Recently, Mazda released a statement for technicians on how to properly perform a bumper repair on their CX3 vehicles. Because of the advanced driver assist systems in today’s modern vehicles, commonly known as ADAS, a bumper repair is nowhere near as simple as what it used to be. Here at Rocco’s Collision Center, we feel it’s important for owners like you know about specific repair procedures that a car’s manufacturer releases. Especially when they have to do with repairs that if done wrong, your entire safety can be at risk. By letting you know about these repair procedures, you’ll gain a better understanding of the importance of a shop following OEM repair procedures when repairing your car.
Car repair is extremely complex nowadays. It requires extensive training from the technicians to be up-to-date on how to work on today’s vehicles. Also, they need to always to be checking the car’s manufacturer to see what the latest repair procedures are for each vehicle. It’s incredibly complex and can cause severe, lasting damage to the vehicle if incorrectly repaired. Almost every state in the country doesn’t require technicians to have a license to work on your vehicle. That includes here in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
So, how do you know they are correctly repairing your vehicle? It’s anyone’s guess, but it comes down to where you take your car to be repaired. Not every car repair shop operates the same way, even with the importance of OEM repairs on today’s advanced vehicles.
ADAS Technologies in the Bumper
The Advanced Driver Assistance Systems built into your car, or ADAS for short, refers to the new technologies that are designed to keep you safer on the road. There are several ADAS systems your car is built with that you may not be aware of, from lane departure assist to forward collision warning. Some of the ADAS systems that use sensors behind bumper covers include adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. However, they require specific repair procedures released by your car’s manufacturer to maintain the advanced safety features your vehicle is built with. These are known as OEM repairs, which are the highest quality for your vehicle. They are straight from the manufacturer instructing technicians on how to repair your specific vehicle.
Mazda’s CX3 Bumper Cover Repair Procedures
Although we are specifically discussing bumper repair on the CX3, the diagram below demonstrates the ways Mazda instructs technicians to repair bumpers on the 2019 CX-5 in three possible scenarios:
When it comes to repairing a 2019 CX3 bumper cover, there are several OEMs with various levels of warnings. The blind-spot monitoring couldn’t be calibrated if there are obstructions on the bumper. The entire rear bumper would have to be replaced if the area around this specific ADAS system is damaged.
In the 2019 CX-5 repair manual, Mazda said the following:
“Radar aiming cannot be performed correctly if obstructions which interfere with radar emission are stuck on the blind spot monitoring (BSM) control modules or the rear bumper. Perform the following procedure before performing the radar aiming.
—Verify that there is no water, mud, soiling, sticker adhesion, or repairs done using putty application on the surface of the rear bumper and that there is no mud, soiling, or scratches on the blind spot monitoring (BSM) control modules…If the rear bumper around the BSM control module is damaged, replace the rear bumper.”
The Importance of Technicians Following OEM Repair Procedures
As shown in the above diagram, three common bumper repairs require specific OEM repair procedures. Despite the importance of OEM repairs, most technicians will approach a vehicle repair their way based on “experience.” However, no repair is ever the same. Even if your car was hit in the exact same place as someone else with your same car, it would still be different. Each repair is unique and comes with its own set of repair procedures. Due to the critical role blind-spot monitoring plays in vehicular safety, this is why repair technicians might need to replace the bumper if there’s any damage.
You want to take your Mazda to an auto repair shop that knows to check the OEM repair procedures before they begin repairing any vehicle. These are the best technicians out there because they know the importance of following OEM repairs and are not going to put your safety at risk, no matter how experienced they may be. Any auto repair technician that performs a repair solely based on “experience” can severely damage the ADAS systems your car is built with. Not to mention, the overall structural integrity of the vehicle can also be damaged in the repair process. This is essentially making you an open target for getting involved in [another] car accident and risk for injury.
Who In Pennsylvania And New Jersey Knows How To Repair My Mazda The Right Way?
We at Rocco’s Collision Center have been in business since 1957 and are not stopping anytime soon. We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality of auto body repairs Pennsylvania and New Jersey has to offer. Our team of technicians have received extensive training from I-CAR and are fully aware of the importance of OEM related repairs. Our goal is to provide an exceptional product to every single customer with unparalleled hospitality and knowledge throughout the entire collision repair process.
Mazda owners want to take their vehicle to a place that is aware of these repair procedures. We aren’t just aware of latest OEMs from Mazda, but we are fully capable of performing Bumper Cover Repairs with ADAS that will restore your vehicle to the factory-level condition.
We have 6 different locations across Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. We know you have several choices when looking for an auto body shop, but we feel quite confident we will exceed your expectations. For a list of numbers and addresses to each one of our locations, click here. Or, feel free to give us a call at anytime at (888)-9-ROCCOS. We look forward to hearing from you!
