Front bumper replacement orrr just deal with it?
 

So my mom in her infinite grace reversed into my car. I've been struggling between just getting the whole bumper replaced [if so, then where? I've heard so many horror stories] Or just dealing with it until something really bad happens to the bumper & then replace it?? I've scrapped the front bumper a few times but nothing as noticeable as my mom's handy work.
Attachment 184198

Up to you.


Sit on it for a few weeks. Your mom isn't going anywhere, and you can decide if you can live with it.


If there is a Certified Toyota Collision Center near you (usually as part of a Toyota Dealership Shop), they usually do pretty good repair work. You pay the dealership premium, but I've been satisfied with the work done on mine. I've gone to one nearby me twice, and the paintmatch is spot on for pearl white. At a Toyota center, front bumper and paint is going to be ~$600, probably just north of $1000 if you opt to paintmatch the hood and fender. That type of damage, Toyota collision won't refurbish the bumper. They'll make you get a new one.



You can do it for cheaper if you go to a private collision shop and have them refurbish the bumper (level the plastic, strip the paint, and paint over the current bumper). Paint match will depend on how good the shop is

I would wash and claybar the whole area and then use one of those dealership paint-code touch-up brushes. They're like nail-polish applicators. It may seem ghetto but you won't have any difficulty painting an area that size, and they're typically a perfect color-match. Then just live with it for a few weeks and see if it still bothers you. That's what I would do. I'd be hesitant to turn it into a huge project. My guess is you wouldn't see it from ten feet away.

Put a cool sticker on it (like "my mom did this" or a unicorn) until she does another mistake :)

why don't you just get a respray? I don't see any major damage. looks like it can get filled and painted.

I highly doubt the bumper will remain scratch and ding free for the life of the car. I get new bumper defects often. Very vulnerable part of the car. So repair is the way to go. Plus the cost is anywhere from a few dollars for a paint bottle and some elbow grease up to a repair shop prep and respray.

Just touch it up. Wait to respray after years of rock chips.

As of right now...my dad has challenged me to fill & respray the front bumper so once it warms up I'm going to get that done & I'll post pics of the finished product

Lord, give me strength!

good call on your dad's part! the best way to learn is to try! youtube is an excellent resource for doing anything to cars. watch a few 'how to apply touch up paint' videos and it'll help your confidence in the process some!

this reminds me of a story.
some friends of mine bought a brand new black silverado a year ago. their first non-hand-me-down vehicle ever. it's special even though it's not even close to the top trim.

6 months after they bought it, we all went camping, and some walnuts fell onto it, just barely denting it.

a month later, they brought it to a paintless dent repair guy. he found 13 dings. i could only ever see 2. they had all the dings repaired to the tune of something like $3k. they wanted to keep the truck as pristine as possible.

last month, they ran into a handicapped parking sign they didn't see at about 5mph, severely denting the chromed metal bumper. they haven't said anything about getting this one fixed.

point is, no matter how much care and effort you put into keeping a car nice, unless you put it in a bubble, and throw away the keys, as long as you use the vehicle, it is going to get scratched, scuffed, and dinged.

i recommend considering fixing the major ones, but the minor one's, learn and move on. there'll be more.

Totaled. Time to get a rocket bunny widebody.

That took far longer than I thought it would!

Start autocrossing. You will quickly destroy the fragile bumper with cone hits and this incident will no longer bother you.