what up fellas? i'm new to the forum. i don't have an 8, but my mother does. this question comes from her and here's what happen...

my mother smashed to car into something (i don't know what.) she busted her bumper, foglight, and blew out her tire. thankfully she has the spare tire option. now is it worth buying a new bumper from the dealer or just get an aftermarket bumper. i'm an installer an i know how to take the bumper apart and put it back in. your advice will truly be appreciated.

 

There are a couple of options.

1. Aftermarket will need to be painted depending on the one you choose fitment may need to be addressed.

2. Check with mazsport they may have all the parts already painted and such. They are a vendor here or look at www.mazsport.com and give them a call.

3. Order the Mazdaspeed kit from the dealer painted, but they are pretty expensive.

 

1) even the OEM front bumper from Mazda needs to be painted, the only bumper that you can get that is painted is the Mazdaspeed, thats about 1300 retail vs about 300 for the stock bumper (plus 160 for the lip, 50 for the gril, 50 for the fender liner/stone gaurd and 80 for the radiator tray) so your still gonna have to paint it if you want anything other than the Mazdaspeed bumper, even then you will still have to get some of the other parts that were damaged and are not part of the bumper.

2) that is a good option, you could get all the parts used and they would be painted, but that doesnt mean they will match perfectly, they may have to be blended.

3) yeah, i covered that.

Another problem you might run into : the fogs, fogs are sold in pairs, so youll have to buy 2 even though you need one. Even if you go with used fogs, It would be easyer to find a pair than just 1 pass side.

Was the wheel damaged or just the tire...the wheels are pretty expensive new, so maby go used.

That must be an auto, cause I dont see an oil cooler on that side, and thank god, that would be a whole mess more trouble.

Is this going through insurnace? If not, I would say your looking at spending at least 800 bucks in parts, plus labor and that, even if you go with cheaper used parts.

After wards, get an allignment and make sure there are no bent tie rods, ect.

Good luck!

and please dont drive around on your spare all the time, for months....THEY ARE TEMPORARY ONLY, and not for speeds over about 55-65 mph!

 

left- air bag sensor-ouch!!

 

Had the same thing happen to me (only it was a deer at 70mph) and I decided to go with the Mazdaspeed bumper. Now it's costing me because I got the itch to go with the full kit.... oh well.