I crashed my GSR a while back. Just got it back from the body shop, and though the paint matches pretty well, things just don't seem to be lined up as well as they used to be.

It was a front end colision with damage to the front upper left rail. The shop I took it to pulled the frame, welded on a new radiator support, put on a new driver side fender, oem replica bumper, oem replica hood. No headlights yet unfortunately >_< But it seems like the hood doesn't align properly with the bumper nor does the bumper align quite right with the fenders.

Could it be because it's an aftermarket bumper? I'd assume that the shop tried to the best of their ability to line things up right.. but maybe not?

What do you guys think? Bad body shop work? Bad bumper? Or is it just something to live with after being in an accident?

 

OEM is the only way to go as far as collision repair is concerned...

Chances are that the reason the hood and bumper don't fit is because they are of low quality, probably made from a shitty mold. Decent body shoips can make small adjustments, but if the fitment is off, its just off.

 

<FONT SIZE="5">DONT TAKE THE CHEAP WAY OUT! OEM IS THE WAY TO GO.</FONT> If it was insurance that did it usually you can tell them you want OEM parts. Yes its probably because you have crappy aftermarket parts on or found a bullshit bodyshop.

 

it can be 2 ways, your frame is not straight when they try their best pulling out the frame, or the stuff you got is not good quality like oem stuff.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM knowledge &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="5">DONT TAKE THE CHEAP WAY OUT! OEM IS THE WAY TO GO.</FONT> If it was insurance that did it usually you can tell them you want OEM parts. Yes its probably because you have crappy aftermarket parts on or found a bullshit bodyshop.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It wasn't through insurance, it was out of my own pocket. I was looking every day for a 98+ front bumper with no luck so I was just like screw it i'll get aftermarket one for now. The guys at the body shop said that it was a fine bumper, but I'm not sure if they meant fine fitment or fine material.

If it was insurance, hell yeah I would take the most expensive route possible, all brand new OEM from dealer. But out of my own pocket, damn.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by trick_db &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[size=5]it can be 2 ways, your frame is not straight when they try their best pulling out the frame, or the stuff you got is not good quality like oem stuff. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I think that the 1st way is more likely.. should I bring it back and tell them to do it bteter or what? I mean, when I picked it up I was just glad to have my car back again but now these little things start to bug me...

should I just pick up an oem bumper and have them paint it (there's another few hundred bucks down the drain )?

 

you pay for it, you should get the best quality you deserve. is your money not ours, so since you feel somethign is wrong, is there problem to make customer happy. but they can do to their extended. it will never go back to the way it is. plus i think the replica you got could be off. cause about 80 to 90 percent of replica, it doesnt going to fit correctly. so is your decision, p

 

Its most likely the parts. My buddy who crashed the front of his 96 integra went the cheap way with a Replica front and it doesn't aling by where the hood, fender, and bumper meet at. At that little corner, it seems as if the bumper is a little too wide. A good example is me too, i had my front bumper replaced with a replica bumper also cuz i had a small accident also and the fitment on it isn't that great either. Some replica parts come out good, but for the most times front bumpers dont fit right. My back bumper is a replica also but fits excellent. Sometimes you just gotta take the risk. For me i took the risk since i got all these replica parts for dirt cheap (bumper - $50) If it really bothers you then try to find OEM parts and change them up and resell the replica bumpers

 

aftermarket parts can fit good if you mess around and bend parts here and there. i have a certi-fit bumper and driver side fender,

 

not bad, did you have to mod a little to make it fit nice? im sure you do huh?

 

how much did they charge you to pull the frame and weld a new rad support?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by trick_db &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">not bad, did you have to mod a little to make it fit nice? im sure you do huh? </TD></TR></TABLE>

the bumper was direct fit, but on the fender we had to bend and push in some spots

 

oem.. aftermarket is a bitch to line up and most the time never lines up even that good.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by THE LORD OF CHAOS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how much did they charge you to pull the frame and weld a new rad support?</TD></TR></TABLE>

they charged me 1500 for paint, frame pull, rad support, radiator install, install hood bumper fender

 

yah man...sucks to hear ur situation been there before and it sucks..and no ur car will never be perfect again...u can get close and some wont notice nething, but YOU will always see the inperfections...but i would recommed gettin all new OEM parts aftermarket never aligns perfect.
goodluck