Oh no...Huge scratch

[jumpthewire]

I'm usually carefull about these sorts of things, but today wasn't my day.

I was pulling out of my driveway and scracthed my Z just below the fog lights.
Its about 6 inches long and pretty deep.

Down to the fibreglass. Ughhh....
(ill try to take some photos)

Curious if anyone has any experience with repairing/fixing such a thing?
I'm assuming BMW does do body work or am i wrong?
Any advice? Should i find a reputable body shop?

Thanks
*Sigh
Shawn

[nmulax]

Your dealer probably won't repair it; but they should be able to point you in the right direction of a reputable shop. Also ask for shop suggestions on the regional section (if you post it on E90post you'll get more responses, just because there are more people on that sub-forum).

[ausherpharmd]

Yep. My dealership has never let me down; whenever they can't do the work, they tell me who is the best. Mind you, it's not usually the cheapest.

[jumpthewire]

thanks guys!

[jumpthewire]

i'm waiting for some quotes-
here is the damage...[IMG][/IMG]

[jumpthewire]

[jumpthewire]

Just curious, would you drop 400-600 to repair?

Sometimes i think "its a bumper, its going to get messed up" but i've only
had the car for a few months and i'm still in "baby" it mode

[gizmo83]

I'd probably just leave it for now. It's going to eventually get rock chips and what not. Then re-spray it later and cover it up with a clearbra.

[E82tt6]

Originally Posted by jumpthewire

I'm usually carefull about these sorts of things, but today wasn't my day.

I was pulling out of my driveway and scracthed my Z just below the fog lights.
Its about 6 inches long and pretty deep.

Down to the fibreglass. Ughhh....
(ill try to take some photos)

Curious if anyone has any experience with repairing/fixing such a thing?
I'm assuming BMW does do body work or am i wrong?
Any advice? Should i find a reputable body shop?

Thanks
*Sigh
Shawn

I feel your pain :-(

After a detail, I just discovered spiderweb cracking on the front bumper, along with a small chip. Looks like someone backed into me in a parking lot, and didn't have the common courtesy to leave a note.

[b0bab0i]

Add a Lip onto it.

[jumpthewire]

What does a lip do? i'm guessing alerts you when you are scraping?
Maybe i should add those metal rods you see on lowriders haha

[dekaliber]

Originally Posted by jumpthewire

Just curious, would you drop 400-600 to repair?

Sometimes i think "its a bumper, its going to get messed up" but i've only
had the car for a few months and i'm still in "baby" it mode

Personally, yes.

It's a bumper, but it's still part of a beautiful car. Z4s aren't meant to be driven around beaten up IMO. Rock chips are a different story.

[jumpthewire]

i'm with you there.

i'm hoping the estimate will be under 600.
not really sure how they would approach this 'fix'.

[dekaliber]

It doesn't look that bad. They would have to sand down and and respray the area. Since it's pretty localized, I would imagine it shouldn't be more than $500. When I got keyed in my old car on the back of the car across the emblem, it cost less than $400 and the work should have been pretty similar.

[Blind32]

Sorry to hear about your bumper, I can relate.
I washed my car this past Sunday and noticed this:

Makes me sad. I bought the car 3 months ago. Dealer repainted the front bumper and did $1500 worth or repair to it, which included the respray and replacing the plastic part under the bumper, I'm guessing from parking blocks. It looked great and like a quality job when I got the car.

But now it looks like they didn't prep it well. I have never driven off road or on dirt/gravel roads. Strictly road driving. This past weekend I did go on a hard, fast, spirited drive through the country and the 335xi infront of me kicked up a bit of gravel at a driveway entrance and a few other places along the roads. We had atleast 3 car lengths between us. I'm leaving it for now and still deciding what to do. Just ranting

[WhoU4]

Originally Posted by jumpthewire

Maybe i should add those metal rods you see on lowriders haha

"Curb Feelers", don't even joke about those....

What a sad picture that is to imagine curb feelers on a Zed

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by Blind32

Sorry to hear about your bumper, I can relate.
I washed my car this past Sunday and noticed this:

Makes me sad. I bought the car 3 months ago. Dealer repainted the front bumper and did $1500 worth or repair to it, which included the respray and replacing the plastic part under the bumper, I'm guessing from parking blocks. It looked great and like a quality job when I got the car.

But now it looks like they didn't prep it well. I have never driven off road or on dirt/gravel roads. Strictly road driving. This past weekend I did go on a hard, fast, spirited drive through the country and the 335xi in front of me kicked up a bit of gravel at a driveway entrance and a few other places along the roads. We had at least 3 car lengths between us. I'm leaving it for now and still deciding what to do. Just ranting

I bet you could fix that with the dr paint chip kit(http://www.paint-chip-repair.com/). That is just what the kit is designed for. Interesting to me is that it appears only your fangs are affected. That should be a pretty easy fix even if you wanted it resprayed. I highly recommend a clear bra after you get it done.

[jumpthewire]

sorry to hear about your Z

curious about the clear bra approach... this prevents chips?
where does one get this done? is it a specialty thing or do most body shops do it?

[007MCoupe]

Originally Posted by jumpthewire

i'm with you there.

i'm hoping the estimate will be under 600.
not really sure how they would approach this 'fix'.

if they quote the repair more than a new bumper would be, just go with a new bumper. then get the clearbra. just a thought...

[lstratos]

Originally Posted by jumpthewire

sorry to hear about your Z

curious about the clear bra approach... this prevents chips?
where does one get this done? is it a specialty thing or do most body shops do it?

I did the clear bra myself.. its pretty easy since the z is pretty flat.. my other car has edges and stuff... Just the other day, truck ran over road debris and a huge disk scuff my front hood.. i got out and look and there was no damage to the hood... minor scuff on the clear bra

[jumpthewire]

wow...ill have to look into the clear bra. can you do your whole car?
hahah

[jumpthewire]

first quote in....*drum roll

$1050
haha

apparently this place "sends it out" to get repainted, so it almost
sounds like a sub contractor....