Bumper Damage

[u2jrmw]

I backed my car into a low post/cable and did a little damage to my bumper. A couple of spots where it looks like paint just came off. But one spot that is about 1/4" long gash that is pretty shallow but torn up all the same. What is my best bet for dealing with it?

Just touch up paint?

[Blake P]

Sure, you could ask a group of your peers for their opinions... or you could consult a qualified body shop and get a repair estimate to determine the best course of action. Why doesn't AZ have a smiley for "this thread is worthless without pics"?

[u2jrmw]

I don't seem t be able to attach my images..

[u2jrmw]

[dracolnyte]

how did you hit something with parking sensors installed?

[Calbee]

i swear the parking sensors dont always work. sometimes they go nuts. i dont trust them fully

[u2jrmw]

it was a very small object and I wasn't paying enough attention. The beep came a second too late.

[u2jrmw]

guess I'll take it to a body shop to see what they say. It is almost so small that I don't want them to remove the bumper and respray it or anything. I'd be happy with a low-tech solution that just hides it.

[u2jrmw]

And even better I have a rear-view camera...

[MiracleWhips]

Just touch up paint?

It depends on what you are looking for as a fix?

If you want it to look like it never happened, a sand down and re-spray for sure.

If you want it to be all black again, touch up paint will make it look better from far, but still very obvious up close.

[B8xman]

probably be around 300-400 for a repair and paint total

had this quoted for 500

[Dasquade]

Indeed, don't trust fully on parking sensors.
1. Wanted to show a friend with my previous audi in the dark. Backed up, small beeps....was waiting for the long full beep tone, instead i heard a soft hit :) (no damage).
2. My mom had simlar fact, also a small pole...although it wasn't a test. Result, their brand new audi needed a new set of rear lights, an big dent to be pulled out of the rear side panel and bumper fix. Luckly the insurence covered it.

BUT i guess you are aware now under what conditions the sensor might fail. Sorry...anyway, good luck with the repair. Can't add any usefull tips beside if it is only scratches or other paint on top of it, you can try 'commandant'. One of the many products that can fix these small damages. But i'm sure there are better products and ways to fix.

[u2jrmw]

It depends on what you are looking for as a fix?

If you want it to look like it never happened, a sand down and re-spray for sure.

If you want it to be all black again, touch up paint will make it look better from far, but still very obvious up close.

Just not sure I want to even have the bumper removed and replaced for such a small issue. Not really even a price thing. Do they paint just the affected area or do they respray the whole bumper.? That bumper is huge...

If I started with touch up, I guess I could always go to the next level if that didn't make me happy. If a body shop could do something without removing the bumper I would be happy to pay for that.

[u2jrmw]

Are you going to fix it? Have you thought of just using touch-up?

[B8xman]

there is no big deal about having the bumper removed, otherwise get some touch up paint and do it yourself. If you let a body shop(that you trust) take the bumper off they can do it right the FIRST time.

[u2jrmw]

there is no big deal about having the bumper removed, otherwise get some touch up paint and do it yourself. If you let a body shop(that you trust) take the bumper off they can do it right the FIRST time.

I went to a local body shop. The guy was very nice considering he was looking at a tiny scratch on a bumper. He basically said $500 because they would have to remove the bumper, paint locally but clearcoat the whole thing.

He grabbed some paint and did a quick coverup for me. Not too pretty, but I guess I will stop noticing it.

[dkky996]

I went to a local body shop. The guy was very nice considering he was looking at a tiny scratch on a bumper. He basically said $500 because they would have to remove the bumper, paint locally but clearcoat the whole thing.

He grabbed some paint and did a quick coverup for me. Not too pretty, but I guess I will stop noticing it.

Removing the rear bumper is so easy, you can do it in less then 10 min. I have a DIY with pics on the b8 S4 forum http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...Bumper-Valence. If you decided you can't live with just the touch up, remove the bumper and take it to the body shop. It'll be cheaper that way.

[MiracleWhips]

Just not sure I want to even have the bumper removed and replaced for such a small issue. Not really even a price thing. Do they paint just the affected area or do they respray the whole bumper.? That bumper is huge...

If I started with touch up, I guess I could always go to the next level if that didn't make me happy. If a body shop could do something without removing the bumper I would be happy to pay for that.

There are mobile services that can spray over the affected area and do there best to blend, but still not an wise option IMO.

For a body shop, this would be a piece of cake to remove, sand, re-spray. 1-2 days tops.

Only tricky part is making sure they get the color match perfect.

[ossodiseppia]

Get online or open the yellow pages and look for a mobile paint guy. They come out to dealerships all of the time to do touch up work on cars. A little airbrush work on the bumper cover should be pretty affordable.