Sick and Tired of Scraping Under the Front Bumper

TagMan · 08-12-2009, 12:20 AM

I thought I was being careful, yet I have scraped the underside of my 135's front bumper several times already. I took a really close look under there earlier today, and it was much worse than I had expected. Most of the underside is now scratched up pretty badly.

I'm just not sure it's worth it to get it repaired, as I'm concerned it's likely to happen all over again.

What do the rest of you do about this?

TM

Robert · 08-12-2009, 12:25 AM

Well, when I park I stop when I feel the car is still a little out of the spot. Since the car is small this is typically fine so much as my tail is not hanging out of the spot. The method has worked out great for me. For a few times, can count with my fingers, I had to pull in another half foot but mostly no. Second as I was told get a lip for your bumper. If you scrap you scrap the lip.

ORIGIN M. · 08-12-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TagMan

I thought I was being careful, yet I have scraped the underside of my 135's front bumper several times already. I took a really close look under there earlier today, and it was much worse than I had expected. Most of the underside is now scratched up pretty badly.

I'm just not sure it's worth it to get it repaired, as I'm concerned it's likely to happen all over again.

What do the rest of you do about this?

TM

Is your car lowered?

TagMan · 08-12-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Is your car lowered?

Good question... nope, it's stock.

TM

moveswiftly · 08-12-2009, 12:43 AM

It'll happen again man, I'd just live with it. Have you tried going up inclines on an angle?

TagMan · 08-12-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesterfan1230

It'll happen again man, I'd just live with it. Have you tried going up inclines on an angle?

Yeah... I've learned that trick (after one nasty mishap)... works very well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

Well, when I park I stop when I feel the car is still a little out of the spot. Since the car is small this is typically fine so much as my tail is not hanging out of the spot. The method has worked out great for me. For a few times, can count with my fingers, I had to pull in another half foot but mostly no. Second as I was told get a lip for your bumper. If you scrap you scrap the lip.

Have you seen any of those installed?

TM

Robert · 08-12-2009, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TagMan

Yeah... I've learned that trick (after one nasty mishap)... works very well.

Have you seen any of those installed?

TM

Here's one

Too bulky for me but if you dont usually hit the center of the bumper then opt for the BMW performance pair installed on either side of the front bumper

escobar929 · 08-12-2009, 07:06 AM

im always park in reverse for that reason

and def going up inclines at an angle

Citizen Z · 08-12-2009, 07:11 AM

Just don't pull all the way up to the damn curb, parking stop, etc etc. I usually leave an honest 2' and since the car has such a short wheel base, my tail still doesn't stick out past most cars.

EngPhys09 · 08-12-2009, 07:46 AM

Here's a suggestion learn to park? I've never curbed any of my cars. Plus I always back in.

zerbitini · 08-12-2009, 08:18 AM

Ditto... back in whenever possible!

A coworker just bought a new G8, and the FIRST day he drove it to work, he nosed into his parking spot. Unfortunately, the rebar used to hold the parking block in place was sticking up 1/4" above the block, and it ripped out the underside of his bumper (ouch!) when he backed out for lunch.

Painful lesson - even if you clear the parking block, you might not clear the rebar. He now backs in every day.

oneintheory · 08-12-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EngPhys09

Here's a suggestion learn to park? I've never curbed any of my cars. Plus I always back in.

And what about when he needs to go into a driveway? I suppose the same rule applies? Cause you can scrape in either direction there. Telling someone they need to learn to park is useless advice.

Whatever you do, don't buy a lip. It'll just be even lower, and you'll essentially be paying for something to scrape or rip all the way off. Just be a bit more careful and deal with it. Most of our front bumpers probably look like cheese graters on the undersides.

BrokenVert · 08-12-2009, 08:28 AM

I only did this once...and there was snow on the ground.

HondaGoneRogue · 08-12-2009, 08:35 AM

Must really be a messed up area. Germany has some REALLY steep parking garage ramps and I have never scraped once. I also have that lip pictured above. My civic was way lower from the factory and had lowering springs on it also. Same thing, no scraping. You guys must have some really steep driveways and short parking spaces. I always end up 2' away from the curb and the back end stays inside the space.

HondaGoneRogue · 08-12-2009, 08:53 AM

I think these would maybe help out a lot. They are ABS plastic and could take the brunt of the force. They more importantly would warn you that you are about to scrape. They aren't too bulky and can be mouted more recessed than shown here. Pretty unobtrusive. Just my .02

EngPhys09 · 08-12-2009, 09:32 AM

I think backing in always works, and if you drive out on an angle your fine.
Also there is no reason anyone should ever scrap the bottom of their car. If you are careful with it then you should be fine.

I really don't understand how this is an issue, 80 degree drive ways?

oneintheory · 08-12-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EngPhys09

I think backing in always works, and if you drive out on an angle your fine.
Also there is no reason anyone should ever scrap the bottom of their car. If you are careful with it then you should be fine.

I really don't understand how this is an issue, 80 degree drive ways?

Sometimes you can't help it. 90% of the time, it is avoidable, but there's always that 10%. It only takes one time for the underside of the bumper to get torn up.

jkp1187 · 08-12-2009, 10:25 AM

I'm having a clear bra put on my hood and bumper. I think I might buy a 4" wide strip and put some on the bottom of the front bumper myself just to guard against this eventuality.

scorcherjf · 08-12-2009, 10:37 AM

when i first got my kw's in i was slammed all the way but this was in miami... no hills. i still bottomed out on pretty much every speed bump so i raised it up. you have to drive with a totally different mindset in a car so low... take everything at angles, go real slow. use the little rubber things that stick down below the bumper to listen. once they start grinding on the ground, you know your bumper will be next, so either back up and try a different way or if it's not much more of an incline/decline just go. i'm just glad the nose of 1 is so 'stubby' and doesn't stick out nearly as far over the wheels like other brands... that would be hell. i always saw this ferrari at my building trying to edge out of the garage at an insane angle going really slow and nearly grinding his bumper every time... literally like .5cm of clearance. his nose sticks out like 2 feet from the front wheels though...

i've raised it up since then though... northeast roads =0

3002 tii · 08-12-2009, 10:47 AM

i just got my front bumper repainted, and they had to do the whole underside as it was all black, not a spot of paint left. since then i've just been more careful. i'm not even lowered, sitting on stock suspension but now i really go out of my way to avoid potholes, bumps, and drive zig zag over bumpers if necessary.

DtE1 · 08-12-2009, 10:55 AM

Hopefully 6+ years of driving a MINI Cooper S has taught me how to negotiate these type of situations without scraping the underside when the 135 is delivered next week. Sometimes it's almost unavoidable...

BKScripto · 08-12-2009, 11:13 AM

I scraped the underside of my front bumper last week. This one particular parking garage has slightly higher curbs and sometimes, like when your in a hurry, you just forget about that front lip and scrape...nothing you can do about it, it happens. The good thing is, you'll never notice unless you get underneath the car. I thought I had ripped the front bumper off when I did it

It's not about learning how to park, it just happens sometimes.

08-12-2009, 12:20 AM	#1
TagMan Car Addict!! 60 Rep 1,303 Posts Drives: '08 135i Convertible Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Malibu, California iTrader: (0)	Sick and Tired of Scraping Under the Front Bumper I thought I was being careful, yet I have scraped the underside of my 135's front bumper several times already. I took a really close look under there earlier today, and it was much worse than I had expected. Most of the underside is now scratched up pretty badly. I'm just not sure it's worth it to get it repaired, as I'm concerned it's likely to happen all over again. What do the rest of you do about this? TM __________________ 2008 /// Commemorative /// 6-Speed /// Titanium Silver /// Fully-Loaded /// 135i Convertible
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08-12-2009, 12:25 AM	#2
Robert Major General 414 Rep 6,968 Posts Drives: 135i -> is350 -> Tesla M3 perf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Socal iTrader: (1)	Well, when I park I stop when I feel the car is still a little out of the spot. Since the car is small this is typically fine so much as my tail is not hanging out of the spot. The method has worked out great for me. For a few times, can count with my fingers, I had to pull in another half foot but mostly no. Second as I was told get a lip for your bumper. If you scrap you scrap the lip.
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08-12-2009, 12:43 AM	#5
moveswiftly Colonel 381 Rep 2,926 Posts Drives: Cayman GT4, 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (12) Garage List 2012 335iS [0.00]	It'll happen again man, I'd just live with it. Have you tried going up inclines on an angle? __________________ Current: M2CS Gone but not forgotten: Cayman GT4, M2C, 2011 135i, E83 X3 6MT, 2016 SO M3, 2012 335iS, 2010 135i and 2006 e90 325xi
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08-12-2009, 07:06 AM	#8
escobar929 Brigadier General 154 Rep 4,528 Posts Drives: M2 CS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Hollywood, FL iTrader: (14) Garage List 2020 M2 CS [10.00] 2020 M240i [0.00]	im always park in reverse for that reason and def going up inclines at an angle
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08-12-2009, 07:11 AM	#9
Citizen Z Alpine Master 111 Rep 1,310 Posts Drives: '08 135i AW Sport Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kansas iTrader: (1)	Just don't pull all the way up to the damn curb, parking stop, etc etc. I usually leave an honest 2' and since the car has such a short wheel base, my tail still doesn't stick out past most cars. __________________ Alpine White with Taupe Leather 135i, Sports Package, Heated Seats, Comfort Access, iPod Adapter Fastness: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252727
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08-12-2009, 07:46 AM	#10
EngPhys09 Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 09 128i SRM Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hamilton, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Here's a suggestion learn to park? I've never curbed any of my cars. Plus I always back in.
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08-12-2009, 08:18 AM	#11
zerbitini Private 7 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0)	Ditto... back in whenever possible! A coworker just bought a new G8, and the FIRST day he drove it to work, he nosed into his parking spot. Unfortunately, the rebar used to hold the parking block in place was sticking up 1/4" above the block, and it ripped out the underside of his bumper (ouch!) when he backed out for lunch. Painful lesson - even if you clear the parking block, you might not clear the rebar. He now backs in every day. __________________ AW 135i, Taupe Leather, M Sport, Premium, Cold Weather, iPod/USB
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08-12-2009, 08:28 AM	#13
BrokenVert Resident Kerbalnaut 477 Rep 10,703 Posts Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY iTrader: (0)	I only did this once...and there was snow on the ground. __________________
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08-12-2009, 08:35 AM	#14
HondaGoneRogue They like my Swag... 433 Rep 3,762 Posts Drives: 15 GSM 435i GC Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South Dakota iTrader: (4) Garage List 2015 435i Gran Coupe [0.00]	Must really be a messed up area. Germany has some REALLY steep parking garage ramps and I have never scraped once. I also have that lip pictured above. My civic was way lower from the factory and had lowering springs on it also. Same thing, no scraping. You guys must have some really steep driveways and short parking spaces. I always end up 2' away from the curb and the back end stays inside the space. __________________ 2015 435i Gran Coupe - Current 2008 AW 135i - Sold
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08-12-2009, 08:53 AM	#15
HondaGoneRogue They like my Swag... 433 Rep 3,762 Posts Drives: 15 GSM 435i GC Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South Dakota iTrader: (4) Garage List 2015 435i Gran Coupe [0.00]	I think these would maybe help out a lot. They are ABS plastic and could take the brunt of the force. They more importantly would warn you that you are about to scrape. They aren't too bulky and can be mouted more recessed than shown here. Pretty unobtrusive. Just my .02 __________________ 2015 435i Gran Coupe - Current 2008 AW 135i - Sold
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08-12-2009, 09:32 AM	#16
EngPhys09 Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 09 128i SRM Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hamilton, Ontario iTrader: (0)	I think backing in always works, and if you drive out on an angle your fine. Also there is no reason anyone should ever scrap the bottom of their car. If you are careful with it then you should be fine. I really don't understand how this is an issue, 80 degree drive ways?
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08-12-2009, 10:25 AM	#18
jkp1187 Unindicted co-conspirator 66 Rep 1,734 Posts Drives: to work, mostly. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania / Detroit, Michigan iTrader: (0)	I'm having a clear bra put on my hood and bumper. I think I might buy a 4" wide strip and put some on the bottom of the front bumper myself just to guard against this eventuality.
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08-12-2009, 10:37 AM	#19
scorcherjf Captain 29 Rep 769 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 135i [0.00]	when i first got my kw's in i was slammed all the way but this was in miami... no hills. i still bottomed out on pretty much every speed bump so i raised it up. you have to drive with a totally different mindset in a car so low... take everything at angles, go real slow. use the little rubber things that stick down below the bumper to listen. once they start grinding on the ground, you know your bumper will be next, so either back up and try a different way or if it's not much more of an incline/decline just go. i'm just glad the nose of 1 is so 'stubby' and doesn't stick out nearly as far over the wheels like other brands... that would be hell. i always saw this ferrari at my building trying to edge out of the garage at an insane angle going really slow and nearly grinding his bumper every time... literally like .5cm of clearance. his nose sticks out like 2 feet from the front wheels though... i've raised it up since then though... northeast roads =0 __________________
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08-12-2009, 10:47 AM	#20
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2282 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.22]	i just got my front bumper repainted, and they had to do the whole underside as it was all black, not a spot of paint left. since then i've just been more careful. i'm not even lowered, sitting on stock suspension but now i really go out of my way to avoid potholes, bumps, and drive zig zag over bumpers if necessary. __________________ Follow for latest mods
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08-12-2009, 10:55 AM	#21
DtE1 Private First Class 3 Rep 106 Posts Drives: 135i, MINI Cooper S Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bellaire iTrader: (0)	Hopefully 6+ years of driving a MINI Cooper S has taught me how to negotiate these type of situations without scraping the underside when the 135 is delivered next week. Sometimes it's almost unavoidable...
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08-12-2009, 11:13 AM	#22
BKScripto Private First Class 7 Rep 153 Posts Drives: 135i Sedona/Lemon Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC. iTrader: (0)	I scraped the underside of my front bumper last week. This one particular parking garage has slightly higher curbs and sometimes, like when your in a hurry, you just forget about that front lip and scrape...nothing you can do about it, it happens. The good thing is, you'll never notice unless you get underneath the car. I thought I had ripped the front bumper off when I did it It's not about learning how to park, it just happens sometimes.
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