A few months ago I read THIS ARTICLE about fixing scratches on your paint. But of course like many of you... I would totally fuck this up if I tried it.

What other options do I have? Have one 1/2" chip from a valet above the driver's keyhole... down to the paint. Another scratch is behind my rear passenger tire... a shallow footlong arc that most likely came from someone's backpack at school... barely scratched the clearcoat.

How much should this set me back? I have a guy I might go see who has done some good work for me... usually about 70% less than most shops and just as good. Plus I have the paint stick... so it's not like he'll screw up the color.

 

The "footlong arc" should be straightforward to fix with polishing potions since it's just in the clear coat. No sanding or paint needed. Start with fine (e.g. Meguiars Scratch X or finer). I've fixed many of these, including a few on my TSX.

1/2" chip? 1/2" diameter? Definitely a job for an experienced professional. Touch up paint isn't usually a great match, although it looks OK if the spot is small. (like 1/16"). But this size, you need someone who can tweak the paint color, use an airbrush, and blend from the patch into the rest of the panel.

Here in my area (Santa Clara Valley), the Paintless Dent Repair people do touch up like this. A lot of their business is dealers. I'd guess $100-150, but this varies widely by region. Also depends on what color paint you have; pearls are three layer and cost more.

 

The longer scratch you can buff out by hand....or.....go to Walmart and pickup an orbital buffer for 25 clams. That should take care of the light scratch.

As for the 1/2 inch....I would take it somewhere and have it done by a pro, or if u have a friend that paints for a living, let him do it. Touch up paint can look like crap if not applied just right.