Front Bumper Detailing/3M Film Help

Black///Mamba · 06-16-2008, 02:05 PM

Hey guys,

So i detailed my car this weekend. IT was the first time in a long time that I really examined the front bumper and boy was it horrible. I have so many scratches/dings from rocks and whatever else you hit on the highway. I have one gash that is pretty deep and Im a bit frustrated about it. I really wish I put the 3M vinyl to protect the front bumper.

My question is, what is the best way to completely repair the bumper (so it looks like the day I got it) and then I am going to have the bumper, fenders, hood, and mirrors protected. Repaint the bumper? Can a detailer fix all of the little marks/scratches?

iamwiz82 · 06-16-2008, 02:10 PM

Lots of touchup and wetsanding/polishing. It won't be 100%, but anyone but an expert sitting 2" away wouldn't spot them. I have also had good luck melting a few pretty bad gashes in my bumper with my buffer. Not for the faint-of-heart, though.

Once you get over the fear of using sandpaper on your car you can correct a lot of paint issues. You may want to try it out on another vehicle first, though.

Black///Mamba · 06-16-2008, 02:14 PM

I mean, my mentality is "the big picture". im not crying over a few gashes in the front bumper and what not because that stuff happens. Sure it doesn't look great, but you can only see it if you close in on it, otherwise the whole package is wonderful

fins · 06-16-2008, 08:23 PM

repainting is best but i was told the paint had to cure for up to 60 days before you can put clear bra on it. that being the case, you take the chance of damaging the bumper again before the clear bra is put on. catch 22.....

20Ducks · 06-16-2008, 09:42 PM

I had my aero bumper stripped and repainted 2 months ago. I waited 3 weeks before I had it covered with LLumar PPF. $400 to strip/prep/repaint and $380 to have it protected. AND the installer did an outstanding job!

scottyD · 06-18-2008, 01:58 PM

$500 buys you a new primed bumper...just get a body shop to paint and replace it yourself...

Thats my plan when it stops acting as my daily driver

Black///Mamba · 06-18-2008, 02:48 PM

good point! since this car is my daily driver for now, i guess i should just live with it until it becomes my fun weekend car.

Evoking · 07-03-2008, 05:03 PM

Isn't a claybar like Clay Magic similar to wet sanding? Then again, clay bar actually cleans the paint whereas wet sanding might be a leveling of the surface to minimize the visibility of nics.

06-16-2008, 02:05 PM	#1
Black///Mamba Lieutenant 53 Rep 598 Posts Drives: a beast Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Front Bumper Detailing/3M Film Help Hey guys, So i detailed my car this weekend. IT was the first time in a long time that I really examined the front bumper and boy was it horrible. I have so many scratches/dings from rocks and whatever else you hit on the highway. I have one gash that is pretty deep and Im a bit frustrated about it. I really wish I put the 3M vinyl to protect the front bumper. My question is, what is the best way to completely repair the bumper (so it looks like the day I got it) and then I am going to have the bumper, fenders, hood, and mirrors protected. Repaint the bumper? Can a detailer fix all of the little marks/scratches?
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06-16-2008, 02:10 PM	#2
iamwiz82 Private First Class 10 Rep 120 Posts Drives: 2010 335d / 2012 MCS JCW Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Rochester Hills iTrader: (0)	Lots of touchup and wetsanding/polishing. It won't be 100%, but anyone but an expert sitting 2" away wouldn't spot them. I have also had good luck melting a few pretty bad gashes in my bumper with my buffer. Not for the faint-of-heart, though. Once you get over the fear of using sandpaper on your car you can correct a lot of paint issues. You may want to try it out on another vehicle first, though.
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06-16-2008, 02:14 PM	#3
Black///Mamba Lieutenant 53 Rep 598 Posts Drives: a beast Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I mean, my mentality is "the big picture". im not crying over a few gashes in the front bumper and what not because that stuff happens. Sure it doesn't look great, but you can only see it if you close in on it, otherwise the whole package is wonderful
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06-16-2008, 08:23 PM	#4
fins Private First Class 2 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: May 2008 Location: Laurel, MS iTrader: (0)	repainting is best but i was told the paint had to cure for up to 60 days before you can put clear bra on it. that being the case, you take the chance of damaging the bumper again before the clear bra is put on. catch 22.....
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06-16-2008, 09:42 PM	#5
20Ducks Lieutenant 28 Rep 403 Posts Drives: 2011 e93 335i w/M pkge Join Date: May 2007 Location: Shawnee Mission, KS iTrader: (0)	I had my aero bumper stripped and repainted 2 months ago. I waited 3 weeks before I had it covered with LLumar PPF. $400 to strip/prep/repaint and $380 to have it protected. AND the installer did an outstanding job! __________________ back by popular demand...
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06-18-2008, 01:58 PM	#6
scottyD Private First Class 2 Rep 136 Posts Drives: 07 3.0si Coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DC/Baltimore area iTrader: (0)	$500 buys you a new primed bumper...just get a body shop to paint and replace it yourself... Thats my plan when it stops acting as my daily driver
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06-18-2008, 02:48 PM	#7
Black///Mamba Lieutenant 53 Rep 598 Posts Drives: a beast Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	good point! since this car is my daily driver for now, i guess i should just live with it until it becomes my fun weekend car.
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07-03-2008, 05:03 PM	#8
Evoking First Lieutenant 95 Rep 304 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Isn't a claybar like Clay Magic similar to wet sanding? Then again, clay bar actually cleans the paint whereas wet sanding might be a leveling of the surface to minimize the visibility of nics.
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