well making a long story short. when i came out of my school i saw big scratches on the right side of my front bumpper. i buffed it out but there where a few deep scratches *im a newbie... sorry in advance* but my Tc is SW and after buffing it out there where deep black scratches. i dont know what it is. but i know that the color completely came off. so im guessing that its the material that the bumpper is made of. so i just put some touch up paint to fill it out. But ever since that happened, i couldn't really sleep properly *LOL* being my first car and all. My question is, if i should just bring it to the body shop and have them do whatever they have to do so it can like look new again. if anyone can tell me the average estamate for the work, it would really help me. i also was thinking of just wet sanding it but then i dont want to risk it. and i was also thinking if the body shop repaints it , wouldn't the paint start chipping within a few years... thanks to anyone who can help.... IM SORRY I THINK ALOT.. LOL..

 

Definitly dont wet sand!! Wet sanding is only to "liven" up a faded clearcoat. It will do nothing for your situation (considering the scratches are through the paint). The only options you have is to fill in the scratches with touch up paint or have a body shop repaint the area the scratches are in. It would depend on how large an area the scratches cover as to how much you will pay. I use to have a Pontiac Grand Am (white) and the body shop that i went to for paint touch up told me that white and black are the hardest colors to match properly (even with the color code colors can be hard to match because the paint that came on your car would have faded a little by now, that is why the touch up paint u used might not look like a perfect match). It think the best thing for you to do is take it somewhere and get an estimate. And try to shop around......when it comes to things like paint youd be surprised at just how broad a price spectrum u might find. Hope this info helps. Good luck.

 

thanks bobzbox


I understand that if i get it repainted, that there is a chance that the color wouldn't match. but if theres a time to repaint it i should do it now because i barely bought the car like only a few months ago. so i would think that the factory color hasn't faded that much. and i always park it in the garage so i think the color has barely faded.


OPINIONS PLEASE...

 

Dont get me wrong....the color wont fade drastically by any means, especially if u keep a good coat of wax on it. But what i was trying to explain is that depending on how faded a paint job is will also help determine the price of the touch up/repair paint job. This is because the body shop (if it is good) should try to "blend" the new paint so it is undetectable that any repair was done....and if the paint is very faded it will require more new paint. I highly doubt your car applys much to this seeing as it is relatively new. Just make sure you get it done right. Good luck....hopefully it doesnt burn to big of a hole in your wallet...haha