scratch on bumper

Sounds like your dealer is padding a bit here for the insurance. But, because it's Korea, we have no way of really knowing the pricing. Also, no pics. How can we guess what is needed or not?

One good thing: Your neighbor will drive more carefully from now on!

 

I don't think this warrants a new bumper, but I guess it's hard to say without seeing pictures.

 

If his insurance pays, what do you care? Get a new bumper.

 

+1

 

Here's my question....

What will be the impact on resale value?

If I had a choice between a pristine car (no history of body work) and a car with a re-sprayed bumper or a replaced bumper I would easily choose the pristine car.

Is your neighbor going to reimburse you for the ding you will take on resale??

Always wondered this.

 

I always find this kind of statement COMPLETE BUNK. What the heck does replacing a bumper with a new factory bumper by the factory have to do with "resale value"?

Geez... keep the thing locked up in a museum already. It's a car. If some idiot thinks it's worth less because someone replaced a factory bumper with a factory bumper -- he shouldn't buy the car.

He instead should find a doctor to remove the but plug from his bottom.

If someone passes on a great car just because of this, they will be sorrily disappointed the first time they scratch it themselves.

 

The bumper is not part of the chassis. Replacing it doesnt affect the performance of the car.

Consider this: most rear engine v-8 Ferrari's which have been driven on the street, have some scratches or cracks on the lower edge of the front bumper due to scraping and bumping the road or speed bumps.

But even new cars often have damage due to shipping and transportation. They get touched up and the owner never knows.

I saw a brand new 458 come off the transporter at the Ferrari service center with a broken side mirror and a bad scrape on the front corner of the front bumper. The guy who drove the truck was so huge that he could barely fit into the 458 to back it out of the transporter.

The door was hitting the inside of the transporter repeatedly as he was trying to squeeze in. He rolled down the window and straddled over it. But he was so clumsy that the door banged even more violently. It was absolutely aweful to watch! Brand new car!

 

Option A - 458 Italia
Option B - Identical 458 Italia as in A except damaged bumper that is now perfectly repaired

Both cars are available for 280K.

I choose A. (Who in their right mind wouldn't??)

 

Guys both very valid points regarding pristine original v factory approved repair. Clearly, everyone would go for the pristine original, only one problem being that if the repair is done correctly with genuine factory parts and perfect paint matching and spray job then how do you tell the difference?????

I can tell you right now no vendor either private or dealer will ever disclose the history of these types of repairs and given its not a warranty issue it may never be traceable......so possibly a mute point??

 

Your choice might be no different from option B
Read my post. New cars have damage that gets fixed by FNA or the dealer. Actually all sorts of paint defects get fixed at the factory too.

Also, consider Option C -a 458 with the scratched bumper replaced with brand new factory bumper. That is no different from Option A.

But I get your desire to buy a perfect car.

Consider a car that looks perfect on the outside but has improperly installed screws (wrong size) in various locations. This happens a lot. One of the reasons Ferrari wants to increase the level of automation on the assembly line. Hand made is only as good as the hands and eyes and knowledge of the man on the assembly line.

 

The scenario you are painting happens rarely. Typically two cars are rarely identical (choice of options, maintenance records, etc).

Here is a scenario that is more likely:
Car A: optioned exactly the way you want it, all maintenance records available, with a factory replaced bumper. Price: $xxx,xxx.00

Car B: not your color choice, missing some options you want, but absolutely pristine condition. Price: $xxx,xxx.00 - $10,000.

Which one would you choose?

I would choose car A, without hesitation.

 

I'm sure a ferrari 458 in Korea is over 380k with no options Tax .The headlight itself is $3500.The bumper at least $5000.It ain't cheap.I was in Vegas in my buddy's Ferrari California someone tapped the front drivers in valet while we were in the car I didn't feel a big impact.There was no visible damage at that time.Later he was told the lense was cracked and the clips were were snapped his bill was $11,500.Lucklly he got the lady's name and he called her about the damage she said she was going to report him for insurance fraud and that he's a crook.PS replace the bumper

 

LOL!!!! You say this until YOU scratch it. Then you'll change your tune.

These are NOT museum pieces. The idea that a scratch and repair (that no one can see and using factory parts) is someone "damaging" to the value of the car is silly.

A crash -- OK. A scratch -- come on guys. Just park the damn thing in your garage all day and tell yourself how beautiful it would be to drive.

No wonder there are so many 5 year old/ 500 mile cars on Ebay. People are afraid to scratch the damn bumper for some kind of "diminished value".

What's the point of ownership? The bumper got scratched. The dealer fixes it. Problem solved. Go out and scratch it again. Is it somehow "diminished" in value because the dealer replaced an alternator or starter too? After all --- it's no longer "factory original".

 

And furthermore, reportable accidents to the DMV usualy come from an accident report. Most of the time when a fender bender happens is usually insurance exchange and thats it. Getting a police report involved may change things possibly, but scrapes on a fender-----------------no one would know after it was repaired right. Non-The-Wiser

 

This story is so hilarious, I couldn't stop laughing. Like you said, some people will never know what happened to their car before they take possesion of it. It's like a woman.

 

Just contacted the owner on this one...after some buffing, paint, and some factory parts this car will be as good as new. Back off, I already bid MSRP.
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Ferrari fit and finish out of the box is not as good as the German mass produced cars, and that includes paint application and matching of body parts. A practiced eye can discern color changes and paint irregularities in the 'pristine' car. A really good shop may actually improve your car with either a repair or new bumper.

 

I'll agree to that. I have a brand new 458 and the match up where the front bumper meets the metal in the wheel well its off by about 3 mm. Someone at Toyota would have lost their job.


What you pay for are the name, the looks, the engine, and the performance. The rest is just there to complete the package.

 

This paint issue is insane!! How many vintage really expensive old, rare Ferrari 's go through this scrutiny. I've never seen a GTO that hasn't been repaired, repainted etc. The Dino, the Daytona etc of the 70's we repainted them if we got tired of the color. I know as I did it. Drive the thing and enjoy it as when you sell it you will wonder why the big hole exists in you wallet. When and if it requires paint etc. just make sure it was done properly.
Docf

 

What you pay for are the name, the looks, the engine, and the performance. The rest is just there to complete the package.[/QUOTE]

Spot on. And these cars are wonderful for that, but not to be anal over fit and finish. Although far more reliable than the past, Ferrari road cars have never ventured very far from their rough and ready racing roots. For about the same money you can get a VW Bentley or BMW Rolls and rejoice in the build. As for the 458, the driving and the visual/auditory experience are what it is about. Enjoy it.

 

Man they ripped it open to get that driver out Wow!!