AI DamageOn a modern car the most expensive part of the front bumper is often not the headlight but the radar behind the badge. It does not show in the photos, so the risk has to be inferred from the impact location and the trim level.
What sits where
| Sensor | Where | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive cruise radar | Behind the badge or in the lower grille | An impact to the centre of the bumper, even a light one |
| Front camera | Next to the mirror on the windscreen | Windscreen replacement: the camera is calibrated afterwards |
| Blind spot radars | In the rear corners of the bumper | An impact to a rear corner |
| 360° cameras | Grille, mirrors, boot lid | An impact to any of these areas |
| Parking sensors | In the bumpers | Bumper repair and paint |
What it costs: a 2023 Mazda CX-5 example
| Component | US MSRP in UAH | New in Ukraine, from | Used, from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive cruise radar | 135 052 | not found | 19 500 |
| Blind spot radar (one) | 44 503 | 7 695 | 3 000 |
| Front camera | 29 738 | 7 695 | — |
| 360° camera in the grille | 27 326 | 9 234 | — |
| Windscreen for camera and HUD | 47 235 | aftermarket: 21 214 | — |
The first row explains why an estimate for a frontal impact at US prices comes out several times higher than the real repair: at US list price the radar costs as much as half a car.
Calibration
After replacing a radar, camera or windscreen, and also after a bumper repair or a wheel alignment, the sensors must be calibrated. Without this, adaptive cruise and automatic braking may not work correctly, and a warning will stay on the dashboard. Budget for calibration as a separate line in the estimate.
What to look for in the photos
- A broken or displaced badge, cracks around it.
- Driver assistance warnings on the instrument cluster.
- A crack in the windscreen in the camera area.
- An impact to a corner of the rear bumper, where the blind spot radar sits.
More examples in Risks behind the outer panel.