Could I fix this myself?

Nebbit

I have just scraped the plastic front wing of my Toyota. It is scratched, there are not deep gouges. What is the chance of fixing this myself if I get some spray paint and a polishing bonnet? Any tips would be welcome

Baldytyke88

Its likely that a DIY repair would not be as good as a pro. It will look like deep scratches if just bodged, the colour would also be difficult to match.

I can see bare metal, it will be rusting soon if you don't act quickly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_XJmRl7iI0

Mildly_Miffed

"Bare metal", Baldy?

It's the lower front bumper, in front of the NSF wheel... It's plastic.

A spot repair guy might be able to get that looking pretty close to invisible, but a bit of effort with a touch-up pen will do a decent job.

Spraying the bumper introduces paint mismatch shenanigans with reds, especially, so you'd probably end up getting the bumper and wings partially sprayed to blend it.

Baldytyke88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958868#Comment_81958868

It must be my age, it's a deep scratch and it looks grey, maybe the grey plastic then.

But still a deep scratch, not just scratched the paint.

tom192

Sounds daft but I nudged a concrete post and thought I was toast. I tried one of those white magic sponges, the dense foam ones and it got 90% of the mark off. Worth a try for £1 or so, some of it may be paint and come off.

Usually find them in the cleaning aisle sold for removing marks off walls etc

LightFlare

How old is the car and is it on any type of agreement that will charge you for damage at the end ?

I'd be tempted to just leave it

facade

If you get a pot of touch up paint and a small brush you can fill in the white marks and make them less noticeable by others at first glance.

(You will always see them, because you are looking out for them, others aren't and without the white lines to draw the eye they won't notice)

Trying to spray over all of it with an aerosol will show really badly.

Filling & sanding the scratches and then spraying & blending properly is the way to do it, but a lot of effort and trouble, there are "Chips Away" type people who will do a pretty good job for £££.

I'd just touch them in with a brush, it won't go rusty or anything.

If it isn't your car and has to go back eventually you will either have to pay for a proper job now, wait until nearer handback in case there are more scars or pay the penalty if it is reasonable.

Nebbit

It is my car and it's ten years old. But being a Toyota it runs very well and is utterly solid in all other ways, so I would like to sort this if possible. As this is a plastic body part I am not worried about rust

Nebbit

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81959045#Comment_81959045

Having used the touch up paint, would you recommend polishing it with a bonnet on a battery drill?

facade

On a low down panel I'd just leave it, maybe lightly polish when I do the rest of the car.

The objective is to hide the white marks that attract the eye, you will never get an invisible repair painting over gouges.

I suppose if you apply many coats and build up the paint proud of the surface you could leave it a few weeks to harden and then try lightly sanding with wet 1200 grit paper to flatten it all and then mopping over it, I don't have the patience. Maybe 40 years ago I would have, now I'm satisfied with an "OK from 10 feet away" finish.

I can't see it when I'm in the driver's seat!

Alanp

why dont you get a quote from the smart repairers in your area, they normally just ask for photographs so you don’t have to travel to them, when they give you a quote you can then decide how to proceed..