Is it a pity to repaint the bumper over the original paint?
3 Answers
Repainting the bumper is for aesthetic purposes. Although it covers the original paint, it is not a pity. Here are the relevant details: 1. Repainting: Nowadays, car bumpers are made of plastic. In case of bumper damage, whether to repair it or repaint it is entirely up to personal choice, as it will not cause rust or corrosion issues to the vehicle itself. However, most drivers choose to repair it for aesthetic reasons. 2. Bumper: The car bumper is a safety device designed to absorb and mitigate external impacts, protecting the front and rear of the vehicle body. Many years ago, car bumpers were made of steel plates pressed into channel steel, riveted or welded to the frame longitudinal beams, with a significant gap from the body, which looked very unattractive.
I've been driving for ten years and I really don't think you need to be too precious about the original paint on bumpers. The original paint on other parts of the car body is what's truly valuable. Bumpers are plastic components after all, constantly exposed to wind, sun, and prone to scratches. No matter how good the factory paint is, it can't withstand the frequent damage bumpers endure. Just the other day my car got rear-ended - got a new bumper and fresh paint job, now it looks brand new. The garage mechanic said touch-up paint has minimal impact on vehicle value, what really matters is the frame and engine condition. The priority should be protecting the original paint on doors and roof - bumpers are consumable parts that should be repainted as needed.
As a frequent visitor to auto repair shops, I've seen too many car owners obsessed with original paint. In fact, the bumper is just a protective component - no matter how precious the original paint is, safety should always come first. Last time I saw a car with a cracked bumper left unrepaired, and rainwater seeped in, corroding the internal brackets. The body repair technician mentioned that paint adhesion on plastic parts is worse than on metal, and the original paint's lifespan is inherently shorter. Surprisingly, newly applied imported clear coat is actually more sun-resistant. If you're really concerned about preserving original paint, applying a transparent paint protection film is the best solution - just replace the film when it gets scratched.
