How to Know When It's Time To Replace Your GM Bumper Cover
Bumper covers usually last the life of the car. But sometimes they get damaged. When you have a beat up or broken bumper cover, you might be wondering what the best course of action is. This article helps you decide whether to take the time to repair your bumper cover or start shopping for a new one.
First, let’s find the issue with your bumper cover.
Is Your Bumper Cover Cracked?
Best course of action: Replace
A crack is pretty difficult to repair cost effectively. A body shop could do the job and get it to look right, but the process of repairing the crack costs more than simply buying a new cover. And either way, the cover still has to be painted.
Is Your Bumper Cover Scratched Up?
Best course of action: Repair or replace
Scratches that are not deep enough to cause cracks are only a cosmetic issue, so you can just repair your bumper. However, keep in mind that it takes a lot of time and effort. The repair process is:
- Fill in the scratches with a filler compound
- Smooth it out with several different grits of sandpaper
- Paint the bumper cover
- Buff the paint
It can be pretty difficult to do a flawless job. Unless you’re a professional, your bumper cover may come out a little bumpy or the paint may look a little rough and mismatched with the rest of the bumper.
If you’re concerned about the appearance of your bumper, then replacing it is the better choice. It’s so much easier to install a flawless brand new bumper cover on your car.
Is Your Bumper Cover Dented?
Best course of action: Repair or replace
Image Credit: tdcustoms
A dent in a bumper cover could be a minor cosmetic issue. Or, just behind the dent, there could be damage to the impact bar that compromises your car’s safety.
To assess the damage, check the reinforcement bar and other components behind the plastic cover. If these metal parts are dented too, then your bumper’s ability to absorb impacts may be decreased. In such a case, you may need to replace them as well as the bumper cover.
If everything behind the plastic cover remains intact, then the dent is merely a cosmetic issue. You can pull out the dent and then call it a day. However, keep in mind that the end result may not look good.
If you’re concerned about the appearance of your car, then replacing the dented bumper cover is your best bet.
Are the Tabs and Clips on Your Bumper Cover Broken or Damaged?
Best course of action: Replace
Behind the plastic cover are tabs and clips to help keep it firmly attached to the reinforcement bar and fenders. When some of these tabs and clips are broken, then the plastic cover won’t stay on for long. These components cannot be salvaged, so your only choice is to replace the bumper cover.
Replacing Your Bumper Cover With an OEM Replacement Part
If you’ve decided to replace your bumper cover, we have good news. You can buy a genuine OEM bumper cover from us at a wholesale price. This will save you a lot of money because shops and GMC dealers typically mark up their prices by about 30%. Take a look at our catalog of OEM GMC bumper covers or this list of our top 5 best-selling bumper covers: