Spare Bumper Repair (GT Refinishers - Auckland) - 56K No!

[NZ_M3]

So I picked up this bumper from a fellow forum member with the intention of repairing it and keeping it as a spare.

As you will all know the bumper is autoclave pre-preg dry carbon fiber and has a frontal crash impact bar built into its structure that is crash tested - very strong and very light.

With no access to an autoclave, I decided that the next best thing was to take the bumper to somebody that was capable of doing a wetlay carbon fiber repair at a reasonable price - cue, Grant from GT Refinishers.

The goal - no bog, proper carbon fiber repair as close to original finish as possible without breaking the bank :smt113


The bumper as I received it:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020360.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020364.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020361.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020365.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020367.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020362.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020358-1.jpg

Grant peels the paint back to survey the damage:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture002.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture001.jpg

A little more serious than we thought, but Grant got on with it:
Wet lay using the same carbon fiber tweel as the original with 2 part epoxy ...


http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture003.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture005.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture004.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture007.jpg

Sanding it down:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture011.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture009.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture013.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture010.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture008.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture012.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture016.jpg

Like it was never damaged almost:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture015.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture014.jpg

fairing:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture018.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture017.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture020.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture019.jpg

Priming:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture025.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture024.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture026.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture021.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture027.jpg

Painted:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture029.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture032.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture030.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture031.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofPicture028.jpg

The finish product:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020376.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020378.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020379.jpg

Next to the original

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Spare%20Bumper%20Repair/ResizeofP1020381.jpg

[DuncanR]

Nice job Tom, as its a recent import into NZ we look forward to seeing some pictures of the crash test !!:hahaha::hahaha:

[sailorbaz]

That's some job mate, saved a complete fortune should anyone bump into you or you bump into someone or something.

You could punt that and probably get yourself and nice wee profit but I know that was never your intention, good man. Some job!

[shimmy]

Nice job

reminds me I've got to get my spare bumper repaired but luckily not half as bad as that.

[rstoughy]

Very nice Tom :thumbs:

Looks like the guy knows his stuff :smokin:

How many spare bumpers is that now?? :whistle: :hahaha:

[jibm]

Nice one Tom it looks fantastic :thumbs:

funny looking a piece of my car having another life so far away.

any chance you could post me back the old velcro pieces you removed, times are going to get hard over here now with one of you're hung parliaments :hahaha:

[phat///M3]

Nice work, you painted it the wrong colour though my car isnt Silver Grey its Carbon Black :drool:

[shimmy]

Nice work, you painted it the wrong colour though my car isnt Silver Grey its Carbon Black :drool:

your car aint even a CSL :gayfight:

[phat///M3]

your car aint even a CSL :gayfight:

Thank you for reminding me, I shouldnt have posted that link to the excell sheet or gone to the bother of editing it for you http://www.cool-smileys.com/images/2097.gif

[shimmy]

Thank you for reminding me, I shouldnt have posted that link to the excell sheet or gone to the bother of editing it for you http://www.cool-smileys.com/images/2097.gif

im gonna get my sister to come round and beat you up!:smokin:

[phat///M3]

im gonna get my sister to come round and beat you up!:smokin:

If she looks anything like you then please dont, it'll make my eyes hurt :whistle:

[shimmy]

If she looks anything like you then please dont, it'll make my eyes hurt :whistle:

she does and she weighs the same and she lives less than 15 mins from your house - be scared, be very scared:hahaha:

[phat///M3]

she does and she weighs the same and she lives less than 15 mins from your house - be scared, be very scared:hahaha:

15 mins, so by the time she's 5 minutes away should hear a hippo or a cow coming in our direction? :smt055

[s.mac]

quality repair :smokin: I can imagine what I would be told if I went to a local body shop and asked for that doing :hahaha:

[s.mac]

also good to see stuff getting shipped around the world by trusty forum members :thumbs:

[Mark CSL]

Good job Tom and some nice pictures :thumbs: