Does anyone know how to fix a front bumper dent? I've seen several YouTube videos where a dent can be popped out after softening the plastic with hot water.

 

I tried this on my 2009 pre-facelift Octavia MKII. I managed - with a lot of effort pushing at the back of the bumper - to force the dent out. But as soon as I let go the bumper returned to its dented shape. Of course, in the YouTube videos the bumper remains popped out in its correct shape.

 

I'm now thinking of taking the bumper off and trying the hot water method again. I'm sure it will be easier with the bumper no longer on the car. But I don't want to waste time and effort taking the bumper off if the method is likely to fail again.

 

Has anyone successfully popped out a bumper dent? Thanks.

It’s likely there is a metal crash bar behind that area and the bumper may have moved with it since the impact. Not an expert. When I did this hot water trick on a Toyota it was all plastic in the area