your existing fenders better. Transporting should be fine as long as you aren't too rough with it and the paint shop did a decent job and allows sufficient curing time. A full cure can take 4-8 weeks sometimes, so check with the shop to make sure how long you need to wait to wax and such. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

10-05-2016, 09:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
axmea? A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,235 Drives: WELL ZED PW 6MT Rep Power: 53241	There are many who did it the way you have it planned. If your paint cracks when the bumper flexes, then you took it to a bad shop. You will not save much by installing it yourself but pick up on knowledge and personal satisfaction. Personally it is better to have it seen and worked on by the shop. bullitt5897, SouthArk370Z and cv129 like this. __________________ >MyZ's Album< NISMO Convert/ECUTEK/Takeda CAI/F.I. HFC NR CB Carbon/F.I. 34 Row Oil Cooler/4.08 Final Drive /Powertrix+Swifts/Hotchkis/SPL/Whiteline/TWM/Zoom Engineering/EVO-R/AeroJacket Vented CF Fenders + CF Spoiler/Avant Garde-WORK/NST/Morimoto Halo/STi Clear Lenses/Carbon Signal Automotive/RJM Performance/ZSpeed Clutch Flywheel CSC delete

10-07-2016, 08:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
madeinjapan Banned Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: pistolvania Posts: 1,387 Drives: 2013 g37x 2014 370z Rep Power: 0	remove it and sand it yourself saves $100s bullitt5897 likes this.

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10-05-2016, 08:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
solteroblues Base Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: atlanta Posts: 60 Drives: 2012 370Z Rep Power: 9	thank you, good point about the blending into the fender!

10-05-2016, 10:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
FNR32 Base Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Birmingham Posts: 105 Drives: 2014 370Z Rep Power: 13	What color is your car? A competent shop should be able to spray a test panel and get a great paint match without having to blend into the hood and fenders. You want the shop to install the bumper so you can see it against the other panels to make sure there isn't excessive trash in the paint or orange peel in the clear that would require color sanding and buffing to get out.

10-06-2016, 11:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
solteroblues Base Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: atlanta Posts: 60 Drives: 2012 370Z Rep Power: 9	I have a gun metallic. When I bought the car, it had a couple scratches on the back bumper and the dealer (I bought used) took it to their body shop to repair them. Turned out they were deeper than thought, and they did an immaculate job of respraying. It looked like nothing ever happened. Maybe I should take it to them... But I'd be scared to death of the price! Haha

10-08-2016, 03:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
flyguy0812 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 30 Drives: 2015 370z white auto Rep Power: 10	google painting urethane bumper cover. You don't prep or sand them like a metal or fiberglass panel.

10-09-2016, 06:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
Nizmo.Man Base Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: South Carolina Posts: 139 Drives: 2012 370z Nismo M6 Rep Power: 9	The bumpers are covered in a protective film. You must lightly sand them, we usually do 600 grit wet and make sure to do it very lightly to not burn through the primer they have over the plastic.