Bumper bash

[SilverPT]

Went to the shops and found this when I got back to the car ...





I'm a newbie to proper detailing and haven't got round to claying or using things like ScratchX let alone trying to fix something like this. I'm thinking this is a job for someone with experience in these things. I do have some matched paint from the last ding ... which was completely my fault. A great guy fixed that problem and you would never know there was ever a problem.

Any advice?

[Murr1525]

Re: Bumper bash

Ugh....

A lot of those look like they are through the main paint layer, not sure how much they can get improved by hand.

You may be able to improve some of it if you wanted, then try touchup paint with the rest?

If you wanted to at least try to improve them, you'll want a strong paint cleaner. IS ScratchX all you have seen there? Or any SwirlX, ScratchX 2.0, Ultimate Compound?

[SilverPT]

Re: Bumper bash

Thanks for your quick response.

Ugh....

Not quite what I said ... but yeah ...

A lot of those look like they are through the main paint layer, not sure how much they can get improved by hand.

The last ding - which was much more serious - went right back to black. The bumper is plastic.

If you wanted to at least try to improve them, you'll want a strong paint cleaner. IS ScratchX all you have seen there? Or any SwirlX, ScratchX 2.0, Ultimate Compound?

I think we have the 2.0 version released July - I know I got really excited when I saw UQD at the local store. The store sells some of the professional line.

I will be working by hand ... the cost of the DA polisher is more than what the pro guy will cost.

Thanks again.

[Murr1525]

Re: Bumper bash

Well, the top line and the marks on the side "may" be able to be helped with ScratchX 2.0, but going away completly is another story.

Not sure if you will get close to acceptable. Esp if the other guy is cheap, it might be easier to repaint the whole square.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Bumper bash

The underlying material on the PT Cruiser bumper cover should be black, so odds are you're dealing mostly with paint transfer there. Still not a great situation and certainly any MOL member would be near tears if that happened to their car, but most likely you can dramatically improve the appearance even by hand. Pick up some ScratchX 2.0 (now is the time for that first use!) and work it quite vigorously against the marks, but just concentrate on a small section at a time. Don't be afraid to lean into it pretty good if you have to, but start off with just some moderate pressure. Work your way into it, so to speak.

Any paint transfer will come off quite readily and the fine scratches you're bound to have underneath can, at the very least, be minimized in appearance. If need be, go over the area 3 or 4 times with the ScratchX 2.0 and make sure to use a foam wax applicator pad. If you have NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 or Gold Class at home, the foam pad that came with those can be used. Just be sure to wash it thoroughly after using it with ScratchX 2.0, and definitely apply a fresh coat of wax to the area when finished.

Oh, and don't forget some "after" pictures!

[SilverPT]

Re: Bumper bash

Thank you Mr Stoops! Paint transfer makes sense.

certainly any MOL member would be near tears if that happened to their car

I couldn't believe it when I saw it. This is the first time I've had a car manaufactured in the same decade as me owning it and I'm very proud of my silver PT. As other MOL members are of their car ... regardless of the vintage.

Anyways ...

I will try the Scratch X 2.0 (need to head back out to the shops - rather nervous now. I always park a distance away from others but it didn't help me this time) and I have two packs of the the foam pad applicators already. Now I know what I'm doing on my weekend.

Thanks again for the detailed response. Much appreciated.

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Bumper bash

I've taken a lot of those paint transfer off.
Don't worry they will come off.
Claying problably won't work.
Me, I would go right to M105 and some wetsanding, but that's me.
Do you have a rotory?

[Murr1525]

Re: Bumper bash

I hope it is mostly just paint transfer.

[SilverPT]

Re: Bumper bash

I hope it is mostly just paint transfer.

Thanks.

I now have ScratchX 2.0 (and the clay kit and a few other Megs items I just seem to have needed when I called into the store).

I seem to have most of the paint transfer off, to find scratches underneath. But not through to the black (whew!). I can't get good photos, mostly because of time of day, but the higher line / scratch looks like it will come out with effort. . Then there are side scratches in between the upper and lower lines - sort of like fine cat whiskers. They too look like they will come out with effort. Neither of these can be seen in the photos I've taken so far, though certainly are visible.

The lower line - well, this is where I'm back asking for more info.

Given the location of the lower line - right on the sharp bend in the bumper - will that cause any probs for me working on it. Also, given the look of it in this photo (sorry, best I can do so far) - is this the right way to go still?

(Let me know if you need better photos to be able to comment - I can try again in the morning.)



I could borrow a polisher (unlikely to be DA) and get Megs pads for it if needed. Though that would be the first time using a polisher.

Cheers!

[Murr1525]

Re: Bumper bash

Well.. you cant make it worse with a few more ScratchX applications....... But that is the one that I am worried is most through the paint.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Bumper bash

That looks pretty darn terrific so far - you must be relieved!

Working on that body line would only really be an issue if you were using a rotary buffer, or really leaning on a D/A while using too aggressive a liquid and pad - even then you'd have to work at messing it up. But working by hand with ScratchX 2.0? Keep doing what you're doing. A few more vigorous applications and you should reach the limit of what you can realistically accomplish by hand. And, yes, that means you may not be able to remove 100% of the defects, but by the time you're finished you may well be the only one who knows they're there.