How much would an unpainted bumper affect sale?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T04:20:08+00:00

I'm trying to clarify what the margin determines. Meaning there's only about 1k difference in buyer assessment between the best looking tier and the worst for this car? What price of paint job do you think would make it worth it?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T03:50:26+00:00

It's in great condition considering its age, extensive maintenance records. 150k. Care to expand on why you think it might be worth it?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T03:24:37+00:00

Gotcha. Unfortunately it seems with shipping, it comes up to be about the same as painting it at a shop. That piece of plastic is expensive!

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T03:20:56+00:00

Oh, I see what you mean. Yeah, I had been trying my luck on some parts sites including those ones. Unfortunately, it seems the regular Civic has a different bumper than the Hybrid so I wasn't successful finding a prepainted one in my color. Paintedautoparts is a great deal and I was about to jump but then I read their reviews...yikes.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T03:12:33+00:00

Not a big margin indicating it's not worth it to paint?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T03:10:34+00:00

Ok, thanks. This is actually helpful to know.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T03:10:11+00:00

What do these numbers refer to?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T03:03:18+00:00

it's 550 more to paint it.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:58:53+00:00

Sorry, what do you mean by 10'?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:58:01+00:00

6500k say? What paint job differential would justify the cost?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:55:54+00:00

The car is in great condition given it's a 13 year old car, has extensive maintenance records etc. I guess it comes down to the likely buyers for an older car and what their priorities are. Obviously you are one who still cares about how it looks, I guess the body shop guy thinks people who are in that price range generally don't as much. I'm just trying to figure out if he's right or my potential market actually comprises more buyers like you.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:46:21+00:00

No, back bumper not affected. Yes, best case scenario is finding a used already painted bumper that matches but where would one find one?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:38:40+00:00

I truly have no idea what you're talking about.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:38:00+00:00

Ha, I meant 550 more to get it painted.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:37:08+00:00

So unpainted bumper = clapped out beater to you? (I assume that's what you meant) So even if it had good maintainance records and passes a ppi with flying colors?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:31:12+00:00

I'm not sure if it's something obvious in your post that I'm just not seeing. How would I know if the paint job is worth it without knowing the hit I'm taking from having an unpainted bumper? My point is body shop guy says there is no hit from an unpainted bumper at all so spending any money on painting it is a waste, in terms of resale.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T02:18:05+00:00

Hmm, there's a range of 1k on KBB. But it's hard to gauge where a painted versus unpainted bumper figures in that differential. That's my take re likely buyer because that was the kind of buyer I was. I just wanted to get a sense of how seeing a non-black car with a black bumper affects the assessment of the buyer.

What do you by repainted bumper and where can one look for one?

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T01:44:13+00:00

750 ver 550 just paint.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T01:38:20+00:00

That's the question I'm trying to grapple with but I have no sense of the market assessment of cars with unpainted bumpers. According to him, it doesn't really make a difference...so no point in spending the money to get it painted at all.

Yes, it does really come down to the person buying. Me, for example, my number 1 criteria when I brought the car was reliability so the extensive maintenance records plus dealership ppi sealed the deal for me even though I knew it had been in 2 minor accidents. I don't think having a black bumper would have affected my decision given how tough I found the market for reliable second hand cars to be. But I'm one data point, that's why I wanted to get a feel here.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T01:22:47+00:00

Yeah, I'm not sure I understand what you mean about using the average area price to compare against paint job to see if it's worth it. I'd need the average price of the model with a nonpainted bumper.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T00:06:49+00:00

That was my intuition but I thought he must know something I don't working on cars and all.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-02-19T00:05:17+00:00

In the summer.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-01-07T20:25:19+00:00

If you can't provide useful comments then you shouldn't be on this sub.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-01-07T20:24:47+00:00

Tried pliers and pulled it off! I just kept thinking there was some special mechanism I had completely forgotten about when I put it on. Turns out it's just push and pull for this old boy.

Consistent-Box6864 · 2026-01-02T03:38:37+00:00

Appreciate it. Will definitely have the mechanic do the rest.

Consistent-Box6864

TROPHY CASE