The DEG's stance is that if refinishing a raw plastic part requires additional labor and materials, the repair estimate/invoice should reflect this. However, the DEG states that getting this to happen was difficult for two reasons:

• Uncertainty as to which specific plastic parts are shipped raw and which are shipped primed

• Until recently, the information providers didn't provide logic enabling the automated calculation of this additional refinish labor. The result was that raw plastic preparation had to be determined on a case-by-case basis and then manually calculated, often resulting in ongoing friction between repairers and insurers.

In 2009, after much research, the DEG published a matrix detailing the shipped condition of the majority of bumper covers which is available on its website.

The following is a summary submitted by the DEG detailing how each information provider has thus far responded to the raw plastic prep issue:

CCC

According to the DEG, CCC provides the following language within its Motor Guide to Estimating:

Unprimed Bumper Preparation

25% of the bumper's base refinish time

Maximum time allocation: 1.0 hours

Does Not Include:

• Removal of mold-release agents as outlined by manufacturer

• Masking (if required)

• Application of adhesion promoter

• Correction of pre-existent surface imperfections

• Material Costs

The labor value generated by the above formula is available as an automated calculation for the following makes by selecting "ADDITIONAL OPERATIONS" within the bumper section: 

• Toyota

• Lexus

• Scion

• Nissan

• Infiniti

• Subaru

• Hyundai

• Volvo

• Mitsubishi

• Saturn – Astra and Aveo only

• GM – G8 and GTO only

• Kia – specific models only

When highlighting the part for bumpers that are known to always arrive UNPRIMED, the following footnote appears:

PARTS: Component comes unprimed from OEM. Preparation is required. See ADD IF REQUIRED operation.

When highlighting the part for bumpers that are known to sometimes arrive UNPRIMED, the following footnote appears:

PARTS: Component may come unprimed from OEM. Preparation may be required. See ADD IF REQUIRED operation.

Within "ADDITIONAL OPERATIONS", the available operation reads as "Prep Unprimed Bumper." The DEG says that CCC/Motor indicates they're considering the feasibility of coverage for non-bumper parts in the future.

Audatex

The Audatex Database Reference Manual (DBRM) contains the following language: Audatex refinish allowances start with priming a part. Due to the differences in the paint manufacturers' procedures, OEM recommendations and the unpredictable nature of parts, any preparation required for raw, unprimed bumper covers or other plastic parts is "Not Included" in Audatex labor allowances. This operation may be added manually, if required. The Audatex formula for preparation of a raw, unprimed bumper cover or plastic part is 20 percent of the base refinish labor.

NOTE: Audatex will begin to add a "Prep Raw Bumper Cover" operation to the Bumper Cover part choice box for new and updated vehicles, beginning with Q1 2011. This will apply only to manufacturers known to supply raw, unprimed bumper covers. The Audatex formula for Prep Raw, Unprimed Bumper Cover is 20 percent of the base refinish allowance, with a .3 minimum time.

According to the DEG, at this time, the calculated result of the above formula is available in the Audatex "Part Choices" box for the following makes:

• Toyota

• Lexus

• Scion

• Mitsubishi

• Subaru

• Nissan

• Infiniti

• Hyundai

• Kia

The prompt reads as "Prep Raw [Front/Rear] Bumper Cover." According to the DEG, Audatex indicates that there is the possibility of coverage for unprimed, non-bumper parts in the future.

According to the DEG, Mitchell presently provides no automated calculation of raw plastic prep within their estimating platform. The Mitchell Collision Estimating Guide (CEG) contains the following language:

Raw Substrate Prep – Allow .2 per refinish hour (20 percent) for plastic components that come from the manufacturer in raw/unprimed state.

According to the DEG, Mitchell estimating users seeking to capture Raw Plastic Prep labor/materials must continue to do so via a manual line entry.

Education Needed

The DEG believes that estimators need to be educated as to how these prompts are accessed within the estimating systems. The DEG advises shops to review the underlying formulas to determine if they reasonably match with shops' specific processes and adjust if necessary.

The DEG says yet to be addressed by the information providers are the many other plastic parts that may similarly ship in raw condition, such as rocker moldings and side claddings.

"The information provider solutions that we outlined above will be of even greater value if and when they include these non-bumper plastic parts," says Arthur Harris, DEG administrator. "In the meanwhile, raw bumper preparation for these non-bumper parts will have to be manually generated." 

DEG

DEG matrix detailing the shipped condition of bumper covers