Expert: William Forster - 6/23/2006

Question
i backed into corner of a solid building at low speed and seriously damaged the bumper. is buying and replacing a new one something a novice might be able to do by just screwing and unscrewing bolts?

Answer
Hello! It really sounds like you need to make an insurance claim. Anyhow, If you have a painted bumper, you cannot buy a bumper that already has paint on it. Most body shops will be reluctant to paint one for you, then give it to you to install yourself. 9 times out of 10, the customer winds up coming back with a damaged part, unable to install it, or with 20 questions that the shop doesn't get paid to answer. Now, If the bumper has a dull finish, it's possibly not painted, but molded in color. This kind can usually be purchased in the color you need, and you can POSSIBLY install it at home. Take your Odyssey's VIN number to your local Honda parts department, and they can tell you if your bumper cover comes molded in color, or only is available in paint to match. If it needs painted, just have a body shop do the job start to finish. It's well wort the 75 or 100 extra dollars to have the part installed correctly, scratch free, with all the correct fasteners. If you get the part, then deceide that it's over your head to install it, a local body shop should be happy to install it for you, providing that you haven't damaged the new part in any way. Hope this helps! Bill