Cost To Reform and Detexture?

[FrustratedMunky]

Hey guys,

The previous owner of my 318IS made some nice lovetap dents in that part thats below the front bumper and above the I/IS lip where the foglights are in (sorry, I don't really know what it's called). It causes it so my lip doesn't clip into it in the middle because it's tapped in a little bit. It feels like plastic.

I don't know if this is possible, but will a bodyshop place be able to reform it so it smoothens out to how it would look like without the lovetaps so it looks like its how it's supposed to be (aligned with the lip)?

Also, how much would it cost to detexture it, along with maybe a paintjob estimate?

Would it be more worthwhile to try and find another replacement... lower-bumper-where-the-foglights-are piece for the car that isn't banged up and have them just detexture and repaint?

I realised that I should change the plans for my car and keep it... well try and make it like this:






Just because of financial reasons and stuff like that, it would be much more reasonable.

So yeah, anyways does anyone know about how much it would cost or if I should just look for a new piece and detexture/repaint? Thanks.

[Jordan]

A new front valance from the dealer will come finished in black primer. No anti-chip texture coat.

Buy a new one and have it painted.

[Jand3rson]

What's a new one cost from the dealer?

[Jordan]

What's a new one cost from the dealer?

More the your e30 fund

[318driver]

that car is hot!!!

If you have dents in your valance at all then i would just say get a new one. I detexturized mine myself but it was pretty straight, However it did have one bend under the pasengerside foglight but i was able to take car of it. If your on a tight budget look for a straight used one and detexturize youself. I will warn you, Its not fun.




although it was alot of hard work, i think it was worth it.

[randomtask37]

mmmm

non-m s14

[FrustratedMunky]

K, thanks guys.

I highly doubt ill be able to find a "used undamaged" one... but I'll have to see, it's not huge on my priority list but it's an imperfection that I'd like to take care of sooner or later :D

Yeah, I love the look of the car above, it's so clean and stock pimp. I'm gonna try do something like that with my car, perfect suspension, either keep the baskets or get Ronals, clean the engine bay, possible detexture, euro ellipsoids, new lenses around and some smoked turn signals. I'm sure that will keep me occupied for a while to do anyways.

[hotghias]

since it's metal, and it's removable, i think it would be really easy to knock the dents out with a body hammer and use a thin coat of filler to smooth it out. if the dents are really bad you may not be able to get it perfect, but given it's location, size, and shape, i doubt anybody would notice. if you detexture it and do the bodywork yourself, it'd be really cheap, then you just have to get it painted.

[FrustratedMunky]

since it's metal, and it's removable, i think it would be really easy to knock the dents out with a body hammer and use a thin coat of filler to smooth it out. if the dents are really bad you may not be able to get it perfect, but given it's location, size, and shape, i doubt anybody would notice. if you detexture it and do the bodywork yourself, it'd be really cheap, then you just have to get it painted.

If I take it to a body shop place do you think they will be able to knock it back into shape pretty well? Maybe I should just take it and ask them personally, haha... The main thing that is bothering me about it is that it's just out of shape, the detexturing isn't too big of a deal. I don't trust myself with banging up my car, haha. It's not really a dent, it's more just like... there was slow constant pressure on the very middle front of it to make it more flat than curved.

[hotghias]

if you are not comfortable doing it yourself, then buying a new one may be your best way to go, since having a bodyshop straighten your old one may cost about as much as a new one. but you're right that you should just take it to them and get a quote instead of speculating.

but really, if you can change your oil, you can probably fix it yourself except for the paint. i've worked in a bodyshop. some of the country's dumbest people work there, i'm sure you can figure it out. post up a pic and we may be able to get you started. i bet if you get down there and just try pulling and beating on it, you can get it looking much better. you're not going to make it worse, so go try it.