xjohnkdoex

iTrader: (2)

so i discovered this weekend that some a-hole put some gashes into my back bumper (07 NBP), probably from all the street-side parking i do by my apartment.

they're all relatively deep. the scratches look like the run left to right. maybe someone backing into a spot and turning behind me.

not sure what i should do here. they're into the polyurethane, and the surface is pretty scraped off. the thing is, i have the 07 euro-R body kit that i was going to put on. but now i don't know if i should try to fix these scratches first, then put it on, or just put it on and let them be.

the placement--two scratches look like they'll fall within or below where the back kit meets, although one is really on the edge. the other is above where the kit/bumper would meet.

here are some pics. any advice would be appreciated. i wanted to put on my kit in the next 2 weeks, but this development has pissed me off royally.

PIC 1--first 2 scratches, one measured w/ my key would be on the border of where the kit/bumper would meet


PIC 2--third scratch, would be covered by kit


PIC 3--broader view of first 2 scratches in relation to reflector marker, etc...

xjohnkdoex

iTrader: (2)

and yeah, i know my car is dirty

CGTSX07

if they are located where the kit will cover up, i would save the money and just install the kit over them. you probably aren't going to take off your kit after you put it on so it won't really matter if you fix the scratches or not.

acn684

looks like a parking bumper scratch

nj2pa2nc

i guess i have to be thankful my tsx is parked in my garage. i am amazed how people can park NYC. They can squeese in the tightest spaces. I guess that is why there are more bumper dings because of that.

xjohnkdoex

iTrader: (2)

yes, i've already determined these are bumper scratches.

now for recommended solutions...

dwest1023

When you get if fixed, use this next time. I have one for all my cars

http://www.chariotauto.com/

xjohnkdoex

iTrader: (2)

yeah, i was planning to get a bumper badger.

so fix or no fix? how do shops even fix this thing? it's like right on the edge. do they just grind it down or clean it and repaint the section?

xjohnkdoex

iTrader: (2)

this is what i'm talking about--if you see where it sits flush at the edge, it's pretty close to where the bumper has that line. and the scratch is right on that line.

so i'm not sure if it'll be covered or not

PACman

From what I've seen on consumer reports and bimmer forums, they all like this...

http://www.quixxusa.com/

acn684

yours is NHBP, i have the same thing happend to my car....actuallyy the asshole was still in my bumper when i went to pull it out...

I didn't end up repairing it as the plastic under it blends it in pretty well since its black. The problem with repairing the bumper is that blacks need the whole bumper repainted to match since its such a dark color. The cost estimate i got was also around 650 to do it. So that was out of the question.

Next, the 06 kit will not cover it. The picture you're showing is a euro kit (or 05?), but the new 06's wrap only around the edge on the sides and leaves the middle edge exposed so that edge will not get covered.

Theres a few things you can do however. Get some touch up pain and slowly, day by day fill it in until its about even and then some. Then get some 3000 grit wet sand paper and wetsand it to level, then polish it so it blends. Or you can try some fillers first then touch up paint over that. I think luckily for yours, it doesn't look like its too deep. Mine were all the way down the to the plastic, you might be able just to hide it with some good polishing products and technique.

xjohnkdoex

iTrader: (2)

thanks for the input. patrick from exceldetail also recommended at least polishing down the scratch to see what's left, which i think i'll do. i'm wary of using the wet sand paper just b/c i'm not sure if i'll take off paint/clearcoat from the surrounding areas. i'm also siding with not fixing it up as i've done a search on the board and it seems like fixing any sort of paint issues, even minimal ones, seem pricey (north of $300-400 bucks) which i don't feel like doing. FYI i have the EURO-R kit, not the OEM for my 07.

as for the kit, i think you may have the back ends confused. the euro-r kit covers the base as seen in this pic:


whereas the US OEM kit has the back-end open:

CGTSX07

doesn't look like its gonna cover it up, if you aren't gonna get it professionally done, might as well leave it alone. you don't want to make it any worse than it already is.