g4benz

Negotiated $300 for the auto body shop to fix and paint.

Under front lip scrapes from previous owner. There is some on the left side too but those are barely noticeable. Is there a way I can spray paint over this myself? I remember there was a vendor selling OEM spray cans for Mercedes and other cars. Or, get it fixed..

Or, leave it alone? I know I'm asking for opinions but hey what the heck..


Thoughts?



)

KEY08

My scrapes are all in the front section of that lower lip and not on the side like this. They cannot be seen at all like this is. This would bother me and I would want it repaired. I don't see any reason at all why you could not get a rattle can of the paint and try to sand and paint it yourself since it is in such an out of the way place. More than likely you will damage it again, so why pay $300 to revisit it in a year? If you screw it up, then pay the pro. It would not cost you any more than the same $300 to have them do it later. I would DIY this myself if it were me.

PeterUbers

$300 and make it look perfect

I know myself and I'll always look for it and know it'll look a bit off

Arrie

You can paint it but after some time under the lip would probably look the same. I remember when I had the 2011 E350 it was so easy to scrape that front in the parking garages. My current E550 has airmatic and it so good for avoiding the problem but still sometimes I forget to raise the car up and it scrapes...


I would not be worried about the scrapes. I would be troubled more about the side. It even looks it is cracked. Or is this a reflection of another car next to yours?

mleskovar

When I first got my Sports Package E I had high anxiety over scratching the air dam. Sometimes it would get scratched and I wouldn't even notice it until I ran a cleaning rag over it. Screw it, it's not worth the effort to fix unless you are so **** that just knowing it's there bothers you. I got over it and guess what....90% of the cars with low dams are scratched. If it really bothers you I agree with KEY08. Get matching rattle can paint, along with clear coat, sand and run the masking tape along the ridge. Just don't overdo the paint coats. One pass with base and one with clear should do it.

g4benz

Thanks for the advice guys.

I am going to go ahead and get it repaired since the scrapes are visible on the sides. As all of you said, if they weren't visible, this would not need repair. Arrie, that's a reflection. There are no cracks, just scrapes on the underside and sides of the front bumper/lip.

This is all from the previous owner's driving. I'm a more careful driver whenever possible so I don't think I would put those same level of scrapes on the car ever again. A "mistake" here and there could always happen, I know. I do have the airmatic option as well.

Well, I will drop the car off mid-week!

g4benz

You are correct in that knowing it's there will bother me! I wouldn't have minded so much if they were not visible.

dbldpr

Go on ebay and you should find the spray can for about $15. I would try and fix myself and if it does not work out you can always spend the $300.

F3LiX

considering the location I'd pick up some OEM in a can and touch it up. You'll scrape it again and, at some point, have to touch some more.. but you should have some paint left over. Just careful with the over spray

nycebo

Couldn't agree more with the last two posts. I'd love it if I only had low level scrapes on the bumper. Driving and parking as I do in NYC, the bumpers get love tapped way too often and I generally end up refinishing the entire bumper every couple of years.

Long story short, I'd just wait until a 'bigger' scratch merits a full repair. But love the can of paint suggestion. Actually, I've seen them come out looking pretty damn good. Just remember to do it in the garage with good fluorescent lighting.

pamiboy

I've found that touching it up with a brush almost always loses the "sheen" and leaves it prominent when viewing from some angles but would largely cover the ugliness of a scratch. I've not done spray painting and believe it'll offer better finish. As suggested above I would try to touch it up myself and wait for a larger scratch before spending lots of my money.

PelicanParts.com

+1

I'd leave it be unless you really want to fix the paint and see what happens yourself. Could also have a clear bra put on it after it's painted and see if it takes any of the damage over the years.

Good luck!

-Luccia

g4benz

Thnx for all the replies. You guys rock. Being that it's my first and "new" to me Mercedes, somehow I can't take a spray can to it - lol. I'll opt for the professional repair and hope that nothing like this happens in the future!

DJ Hellfire

It's a new-ish Benz. Fix it right.

cctoronto

One wants to avoid as much as possible any type of respray. The paint can look different right away to your eye anywhere on that bumper once you have painted the whole thing, or it may fade at a different rate over time. In any case, it's never as good as the factory paint. Respraying will also effect your resale value. To the trained eye, your bumper might appear to have been replaced making them suspicious that it was involved in an accident (I would think this, I don't trust a car history report 100%). Fixing it right entails exhausting all other options before respraying the bumper.

Before you do anything to your bumper paint-wise—try this:

First, clean it with fresh soap and water, thoroughly dry it (don't drive it to dry it!), then gently work on it with a mild rubbing compound using only soft cotton cloth towels. Evaluate as you go along. Then when done wash it again, wax it, and polish it. I have had significant success on much worse rubs with much a brighter colour, silver!

If you don't want to do that work (not everyone's cup of tea), at least get someone to try that first—you might be very surprised by the result, happily surprised. I was. It'll certainly keep the need for a respray lower on the choices list.

KEY08

No amount of rubbing will fix that. The paint has been removed revealing the bumper material, which happens to be black plastic.

blackbullit

You can also cover the damage with a front lip, since the structure is intact. The ones offered on this forum should make this disappear.

rediesel

This would only bother me if I were 6" tall, but at 6' I think I'd leave it alone.

Alex.currie44

The wife did the left side. We won't talk about the right side and I have an idea about skid plates for the center.
I have a spray can of matching paint. Most auto body shops can direct you to someone who custom mixes paint in spray cans.

g4benz

THnx all for the tips. I actually dropped the car off today morning to be repaired. Since my car is only 5 days old to me, I could not take a can or diy approach to it. I guess that is just me. It's also my first Benz!

KEY08

Hey, it will look like new and it is what you are most comfortable with. That is all that matters!

g4benz

Agree! What a car! This is my first German car and there's nothing like her, so I will treat her extra-well!

Ed99

This car deserves the proper care and treatment so I would agree to get it fix professionally for $300. Just be cautious when parking your E after you fix it up.

g4benz

Agree! Call me Mr. Cautious. I'm one of those guys who parks 100 feet away from other cars when possible and at least a foot away from curbs.

Ed99

I do the same and park away from others to prevent door dents and every time I return back to my car there are cars parked beside me when there are empty spaces. I hate that the most lol.