Rear bumpers are not cheap
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 284
From: NY
Rear bumpers are not cheap
My 09 Maxima went to the shop today for a rear bumper replacement. They are not cheap to have replaced! The initial estimate is almost $1000 labor and materials to replace the bumper cover.
It could be more. The estimate included only the cover replacement. They can't check the impact absorbing materials until the cover is removed; if it's damaged that will be replaced also.
The damage wasn't that bad. A license plate tattoo and some dents and scuffs in the plastic. The exhaust pipes look a little uneven, so they will need to be aligned. But the panels didn't pop, and nothing else seemed to be out of whack.
It could be more. The estimate included only the cover replacement. They can't check the impact absorbing materials until the cover is removed; if it's damaged that will be replaced also.
The damage wasn't that bad. A license plate tattoo and some dents and scuffs in the plastic. The exhaust pipes look a little uneven, so they will need to be aligned. But the panels didn't pop, and nothing else seemed to be out of whack.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 284
From: NY
Just got an update from the body shop.
They think the bumper cover was previously replaced, and both rear quarter panels show signs they have been repainted and possibly replaced as well. There are tape marks around the rear lights so avoid getting overspray on the lights, and the usual VIN number stickers are missing from at least the bumper cover.
The shop doesn't see anything wrong or out of place, but wanted me to know there parts on the car not put on by the factory.
The troubling part is that I've never had any work done on the car, and bought it new. How common is it for a car to have been damaged after leaving the factory, and have repair work done? Does the dealer / manufacturer need to disclose this (the dealer may not have known - they imported the car from another dealer)?
The car drives fine - I'm just trying to understand common practice.
One other wrinkle: My window sticker says the clearcoat on my car didn't cure properly and a second coat was applied, with an additional warranty period. I wonder if the replacement bumper / repainted quarter panels had something to do with this?
They think the bumper cover was previously replaced, and both rear quarter panels show signs they have been repainted and possibly replaced as well. There are tape marks around the rear lights so avoid getting overspray on the lights, and the usual VIN number stickers are missing from at least the bumper cover.
The shop doesn't see anything wrong or out of place, but wanted me to know there parts on the car not put on by the factory.
The troubling part is that I've never had any work done on the car, and bought it new. How common is it for a car to have been damaged after leaving the factory, and have repair work done? Does the dealer / manufacturer need to disclose this (the dealer may not have known - they imported the car from another dealer)?
The car drives fine - I'm just trying to understand common practice.
One other wrinkle: My window sticker says the clearcoat on my car didn't cure properly and a second coat was applied, with an additional warranty period. I wonder if the replacement bumper / repainted quarter panels had something to do with this?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
Such a strange situation.
Help us out here. What is the car build date on the little silver plate inside the driver door jamb? Exactly when did you buy the car? How far is the dealer where you purchased the car from the dealer who originally had the car? How was the car moved between dealers?
There is a chance the last coat of clearcoat was applied after the car was assembled, which would explain the tape marks where the lights, etc, were protected.
I have known of situations where minor accidents resulted in dealers making repairs to a new car before it was sold. I have even asked that minor things be repaired before taking delivery of a new car. Where the problem was cosmetic, I doubt if dealers would mention this to a prospective customer. When body parts have to be replaced, I would think there would be very ethical dealers who would inform a buyer, but that most dealers, knowing the replacement part was every bit as good as the original part, would probably rather not put concern in the customer's mind by mentioning such things.
As to 'how and when'? An accident could have happened as the car was being driven from the assembly line to the storage lot in Smyrna, or while being loaded on either the car carrier truck or rail car for shipment, or while being unloaded from that truck or rail car, or while being driven from the unloading point to the dealer's back lot, or while being driven from the dealer's back lot to the cleaning/prep area, or while being driven from the cleaning/prep area to the service area for final check, installation of dealer perks such as locking lug nuts, paint protection, etc, or while being driven to the dealer's display lot, or while being test driven by a prospective customer, while being moved from that dealer to your dealer, or it could have been struck while just sitting somewhere.
It could have been something as simple as the dealer seeing a factory defect in the original bumper and replacing it, to something as dramatic as a meteorite glancing off the bumper on its way to the ground, but was most likely a little accident with another car or fixed object.
We may never know. But you could pursue this with both your dealer and the dealer from where he brought the car. The will probably deny any knowledge, but then they may tell you exactly what happened. Either way, as long as repairs were done properly, using OEM parts, your car should be fine.
Help us out here. What is the car build date on the little silver plate inside the driver door jamb? Exactly when did you buy the car? How far is the dealer where you purchased the car from the dealer who originally had the car? How was the car moved between dealers?
There is a chance the last coat of clearcoat was applied after the car was assembled, which would explain the tape marks where the lights, etc, were protected.
I have known of situations where minor accidents resulted in dealers making repairs to a new car before it was sold. I have even asked that minor things be repaired before taking delivery of a new car. Where the problem was cosmetic, I doubt if dealers would mention this to a prospective customer. When body parts have to be replaced, I would think there would be very ethical dealers who would inform a buyer, but that most dealers, knowing the replacement part was every bit as good as the original part, would probably rather not put concern in the customer's mind by mentioning such things.
As to 'how and when'? An accident could have happened as the car was being driven from the assembly line to the storage lot in Smyrna, or while being loaded on either the car carrier truck or rail car for shipment, or while being unloaded from that truck or rail car, or while being driven from the unloading point to the dealer's back lot, or while being driven from the dealer's back lot to the cleaning/prep area, or while being driven from the cleaning/prep area to the service area for final check, installation of dealer perks such as locking lug nuts, paint protection, etc, or while being driven to the dealer's display lot, or while being test driven by a prospective customer, while being moved from that dealer to your dealer, or it could have been struck while just sitting somewhere.
It could have been something as simple as the dealer seeing a factory defect in the original bumper and replacing it, to something as dramatic as a meteorite glancing off the bumper on its way to the ground, but was most likely a little accident with another car or fixed object.
We may never know. But you could pursue this with both your dealer and the dealer from where he brought the car. The will probably deny any knowledge, but then they may tell you exactly what happened. Either way, as long as repairs were done properly, using OEM parts, your car should be fine.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 284
From: NY
Thanks Light. I'm not that worried about it, since the body shop said things look OK, and all parts are OEM. It seems like there are many times when a vehicle could be damaged before a customer take delivery. I'm not of the mind to raise a holy stink about it - more curious than anything.
As for date of manufacture, the car is in the shop so I don't have access to the information. The body shop told me last week the car was built in July of 08; I had thought it was built in January of 09. I purchased the car in late May of this year (09). The original dealer was about 30 miles from my dealer. My dealer shipped the car via their flat bed truck.
I took delivery of the car only about 1-2 days after it arrived at the dealer's lot; I tend to think they did not have time to replace parts. I also tend to think they didn't know there were any parts replaced, but I don't know for sure.
Ironically, my sales person called me last week to check on how I'm liking the car. I haven't called him back yet, but it seems like a perfect chance to ask him about the repairs.
As for date of manufacture, the car is in the shop so I don't have access to the information. The body shop told me last week the car was built in July of 08; I had thought it was built in January of 09. I purchased the car in late May of this year (09). The original dealer was about 30 miles from my dealer. My dealer shipped the car via their flat bed truck.
I took delivery of the car only about 1-2 days after it arrived at the dealer's lot; I tend to think they did not have time to replace parts. I also tend to think they didn't know there were any parts replaced, but I don't know for sure.
Ironically, my sales person called me last week to check on how I'm liking the car. I haven't called him back yet, but it seems like a perfect chance to ask him about the repairs.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
At the time your car was built (July '08), '09 Maximas were in short supply at almost every Nissan dealer, so this car would have been shipped almost immediately after it was assembled. You purchased it in late May of 2009, very soon after it had been trucked in from another dealer. That means your car spent TEN MONTHS at a dealer (or dealers) other than the one you bought it from. The chances these repairs were done by your dealer are zero. We are talking about procuring parts, prepping and painting them, installing them, etc, etc, in one or two days? Not in this lifetime.
Ten months is a VERY LONG TIME for a car to sit on a dealer's lot. Normally, if a car has not sold within a set number of months (time varies by dealer), the dealer will mark it down to a price that will result in a sale. I suspect your car was involved in a fender bender, perhaps during a test drive, perhaps while just sitting innocently on the dealer's lot. There may have been a delay in determining fault or responsibility, and the dealer just parked this car out back until everything was settled. Then, when he was not busy with anything else, he had this car fixed and put back on the lot.
I never asked how many miles were on this car. If less than three hundred or so, I suspect the accident must have been around a year ago, and this car sat until late winter or early spring before being fixed. Otherwise, ten months at the dealer would have resulted in a higher mileage. But then the situation could have been totally different. If the original dealer won't talk, we may never know. I'm just glad this was a rear end event, and seemingly did not involve the frame or chassi, especially the front part, where the drive wheels and steering are so critical.
You will probably have 250,000 very happy miles driving this car. But it would be fun to know what really happened.
Ten months is a VERY LONG TIME for a car to sit on a dealer's lot. Normally, if a car has not sold within a set number of months (time varies by dealer), the dealer will mark it down to a price that will result in a sale. I suspect your car was involved in a fender bender, perhaps during a test drive, perhaps while just sitting innocently on the dealer's lot. There may have been a delay in determining fault or responsibility, and the dealer just parked this car out back until everything was settled. Then, when he was not busy with anything else, he had this car fixed and put back on the lot.
I never asked how many miles were on this car. If less than three hundred or so, I suspect the accident must have been around a year ago, and this car sat until late winter or early spring before being fixed. Otherwise, ten months at the dealer would have resulted in a higher mileage. But then the situation could have been totally different. If the original dealer won't talk, we may never know. I'm just glad this was a rear end event, and seemingly did not involve the frame or chassi, especially the front part, where the drive wheels and steering are so critical.
You will probably have 250,000 very happy miles driving this car. But it would be fun to know what really happened.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 376
From: Long Island NY
Listen, I agree that it does not appear to be an issue but i would make one hell of a stink. You bought the car new right? NEW is the key word. I would definitely get something out of the deal. If the car was in an accident regradles sof the severity you deserve to know and they are suppose dto disclose that. As far as I can see they owe you something. If they wont give you answers i would spend a few hundred bucks to have an attorney send the dealer a letter. Selling cars these days is a competitive business and they do not want a bad rep, they will start talking fast and you will get something.
JMHO.
JMHO.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
So your body shop says this car was built in July 2008, but it had only 40 on the odo when you bought it in May 2009? I would say that falls into the category of being strange. I would have the body shop recheck the driver's door jamb and confirm the July 2008 assembly date. If true, the dealer that shipped this car to your dealer back in May owes you and your dealer a very good explanation for why that car barely moved for ten months. In any event he also owes you and your dealer an explanation for the replacement parts.
I agree with longisland that you should get some compensation for this, even if only free oil changes for as long as you own the car, or the right to buy all parts and accessories at dealer cost for as long as you own the car, or an extra year on your warranty, etc. I feel they should give you some sort of 'good will' gesture just to comfort you about this rather strange sequence of events.
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