kdm

So I somehow scratched a small section of my lower left bumper a couple weeks ago. It's painful to watch it every time I open the garage door so I decided to email a nearby mobile paint repair place. (Please excuse the dirtiness. I promise the car is clean now!)

The place said it would be $250 if I want it to look like new or $50 for a touch up that yields 50-75% improvement (Band-Aid and touch up scruffs). And, I'd definitely would like to go with the former option if I am paying any money at all.

Is aforementioned amount realistic/reasonable? I'm asking because I wasn't expecting for the paint job to be so costly (I was thinking a bit below 200).

Luis3rD

Save your money, Tom's front lip will cover that up.

yjk1975

$250 to paint the entire bumper? Thats not bad.

Mydogbella

iTrader: (1)

Yeah $250 is not bad at all.

Sean

iTrader: (3)

I had a similar screw-up on my truck earlier this year costing $80 spot fix. The guy did a good enough job that I can't tell there was ever even an accident.

I don't see why the damage on your car couldn't be touched up close to perfect rather than repainting the entire bumper. If it were me, and I had the damage in that location, and I the bumper was otherwise in great condition (no rock chips,etc) I'd have my guy spot fix it. Or just get a lip . If the damage was located higher up I might lean more towards a full respray just out of concern a spot fix may be noticeable.

On the other hand $250 for the full respray is a pretty good deal. I kind of want to get mine done just to take care of the license plate holes, but I was quoted $450 (including fixing the holes) and then I'd want to redo the clear-bra. Too much effort at the moment.

Rossi

iTrader: (5)

Been there twice. $450 flawless.

kdm

Hmm I'm assuming full bumper respray for 250? And yes, my bumper is in pretty good condition otherwise. Maybe some very minor rock chips here and there but the car being Obsidian, I see 'em everywhere to the point where I don't care anymore..

Yeah, for the location of the scratch, spot fixing seems enough but I don't know what a "50-75% improvement" will look like. But at the same time, I feel like a full bumper respray is a bit unnecessary given the situation.

Bryan@Autogeek

I would get it repainted I myself would not be happy with just a touch up.

VtotheJ

iTrader: (2)

$250 is almost too good to be true, my paint shop charged $550 cash to repaint my rear bumper, granted it was paint matched

rmillsISF

if you pull it yourself and bring it in they probably charge a lot less.

ISFPOWER

iTrader: (20)

repaint whole front bumper for 450-600 bucks with quality paint and clear. its better for future rock chips

kdm

Thanks for all the responses. I guess I'll go with the bumper respray rather than touch up. The guy said they respray around half of the bumper (basecoat, clear coat, wet sand, buff).

Also, on an unrelated note, do you tip whoever does the job? I've always wondered...

burny

no indeed don't tip them. They make good money. You are talking an hour labor and $10 worth of paint and clear

kauaian

iTrader: (18)

For that $450-600 dollar range you might as well get a brand new bumper from Sewell. With the club discount they are $563 + shipping. However, You are looking at $100-150 for shipping. This way you know for a fact the paint will match and you could sell your current bumper to off set cost.

eknine9

iTrader: (8)

Take some rubbing alcohol too it to remove the transfer paint for now so it at least looks a little better while u drive until you make your decision.