Worth Repainting?
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Driver
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 129
Likes: 14
From: Alabama
Worth Repainting?
So I'm thinking about repainting my front bumper/hood to fix the normal wear and tear of chip marks, and then having it wrapped for protection. I know this is something I could have done in the beginning to prevent going through this, but procrastination got the best of me. Would it be worth the cost, or are chip marks inevitable regardless of the protection film?
CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 680
From: NJ
So I'm thinking about repainting my front bumper/hood to fix the normal wear and tear of chip marks, and then having it wrapped for protection. I know this is something I could have done in the beginning to prevent going through this, but procrastination got the best of me. Would it be worth the cost, or are chip marks inevitable regardless of the protection film?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,648
Likes: 1,385
From: Florida
Ppf will stop 95+ percent of your everyday chips and paint issues Make sure you have another car to drive in the meantime as you cant Ppf until at least 45-60 days after repaint depending on your conditions and chosen body shop to allow the paint to gas out. You'd hate to drive the GS and eat another chip in fresh/pristine paint right before you Ppf.
CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 680
From: NJ
So I'm thinking about repainting my front bumper/hood to fix the normal wear and tear of chip marks, and then having it wrapped for protection. I know this is something I could have done in the beginning to prevent going through this, but procrastination got the best of me. Would it be worth the cost, or are chip marks inevitable regardless of the protection film?
https://www.discountpartsmonster.com...ood-5330130491
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Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,705
Likes: 234
From: #BBNine
Although, if you buy a new hood and bumper, have them painted separately, you could store them somewhere for 45 days, allowing them time to properly gas out. That way you could still drive your car as is.
That color will be tough to match.
That color will be tough to match.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 76
From: Arizona
The other thing to consider is even if the color matches, it’ll age at a different rate than old, so the mismatch will become more evident over time. If you’re luck is as bad as mine, you’d get it repainted in time for someone to back into it in a parking lot
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 86
Likes: 7
From: TN
I have also thought about doing this....mine however is Atomic Silver (and 2015) ...think there's better luck with a paint match? I am replacing the entire front bumper as whoever had it before me didn't know how to park and it is scuffed all to hell, along with my side mirrors...
so replace the bumper, repaint the hood and then PPF the entire front end sometime in the next year.
so replace the bumper, repaint the hood and then PPF the entire front end sometime in the next year.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 76
From: Arizona
I’ve seen some fantastic matching being performed by some high end shops. The less pigment in the paint, the better the color match. There’s one thing that’s really tough to duplicate exactly and that’s how the metallic flakes may lay within the paint. Any type of static charge will impact how they orient. That can shift color at angles. Flex agent in bumpers impacts color.
All this said, a good shop can get colors very close, but there can’t be any expectations of perfection. It’s never as good as the original, but it can be close enough. Pearl colors are a 3 stage, base, pearl, clear. All aging together, so matching all three in a repair or repaint is even tougher. I still see good shops turn out some nice matches, but how it all plays out over time is anyone’s guess.
All this said, a good shop can get colors very close, but there can’t be any expectations of perfection. It’s never as good as the original, but it can be close enough. Pearl colors are a 3 stage, base, pearl, clear. All aging together, so matching all three in a repair or repaint is even tougher. I still see good shops turn out some nice matches, but how it all plays out over time is anyone’s guess.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 129
Likes: 14
From: Alabama
It almost seems not worth the hassle, and just charge it to the game. The next Lexus I get I'll be sure to wrap it in the beginning, lessoned learned.
By no means does it look terrible considering it's a 15 and my daily driver, but I always have the sad look when I start washing my car in the front lol. I've tried the touch up paint straight from the dealership, but didn't turn out right.
By no means does it look terrible considering it's a 15 and my daily driver, but I always have the sad look when I start washing my car in the front lol. I've tried the touch up paint straight from the dealership, but didn't turn out right.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,705
Likes: 234
From: #BBNine
Watch the video that Larry Kosilla (AMMO NYC) put out on YouTube. He shows how to use a very fine special artist pen to properly do paint touch up. It won't be perfect, but it will definitely look better than using the rabbit's foot brush that comes in the dealership touch up kits.
around the 4 minute mark he gets to repairing the rock chips.
around the 4 minute mark he gets to repairing the rock chips.
Last edited by jtrue28; May 14, 2018 at 12:52 PM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,648
Likes: 1,385
From: Florida
It almost seems not worth the hassle, and just charge it to the game. The next Lexus I get I'll be sure to wrap it in the beginning, lessoned learned.
By no means does it look terrible considering it's a 15 and my daily driver, but I always have the sad look when I start washing my car in the front lol. I've tried the touch up paint straight from the dealership, but didn't turn out right.
By no means does it look terrible considering it's a 15 and my daily driver, but I always have the sad look when I start washing my car in the front lol. I've tried the touch up paint straight from the dealership, but didn't turn out right.
There's this product called chipfixx that works really well to at least color chips back to your paint color with a pretty close match. Similar to DR. Colorchip Good temporary solution.
Driver
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 173
Likes: 32
From: North Carolina
So I'm thinking about repainting my front bumper/hood to fix the normal wear and tear of chip marks, and then having it wrapped for protection. I know this is something I could have done in the beginning to prevent going through this, but procrastination got the best of me. Would it be worth the cost, or are chip marks inevitable regardless of the protection film?
That said, it’s expensive if you find a solid body/paint shop, plus the cost of the clear bra. If you’re planning to keep the car a while longer than go for it so that you can enjoy it before selling.