I noticed this summer that my 2012 Sport's rear bumper had a few minor rust spots starting at the edges where the black plastic step cover touches it. Remove the bumper and disassembled it to see if I could touch things up. Well, once apart I see that there are actually quite a few places where light rust is starting at those edges as well as on the bottom outside edges. More than I can touch up myself. I think I need to have it repainted to keep it looking decent.

Anyone know how much I should expect to have to pay a body shop for a repaint if I totally dismantle the bumper and bring it to them?

Thanks,
Rob

 

I've had two quotes locally now. One was a ballpark "well, it costs $250-300 to repaint any panel" and the other was $175, assuming I bring it to them fully disassembled (which it is). $175 isn't too far off the $150 point I had in my head, so I'm going to have them do it.

 

Thanks for the ball-park pricing. I noticed it on mine as well. The paint is starting to bubble around the back-up sensors.

 

While it is off I would have them spray the inside as well with some undercoating.

 

That's a good idea. Maybe I'll just get some of the can stuff and spray the inside myself.

Rob

 

I think you can also save a few bucks if you do the prep.

 

I did save some by fully dismantling the bumper. Removed it from the truck, took out all the sensors and lights, removed the step pad, and removed the bracing from the back. I don't have the equipment or knowledge to sand it down and that's OK, because the body shop decided that having it blasted was the better method due to all the light rust spots.

Rob

 

Got it back yesterday. They did a very nice job. Even cleaned and gave a light coat of paint to the back side of the bumper. I then taped things off and sprayed the back side with DupliColor bedliner material. I wanted to apply something to keep it from rusting from the inside. While I had the bumper off I also sprayed the hitch with rust neutralizer and flat black paint to rejuvenate that.

Put everything back together and got it installed. Looks great. Spent about $200 now to prevent having to fully replace the bumper in a year or two, and to avoid having a rusty mess back there.

Rob

 

Sounds like it worked out well. Not a bad cost either.