Replacing Front Bumper Cover on 2006 S80??

GDATL · Post by **GDATL** » 08 Mar 2010, 16:22

I've had several questions and received many helpful responses for help on my 2-S70s, but this is my first time seeking help on my wife's 2006 S80. She recently ran into some debris on the highway that she could not avoid, and it damaged the front bumper, one of the fog lights and also the gravel shield (same as the skid plate I presume). Dealer would charge $1700 to do the repairs, and I can buy all the parts (including pre-painted bumper cover) for about $850 from FCPGroton. I have $1000 deductible on my auto insurance, so saving nearly $900 by doing it myself would be a big relief.

I have 2 questions:

1) Is replacing the bumper cover a straight-foward do-it-yourself job? Any pointers or guidance?

2) Would you recommend just replacing the gravel plate (think it is plastic) or upgrading to the aluminum skid plate offered by IPD? I have not asked FCPGroton if they might also have a metal plate alternative also, but I will do that. Plastic gravel shield is $108; IPD charges $250 for the aluminum skid plate.

Thanks for your advice!

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 08 Mar 2010, 16:31

GDATL wrote:I've had several questions and received many helpful responses for help on my 2-S70s, but this is my first time seeking help on my wife's 2006 S80. She recently ran into some debris on the highway that she could not avoid, and it damaged the front bumper, one of the fog lights and also the gravel shield (same as the skid plate I presume). Dealer would charge $1700 to do the repairs, and I can buy all the parts (including pre-painted bumper cover) for about $850 from FCPGroton. I have $1000 deductible on my auto insurance, so saving nearly $900 by doing it myself would be a big relief.

I have 2 questions:

1) Is replacing the bumper cover a straight-foward do-it-yourself job? Any pointers or guidance?

2) Would you recommend just replacing the gravel plate (think it is plastic) or upgrading to the aluminum skid plate offered by IPD? I have not asked FCPGroton if they might also have a metal plate alternative also, but I will do that. Plastic gravel shield is $108; IPD charges $250 for the aluminum skid plate.

Thanks for your advice!

Umm, let's do the math. Dealer would charge $1700. Your deductible is $1000. You pay $1000. Buy the parts yourself = $850. $1000 - $850 = $150 you'll save doing the work yourself (assuming you don't have to pay shipping on the parts). To me it would easily be worth more than $150 not to have to do that job. If I were you, I'd have the dealer do it and pay the deductible.

PS - Check into lowering your deductibles on collision and comprehensive. I carry $250 on collision and $0 (zero) on comprehensive. It's only a few bucks more a month, but pays big dividends if you have a wreck or a vandalism incident.

GDATL · Post by **GDATL** » 08 Mar 2010, 16:58

Hi VegasJetSkier. If the difference were only $150, I am in total agreement!

Let's check the math (and I will be a little more exact with the numbers here):

Total damage: $1732, based upon dealer's estimate, which the insurance company accepted.
Reimbursed: $ 732 ($1732 minus $1000 deductible on insurance), and I already have the $732 check from insurance.

I can either spend $1732 for a dealer to do the work... or I can spend $850 on parts and do it myself.

If I do it myself, I should be saving $882 ($1732 the dealer would charge, minus the $850 in parts), not $150.

For an $882 savings, I'm willing to try if I can do it successfully and not de-value the car. I have changed the brake pads, rotors, calipers, brake lines, front tie rods, ABS brake module, etc., on my S70s, but I have never done any body work, nor have I done any work at all on the S80 since I purchased it as a Volvo certified car and it is under warranty for 2 more years or 35,000 more miles. However, it looks like the bumper might just be attached with a few bolts and clips, and if that is the case, I'm willing to try. Certainly putting on a gravel shield/skid plate would not be too much bother (I do have a floor jack and jack stands, to make it a bit easier.) How hard will it be do to this work?

The difference is

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 08 Mar 2010, 17:13

GDATL wrote:Hi VegasJetSkier. If the difference were only $150, I am in total agreement!

Let's check the math (and I will be a little more exact with the numbers here):

Total damage: $1732, based upon dealer's estimate, which the insurance company accepted.
Reimbursed: $ 732 ($1732 minus $1000 deductible on insurance), and I already have the $732 check from insurance.

I can either spend $1732 for a dealer to do the work... or I can spend $850 on parts and do it myself.

If I do it myself, I should be saving $882 ($1732 the dealer would charge, minus the $850 in parts), not $150.

For an $882 savings, I'm willing to try if I can do it successfully and not de-value the car. I have changed the brake pads, rotors, calipers, brake lines, front tie rods, ABS brake module, etc., on my S70s, but I have never done any body work, nor have I done any work at all on the S80 since I purchased it as a Volvo certified car and it is under warranty for 2 more years or 35,000 more miles. However, it looks like the bumper might just be attached with a few bolts and clips, and if that is the case, I'm willing to try. Certainly putting on a gravel shield/skid plate would not be too much bother (I do have a floor jack and jack stands, to make it a bit easier.) How hard will it be do to this work?

The difference is

Gotcha! OK. In that case I would do it myself. I don't have VADIS for that year of car, but IIRC on the 2005 and before it wasn't too bad. I think there are a few bolts and some rivets you have to drill out. You might have to invest in a poprivet gun if you don't already have one. You may need help maneuvering the new cover into position so you don't scratch the paint, but it should be doable.

On my car the "gravel shield" was just held on by 6 or 7 12mm bolts.

GDATL · Post by **GDATL** » 08 Mar 2010, 17:22

Thanks for the advice on insurance, although despite your good intentions I do not think that is good advice for me. I understand the benefits and risks of insurance. I have 4 cars, 4 drivers (2 under 21) and live in the Atlanta metro area where insurance rates are high. It is not just a few bucks - It was a sizable savings to increase my deductibles. I am not looking to do this job myself because I can't afford the repair If I couldn't afford it, I would drive with a dent in my bumper! I am simply a do-it-yourself'er and enjoy the pride of finishing a job on my own! (probably like you and many others on this site!)

GDATL · Post by **GDATL** » 13 May 2010, 22:47

I should have provided an update sooner! I did order the parts from FCPGroton and replaced them myself. The job was absolutely no problem. When I am doing a job I have never tried before I work very slowly, but it still took me only a couple of hours to replace the bumper cover an foglamp myself. I still haven't replaced the gravel shield - will do it when I put the car up on jack stands to replace the brake pads very soon. I followed the instructions in the Haynes S70 manual which were pretty cryptic, but it was easy enough to figure out for myself.