'02 Toyota Yaris (Red) - Repairing Scratches?

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Hi,

Girlfriend has minorly (is that a word?) scratched the paint on the front wing/bumper of her new car.

I was just wondering what the best way of repairing the damage would be? She has strips of red tape that were given to her with the car by the dealer, but I'm reluctant to use them...

I'm uploading pics of the damage, can someone tell me what I should do please?

There's no damage to the plastic/metal underneath, it just looks like the paint has chipped off.

Phil_G · Traffic Copper Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Karma :

Hiya mate

Get a good scratch removing polish and I think the marks in the first pic could well come out,

second pic I think would need painting up to get rid of them properly. For marks like that, Ive used one of those mobile painting fellas in the past and theyve done a bob on job ..

Good luck!

Phil
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1997 Kawasaki ER 500 A1:- Once again, Its merely crap Smile

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Hi mate,

Any idea how much it will cost?

I don't want to use anything like TCut, it's utter cock.

Thanks,

Toby

Phil_G · Traffic Copper Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Karma :

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Problem with TCut is that it'll ruin the paintwork anyway..

Need a better solution Sad

Phil_G · Traffic Copper Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Karma :

Only if you use it incorrectly.

You need to make sure the panel is cool to the touch and clean. then apply the T cut lightly and leave to dry quickly then buff off lightly. IF youre worried, then use hte metallic (burgundy bottle) T-cut which seems a lot less abrasive than the traditional red bottle t-cut

Dont rub like billy-o and go on at the same spot for ages and you should be fine.

Oh, and don't forget to give the area a good polish with a good quality wax after Thumbs Up

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1997 Kawasaki ER 500 A1:- Once again, Its merely crap Smile

Rookie · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Karma :

The first ones, just try giving them a proper buffing with a polishing cloth.

Second one, it's respray/touch up time. If you do it well, the touch up won't be noticeable. But you have to be confident to do it well.

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Try some Mequiars ScratchX first...

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Cheers Rookie/ZRX..

I'll attack the first one with ScratchX...

Think the second one needs sanding down with 1200 grit and repairing, don't have a compressor though.

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

God dammit... I'm tempted to buy a clay bar as well :S

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Will nail varnish give a decent finish?

Should I sand it down first?

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Any idea how much a respray would cost?

It's on plastic, so as far as I know I can leave it as it is until she can get the money together to have the work done.

edd · Nearly there... Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Karma :

yeah the first ones look like you could possibly polish them out, theres nothing wrong with t cut, it doesnt ruin paint, but theres more bullshit talked about it than pretty much anything else i can think of. T cut or similar could take out that light scratching, personally i would try a cutting compound (you will get this from a good motor factors, or if not a product called t cut scratch remover. The other scratch whwere you can see the plastic does definitely need respraying. Me and proximity did a yaris rear bumper that was far worse scratched and dented last year, so depending on how much skill you have you could do it yourself. Take off the bumper, sand affected area going up through the grades, making sure its smooth. Then either mask off the area at the nearest crease if possible (somwhere where the light changes), or decide to spray the whole panel. Then spray the required area with primer, do a few coats sanding with 1500 grit in between, then spray with the required colour paint, halfords should have this or a good motor factors should be able to mix it for you. Spray this in a clean environment, preferably warm. Then spray with several coats of laquer, making sure you dont get any runs (dont be over eager) After this is dry (leave 24 hours in the warm) polish the surface with cutting compound until it is very smooth, then use ordinary car polish to finish it off.

If you arent comfortable doing this then a body shop shouldnt charge too much, (over £50 is a rip)
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Bluespark Automotive - Diesel Tuning for Performance and Economy

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

I'll just whip the bumper off and take it to a decent shop for a quote... Beats me fucking it up.

Cheers for the advice though ZRX61 etc Karma

Phil_G · Traffic Copper Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Karma :

what about a Chips away type person?

Have used them a few times for marks similar to that with good results.

Saves the arseache of taking the bumper off etc too..
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1997 Kawasaki ER 500 A1:- Once again, Its merely crap Smile

edd · Nearly there... Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Karma :

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

plugger147 · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Karma :

cellulose isn't that bad and is much better than the shit they put on modern cars for polishing out scratches and bird shite stains,I'm with you on the 600 grit though the only time i've used 1500 has been with soap before polishing.

personally i'd buy a touch up pen (they are only a few quid) touch it in leave to dry for an hour or two then polish back with a very light compound, then if I wasn't happy I'd think about painting especaily if she might do it again. Laughing

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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

edd · Nearly there... Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Karma :

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Quick fix:

If you can find a nail varnish that matches (& you should, most of it is red...) AND those scratches have defined edges it will possible to fill them with the NV & build it up so that it's higher than the surrounding paint. Then block it down with 1200-1500 to level it you might be able to hide the scratches completely. then just buff it out... give it a try anyway, nothing to loose..