The bumper end plastic (that wraps the bumper around the side of the car (US car)) on my e28 is warped. I understand this is pretty common.
Is there a way to smooth it out?
Maybe heat it with a heat gun and put boards on it or something?
Thanks for any help.
Is there a way to smooth out the bumper trim?
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- Location: SE PA
Re: Is there a way to smooth out the bumper trim?
Glue flat metal underneath
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- Posts: 116
- Joined: Sep 28, 2013 12:25 AM
- Location: San Diego, CA
Re: Is there a way to smooth out the bumper trim?
I have one that is pretty straight I could part with.
DM if interested… I was wondering the same thing for straightening. How to fix that.
Pablo
DM if interested… I was wondering the same thing for straightening. How to fix that.
Pablo
Re: Is there a way to smooth out the bumper trim?
A friend of mine did the heat gun trick on the top rear bumper surround. Worked for a while but then warped again in a few months.
Re: Is there a way to smooth out the bumper trim?
I had the benefit of good fortune, finding what was surely a recent replacement, judging by the condition of the surface, let alone the lack of warping like mine was, but, I tried and succeeded in preserving it that way. I got to looking at it and while there wasn't much I could do about it having warped, I saw where it appeared that the attachment screws contributed to things. Tightened down as any sound mechanic would, it inhibited movement, so when it shrunk, it warped. I left the screws loose. Barely snugged enough to stay on. I don't know how long it was before I sold it afterwards, 6-7-8 years, but it stayed flat. Maybe I just got lucky, but it appeared to me giving it room to move helped prevent it from warping. YMMV.
Re: Is there a way to smooth out the bumper trim?
Hey. Thanks for all the replies. Since mine are already warped, I think I'll hit him with the heat gun to smooth them out, glue some metal supports underneath, and then loosely refasting them. I'll take everyone's advice and roll it all into one to see how it turns out.
Re: Is there a way to smooth out the bumper trim?
The thin top surface is very susceptible to bubbling if you apply to much heat.
Re: Is there a way to smooth out the bumper trim?
Rod Paine has a good tip on how to keep it from warping in the future (as part of his page on refinishing US bumpers):
https://www.mye28.com/tech/rods_pages/id16.html
https://www.mye28.com/tech/rods_pages/id16.html