[1badLT1SS]

Long time listener (reader) first time caller here on camaro6...

I was out on a drive yesterday in my '23 SS and the right rear tire picked up something. I heard a loud thwapping noise (ugh) followed by a tire pressure warning. Whatever it was ejected itself, but not before puncturing the tire and taking a chunk out of the rear bumper cover. True to their name, the stock run-flat tires allowed me to limp the car back to the house, 3 miles away.

I'm sick over it, but, I keep telling myself...If you drive them, stuff will happen. This one has just 1400 miles on it in 2 years of ownership. :(

Best I can tell, the damage is:

• Punctured tire - middle of the tread. Just one hole.
• Wheel house liner has a tear/hole.
• Bumper cover edge fought and lost.
• Rocker moulding ahead of the wheel has some very small scratches.

Now I'm stuck on whether or not I should turn this into insurance. I don't want anything showing up on Carfax. I don't want any CAPA or salvage parts being used. I already know I'm likely on the hook for any price differences for those.

What say you? How would you go about undoing this damage?

[TransamGTA350]

That stinks. But as you say, if you drive them, stuff will happen.

It certainly is repairable. I would just bring it to a body shop you trust and get an estimate, then decide if you want to pay out of pocket or go through your insurance. Based on those photos, I would guess that they will want to replace the rear bumper cover and will repair the rocker molding and paint both.

I would also want to keep it out of insurance and Carfax if the cost is manageable.

[1badLT1SS]

Thanks, yeah. I should mention I know this *is* ultimately repairable. The car is not totaled. LOL. Even if every little scratch might feel like it.

I wasn't sure if we had any collision repair experts here who might have an opinion on the bumper cover. I don't know if that edge could be repaired / plastic-welded or epoxied -- or if there's any sense in repairing the cover versus replacing it.

[Hostile_1LE]

IDK if its repairable, but at least its a replaceable body panel.

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by 1badLT1SS

I wasn't sure if we had any collision repair experts here who might have an opinion on the bumper cover. I don't know if that edge could be repaired / plastic-welded or epoxied -- or if there's any sense in repairing the cover versus replacing it.

Get an estimate and see what repair shop is willing to do. Rocker can be filled and sanded.
Bumper cover is more complex. That is a curved area at the edge. I suspect they will say it would be very difficult to get that looking just right with a plastic repair. They will opt for replacement. I would start looking into sourcing a bumper cover from auto parts recyclers.
The wheel well liner can probably be patched with a plastic welder, particularly if you aren't picky about how that looks. it's probably all PP/EPDM, which should be easy to work with.

You have a lot of cost in paint, even if you go with a used bumper cover (will likely have scratches, even if you find white).

[Val Walkinshaw]

As someone who was the victim of 15k in vandalism in a Nashville Hilton Parking lot I understand all too well the heartbreak you feel when your baby suffers imperfections.

I'm going to be honest, as you drive her this is going to be the most minor imperfection to occur from here on out. Not being an ass just saying it could have been much, much worse. I cried like a bitch when I saw what civil unrest did to my girl. I had to drive her home (8 hours) with a destroyed windshield, damaged roof, damaged hood, peppered door and damaged (1 week old) rims. I was the only one in the row on a random Thursday night in October, parked on the end with 2 parking lot cameras on her, a dash cam AND under a spotlight. Those ****ers came back not once, not twice but 3 times....they threw CONCRETE chunks from the nearby construction waste container from the Hilton 5th floor balcony!!! They did not enter the car but had they, they would of left disappointed. She has a killswitch, manual trans, external GPS well hidden deep in the bowels of the car and I was armed....

Vandals are garbage humans.

Sorry. I might still be bent because my girl has been in the shop for 4 weeks now. Back to you.....

Plastic welding to repair that missing piece is going to be difficult only because the missing piece isn't big enough to give the mesh and welding staples enough area to "bite". Factor in blending of paint and further items that get thrown at the rear end and I'd bet it wouldn't last the summer.

My suggestion is to look around at rock guards/mud flaps that may disguise or cover the area. Many of us have them because when you drive on Goodyears they sling rocks. Anyone who follows you on a nice warm day is gonna bitch about the rocks you sling. Pay attention on public roads. If someone is riding your ass, it won't last long. Goodyear's with 200 treadwear rating or less are the worst when warm. Everything else is mildly better and the higher the TW (less sticky) the less rocks you'll sling. I personally love GY SC3's but have sympathy for those who follow me during spirited runs, curvy roads, rallys and track days.

My second suggestion is side skirts. I assume based on your profile you have just an SS, not a 1le which those come stock on. Skirts are a game changer along with PPF in preventing rock chips. The rocker panels and lower bumper cover are going to get peppered more and more as time goes on.

Between those two the booboo will be less noticeable and if you have further mishaps you'll be in a better place to come out unscathed.

I feel you friend, I really do.