Mazda 6i: bumper partially damaged. Do I need to replace?


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Old 03-19-19, 09:00 PM
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Mazda 6i: bumper partially damaged. Do I need to replace?

Hi,

I accidentally hit my car against a low wall and part of my bumper is damaged. It is the lower mesh that covers interior. I wonder if I should fix it or if it is ok to have it as is. I worry water or stones will get rolled in as I drive and damage the wiring. But it was a mesh and does not block water anyway. A new bumper is $200 not considering labor so..

Will a plastic bumper cover on Amazon be good enough?

Thanks a lot!

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Old 03-19-19, 09:07 PM
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If it's just a daily driver, I would leave it. If it's a car you want in top shape I would have a body shop fix that one. That's not a total wipe out of the bumper cover. A $200 bumper cover would still have to be painted.
 
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Old 03-19-19, 09:57 PM
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Thank you very much.

It is my daily driver, with occasional highway vacation. I am not interested in top shape at all, but I do want to be safe. The hole there seems like a vulnerable place for larger stones or rain to go in and damage the internal wiring, especially on the highway.

Is there any thing I can use to cover it up ?
 
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Old 03-20-19, 02:11 AM
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I'm sure something could be fashioned to fit in there. Is that an indentation where an optional running light would go?
 
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Old 03-20-19, 02:51 AM
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I ran into something on interstate that put a similar type hole about 4 years ago nothing has happened
 
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Old 03-20-19, 03:46 AM
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If you have the pieces that broke off, use some bondo to attach them to the bumper. Another approach is to run a bead of bondo around the inside edge of the hole and place a sheet of fiberglass screen material into the bondo from the inside.
 
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Old 03-20-19, 06:49 AM
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Talking Update

Thank you all very much for your suggestions! I have taken a closer look this morning and took more pictures.

The good thing is it seems like that the piece that is damaged is actually replaceable. There are holes for clicks and surrounding host seems ok.

Bad thing is I have no idea what this mesh is called. Any ideas?
It's a 2008 Mazda 6isport sedan, 4 cyl.


pugsl: Btw thanks for sharing with me that your car is ok for 4 yrs lol! Making this repair less urgent.

marksr: Even better, it is a replaceable mesh part.

beelzebob: I like the idea! Do you know where generally I could get the fiber glass piece and have it machined? In case I didn't find a replacement part.

Again, thank you all.

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Old 03-20-19, 06:55 AM
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It's all cosmetic, you may even be able to get a new lamp/lower grill cover in there to fill the void.

The $200 fascias (if new) are aftermarket and can have some fit issues at times, used fascias are available and at times you can even find them with same color but dont get hopes up, they are few and far between.
 
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Old 03-20-19, 07:47 AM
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take a look at this. you can replace that cover pretty cheap.

https://www.yourmazdaparts.com/p/Maz...GP7A50C11.html

- Peter
 
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Old 03-20-19, 10:05 AM
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Thank you so much! I think that is exactly what I need. Thanks for taking the time looking into it.
 
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Old 03-20-19, 10:26 AM
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Thank you very much! I did not know about fit issues with aftermarket bumper. Much appreciated.
 
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Old 03-20-19, 01:17 PM
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Non OEM parts always take a little massaging to make them fit, some more than others. ... not just bumper covers.
 
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Old 03-24-19, 09:00 AM
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Got you! Thank you!
 
 

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