PAINT SCRAPE ON SIDE OF BUMPER
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: California
2012 E350
PAINT SCRAPE ON SIDE OF BUMPER
Hey guys,
I'm really mad at myself for making a really dumb decision. I was trying to park in a garage and I thought I had enough space to turn in, but I hit the side of the right bumper to the wall. There was cement left on my bumper and I managed to remove most of it off but there is some deep scratches there. I tried to buffer out the spot with Meguiar's rubbing compound, Wolfgang's swirl remover, and liquid polish with my DA polisher but no help. I called the dealership that I bought it from to see what they can do, but I would have to wait until Tuesday since the bodyshop is closed for the weekend. Any suggestions? I am really angry at myself and I try to be as careful as possible but sometimes things don't go your way. I hope I can fix this paint scrape and they can work their magic to fill in the deep scratches. Any recommendations would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I'm really mad at myself for making a really dumb decision. I was trying to park in a garage and I thought I had enough space to turn in, but I hit the side of the right bumper to the wall. There was cement left on my bumper and I managed to remove most of it off but there is some deep scratches there. I tried to buffer out the spot with Meguiar's rubbing compound, Wolfgang's swirl remover, and liquid polish with my DA polisher but no help. I called the dealership that I bought it from to see what they can do, but I would have to wait until Tuesday since the bodyshop is closed for the weekend. Any suggestions? I am really angry at myself and I try to be as careful as possible but sometimes things don't go your way. I hope I can fix this paint scrape and they can work their magic to fill in the deep scratches. Any recommendations would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks in advance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,139
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Tesla Model S P100D
So sorry to hear about this. I bet you can get a good bodyshop to repaint that section and just blend it. Even if the blending is not perfect it will look a lot better than what it does now.
It is a travesty that with how much Mercedes charges for these cars they don't have a base option that includes the parking sensors. I know some people take pride in being parking experts or driving experts in garages but these things happen. Sometimes I feel a little dumb for making 5 three point turns when I have to turn around in a congested place but I've always been worried about something like this happening to me and I'm extra careful... Parking sensors would have saved you in this situation. When in doubt, three point turn...
I really feel for you and hope you are able to get this fixed for a couple of hundred dollars by someone who can just touch up that area for you. It is such a waste to have to repaint the entire bumper for this minor scratch.
It is a travesty that with how much Mercedes charges for these cars they don't have a base option that includes the parking sensors. I know some people take pride in being parking experts or driving experts in garages but these things happen. Sometimes I feel a little dumb for making 5 three point turns when I have to turn around in a congested place but I've always been worried about something like this happening to me and I'm extra careful... Parking sensors would have saved you in this situation. When in doubt, three point turn...
I really feel for you and hope you are able to get this fixed for a couple of hundred dollars by someone who can just touch up that area for you. It is such a waste to have to repaint the entire bumper for this minor scratch.
Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 3
From: South East
2017 CLS550, 2016 HD Roadglide (120ST), 1972 Super Beetle
Hey guys,
I'm really mad at myself for making a really dumb decision. I was trying to park in a garage and I thought I had enough space to turn in, but I hit the side of the right bumper to the wall. There was cement left on my bumper and I managed to remove most of it off but there is some deep scratches there. I tried to buffer out the spot with Meguiar's rubbing compound, Wolfgang's swirl remover, and liquid polish with my DA polisher but no help. I called the dealership that I bought it from to see what they can do, but I would have to wait until Tuesday since the bodyshop is closed for the weekend. Any suggestions? I am really angry at myself and I try to be as careful as possible but sometimes things don't go your way. I hope I can fix this paint scrape and they can work their magic to fill in the deep scratches. Any recommendations would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I'm really mad at myself for making a really dumb decision. I was trying to park in a garage and I thought I had enough space to turn in, but I hit the side of the right bumper to the wall. There was cement left on my bumper and I managed to remove most of it off but there is some deep scratches there. I tried to buffer out the spot with Meguiar's rubbing compound, Wolfgang's swirl remover, and liquid polish with my DA polisher but no help. I called the dealership that I bought it from to see what they can do, but I would have to wait until Tuesday since the bodyshop is closed for the weekend. Any suggestions? I am really angry at myself and I try to be as careful as possible but sometimes things don't go your way. I hope I can fix this paint scrape and they can work their magic to fill in the deep scratches. Any recommendations would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 761
Likes: 23
From: Oklahoma
W211 E320 & W212 E550
Yep happened to me on my second day. My dad test drove my car not being use to it and snagged a tall curve. He pulled over it before I could stop him. Nice grinding crunch sound, I was literally sick to my stomache.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: California
2012 E350
Yes, it really does suck. Once I heard and felt that thump, I knew something was wrong. I will go get a quote from the dealership and other paint body shops to compare the prices. Hopefully it's not too much to touch up on the paint and scratches. I only had it for 6 months and I am disappointed with my incident. Eventually I will get over it once it gets fixed. Things like this do happen and I'm sure the rest of you are very cautious since these are high quality cars and maintain to keep it that way.
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1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
Don't beat yourself up about it but do not take it to a bodyshop. Bodyshops will only repaint it.
Ask about detailers in your local forums and go to one of them for advice.
Ask about detailers in your local forums and go to one of them for advice.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 5
From: Paradise
w212 E550
ouch 
! i see you are so mad that all the pics were upside down 
. kidding aside, couple of the scratches look pretty deep. like what ceb said, ask a good detailer before taking it to body shop. not trying to be an expert/pro but i guess you'll need a new paint job. i know you are frustrated now but don't lose any sleep because of that. look at the bright side, your car still looks 1000 times better than most cars out there even with some minor scratches. good luck, buddy 
!
! i see you are so mad that all the pics were upside down . kidding aside, couple of the scratches look pretty deep. like what ceb said, ask a good detailer before taking it to body shop. not trying to be an expert/pro but i guess you'll need a new paint job. i know you are frustrated now but don't lose any sleep because of that. look at the bright side, your car still looks 1000 times better than most cars out there even with some minor scratches. good luck, buddy !
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
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W212 FL
I am sorry to see the images but I expected something worse , good thing these are not major 
Front parking sensors are necessary , I recently read a test review of R231 SL350 but despite parking sensors front end , actually lowest part of the front bumper lip was scraped 
Well, sometimes I perform one more maneuvers to avert a issue like that even though I do have front parking sensors but I must say maneuverability is very easy for this size of a vehicle and turning radius is great
Front parking sensors are necessary , I recently read a test review of R231 SL350 but despite parking sensors front end , actually lowest part of the front bumper lip was scraped
Well, sometimes I perform one more maneuvers to avert a issue like that even though I do have front parking sensors but I must say maneuverability is very easy for this size of a vehicle and turning radius is great
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
No big deal, you didn't damage any sheetmetal. Should be a couple hundred to spot repair or under a grand to repaint the entire bumper (assuming a proper job where the bumper is removed and reinstalled).
It's also a great opportunity to get some clear sidemarkers
It's also a great opportunity to get some clear sidemarkers
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2000 W210 E55->2003 R230 SL500->2004 W211 E55->2007 997TT+2007 E63->2010 GLK350->2012 E550 4matic
To make you feel better I curbed the AMG wheels less than 1,000 miles and had to fix it up too. Couldn't stand the imperfection it's too new..
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Joined: Jul 2007
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S350 BT 4MATIC
I gotta go in and get some work done on my front bumpber, a manhole bottom out, and a minor impact with some debris, so my dealer said ~$600 if they do it, but then they advised me where I could go get it done by MC certified paint shops. I should save some bucks going direct to the shops vs using them as the middle-men.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: California
2012 E350
Thanks guys. Hope everyone had a great Labor day weekend. Today is where I will shop around and get quotes from detailers, auto body paint shops, and even my dealership to compare which one has the best price and knows what they are doing.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: California
2012 E350
Wow, what a big difference when going to get a quote from the dealership and auto body paint shop. I know that dealerships charge way more. I'm sticking with a local auto body paint shop. The right side marker is chipped so I will get that replaced as well. Hopefully this body shop will make my baby look like new again.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: California
2012 E350
Dealership quoted me around $1500 while the local body shop quoted around $450. Dealerships over charge for labor and it takes 4 days to complete while the local body shop takes only 2 days.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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Tesla Model S P100D
Thanks for the info.. I'm sure others will find the figures useful as well
By the way is the body shop going to repaint the entire bumper or touch up?
Are they going to remove the bumper and do the painting away from the car?
Dealership probably takes 4 days because it takes an extra day to send the car to the local body shop and an extra day to get the car back from the local body shop
By the way is the body shop going to repaint the entire bumper or touch up?
Are they going to remove the bumper and do the painting away from the car?
Dealership probably takes 4 days because it takes an extra day to send the car to the local body shop and an extra day to get the car back from the local body shop
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: California
2012 E350
Thanks for the info.. I'm sure others will find the figures useful as well
By the way is the body shop going to repaint the entire bumper or touch up?
Are they going to remove the bumper and do the painting away from the car?
Dealership probably takes 4 days because it takes an extra day to send the car to the local body shop and an extra day to get the car back from the local body shop
By the way is the body shop going to repaint the entire bumper or touch up?
Are they going to remove the bumper and do the painting away from the car?
Dealership probably takes 4 days because it takes an extra day to send the car to the local body shop and an extra day to get the car back from the local body shop
