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Someone either backed into me or clipped me as they pulled into/out of a parking spot. I don't know exactly when it happened, but it is recent.
1. Take to a place and see if they can fix it without respraying the whole bumper.
2. Buy the touch-up paint from Lexus and do it myself.
3. Leave it alone. Not sure what Lexus will say when I drop it off after my lease is up.
The one "professional" I have talked to said with it being metallic silver, it will be impossible to repair it like new. This infuriates me...even on a leased vehicle.
Try an upscale body shop that specializes in Luxury cars. I had a scratch on my Satin Cashmere metallic LS460. Came out great. The hard one is the starfire pearl, as it is a three stage paint and can only be done right by a professional using a sprayer. Touch up paints will not come out right as the metallic and starfire pearl will come out darker when applied by hand.
So I went to the dealership at lunch and they gave me a touch-up paint pen/brush bottle.
You're saying if I try to apply this, it will be darker than the actual paint? I think I'll attempt to see what this looks like on a piece of paper and heat dry it and compare the color before applying to the bumper.
Everyone I have talked to today said it's not worth trying to fix professionally. I can't stand the way it looks and I'll have the vehicle for the next 15.5 months. An off shade of silver has to look better than black.
I taped off every part of that corner of the bumper so that only the scratches were showing. Attempted to use the "pen" end of the touch-up paint, but that wasn't working too well. Ended up just using the brush side. The color matches perfectly. It's obviously "rough" where it has been touched up. I may try to polish that corner of the bumper at some point, but I'm not too concerned with it anymore. At least it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb anymore.
You might be better off taking it to a professional detailer. Not the migrant on the street corner with a bucket that mostly does car washes, but someone who has experience with paint correction. As far as the lease is concerned that is some major damage and devalues the car. They will be more than happy to take it from you when you hand the car back over to them. If you have it fixed you might as well do it right.
If you do it yourself with touch-up paint just remember it will look like an amateur did it at best.
I would do it myself if I was in your shoes but I have $1,200 in detailing supplies. Touch up paint, 2,500/3,500 grit sandpaper & buff, polish & sealant.
It's not "major" damage. You couldn't really notice it from a distance, and even if you could, it looked like dirt. After I touched it up, it's not even noticeable now. If the dealer complains about it, I would be surprised. It certainly isn't worse than door dings, or rock chips on the front bumper. This is why I'm leasing now. Allows me the ability to not care about minor stuff like this anymore.
This type of thing would have driven me nuts on my 2013 GS. Twelve more months and I'll get something else. No big deal.
Not a big deal. Stop coming back to this thread and you'll forget about it
When you turn in the lease, it might be better to do so without a wash, so as to cover any imperfections. They can knock you for scratches, but they can't knock you for dirt.
09-14-15, 06:01 AM
Hit and run advice
