Replacing Towing Point Cap

[miss_d_bus]

Some time ago I had a small collision where I went into the back of a van at slow speed (after they went in the back of someone else - I forgot my stopping distances for rainy driving!). I broke my number plate and have two deep marks in the bumper as I hit the step on the back of the van, carving two lines into the plastic. However, I also lost my towing point cap (if that is what it is called). It is round and plastic and somehow it pinged off somewhere in the depths of Colchester. I was on a busy road and shaken so I wasn't in the right frame of mind to go hunting for it.

I got a replacement ordered but it came unpainted and this is a dark grey. Toyota couldn't find a painted one matching my silver Aygo on their system at the time. I then painted it but the paint is now peeling off, looking really horrible.

I wonder how much it could cost to get a new bumper and get it fitted and also about sourcing this tow point cap thing.

Alternatively, I am happy to try to patch up the bumper.

Thanks for any advice.

[AygoIronman]

Hey,

The best thing and it really depends on how damamged your front bumper is, and how much you love your car. If you love it lots then you could source, or check out eBay every now, and again for a front bumper. I found this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-AYGO-FRONT-BUMPER-USED-/120541050156?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c10ce752c

However as you can see the tow plug is missing.

The cheapest option is to paint the tow plug, and you have to do it properly You havent mentioned how you painted the plug. Did you just spray silver paint on? If you have then the paint WILL flake off.

You have to get proper primer, for the paint to stick on, and then spray a lacquer over the paint to cover it. Its a 3 step process, and I m sure there was a TOPIC on here where someone painted their dash, and there was a step by step guide.

Why not search the internet on how to spray paint?

[miss_d_bus]

Thanks for the link. I'm not sure it is worth it then to replace the bumper as obviously I've got the fitting costs on top as I don't think I'm up to doing the to myself. I might have to get a Dremmel on the sticking up bits of plastic to at least make it look flat. There must be some sort of filler avilable to then fill in the two gouges.

I did use the primer then paint and then lacquer but did it with the brush versions but really it wasn't easy to make it look good over a large area and then the primer wasn't sticking to the plastic, even after a day of being dried. I didn't really want to buy it in the spray form as it would have been hardly used and then money wasted. I'll probably ask again at another dealer to see if they now do stock painted caps. Anyway, the unpainted ones are only about £2 each so I should have got a few to play with.

Thanks!

[AygoIronman]

Good judgement on the call about not getting a new bumper. You`re right it`ll cost more, and is it really worth the hassle and extra expense? I havenet seen the damage, or what your bumper is right, but I will at least give you my opinion, and input so you can make the best informed decision.

It also depends on wht kind of primer you have used. I hope its not ordinary paint primer as this doesnt stick on plastic bumpers, and will eventually flake off with all the elements of rain, sun, snow, salt, grit, and youname it....bird crap too. lol I ve actually have driven past a few vehicles where you can tell the "painter" has used the wrong type of primer.

Plastic, bumper primer is more flxible, allowingt he top coat of the paint to flex a little so the paint stays on. I d never use a paint brush as this leaves paint brush "streaks" from the bristles of the brush.

My recommendation is to go to someone, or a garage you know who has a good reputuation to get it sprayed. Id get a quote for a propery spray with lacquer. For such a small surface to spray I d doubt it `ll cost a lot of money, but I d make sure the garages spray it properly for you.

I had an accident in my Peuegot, and the paint on the door wasnt sprayed with the correct type of lacquer, and you tell they done it on the cheap. I complained to the insurance comapny and they done it again. I doubt you`ll have this advantage, but maybe even try Toyota and see what they charge, as I m sure their body shop would have the correct paint code, and amount of paint to spray it. Problems garages have to source or mix the paint, and I d doubt theyd get a correct match like my Peugeot.

[daf-fy]

an idea if I may.........

whilst you get an expert to colour code the towing eye cover why not get them to use some of the same paint etc at same time to colour code other parts eg (not sure if the + had these coded as std?) wing mirror covers, door handles, boot button etc and even go a step further like windscreen wiper arms, air vent surrounds, MMT trim surround, etc?

[miss_d_bus]

an idea if I may.........

whilst you get an expert to colour code the towing eye cover why not get them to use some of the same paint etc at same time to colour code other parts eg (not sure if the + had these coded as std?) wing mirror covers, door handles, boot button etc and even go a step further like windscreen wiper arms, air vent surrounds, MMT trim surround, etc?

I don't really have the money to do anything extra so I will have to give that a miss. I'm just keen for the car to look good as new on a tight budget.

I haven't got a photo to hand of the damage and it's not that bad compared to a lot of things I've seen but its a good 3-4mm wide and a few centimetres long times by two! I suppose I can try and make it look less noticable without it costing lots.

I used the primer you can buy from Halfords. I guess that isn't the right sort of primer then! Ah well. It explains why it is starting to look a bit tatty. The car is having its first MOT tomorrow so I'll find out if that towing eye cover thing can be purchased painted. It is worth a shot!

Thanks :)

[miss_d_bus]

Been to see Mr T. It looks like the plastic parts come pre-primered, hence why they are are dark grey colour. I basically primered over primer.

They quoted about £30 to get the cover sprayed so I think I might just get a few unpainted ones for a couple of quid each and see how I go with it doing it myself with some spray paint.

[Raistlin]

There are very few problems that cannot be solved through a suitable application of high explosives...