Bashed up my front end - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Bob O · 02-25-2010, 07:07 AM

So sorry to hear about that Tim. Glad you're ok. I hope the damage is just skin deep. Sounds like it very easily could have been much worse, what with all the traffic around. Find a good body shop and have them go over it with a fine tooth comb..alignment, wheels, everything. You don't want to be running around with something bent and not know it. Again, glad you're ok...the car can be fixed.

Bob

jcb986 · 03-01-2010, 07:26 AM

You can go 2 ways on the repair. Give it to a body shop and have them fix it or get a new or used front bumper and have it painted to match your damaged one now. Replacing the front bumper is about an hours work since it is only held with about a dozen screws. Now with it off you can check and clean your radiators saving mucho bucks. Jack the car and spin the wheels, using something to check for runout or wobble in the wheels, look for cracks in the control arms. I had a conversation with a Porsche mechanic about how the Boxster is built. He said it is like a tank, built to take use and loves it.

timothy · 03-01-2010, 08:32 AM

If you need a shop in Dallas, Stuart's Paint and Body is known as a good place to have high-end cars painted and/or repaired. A lot of Porsche owners go there. http://www.stuartspnb.com/

RandallNeighbour · 03-01-2010, 10:00 AM

I'd have to agree with the other posters that you really need to see what subframe damage or control arms might be bent from the way the car came to an abrupt halt.

Before I took possession of my boxster, it had been spun-out and the front end was wonky. I replaced a bent control arm on the passenger side and then had to put adjustable coilovers on it to get it straight again.

A four wheel laser alignment on a Hunter machine should show you very quickly if you have any damage to be corrected. Taking it to a body shop to see if it needs work risks being told "it needs frame straightening on our expensive machine" when it really only needed a control arm replaced or a four wheel alignment.

You should probably have all four of your wheels road-forced balanced too, just to make sure none of them were bent a little in the spinout.

You still got out lucky not hitting anyone or rolling the car. Most of the time a small fender bender in a boxster = totaled car due to the expense of the parts and labor.

chaudanova · 03-01-2010, 11:52 AM

I've got the original OEM front bumper, already in Seal Grey from my '02 Boxster, that I might be willing to part with... PM me if interested...

TimAustinW · 03-01-2010, 08:12 PM

Thanks for the posts, info and bumper offer. At this point it's been in the shop for nearly a week. But I'll certainly look into Stuarts for any future work.

Farmers approved all repairs and they have all the parts now. New bumper, radiator, rim, wheel well liner, coolent flush and refill, alignment. I was kind of surprised they ordered a new rim. The lip must have gotten chewed more than it looked. I figured they'd just buff the rim out and repaint it. I took it to Hance Body and Paint on McKinney because it's close to my house. I should get it back by Friday.

TimAustinW · 03-04-2010, 05:50 PM

I get my car back tomorrow!!! :dance: Man, my appreciation for German engineering is reaffirmed after driving a Chevy Lumina for the last week and a half. I feel like I'm driving a cruise liner compared to what I'm used to. I am seriously jonsing for my boxster! Can't wait! Farmers Insurance was fast as lightning and has already settled the bill with the shop a day early.