| Author | Message | ||
| James H. (Jamesh)
Junior Member Username: Jamesh Post Number: 116 Registered: 5-2001 |
What is the procedure to repair a cracked fiberglas spoiler. I notice the front spoiler on my 328 is cracked all the way through and want to make the repair myself. Any suggestions or information would be appreciated. | ||
| Roger Blakeman (Roger)
New member Username: Roger Post Number: 18 Registered: 2-2002 |
I just remove the front airdam/bellypan from my 308 and took the piece to a local boat repair shop. It had 4 fairly large breaks in it and the shop will have it finished Monday and $100. Piece of cake!! Roger B. | ||
| Chris Richardson (Boozy)
Junior Member Username: Boozy Post Number: 183 Registered: 11-2001 |
You'd be amazed how much you can damage a fiberglass bumper without having to replace it. A good body shop can fix a lot of damage fairly cheaply. I know the bumper for my 348 cost $3500 and took over 6 MONTHS to get. If I had to do it again I'd get a reproduction bumper. | ||
| Shane Ball (Sorted)
New member Username: Sorted Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2002 |
Thanks all. I sent it to the garage today - after it took me 40 mins to drive it out of the car park (10 slopes) with a spotter watching my front over the slopes (still scrapped it!) - and they'll do it for $400 which I was relieved with. They also suggested to raise the car 20mm - which they'll charge me $120 for. | ||
| bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 477 Registered: 4-2002 |
right now terry im using a black magic marker and electrica tape, this will hold me ,unless my wife divorces me if i put another $ TO MY TR  BRUCE | ||
| Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Junior Member Username: Tspringer Post Number: 120 Registered: 4-2002 |
I just finished repairing a ding in the front lower valance on my 308 last weekend. The fiberglass was badly gouged and cracked. An afternoons work and it looks good as new. Bodywork is not hard, but you do need the right equipment (air compressor, air sanding tools, excellent oil seperator, touchup gun, etc). The guys at Auto Body Color did a fantastic job matching the paint. They placed a special camera against the paint surface, scanned it and the computer matched the color exactly. Anyone needing to do this sort of repair in the Atlanta area is welcome to come up and use my expertise and equipment. Any decent bodyshop would do this type of repair for $150 - $200. Like others have said, I view this kind of repair on such a low car as a sort of scheduled maintenance. I am sure it will happen again. No biggie. | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Junior Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 70 Registered: 4-2002 |
If you are hitting things in your car's normal routine, you can always raise the car up by 1/4" or so for increased ground clearance. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1020 Registered: 9-2001 |
The best way to avoid bumper damage is to not hit anything with your bumper. And, that should be easy with a Ferrari since the bumper is pretty high up on the car. The front spoiler is a different story though. | ||
| Michael N. (Man90tr)
Member Username: Man90tr Post Number: 542 Registered: 4-2001 |
Henryk is right on -- I get mine redone completely every year for about $200. Takes but a couple hours to do. | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
New member Username: Henryk Post Number: 40 Registered: 8-2001 |
I have an 88TR, and the front spoiler gets scratched yearly. Go at a 45 degree angle and you will avoid many nicks. I have mine repaired by a local "no-name" body shop that charges about $100. DON'T have it done by a dealer, as the previous owner had......it was full of plain bondo, and it cost him $650 each time. Why pay this, when it WILL happen again? | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 498 Registered: 6-2001 |
Shane: There is no way to avoid the bumper problem. Be thankful that you don't have a 348, they're worse than the 355 when it comes to ground clearance. There are several people who makes guards for the bumper, but none of them work well to my knowledge. Find a good painter, and have him fix the bumper when you can't stand the look anymore. Most of the people that I know drive the F-car like a low-rider when moving slow around driveways, etc. You have to drive slowly when on inclines and at an angle. A better solution is to just drive it and budget an extra thousand for the bumper fix yearly. Sounds bad, but works for me. Art | ||
| Mark Lambert (Mlambert890)
New member Username: Mlambert890 Post Number: 26 Registered: 4-2002 |
Actually, from the replies it looks like people just fix their bumpers when they get scratched up. You really can't avoid bumper damage forever on a low sitting sports car. Best thing to do is figure on an annual repaint and be as careful as you can. For steep inclines, coming in at an angle is definitely the way to go, although there are no guarantees. | ||
| Shane Ball (Sorted)
New member Username: Sorted Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2002 |
So I guess from the replies that most people just avoid steep car parks - looks like I need to move house!! Thanks for the commisserations. I went back to look at it, and its a bit more than a scratch -the bumper is actually smashed in one part so I cannot paint over it -it definitely needs a repair job. I'm not looking forward to taking it out of the car park - I don't know how to avoid it happening again. | ||
| bruno bandaras (Originalsinner)
Junior Member Username: Originalsinner Post Number: 188 Registered: 5-2002 |
I've redone 3 Ferrari bumpers to date. No bigy. Do not buy a new one. Big waste of money. | ||
| John Li (Pchop)
New member Username: Pchop Post Number: 7 Registered: 6-2002 |
Shane: My other car is a jeep Sahara, so needless to say that the transition too some adjustment (and some scratches). No worries...I just had my rear bumper repainted it cost only $650...much less than a new one. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Junior Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 144 Registered: 2-2002 |
Shane, I try to angle my approaches to inclines and go slowly. Even so, it's unavoidable. The service records that came with my car show periodic repairs by the previous caring owners. I did the same after my purchase and will no doubt collect new scuffs on the front valance undersurface. When I collect enough of them, I'll have it repaired. In the interim, flat black touch up paint works well. Barry | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 439 Registered: 3-2002 |
Shane, if it's any consolation, I put a nice scratch on my 328 the other night backing into my garage. About 6" tall, right on the rear corner. I know the feeling, but I ordered some touch up and will live with it as is. I also felt a little better later in the day when I saw a brand new Boxster (no plates even) with the entire side compressed and scuffed with black. Now there's a guy who should feel gutted (not including what he paid for a Boxster). | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 533 Registered: 7-2001 |
I took a black magic marker to my front spoiler about a week ago, and discovered this afternoon that the black panel under the door has a large chip after my road trip this weekend. Out comes the magic marker again. | ||
| William Huber (Solipsist)
Member Username: Solipsist Post Number: 286 Registered: 9-2001 |
You cannot avoid this from happening, it can be repaired for about far less of the cost of replacement. Enjoy your car, these thing will happen. | ||
| bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 473 Registered: 4-2002 |
shane i have a yellow tr with a blacl spoiler/fender,,i have learned now to bring a black magic marker with me and after a while bondo it..a new one costs about 3-5k, what color is it?? | ||
| Michael N. (Man90tr)
Member Username: Man90tr Post Number: 540 Registered: 4-2001 |
Bumpers are called that for a reason. Bump them, hit them, scratch them and then paint them again. Real simple procedures. I know how you feel but Comparrf40 is right on money in his comments. | ||
| Cmparrf40 (Cmparrf40)
Member Username: Cmparrf40 Post Number: 309 Registered: 3-2002 |
Shane, relax, you do not need a new bumper, you can fix any scratches you have. The only way not to get scratches is to not drive the car, not a good choice. Drive it, scratch it, enjoy it! (P.S. a new bumper painted and installed is about $5,000.00, still want a new bumper?) | ||
| Shane Ball (Sorted)
New member Username: Sorted Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2002 |
Sorry if this is going to make you cringe..but believe me I am gutted Please help - I've managed to scratch up the underside of my bumper in a car park. If I go up an incline that is steep - i.e. one between two floors of a car park, my underside often touches the ground - but this time it was the front bumper which scrapped the ground ouch..I'm so so gutted...I'm incredibly careful with it. I'm going to need a new bumper (any idea how much for a 355 bumper?). However, I'm not going to get it until I'm sure that I'm not going to do the same thing again. Is there a special angle I should be driving into ramps - or do you all just avoid the situation entirely - as it seems that there must be a very fine line between clearing and scratching. Please help. |