[alexwilcox29]

So I need a new bumper for my e90 Lci 335i and I am trying to decide on the best way to go about this.

I am torn between getting a new bumper and having an auto shop paint it or just ordering a painted one

I know the colors won't match up exactly but how bad could it be? (It's an Arizona car) Especially because it's a bumper and already has some weird angles so maybe no one will notice?

I've heard body shops will blend the paint but my hood is destroyed from rock chips in the front, would they have to refinish and paint the whole hood? I wouldn't be opposed to that route if it's not a huge extra cost

The only think that makes me want to order a painted one is the LT autowerke has bumpers that are painted for $300 more than I painted which I feel is a pretty good deal!

Could someone tell me the right thing to do here, thank you!

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by alexwilcox29

So I need a new bumper for my e90 Lci 335i and I am trying to decide on the best way to go about this.

I am torn between getting a new bumper and having an auto shop paint it or just ordering a painted one

I know the colors won't match up exactly but how bad could it be? (It's an Arizona car) Especially because it's a bumper and already has some weird angles so maybe no one will notice?

I've heard body shops will blend the paint but my hood is destroyed from rock chips in the front, would they have to refinish and paint the whole hood? I wouldn't be opposed to that route if it's not a huge extra cost

The only think that makes me want to order a painted one is the LT autowerke has bumpers that are painted for $300 more than I painted which I feel is a pretty good deal!

Could someone tell me the right thing to do here, thank you!

Buy the bumper and go to an auto restoration shop to have them color match the bumper from your car. A normal body shop will tell you to go away or to have it blended. I paid $318 when I had my E36 front bumper painted and the match was 100%. The key word is "Color match".

[alexwilcox29]

Originally Posted by Nickco43

Buy the bumper and go to an auto restoration shop to have them color match the bumper from your car. A normal body shop will tell you to go away or to have it blended. I paid $318 when I had my E36 front bumper painted and the match was 100%. The key word is "Color match".

That's what I figured, and that's not about price!

I just wonder about blending my hood too so that my car looks good as new!

[El Cheapo Loco]

FWIW I got a painted bumper cover off ebay for a Hyundai before. Besides a little more orange peel than original paint, I have no complaint on color match at all. Especially for a $210 price tag.

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by alexwilcox29

That's what I figured, and that's not about price!

I just wonder about blending my hood too so that my car looks good as new!

A good car restoration shop shouldn't need to blend. I attached my E36 pic which has zero blending. Keep in mind it is twice the age as an E90.

[Pixel8ed]

Depends on the color and the conditions it has been keep it since new.

Blacks tend to start to fade from day 1. I used to be a painter and I have removed the "Lightning" emblems from the trucks when they first came out, directly off the Dealer lot and it was already faded. Reds tend to shift as well.

Some colors, if kept in favorable conditions, will not shift at all. 20 years later, you could panel paint a repair and have perfect match.

What way to go depends on how particular you are about the match. If your completely anal about it go to a shop. If it's OK if its off a bit (not necessarily that it will be off, but OK with it if it is),just get a prepainted.

[alexwilcox29]

Originally Posted by Nickco43

A good car restoration shop shouldn't need to blend. I attached my E36 pic which has zero blending. Keep in mind it is twice the age as an E90.

Wow that's a great looking car! M3 I'm guessing?

And I think I might just get it color matched and have my hood redone as well at the same time

[alexwilcox29]

Originally Posted by Pixel8ed

Depends on the color and the conditions it has been keep it since new.

Blacks tend to start to fade from day 1. I used to be a painter and I have removed the "Lightning" emblems from the trucks when they first came out, directly off the Dealer lot and it was already faded. Reds tend to shift as well.

Some colors, if kept in favorable conditions, will not shift at all. 20 years later, you could panel paint a repair and have perfect match.

What way to go depends on how particular you are about the match. If your completely anal about it go to a shop. If it's OK if its off a bit (not necessarily that it will be off, but OK with it if it is),just get a prepainted.

My car is red unfortunately and I feel the Arizona sun may have gotten the best of it, I ordered an m3 trunk spoiler for it that was the original color code and it's slightly off worth the rest of the car

I think I'll just get it repainted at a shop

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by alexwilcox29

Wow that's a great looking car! M3 I'm guessing?

And I think I might just get it color matched and have my hood redone as well at the same time

It is a 95k miles 98 323is I had with the full M-tech kit. I removed all of the body kit and it is now sitting on CL. No one wants it since it is an auto.

[scanspeak]

It might be a fun project to paint it yourself.

[Eagle1oh7]

Any body shop that prides itself on its work will color match it. Had my bumper redone after and idiot backed into me and it looks amazing!

[alexwilcox29]

Thank you guys for the input on a side note which bumper should I get?

As I said I have a 2009 e90 and am torn between the M3 and 1M replicas

I personally think the stock one is ugly and the 335i deserves a little more aggressive front end

The only issue is price/availability

The M1 is hard to find for under a grand but looks amazing and the M3 is cheaper but not as good looking also adding a front lip/splitter is something I want to do but some of them for those specific bumpers can add up

I'm just trying to find the best looking and somewhat reasonable price to upgrade the front end!

Thank you!!

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by alexwilcox29

So I need a new bumper for my e90 Lci 335i and I am trying to decide on the best way to go about this.

I am torn between getting a new bumper and having an auto shop paint it or just ordering a painted one

I know the colors won't match up exactly but how bad could it be? (It's an Arizona car) Especially because it's a bumper and already has some weird angles so maybe no one will notice?

I've heard body shops will blend the paint but my hood is destroyed from rock chips in the front, would they have to refinish and paint the whole hood? I wouldn't be opposed to that route if it's not a huge extra cost

The only think that makes me want to order a painted one is the LT autowerke has bumpers that are painted for $300 more than I painted which I feel is a pretty good deal!

Could someone tell me the right thing to do here, thank you!

To repaint a good with rock chips won't be cheap. They gave to sand down every chip before they can paint it. Plus they will probably take the hood off of the car. It's very labor intensive.

I'd compare a new hood plus new paint vs refinishing the old hood & new paint first. I'd also get about 3 estimates.

As far as the new bumper. Yes, have a local body shop color match the bumper to the rest of the car.

[eljay]

Black pre-painted is much more likely to match than any metallics with silver being the worst for variation on shades. Any good shop would blend surrounding panels.

[alexwilcox29]

Originally Posted by eljay

Black pre-painted is much more likely to match than any metallics with silver being the worst for variation on shades. Any good shop would blend surrounding panels.

My car is a solid red, I'm skeptical of how it would match up

[alexwilcox29]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

To repaint a good with rock chips won't be cheap. They gave to sand down every chip before they can paint it. Plus they will probably take the hood off of the car. It's very labor intensive.

I'd compare a new hood plus new paint vs refinishing the old hood & new paint first. I'd also get about 3 estimates.

As far as the new bumper. Yes, have a local body shop color match the bumper to the rest of the car.

I haven't thought about that! I will look into pricing a new hood

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by alexwilcox29

I haven't thought about that! I will look into pricing a new hood

Luke said, if you have a lot of paint chips. That's a lot of sanding. $80.00 an hour is the bare min you'll pay for labor. A hood would be at least $400.00 in paint and labor. Probably $500.00. Fenders & front/ rear bumpers are around $300.00 each.