Smoothing the bumpers...

[vanish]

Hi,
Anyone else totally blown away by the dragon green mk3 on the cover of June's PVW? I reckon that car looks awesome.
Anyway, I would like to aim towards a similar look for my mk3 but I'm a bit new to car modding and would like to know the best way to achieve the smooth bumpers like that car has. I'll get some bumpers from a scrappy and have a bash in case it all goes Pete at least I haven't ruined me car!
I've got a couple of questions, if anyone has any valid experience with this work please feel free to chip in with advice/warnings you may have.

1. Is it best to start off with a CL bumper as opposed to a GTI bumper as the CL bumper doesn't have the black pimply bit?
2. All the mk3 bumpers have what looks like a "coach-strip" groove around them, do you just fill that in with filler?
3. Are any particular brands of filler better than others? What else will I need, ie sand paper? wet and dry?
4. Should I just stop being tight and pay someone who knows what they're doing to do it?
5. Why does stubbing your toe hurt so damn much?

Cheers in advance for any help,
Van.

[foilist2000]

I agree, apart form the wheels, that car rocked.

Smoothing bumpers to a high standard is a nightmare, I did it on a previous car (Nova) and it took forever, even with a compessor driven sander and professional filler.

I would suggest  you look at RS type bumpers, you can get them with the fog/indicator holes ready filled, and with a good paint job they can look really smooth.

jace

[monkeyalan]

leave it to the pro's. as they'd be spraying them anyway the extra cost to smooth them couldn't be to much. after all you have to buy second hand bumpers,filler/fibreglass,sandpaper ect and it all adds up.

[Splinter]

I did it myself, took a few nights work with the bumper off the car in a garage.

Cost about £30 to smooth and respray the whole bumper

Look brilliant! Very close to bodyshop stanard in my humble opinion.

Its the way to do it, if you are strapped for cash and have the time, otherwise take it to the Bodyshop.

(I did right a detailed instrution for you the other night, but decided not to send it!)  Thought it was too long winded

[Burnsy]

Have you got any pics of the bumper you done m8