How do I buy and replace a front bumper on my 2008 4Runner?
July 10, 2020 3:31 PM Subscribe
I am selling my 2008 Toyota 4Runner. The bumper is scratched and a little cracked. A random person from Craigslist has contacted me offering to sell me a used-but-good-condition 2006 4Runner bumper in my same paint color for $250 plus my bumper. Is this a good deal?
Is there anything that can go wrong here? The 2006 bumper looks identical to mine from pictures, and it's the same vehicle generation, so will it fit? Is it possible that there's anything wrong with the bumper that's for sale that I can't see from the pictures but that would cause problems for installing it? Why would this person want my damaged bumper? Do they plan to repaint it and just not understand that it also has a small crack?
Should I do this deal, or should I just find a way to buy a brand-new bumper instead and install it myself? (I have never done any auto-body type stuff but I work construction and am mechanically inclined.)
I am not a auto-body-saavy person. Please help me, car folk!
Is there anything that can go wrong here? The 2006 bumper looks identical to mine from pictures, and it's the same vehicle generation, so will it fit? Is it possible that there's anything wrong with the bumper that's for sale that I can't see from the pictures but that would cause problems for installing it? Why would this person want my damaged bumper? Do they plan to repaint it and just not understand that it also has a small crack?
Should I do this deal, or should I just find a way to buy a brand-new bumper instead and install it myself? (I have never done any auto-body type stuff but I work construction and am mechanically inclined.)
I am not a auto-body-saavy person. Please help me, car folk!
Best answer: Is there anything that can go wrong here?
Nominally the 'same colour' doesn't mean it will match. If they have had different time in the sun it may obviously be a replaced bumper - different sun fade looks obvious on a car sometimes. So that would affect resale at least as much as your existing one, because my immediate response to 'the bumper doesn't match' isn't 'they got one off craigslist and the paint is a bit off' it is 'this car has been in an accident and there may be extra broken/fixed/badly fixed stuff underneath'. A slight crack in an original looking bumper wouldn't worry me at all on a 12 year old car.
For a car that old I don't see the value in it. It would likely fit, and assuming all the plastic tags are there and you don't break something on yours getting the old one off? Maybe it'd be fine. But you won't get much resale value out of it for the hassle and risk.
Do they plan to repaint it and just not understand that it also has a small crack?
They will likely repair it and repaint it and do the same deal again. It's perfectly doable
posted by Brockles at 4:46 PM on July 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
Nominally the 'same colour' doesn't mean it will match. If they have had different time in the sun it may obviously be a replaced bumper - different sun fade looks obvious on a car sometimes. So that would affect resale at least as much as your existing one, because my immediate response to 'the bumper doesn't match' isn't 'they got one off craigslist and the paint is a bit off' it is 'this car has been in an accident and there may be extra broken/fixed/badly fixed stuff underneath'. A slight crack in an original looking bumper wouldn't worry me at all on a 12 year old car.
For a car that old I don't see the value in it. It would likely fit, and assuming all the plastic tags are there and you don't break something on yours getting the old one off? Maybe it'd be fine. But you won't get much resale value out of it for the hassle and risk.
Do they plan to repaint it and just not understand that it also has a small crack?
They will likely repair it and repaint it and do the same deal again. It's perfectly doable
posted by Brockles at 4:46 PM on July 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
Best answer: If someone notices that the bumper has been replaced because the colors don't match perfectly, they will worry about hidden other damage from the accident that caused you to replace the bumper.
But if they see your slightly cracked bumper they'll know any accident was minor and that damage will be apparent on simple visual inspection.
So no, don't go for it.
posted by jamjam at 5:08 PM on July 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
But if they see your slightly cracked bumper they'll know any accident was minor and that damage will be apparent on simple visual inspection.
So no, don't go for it.
posted by jamjam at 5:08 PM on July 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
After you get the cash you can mention to the purchaser that this person offered a fascia that would fit.
posted by Mitheral at 6:01 PM on July 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Mitheral at 6:01 PM on July 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Don't buy anything from someone who contacts you! Lots of scams out there. If you decide to replace your bumper, go looking online yourself.
posted by summerstorm at 7:36 PM on July 10, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by summerstorm at 7:36 PM on July 10, 2020 [5 favorites]
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posted by mareli at 3:47 PM on July 10, 2020 [6 favorites]