I noticed tonight that my new 2005 Camry has what I would call a gouge in the rear bumper. The car is a medium gray color. The gouge is more than a scratch since it catches my fingernail. It is about 1/4 of an inch long. From my searching on the forum I know that repairing a paint chip in metal can be tough. But what about repairing a gouge in a urethane bumper? I presume that just using factory touch up paint would not be enough. Is there a filler product that I could use first before applying touch up paint? And will factory touch up paint last on something as flexible as a bumper? Or do I need to use a body shop for this one?
Bumper repair?
- Thread starter Boongie
- Start date
buellwinkle
New member
Body shops charge way too much for urathane bumper repair. My daughter's boyfriend scraped her bumper on a pole, nothing wrong with the bumper, just needed to be sanded and painted. I got quotes from $500-600, insane. I found a place that sold me a new bumper that they pre-painted for $230.
On my MB, the first week or so that I had it I closed the garage door on the bumper, arghh. I took it to a place that does paintless dent removal and airbrush touch up. They fixed the gouges, primered the area, base coat and clear for $150 and a year later it still looks good.
Personally, I wouldn't try it myself, touchup paint never looks right, specially on a metallic color.
On my MB, the first week or so that I had it I closed the garage door on the bumper, arghh. I took it to a place that does paintless dent removal and airbrush touch up. They fixed the gouges, primered the area, base coat and clear for $150 and a year later it still looks good.
Personally, I wouldn't try it myself, touchup paint never looks right, specially on a metallic color.
imported_themightytimmah
New member
I'd take it to someone who can airbrush it. You could probably touch it up yourself, but you are not going to get Autopian results on gray. I got a perfect scratch fill on black once, but most of the time, touchups come out slightly less than perfect.
You've just gotta decide if its worth the money to you for it to be 100% perfect. On my '97, its not. If I had a brand new SL65 or something, you can bet it sure as hell would.
You've just gotta decide if its worth the money to you for it to be 100% perfect. On my '97, its not. If I had a brand new SL65 or something, you can bet it sure as hell would.
imported_themightytimmah
New member
Yeah, a body shop should be able to do that, unless they are run by greddy bastards (which is a rarity of course in the bodyshop business 
), who claim that a full repaint is the only way to go. In that case, just walk out.
), who claim that a full repaint is the only way to go. In that case, just walk out.buellwinkle
New member
Many PDR places now do airbrushing. Ask around dealerships to see who they use or hang out and you'll see their trucks with their name/phone number outside. The ones that do dealership cars are more likely to be affordable and good.