2004 Maxima back bumper vulnerability?

Question

I took an '04 SL out for a test drive today. I liked it a lot, but as I walked away I noticed that a classic back "bumper" doesn't seem to exist on this car. It looks like there's one single, large body panel extending all the way down from the trunk opening and below the lights, then wrapping around both sides all the way forward to the rear wheel wells. This is one major-size panel.

1) How vulnerable is it to the usual scratches and dings from parking in the city?

2) Is it made of plastic, or is it metal - how do I touch it up?

3) What does it take to put an actual dent in it?

4) In the worst case, would the whole thing need to be replaced? What's the cost?

5) One other thing - should I worry about Xenon headlights being swiped from this model?

Slightly paranoid, Cliff C

Don Sussman · Accepted Answer

I have a silver  04 SE, great car and BTW absolutely no brake shudder.Re. the Bumpers they are plastic and they do dent relatively easily, but theinteresting thing is they really are plastic (in the  physical sense) , 10minutes with a hair  dryer and a little pressure from your fingers and theygo back into shape so smoothly you will never see the dent. Of  course theycan be scratched. and you can compound the scratch out if it is not to deep.If you do scratch through the paint you just get the  matching body paintclean up the areas and paint. What they don't do is corrode or rust underthe paint, which I think has always been the biggest problem with shade treescratch repairs.

noyap · Answer

Gee, you don't have brake shudder with a new 04SE, wow!  What'll the japsthink of next........

sg71 · Answer

I have a 2004 maxima and yes the back bumper is like butter the slightest nudgeand you have a mark or  is true however non goudge dents can come outwith heat application as my dealer bodyshop confirmed.

2004 Maxima back bumper vulnerability?

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