Minor ding to front bumper while parked. How to get it checked.

[HPsauce]

Very annoyingly, someone I know reversed into my S8 (already parked) this evening.
Pretty low speed but the paint is marked and it looks like the bumper is pushed back a few mm on the nearside.
It was a modern Range Rover and with cameras, sensors etc. I haven't a clue how they did it, nor have they! I even saw them do it!

Anyway there'll be no arguments over getting it fixed and paying, but I obviously want it done properly as it's just back from MJ and Nicola!

So, first question, do we know anyone in my part of the world (South Bucks) who could give it the once over to check if there's anything other than cosmetic damage?

And secondly, anywhere we trust to realign, repaint and ceramic coat the bumper properly? It will probably be heading back to MJ at some stage (next year?) for a few minor jobs that couldn't be fitted in this summer so might have to wait until then if there's no-one near me.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

So, first question, do we know anyone in my part of the world (South Bucks) who could give it the once over to check if there's anything other than cosmetic damage?

So, I found someone trusted to look at it who confirmed the bumper has indeed been pushed back a few mm. This is apparent especially below the n/s headlight and round the side where it no longer aligns with the wing at the wheel arch. It feels totally solid, and nothing has come adrift. If you didn't know, or weren't a D2 obsessive, you probably wouldn't notice.

I'm not sure how it's mounted so don't know if that's just take it off, adjust and refit to correct or whether something more complex may be needed. I'll PM MJ about that if she doesn't spot this post and comment here.

There are also minor scuffs on the paintwork which ideally would need a strip, respray and new ceramic coating, but in reality are not much different to normal wear and tear from stone chips, so don't need immediate attention.

[MikkiJayne]

The bumper sits on a pair of collapsible rams which are designed to absorb minor impacts such as this but there is also a few mm of play in the mounting eyes on the end of the rams. It may simply be that you can loosen the bolt on the affected side and slide the bumper back forward (M12 bolt, 10mm socket head - remove the fog grille and look up inside the aperture). If loosening the bolt doesn't give enough movement then it may have pushed the ram in slightly in which case it'll need replacing with a good used one from Prestige which is a bumper-off job.

[HPsauce]

Thanks MJ I'll have a look when it stops raining!

How difficult/expensive is a bumper-off job and a new ram?

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

M12 bolt, 10mm socket head - remove the fog grille and look up inside the aperture

Thanks, I found what appears to be the bolt deep up through a circular hole, it needed at least a 3" long tool to reach it.
Unfortunately, with what I have to hand, a ratchet with only about a 7" handle, it won't move at all, not even a creak.
Presumably these were undone to take the bumper off for the refurbishment, was there a torque setting for it or do I just basically need a bigger lever?

Edit. I do have a 10mm Allen Key that is about 7" long, would it be worth trying that with something like a big pipe wrench gripping it?

[MikkiJayne]

They were done up to 2 white knuckles with a 12" long ratchet An allen key with the wheelbrace as an extension would probably work to crack them loose

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Thanks MJ I'll have a look when it stops raining!

How difficult/expensive is a bumper-off job and a new ram?

A replacement ram should be cheap from Prestige although its not particularly easy to replace on the driveway as the undertray needs to be disconnected at the front, and the parking sensors & headlight washers disconnected, then the bumper itself is obviously big and unwieldy.

I would suggest loosening the two big bolts and seeing it if will just slide back in to position first. If not then we can consider options for getting the bumper off

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

They were done up to 2 white knuckles with a 12" long ratchet

I have similar incoming later ....

If this doesn't fix it I'll leave it for now and consider combining ram replacement with a bumper respray at a future date, probably next year.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

They were done up to 2 white knuckles with a 12" long ratchet

A 16" torque wrench (locked) and a 6" Stahlwille Inhex 10mm bit loosened it up PDQ.
Moved back out just far enough to be acceptable, now I need my glamorous assistant to hold it in place while I tighten it up.

It's handy having a friend a few doors away who is a retired garage proprietor who also maintains his own classic car (1950s Riley).

Edit. I've only loosened one side, the impact was offset, but it's not quite going back symmetrically so I'll need to get the other grille off too.
Did that but it didn't make much difference, the other side didn't really want to move at all, but overall it's OK.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Moved back out just far enough to be acceptable

But I used the car last night, DEFINITELY didn't touch anything with the front bumper, and it's moved backwards again.
I'm hoping that just because I didn't tighten the nearside bolt enough and it's just road movement and tension from other fittings (wheel arch liners and undertray maybe?) pulling on it.
Or could it be something else that's loose/broken?