Bumpers

[lee]

Are bumpers still available new?

 

Where would they be available from and at what cost?

 

My problem is that I have just damaged the original unit that was fitted to my original low mileage car. I'm keen to keep this car absolutely as it left the factory so as you can imagine I'm gutted that it's damaged and want to repalce it with the best item I can.

 

Thanks

[david ferry]

Lee,

 

New ones are generally not very good quality.

 

Personally, I would get yours repaired, if possible, and then rechromed. If yours is past repair, find a secondhand one to get that rechromed, if needs be.

 

A very good company for rechroming, and possibly repair, is Derby Plating. Not cheap but you will get what you pay for.

 

Good luck

 

David

[rpurchon]

i bought a new rear bumper for my car from moss [in one of there sales] didnt fit it for a couple of months while i did the rear end of my car. just over 12 months old probably 10 months on the car [ 1 winter]and the right side is just starting to rust.took it back to moss bradford and the lad there said it was normal they were all like that/should have used chrome polish etc. my advice dont get from moss.

[PILKIE]

Go and demand to see the manager!!

or go over his head to THE BOSS!!! if needs be!! They have a good reputation to uphold

[EricTR6]

Does anyone have an indication of the costs to rechrome a front bumper ?

 

Eric

[BryanD]

My rear bumper cost £130 - but that included a small repair and of course its in three parts...

 

Maybe £80?

 

TRGB might give you a quote over the phone, but they won't be the cheapest as they are just acting as agents for a plating firm somewhere.

[lee]

That's mighty cheap to get a rear bumper chromed.

 

Thanks for the advice guys.

[Guest ron]

5+ years ago I fitted a new OE back bumper main blade, 2 rechromed original side blades and a Moss repro front bumper as the original was a basket case, I painted the inside of them with silver Smoothrite then Waxoil before fitting, none of them are showing any signs of deterioration or corrosion, including the Moss one but I don't use the car on salty roads.

Ron

[RobinTR6]

Repro bumpers have been a source of dissatisfied muttering as far back as I can remember.

 

Sheer cost of good quality chroming probably has a lot to do with it, bearing in mind that reproducing bumpers in relatively small quantities is not a cheap exercise, even before chroming. Heavy bits of steel to press ! If you do have to use repro bumpers, they need regular maintenance to preserve them, simple as that.

 

As for good quality rechroming, the easy answer is probably to ask your local group - chances are someone will have first-hand experience of a decent plating shop that's less than a million miles away.

 

In my experience, most platers can do a good job IF they know that you really do want a pukka job and are prepared to pay for the work involved. All too often, the customer wants a cheaper job, and that's what he gets . . . It can be surprising just how much damage a good plating shop can rectify, don't write off your old bumper without a specialist opinion, or preferably 2 or 3.

 

Cheers,

 

Just had both fron and rear done at Don King , Canvey Island. They were tired and a bit rusty with a few deinks. They now have a mirror finish and I can say I'm amazed at how good they now look, all up £240

Alec

[Richard Crawley]

Many years ago whilst gathering bit for my resto, I bought an original BL centre bumper section still in the grease wrapping, complete with a tie on label & logo’d cardboard carton. When I eventually came to fit it at the end of my resto, I was so disappointed that quality didn’t come near the re-chroming work I’d had done by a small local company.

 

So I re-wrapped the original back in it’s grease paper & it went back up in the loft (& no it’s not for sale!). I took my old rusty old, & slightly dented original down to the same company & had that re-chromed & it now matches all the rest of the car’s perfect chrome work.

 

I’ve no experience of re-manufactured units but I would always try & use the original if possible, it will always look better & actually fits! My chrome work is as near concourse as you can get & I certainly didn’t pay the fancy prices some will ask; & where did I have all this done? ---- Don King on Canvey Island!

 

I’m not sure if that reference was part of Alec’s original post of if Robin just cocked up his quote (no offence) but I lived on Canvey for 30 year & it’s where I carried out all of the resto work on my car. I can’t praise Don enough; he does a lot custom & club chrome work & I don’t think you will get better quality or service at the price; although the prices quoted are a little heavier than I paid!

[Guest ron]

I think what you get with repro bumpers must be down to luck, I was very reluctant to use one from experience with MGBs, some of their repro efforts are a joke, they're not even the right shape, but I had no choice and fitted the repro one with intentions of keeping a look out for a NOS but that's now 5 years+ down the road and no problems with it, it fitted well without any problems as well.

Ron

[Guest Wyn]

Lee,

 

I agree that the way to go is to have the originals restored. I had my bumpers, overiders and side indicators done four years ago by Chrome Restoration Specialists. I though I would mention them as they are in Hythe and you live in Kent. I was very happy with the work although the bumpers are not fitted to the car now.

 

Wyn

[lee]

Wyn.....That's spooky having just got off the phone to them.

 

They seem very friendly and I saw some work they did on a friends C2 Sting Ray last week.

 

They seem resonably priced too.

 

thanks

[F69]

I agree most heartily about the chrome restoration firm at Hythe in Kent.

Last year they rechromed the centre section of my rear bumper and charged me £75 + vat.

The job done was superb.

Should anyone be interested they are, Central Engineering Design Ltd, Tel: 01303-266505

[Guest Wyn]

On the subject of re-chromed bumpers and wishing to avoid starting another topic, I need to store my bumpers for a while as I have no immediate plans to re fit them to the car. What would be the best way of protecting them? i.e. grease, wrapping etc. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

Wyn

[jonlar]

Hi Wyn, Enginewise do rust inhibitor paper

 

http://www.enginewise.co.uk/acatalog/corro...nhibition2.html

[PILKIE]

HI,

I recently re-discovered a complete morris 1000 front bumper in my gramps loft that was tightly wrapped in tissue paper then brown parcel paper,he bought it as it was mint, for 5 or 10 bob from a scrappy in the early 70's as his was a little rusty,he stored it until ready to fit, but traded in the moggy for an austin 1300gt. He had cleaned it,dried it, and given it a good coat of polish. It is still mint!! I have passed it on 'sold' to a very happy moggy owning mate who is putting it on his almost finished resto. Me and gramp had a good night down the pub on it!!

So, cleaned,thoroughly dried,a good coat of good polish,wrapped in soft tissue and plain type paper,dont use printed paper,the ink will mark it!! and the safest,dryest place you can find!!

[Steve P]

Hi all,

I recently got a quote from Derby plating. £250 each front & rear + £40 each for the rear quarters. Made me eyes water. Got another quote from Joe Cole £150 each front & rear + £30 each for rear quarters. A bit more manageable. But as the saying goes "One gets what one pays for"

 

Cheers

Steve

[Guest Wyn]

Thanks Alec, Jonlar and Pilkie for your advice

 

Wyn

[PILKIE]

does anybody have experience of S&T chroming near Bristol?? Quality,cost etc

[stuart]

does anybody have experience of S&T chroming near Bristol?? Quality,cost etc

Not bad but very slow turnaround time and you get what you pay for. I always use London Chroming 02076396434 in The Old Kent Road excellent finish, good repair service with good turnaround time.

Stuart.

[TR Mitch]

Another recommendation for Don King. Just plated my front bumper, overriders, bolts and oil filler cap for £112 inc VAT. Job done in 3 days too. I'd highly recommend them, so much so, off to post on the main forum.