Somebody scratched my rear bumper while the car was parked. He was nice enough to leave his number but still :(

I managed to clean 99% of the black stuff with some 'asphalt remover' (he says it was his black rubber bumper that did the damage) but I have a number of small scratches left on it along with a few black patches on the edge (to the left in the picture below).

Anybody know if the bumper (which is plastic) would need a complete re-lacquering (even re-painting) or if it is normally just fixed 'locally' on the individual scratches?

It's my first car and the first time the insurance is in use (even though he prefers to handle it without involving the insurance).

That will possibly polish out. But I'd be wanting a home address and cash within hours if he wants to go outside of insurance. Any umm-ing and ah-ing, then just call your insurance and let them deal with it.

All depends on how deep the scuffs and scratches are?

I presume the photo is as it was just after the event?

How does it look after you've cleaned it up?

If none of the scratches go down to the primer you may be able to just polish them out using Tcut or similar.

Alternately, you could use some very fine wet and dry (1200) to rub down the worst and then use Tcut to finish off.

Word of warning though.. Be very careful on and around the sharp edge of the wheel arch, its very easy to overdo it.

Yeh that will probably polish out tbh.

All depends on how deep the scuffs and scratches are?

I presume the photo is as it was just after the event?

How does it look after you've cleaned it up?

If none of the scratches go down to the primer you may be able to just polish them out using Tcut or similar.

Alternately, you could use some very fine wet and dry (1200) to rub down the worst and then use Tcut to finish off.

Word of warning though.. Be very careful on and around the sharp edge of the wheel arch, its very easy to overdo it.

The image is the 'before' shot for documentation - I did not see it happen but noticed the note in my window today.

It is hard to see anything after I cleaned it but up close I see the scratches and I feel them with my nails - but they are not very deep. It's the wheel arch edge where the black stuff is still visible.

What color is the bumper under the lacquer and paint? Maybe the black stuff left is the lacquer and paint gone all together - if the original colour is black/grey.

The bumper will probably be black underneath when the paint and undercoat is removed

What color is the bumper under the lacquer and paint? Maybe the black stuff left is the lacquer and paint gone all together - if the original colour is black/grey.

Not sure about the bare bumper colour.

On our 2006 fabia it was white.

Only way to tell for sure is to find an area that's hidden and scratch down through to it.

I'd have a good guess the primer will be grey.

I still think your best bet is giving the scratches a gentle rub down with the wet and dry, used wet, first. The paint is reasonably thick. As I said before, just be very gentle.

If it cleans up OK then result.

If not then you haven't really lost

Surely just look at the inside of the bumper? I'd imagine it's black/dark grey.

Personally: I would avoid the insurance route if possible for such minor damage. Insurance companies are scum and will sell your details on after you make a claim and you will get a lifetime of unwanted nuisance calls etc from crooks who buy them. I had a minor accident about 4 years ago and still get them. They will also work out a way of making you pay more for your renewal even if it is a no fault claim.

If you can draught out some sort of signed written agreement between yourselves that you can have witnessed that you are both happy with. Take your car to some body shops and see what they say.

Hello Pixel-Viking,

A good body shop should be able to sort the scratch out at a reasonable price. I would get a quotation from them and then agree the price with the other party and arrange for the invoice to be sent to them for payment. Remember that he /she did leave their contact number and could easily have just driven off without telling you, so they seem to be honest.

Just a small point, in the photo the alignment of the two panels seems to be slightly misaligned so there may be more damage than is first thought. Recently we had a car collide with the rear of our Mazda 6 and the plastic valance had sprung back into place. It did not look damaged at all. On inspection we found that the rear cross member behind the valance was badly bent and had to be replaced and the chassis welded to make the vehicle safe. Collision speed approximately 20 mph.

Hope you get it sorted out to your satisfaction.

Regards,

Mike

Try 'Autoscratch.co.uk', they just did my wife's car for £95 and the damage to her rear bumper was worse than what yours looks like(see pic).

They give a 2 year guarantee, do the job at an address of your choice and the bumper is now as good as new again.

I don't think it would be worth Pixel_Viking coming over from Odense Denmark to have the scratch sorted out? Unless they have a branch in Denmark?

Edited 23 June, 201312 yr by Owens

I don't think it would be worth Pixel_Viking coming over from Odense Denmark to have the scratch sorted out? Unless they have a branch in Denmark?

I'll just have to wait for my dealer to have a look at it. I'm more concerned about any damage to the mounts. I'm sure, I could find a mobile polisher but they don't check if the mounts are damaged.

It being plastic, it's hard to say how much pressure was put on the bumper, since it flexes instead of getting dented.

Actually I'm more ****ed about all the time I'm going to waste on problems created by other people.

I don't think it would be worth Pixel_Viking coming over from Odense Denmark to have the scratch sorted out? Unless they have a branch in Denmark?

In the words of that eloquent scholar Homer Simpson......"D'OH!!!"

Totally missed his location. Lol!

Unfortunately as I get older the D'oh moments are increasing in frequency and size.

Always best to get the dealer to sort out problems like this to save losing a warranty claim later?

Edited 23 June, 201312 yr by Owens

I can confirm the plastic is black. I split my rear bumper in a very slow speed collision with another car parked on my drive. The chips away bloke said he would have to remove the whole assembly and stiffen from behind before taking the split down and then fill and spray.

Job all done now and its impossible to see where the damage was.

That panel doesn't look out of line alignment to me. Still hard to say from certain angles. As for scratches well it's marvellous what can be acheived these days by these come to your home paint repair chaps. I've seen them in action and they do a good job. It's when you take it to some full body shops they start scratching their heads, taking deep breaths trying to justify why they have to spray the whole panel and give you a big bill. I know I've been there, got the t-shirt.

Edited 24 June, 201312 yr by MickA

My dealer will do a full respray of the whole rear bumper. There was no structural damage.

 

Price is DKK 4.200,- or GBP 480,-

 

The guy who did the damage accepted to use his insurance.

 

However, I have to wait until early September before they have the time to do it.

September, blimey they must be busy.

September, blimey they must be busy.

Summer vacation is part of it - but they are generally very busy...

Why does the whole bumper need spraying? Only the damaged area needs attention. Maybe your dealer is just trying to get as much money as he can out of the job.

Why does the whole bumper need spraying? Only the damaged area needs attention. Maybe your dealer is just trying to get as much money as he can out of the job.

Probably - and I would have looked elsewhere, if I had to pay myself.

 

I too think it's a little over the top - but I do prefer having a car with no 'hidden' scratches. A full respray is the best option (and the most expensive).