Woke up to a nasty shock just now. New race blue octy has a black recycling bin up against it's lower offside rear bumper / corner.

 

The bumper is intact, but there are 3 or for 1-2mm by 2cm scrapes which look like they have gone into the primer.

 

The car is only a week old! I don't want to claim on insurance for something so minor, but OCD needs it fixed, and I'm concerned that a smart repair after a couple of years will look terrible compared to the factory paint. 

 

Anyone had something similar happen to them, how did you get it fixed? (I know it's only a car, but I'm gutted!)

Gutted for you, I know the feeling, after all most of us have a sense of pride in out cars and like to keep them looking their best.

I had a 3 year old Alfa a few years back, first day I had it some muppet had run a shopping trolley into the rear bumper in a supermarket car park. The damage sounds very similar to what you describe.

 

I imagine a smart repair from a reputable firm would be the best bet.

 

What I did on the Alfa, and it worked enough not to be noticeable unless you were inches from the repair:

I got a touch up of the right colour (I believe Skoda dealers would have them for the race blue), some masking tape and a couple of small (modellers) paint brushes. Mask off just outside of the edge of each of the the scrapes, and with the small brushes gradually build up paint to the level of the original. Once all have been done let them dry fully. take the finest grade wet and dry paper you can get (2000+) and use wet to smooth in the edges. Finish with some coloured t-cut, then polish with what you normally use. 

It might have helped that mine was a dark blue, race blue, I imagine, might not be so easy to match that way. 

 

Personally, I would get a reputable smart repair firm for that colour.

Smart repair will be the best option, I wouldn't even consider looking at new bumpers as my VRS has been in the garage for a month now due to bumpers being on back order with no delivery dates available!

Just go for the smart repair, or just use a touchup pen yourself, or just get a bodyshop to fix it. Dont use your insurance, the fix price will most likely be less that your excess and you'll have a fault claim against you at renewal.

I'd be onto the council/local paper explaining that their new 30 bins per household is absolutely ridiculous for SO many reasons and this is just one of them. You will be expecting compensation and for the council to also provide a suitable fixing mechanism to stop the bins from being dislodged by wind again...

Gutted for you too. I suffer from the same feeling.

I'm currently at Bodyguard UK getting the front of my week old Mk3 vRS wrapped against stone chips. I agree that Smart repair is the way to go. I had one done on my Mk2 rear bumper when I scrapped against a bollard that jumped out at the car ;-)

Sad to hear this and as others have suggested I'd go the smart repair route, would look see if there's a reputably local body-shop that offers this type of service besides full on repairs.

 

 

TP

I had a look this morning. It's 3 x 1cm scratches, one on mid, one by parking sensor and one lower down. Thanks for the advice, will go smart repair route and feedback.

 

This support is worth going for freedom.

Here's the damage (don't laugh!) First quote from chips-away came in at £130 inc vat, and they need the car for a day.

 

Thoughts?

Similar thing happened to me years ago during a storm. Empty wheely bin clattered 30 feet down the drive until it met the door of my car. Worst bit, it was being collected by the new owner the following day (he was a mate), I had to reduce the price by £300 to compensate.

 

I now secure all our wheely bins to the wall outside with cable.

I would use a reputable paint body shop that has a slow bake oven, pay more but pay cash. I had a slate come off the roof and damaged my bonnet , so  full bonnet spray similar damage to yours, I also had two de- lacquered wing trims sorted, one with vat was 15555 and the other 450 but paint match superb . A localised repair is never as good as a whole panel doing but a repair shop should do it for 120/150 for cash. If they are used by a main dealer ( my body shop do all new colour coding and repairs for Range/Land  Rover ) then you will be ok. Some body shops include courtesy car and a fancy blonde in reception who makes you a coffee, that and vat is what you pay for!  

Although it won't be as good (or as expensive) as a SMART repair, I would see how you get on with a Chip-Ex roadrash repair.  Its likely that you'll need a touch-up at some point so worth trying this first.

I think that should be do-able with a touch up and some elbow grease.

If you prefer to go the smart repair route, when they give you the follow up call, tell them it was too pricey and see if they will lower it. I would say £80 would be nearer the mark.

 

Edit: Just looked up the chip-ex stuff Jeeves mentioned ... if the results come back like they show on the website, that will be worth trying.

I would use a reputable paint body shop that has a slow bake oven, pay more but pay cash. I had a slate come off the roof and damaged my bonnet , so  full bonnet spray similar damage to yours, I also had two de- lacquered wing trims sorted, one with vat was 15555 and the other 450 but paint match superb .

 

How Much,............. I'd have bought a new car for that

How Much,............. I'd have bought a new car for that

That is why I went for the one without the fancy reception

Find a local bodyshop that the small indie garages use - they tend to do quality repairs at a reasonable price, and the result will be superior to a chips away type repair.

 

If anyone ever needs one in Chesterfield area I can recommend Curbishley Automotive on Storforth Lane.

 

Anyone know anyone in the South West, near Bath(ish))?

 

Would rather spend another £100 or so and get an impossibly good job done!