Long story, but a garage door came down on the front of my car. It has some scratches and a big divit (seen in the top left of the picture). Is there a way to fill in the divit and then put some touch up paint over it so it is not so obvious?

 

It's hard to tell what your photos is showing. That being said, "fill" sounds scary on an LS460. Take your car to a GOOD bodyshop that handles luxury finishes and be prepared to spend the big bucks to restore your $70,000+ vehicle.

Shyd happens.

 

I guess that's the front bumper. That can be repainted professionally with two clearcoats for no more than $400. I've had Acura & Accord bumpers with a single clearcoat repainted, one with a hole punched through for about $350; happened quite a few times but they looked brand new after the repairs. They can easily fill in any gouges or holes with a polyurethane compound that leaves no marks whatsoever. Good Luck, and install a door sensor on the garage door track; even a new door opener (including a sensor) should cost you no more than $300 DIY. Money well spent.

I guess your heart sank when you heard that crunch, eh?

 

call home owners they will fix it, your auto insurance should too.

 

Thanks guys! It is the front bumper. I can't believe it happened. The door cleared but the inside bracket on the door didn't.

I really appreciate the advice! If I turn it into homeowners (I have state farm) will my rate increase if you were to guess?

 

I never turn in claims unless they are over $2500 or so. Homeowners or car insurance. You should raise your deductibles and adopt that policy. Turning in small claims can bite you in the tailpipe.

 

you can make spot paint, i did it on mine

 

i agree, a good body shop can do it for around 400 no problem

touch up probably won't make it look right

 

The paint is not the biggest part of this repair. They have to pull the bumper off to make sure the paint gets in to all the nooks and crannies. You'll have to leave the car in overnight, so it dries properly. I wouldn't just touch up those scratches. They'll be obvious and will drive you nuts until the job is done right. Again, make sure you install a magic eye to prevent this happening again. If your opener is too old, buy a new one - the sensor comes with it - Chamberlain is the brand I installed, and Sears carries the same unit re-branded to Craftsman. The cost will be less that that bumper repair, and provide you with a fail-safe solution from now on.

 

You could buy a bottle of touch up paint and do it yourself and see what it looks like. Worse case you only spent $15 and an auto body shop would easily sand it out anyway.

Its worth a shot.

 

I actually have one (brand new house/doors) but it sits at the bottom of the door. It saw that the tires cleared but couldn't see that the bumper didn't.

You are right, if I am going to spend I might as well give it a shot first. Good idea and thanks again everyone!

 

Lux, that's the recommended position that mine had as well. I installed it that way initially, however after a few days thinking about it I raised it to line up with the edge of the bumper, which made a lot more sense if one is trying to avoid what you just went though. I think the manufacturer's thinking is influenced with little children's limbs tripping the reverse mechanism, which makes sense but that prudence changes once they grow up.

 

Just a thought...

I've been in this jam myself - but it was with my first Toyota almost 10 years ago. I pulled into the garage and thought the car was all the way in - I had no stops at the front tires or anything like that to let me know I had the car completely in - just thought the car was in....WRONG!

Well, I was of by about 1/4 inch or so short and when I lowered the door - s c r a p e. If I had taken a picture of it - it would have looked just like that. Ever since then, I have had a tennis ball hanging on fishing line from the ceiling. When the windshield touches it -- I know I'm good. No accidents since.

 

That is a good idea. Maybe I will adopt it. Usually I have the park assists beeps down to a science and know when I am in but slipped big-time on this one.

 

just curious, with the parking assist beeping faster and faster, i am sure you can get to a point where you know the car is in for good right? for example in my garage, when the beep (bars) go from 4 to 3, i know i am set