Chrome bumpers made a quick exit from the automotive scene in the late '80s. In their place are elaborate, but flimsy, plastic covers hiding stamped-steel impact beams with a wide swath of Styrofoam ...

Replacement bumper covers can cost more than $1,000. But dents in the soft plastic bumper covers on cars and SUVs can often be smoothed out at home by applying heat and a little elbow grease. It takes ...

It is deceptively easy, but usually very expensive, to junk plastic car parts when they are damaged in crashes. Zip off that damaged bumper bar, side mirror or headlamp and bolt on a fresh one.

You can live with scratches on your car — but you shouldn't. Scratches are like the old torture of death by a thousand cuts. Eventually, they'll destroy your car's finish by allowing rust to develop ...

Chrome bumpers made a quick exit from the automotive scene in the late '80s. In their place are elaborate, but flimsy, plastic covers hiding stamped-steel impact beams with a wide swath of Styrofoam ...