Help Stupid me!!
03-06-2012, 05:48 PM
#1
Stupid me!!
It was nice out and I ran my car through the car wash today. I usually back up into my garage, which Ive done hundreds and hundreds of times and on this particular day, with the warm weather and snow melting, the deck above my garage is dripping from the melting snow. Me, being worried about getting my freshly washed car wet, hurriedly back up into my garage....except i literally backed INTO my garage!!
Here's the damage. It's not horrible but it's still there:
I have no idea how to fix this
. Any pros out there able to help me out? If I have to buy equipment, then I will...a porter cable perhaps? Some rubbing compound??? I have touch up paint but that's it.
Here's the damage. It's not horrible but it's still there:
I have no idea how to fix this
. Any pros out there able to help me out? If I have to buy equipment, then I will...a porter cable perhaps? Some rubbing compound??? I have touch up paint but that's it.
03-06-2012, 05:52 PM
#2
That appears to be all the way through the clear coat and into paint unfortunately. Polishing will make it look a lot better but it will still be there. Also, polishing that area can be dangerous. If you tackle the job, refuse the urge to polish too aggressively there because it's right on that body crease and you can polish through the paint there easier than you might imagine in going over the crease with the polisher. Be careful.
03-06-2012, 06:04 PM
#5
There's always the chance that I'm wrong and it'll come right off.
Nah, I'm never wrong - you're screwed.
But seriously, it could polish out better than I expect considering I'm just looking at a photo and can't inspect it up close and personal. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks. The part on the fender isn't quite so bad and you may get a lot of improvement from polishing. The splash guard looks like it won't be as easy to get looking good again without repainting. The good news is, it shouldn't cost much at all to repaint it. It's very small and easy to take off.
That sound more optimistic?
Nah, I'm never wrong - you're screwed.
But seriously, it could polish out better than I expect considering I'm just looking at a photo and can't inspect it up close and personal. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks. The part on the fender isn't quite so bad and you may get a lot of improvement from polishing. The splash guard looks like it won't be as easy to get looking good again without repainting. The good news is, it shouldn't cost much at all to repaint it. It's very small and easy to take off.
That sound more optimistic?
So true...
03-06-2012, 06:17 PM
#7
There's always the chance that I'm wrong and it'll come right off.
Nah, I'm never wrong - you're screwed.
But seriously, it could polish out better than I expect considering I'm just looking at a photo and can't inspect it up close and personal. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks. The part on the fender isn't quite so bad and you may get a lot of improvement from polishing. The splash guard looks like it won't be as easy to get looking good again without repainting. The good news is, it shouldn't cost much at all to repaint it. It's very small and easy to take off.
That sound more optimistic?
Nah, I'm never wrong - you're screwed.
But seriously, it could polish out better than I expect considering I'm just looking at a photo and can't inspect it up close and personal. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks. The part on the fender isn't quite so bad and you may get a lot of improvement from polishing. The splash guard looks like it won't be as easy to get looking good again without repainting. The good news is, it shouldn't cost much at all to repaint it. It's very small and easy to take off.
That sound more optimistic?
I figure it wouldn't cost much either but damn...I still feel really really stupid! I could use that money on other things.
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03-06-2012, 06:45 PM
#8
If you bring it to a body shop, they'll tell you that the entire panel needs to be repainted. Then you'll end up going through your insurance, $500 deductible gone. The car would be repainted and the paint will never be the same again.
I'd recommend that you try to polish it out first. It'll probably look pretty good. If youre still not satisfied, then bring it to a body shop.
I'd recommend that you try to polish it out first. It'll probably look pretty good. If youre still not satisfied, then bring it to a body shop.
03-06-2012, 07:52 PM
#10
Sam Rothstein
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That appears to be all the way through the clear coat and into paint unfortunately. Polishing will make it look a lot better but it will still be there. Also, polishing that area can be dangerous. If you tackle the job, refuse the urge to polish too aggressively there because it's right on that body crease and you can polish through the paint there easier than you might imagine in going over the crease with the polisher. Be careful.
03-06-2012, 10:02 PM
#12
How about this scenario, order new rear splash guards on ebay for $90 already painted. Then get the fender polished out, looks like that's where you have the least amount of damage. Hard to tell how deep the fender scrapes are.
03-06-2012, 10:40 PM
#15
that's a great idea! I was going to get some polish (mother's or meguire's) and I have this dinky rotary buffer to see if I can get it out. I think it totally took off the paint though...but again, when I run my hand over it, it feels kinda smooth. No gouges, chips or anything.
Give me a shopping list fellas! and maybe a quick DIY on how to polish out scuffs...
Give me a shopping list fellas! and maybe a quick DIY on how to polish out scuffs...