[elus1ve]

Had this front right bumper damage for some time and it isnt big enough to make me run to a body shop and not small enough to forget it. Some other car did this somewhere in a parking lot only weeks after taking delivery of the car, so annoying.

Now i can buff the scratches but that reflector is a bit more problematic cause i cant get my hand behind it to push it. I know a bunch of you have seen behind the front bumper. Is it worth trying to fix this myself? I dont have much in terms of tools. Any idea on how to quick fix this?

Any advice appreciated.

[emtrey]

there have been DIYs posted. You have to remove inner fender liner ( probably best to take off wheels) and go fROm there. I have seen it suggested to get a plastic trim tool to help the removal.

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=969026

You could change out the amber to body color painted reflectors at same time if its not a serious legal issue in canada.

Just a quick glance, I think your scratches need high speed buffing (or paint blending )
You might want to take it to a body shop and let them do it all if not too costly.

[elus1ve]

Thanks for the reply and tips. Think I will bring it to the body shop so they can work on the scratches properly.

Also thanks for the body colored replacements reflectors idea. Didnt know about that. Dont think the police will ever notice the change.

[emtrey]

no problem. Post pics when its complete.

[msej449]

Not sure what your dealer's bodyshop is like but mine offers a minor repair service for a standard £60 ($81) a panel. I've just had a set of heavy swirl scratches on my trunk lid (my fault) done for that, and last year they repaired two small dents in a door (from the usual car park thing) for the same amount.

Dealers here are offering quite reasonable standard pricing on bodyshop work and wheel refurb' with the aim of getting customers into the showroom for coffee and biscuits while they wait. Quite a few people opt to bring along their laptop and use the WiFi to work there for a couple of hours. Inevitably, you take a break and wander 'round the showroom, and a sales person will at some time 'have a chat' - it makes good business sense now that service intervals are so long.

So if your dealer is the same, getting a quote may be worth it, even if it's just for comparison with independents.

(My dealership also does overnight and Weekend services - attractive to business people who need their car for work: drop it off at 6pm / pick it up at 8am. I wonder if this is a trend that will catch on ...)

[Rayscott]

Originally Posted by emtrey

there have been DIYs posted. You have to remove inner fender liner ( probably best to take off wheels) and go fROm there. I have seen it suggested to get a plastic trim tool to help the removal.

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=969026

You could change out the amber to body color painted reflectors at same time if its not a serious legal issue in canada.

Just a quick glance, I think your scratches need high speed buffing (or paint blending )
You might want to take it to a body shop and let them do it all if not too costly.

Agree, scratches in plastic are hard to buff out. Take it to a pro.

[overcoil]

elus1ve had you used any polish or wax to test if the marks would buff out of the bumper or at least minimize any of the damage ?

[elus1ve]

Only had the time to look at this recently. If your reflector got the same kind of damage, there is no point in replacing the reflector.

The reflector clips onto a plastic back cover (for lack of better term) and that cover is fused to the bumper. In this case the cover got loose and is a pita to fix. Had to clean and glue it back but its very hard to find a glue that is strong enough to allow the reflector to be clipped back onto it.

Managed to get it back in place in the end. Now the scratches.