997 front bumper repair advice
Discussion
Just discovered a weird dent on my 997GTS plastic front bumper. there is a similar dent on the other side in same place albeit slightly smaller. doesnt appear to be any impact. no idea how this has occurred can only assume car park incident somewhere.
Porsche approved bodyshop says cannot guarantee this can be removed. so dilemma is
1, replace with new which means £1500+VAT = expensive although several chips means the front bumper needs a respray anyway.
2, find decent bodyshop that could resolve this but searching pistonheads implies it is hard to repair the plastic front end
anyone had anything like this before or know of bodyshop in SW West LDN Surrey Sussex M4 Area?
Porsche approved bodyshop says cannot guarantee this can be removed. so dilemma is
1, replace with new which means £1500+VAT = expensive although several chips means the front bumper needs a respray anyway.
2, find decent bodyshop that could resolve this but searching pistonheads implies it is hard to repair the plastic front end
anyone had anything like this before or know of bodyshop in SW West LDN Surrey Sussex M4 Area?
Might be a bit far for you but Impact Bodywork in East Sussex are very good. http://www.impactbodywork.co.uk/
I've had them work on a few cars of mine and I know a couple of top notch restoration firms that use them.
Sam is the owner and a very nice chap.
I've had them work on a few cars of mine and I know a couple of top notch restoration firms that use them.
Sam is the owner and a very nice chap.
Hi, I noticed exactly the same on my GTS today - it's almost as if the heat (it's been very hot and sunny lately) has warped the bumper cover and it is fairly flimsy to the touch.
I plan on calling the OPC where I bought the car from to see what they say. I think this should be a warranty issue.
I plan on calling the OPC where I bought the car from to see what they say. I think this should be a warranty issue.
Squelch911 said:
Hi, I noticed exactly the same on my GTS today - it's almost as if the heat (it's been very hot and sunny lately) has warped the bumper cover and it is fairly flimsy to the touch.
I plan on calling the OPC where I bought the car from to see what they say. I think this should be a warranty issue.
Since posting I visited an OPC in Home counties. I plan on calling the OPC where I bought the car from to see what they say. I think this should be a warranty issue.
Spotted another 997 GTS in car park in black. it had the same issue.
Transpires the depression in the 997 plastic bumper is due to excessive heat/ a hot weather issue. And a known issue.
OPC want 800 to rectify. OPC approved Bodyshop quoted 2.5k.
unfortunately I let OPC warranty expire although I'm not convinced they will pay up. Best of luck with it...
Cheib said:
Wow! Luckily my GTS lives in a garage and if it gets driven to the station and left all day its under cover.
That's really, really poor if it's a manufacturing defect...how can that not have come up in testing.
mines garaged and not a daily. although have used it more during the hot weather....That's really, really poor if it's a manufacturing defect...how can that not have come up in testing.
Adam B said:
what do Porsche do in Middle Eastern markets?
I thought new cars these days do millions of miles of testing in the Sahara and the arctic blah blah
had same question myself.I thought new cars these days do millions of miles of testing in the Sahara and the arctic blah blah
Edited by Adam B on Monday 10th July 09:59
But now 3 owners have had same issue from this thread, plus seen it for myself on another 997 GTS. so obviously a pattern.
Mine's not a daily and is also garaged. Went out yesterday morning for a breakfast meet with some other 911's and it was spotted at about 8:30am. The bumper has no support under that area and having "prodded" some other 911's at the meet they are all a little "flimsy" to various degrees in that spot.
I'll be calling Porsche today to hear their views...
I'll be calling Porsche today to hear their views...
I have just had a warranty claim for this problem on my GTS rejected by Porsche. I bought the car from an OPC 18 months ago, used as a daily, always garaged & only left outside occasionally. Maintained by Porsche, FSH etc, etc...
My original claim was rejected & I complained formally to Customer services. This set wheels in motion & my car was inspected by a Porsche approved bodyshop who subsequently forwarded their report to Reading. The claim was rejected by Porsche do to the effects of 'external influences' on a cosmetic part, these influences were the 'warm weather'! Porsche actually stated the weather was the reason for the rejection, although I'm sure the radiators being sited below the affected area can't help matters. I suspected this would be their get out as ' external influences' on cosmetic parts are mentioned in the warranty T&C's.
I was informed a new PU is required to sort the problem out by the bodyshop, as any repair & paint may fail again in the future. Only £3750 sir, another reason I'm sure for the rejection....
This appears to be happening to a number of our cars, I also know of quite a few that are affected. I don't think it's if it will happen to your car, unfortunately, when. As the bodyshop manager said to me plastic & heat don't go well together...
My original claim was rejected & I complained formally to Customer services. This set wheels in motion & my car was inspected by a Porsche approved bodyshop who subsequently forwarded their report to Reading. The claim was rejected by Porsche do to the effects of 'external influences' on a cosmetic part, these influences were the 'warm weather'! Porsche actually stated the weather was the reason for the rejection, although I'm sure the radiators being sited below the affected area can't help matters. I suspected this would be their get out as ' external influences' on cosmetic parts are mentioned in the warranty T&C's.
I was informed a new PU is required to sort the problem out by the bodyshop, as any repair & paint may fail again in the future. Only £3750 sir, another reason I'm sure for the rejection....
This appears to be happening to a number of our cars, I also know of quite a few that are affected. I don't think it's if it will happen to your car, unfortunately, when. As the bodyshop manager said to me plastic & heat don't go well together...
Edited by C2'S'man on Monday 10th July 11:21
I took the PU, off to determine the problem before contacting Porsche.
The centre section of the PU has a substantial block of polystyrene underneath & supporting it. There is nothing at all supporting the PU where the affected areas are! If you tap the centre section it's a reassuring solid sound, tap the outer edges & it's a hollow sound, because there in nothing there to support it! Once deformed, as it's a large area, it will not go back & stay in place, I've tried....
The centre section of the PU has a substantial block of polystyrene underneath & supporting it. There is nothing at all supporting the PU where the affected areas are! If you tap the centre section it's a reassuring solid sound, tap the outer edges & it's a hollow sound, because there in nothing there to support it! Once deformed, as it's a large area, it will not go back & stay in place, I've tried....
C2'S'man said:
I have just had a warranty claim for this problem on my GTS rejected by Porsche. I bought the car from an OPC 18 months ago, used as a daily, always garaged & only left outside occasionally. Maintained by Porsche, FSH etc, etc...
My original claim was rejected & I complained formally to Customer services. This set wheels in motion & my car was inspected by a Porsche approved bodyshop who subsequently forwarded their report to Reading. The claim was rejected by Porsche do to the effects of 'external influences' on a cosmetic part, these influences were the 'warm weather'! Porsche actually stated the weather was the reason for the rejection, although I'm sure the radiators being sited below the affected area can't help matters. I suspected this would be their get out as ' external influences' on cosmetic parts are mentioned in the warranty T&C's.
I was informed a new PU is required to sort the problem out by the bodyshop, as any repair & paint may fail again in the future. Only £3750 sir, another reason I'm sure for the rejection....
This appears to be happening to a number of our cars, I also know of quite a few that are affected. I don't think it's if it will happen to your car, unfortunately, when. As the bodyshop manager said to me plastic & heat don't go well together...
Take your case to The SMMTMy original claim was rejected & I complained formally to Customer services. This set wheels in motion & my car was inspected by a Porsche approved bodyshop who subsequently forwarded their report to Reading. The claim was rejected by Porsche do to the effects of 'external influences' on a cosmetic part, these influences were the 'warm weather'! Porsche actually stated the weather was the reason for the rejection, although I'm sure the radiators being sited below the affected area can't help matters. I suspected this would be their get out as ' external influences' on cosmetic parts are mentioned in the warranty T&C's.
I was informed a new PU is required to sort the problem out by the bodyshop, as any repair & paint may fail again in the future. Only £3750 sir, another reason I'm sure for the rejection....
This appears to be happening to a number of our cars, I also know of quite a few that are affected. I don't think it's if it will happen to your car, unfortunately, when. As the bodyshop manager said to me plastic & heat don't go well together...
Edited by C2'S'man on Monday 10th July 11:21
https://www.smmt.co.uk/about/consumer-advice/
Two mates went to them and both got much better results once they were involved. Initially both manufacturers/dealers were less than co-operative before they were involved....claiming "warm weather" is just utter b
ks. I am sure if you do some digging you can find Porsche their R&D in in climatic extremes in their marketing information. Fast Bug said:
Can you get behind the bumper and feel the dent? I've seen a few videos on Youtube where people have pushed dents back out on plastic bumpers after pouring hot water on it and pushing from behind. Might be worth a try?
If anyone tries this, I'd advise EXTREME caution, it's a complete disaster waiting to happen, as is using a heat gun to gain the same effect.C2'S'man said:
I have just had a warranty claim for this problem on my GTS rejected by Porsche. I bought the car from an OPC 18 months ago, used as a daily, always garaged & only left outside occasionally. Maintained by Porsche, FSH etc, etc...
My original claim was rejected & I complained formally to Customer services. This set wheels in motion & my car was inspected by a Porsche approved bodyshop who subsequently forwarded their report to Reading. The claim was rejected by Porsche do to the effects of 'external influences' on a cosmetic part, these influences were the 'warm weather'! Porsche actually stated the weather was the reason for the rejection, although I'm sure the radiators being sited below the affected area can't help matters. I suspected this would be their get out as ' external influences' on cosmetic parts are mentioned in the warranty T&C's.
I was informed a new PU is required to sort the problem out by the bodyshop, as any repair & paint may fail again in the future. Only £3750 sir, another reason I'm sure for the rejection....
This appears to be happening to a number of our cars, I also know of quite a few that are affected. I don't think it's if it will happen to your car, unfortunately, when. As the bodyshop manager said to me plastic & heat don't go well together...
So fitting a new bumper only cures the problem until we have another spell of hot weather ....... sounds quite a profitable business plan for OPC bodyshops ! !My original claim was rejected & I complained formally to Customer services. This set wheels in motion & my car was inspected by a Porsche approved bodyshop who subsequently forwarded their report to Reading. The claim was rejected by Porsche do to the effects of 'external influences' on a cosmetic part, these influences were the 'warm weather'! Porsche actually stated the weather was the reason for the rejection, although I'm sure the radiators being sited below the affected area can't help matters. I suspected this would be their get out as ' external influences' on cosmetic parts are mentioned in the warranty T&C's.
I was informed a new PU is required to sort the problem out by the bodyshop, as any repair & paint may fail again in the future. Only £3750 sir, another reason I'm sure for the rejection....
This appears to be happening to a number of our cars, I also know of quite a few that are affected. I don't think it's if it will happen to your car, unfortunately, when. As the bodyshop manager said to me plastic & heat don't go well together...
Edited by Slippydiff on Monday 10th July 13:33
Slippydiff said:
If anyone tries this, I'd advise EXTREME caution, it's a complete disaster waiting to happen, as is using a heat gun to gain the same effect.
A heat gun would probably be too much heat, much greater risk of damaging the paint unless you're really careful. Hot water shouldn't damage the paintworkCheib said:
Take your case to The SMMT
https://www.smmt.co.uk/about/consumer-advice/
Two mates went to them and both got much better results once they were involved. Initially both manufacturers/dealers were less than co-operative before they were involved....claiming "warm weather" is just utter bks. I am sure if you do some digging you can find Porsche their R&D in in climatic extremes in their marketing information.
I agree it's total c**p what they are spouting, but as we all know Porsche are pretty good at batting stuff like this off. https://www.smmt.co.uk/about/consumer-advice/
Two mates went to them and both got much better results once they were involved. Initially both manufacturers/dealers were less than co-operative before they were involved....claiming "warm weather" is just utter b
ks. I am sure if you do some digging you can find Porsche their R&D in in climatic extremes in their marketing information. The T&C's appear to have this pretty much sewn up, but your link gives me a glimmer of hope, thanks...
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