Can this be fixed cheaply or is it time for a new bumper? (photos to analyze plz)

[jbrams]

We bought a 2009 Toyota Matrix recently ... slightly used and only one year old for a screaming deal.



Only problem: plenty of scratches, many beyond the clear coat and/or the base paint.



Please recommend how to repair these (if possible) for the lowest cost ... this is a daily driver, no one here want`s perfection ... just get rid of the bigger chips, gouges, scratches, etc.



Biggest crack, dings, scrapes, and scratches are on the front bumper, driver side:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/__qqQQBFQ0Hk/S-YKxQwTrrI/AAAAAAAAE4s/rBBiQvwiwJc/s800/IMG_3508.JPG



http://lh5.ggpht.com/__qqQQBFQ0Hk/S-YKxx7nNKI/AAAAAAAAE40/OZvIijxPEqo/s800/IMG_3510.JPG



http://lh3.ggpht.com/__qqQQBFQ0Hk/S-YKzH4gU7I/AAAAAAAAE48/Qm_MusN2QYo/s800/IMG_3514.JPG



http://lh6.ggpht.com/__qqQQBFQ0Hk/S-YK0Plz5lI/AAAAAAAAE5E/EyLyfD3MeL4/s800/IMG_3516.JPG



http://lh4.ggpht.com/__qqQQBFQ0Hk/S-YK1FVd-LI/AAAAAAAAE5M/jrX8der5_-Y/s800/IMG_3525.JPG



Also, someone covered a few gouges on the rear bumper with ... nail polish? Clear coat?

http://lh4.ggpht.com/__qqQQBFQ0Hk/S-YK2GCxmRI/AAAAAAAAE5Y/bfH3nH_Jvpk/s800/IMG_3528.JPG



http://lh6.ggpht.com/__qqQQBFQ0Hk/S-YK2u9xCrI/AAAAAAAAE5c/3YjxHTpdk9A/s800/IMG_3529.JPG



http://lh5.ggpht.com/__qqQQBFQ0Hk/S-YK296z2HI/AAAAAAAAE5g/faFZbnqblBw/s800/IMG_3530.JPG



So ... any suggestions that I can pull of with less than a few hours work and less than $100?



Thanks again and in advance!

[David Fermani]

So ... any suggestions that I can pull of with less than a few hours work and less than $100?





Welcome to Autopia!!



There`s no way in the world that damage can be repaired for anything remotely near $100!! Probably between $500-600 is my very well educated guess.

[jbrams]

$600 sounds right if this were a matter of making this like new ... I`m just looking for a solution to keep this damage from sticking out from 20` away. (Noticeable from 5` would be fine)



I suppose I`m asking how to make it something less than as it was new ...



Poorly crafted and uninformed possible plan:

(1) Epoxy the cracked area from behind

(2) Sand down parts that stick out then Bondo or similar to fill gaps

(3) Wet sand area

(4) Spray can (http://www.automotivetouchup.com/choosecolor/buypaint.aspx?year=2009&make=Toyota&model=Corolla&colordesc=Blue+Streak+Met,+8T7,+No,+No,+*+78778) over area

(5) Clear coat spray

(6) Polish then glaze/sealant.



Result should be no more crack, no more black plastic showing through, unprofessional but not a serious/noticeable problem from 10 or 20 feet away.



Ideas?

Like I said, plan made from a position of ignorance with two priorities:

(a) Should look significantly better than a crack with some big scrapes

(b) Shouldn`t cost much money or time

[GatorJ]

I would just hit the lower portions with a spray can of Dupli-Color touch up paint. No, it is not the correct repair, but it`s cheap and it will look a hell of a lot better than it does now.

[jbrams]

Thanks GatorJ - that`s a fairly likely outcome ... just looking for folks with more experience and knowledge to suggest ... well ... any thing I could do to improve on just spraying it.



Like this guy who apparently used zip ties and fiberglass resin to make sure the crack (his was much bigger) was kept sealed after repair:



Toyota Echo and Yaris Fans Community - View topic - Front bumper repair.. My Echo all stitched up! (http://www.echodrivers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15143)



http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fMCg6xfqJH0/SeJu2cE_92I/AAAAAAAAFbg/b6QYuKLG54E/s800/IMG_0172.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_fMCg6xfqJH0/SeJu9n0w9II/AAAAAAAAFb0/iyLW7DJloz0/s800/IMG_0177.JPG



Thanks again!

[automedix]

From what I see in the pictures above - I could fix for roughly $250-$300 depending on damage. I am located in Lancaster PA.

Where would you be located?

[David Fermani]

automedix - for that price are you removing the bumper and refinishing the entire cover?

[automedix]

that is a repair of the damaged areas, primer paint, clear, and blend. My specialty is blending, and paint chip repair. I would not remove the bumper cover, it would be jacked up.

[jbrams]

That actually sounds pretty reasonable automedix, but I`m in Benicia, California so ... yeah ... not likely to happen ;-)

[imported_advs1]

From what I see in the pictures above - I could fix for roughly $250-$300 depending on damage. I am located in Lancaster PA.

Where would you be located?




That actually sounds pretty reasonable automedix, but I`m in Benicia, California so ... yeah ... not likely to happen ;-)



too bad you live in cali, that same repair will probably be double that price!! great state we have huh

[jbrams]

Huh, my earlier replies were not posted because they were "awaiting moderation" but that last one did show up immediately. I`ll include the earlier responses here:



re: David Fermani:

I`m not trying to get it back to like new condition, just stop the crack and make it hard to see if you`re not looking for it ... right now it really stands out and I`m trying to find the best way to do that from those on this site who have WAY more experience than me. Thanks for that repair estimate though, helps me with perspective on the problem.



re: GatorJ

In the end that`s my basic solution ... epoxy up the crack, sand down, fill with bondo or resin, wet sand smooth, base coats then clear coat out of a rattle can from AutomotiveTouchUp.com (http://www.automotivetouchup.com/choosecolor/buypaint.aspx?year=2009&make=Toyota&model=Corolla&colordesc=Blue+Streak+Met,+8T7,+No,+No,+*+78778)?



Anything I`m leaving out or should be doing better?



Thanks again,

Abe

[automedix]

Well, the best of luck - I`m sure there are guys out there that could do this for you.

PM me if you decide to try to repair yourself. From what I see, it is not a difficult repair at all. I could walk you through it, as to how I would approach this.

[swan]

Get a new bumper cover and replace it yourself. Not knowing your skill set I would say that would be the cheapest and easiest way to do yourself IMO.

When someone hit my bumper, the quote for a new bumper cover was $330 installed at a reputable body shop.

[jbrams]

I`m not sure if this will post - all but one of my replies have been delayed while "awaiting moderator approval" but in case this one goes through, here`s a summary of my responses:




... Probably between $500-600 is my very well educated guess.I hear you ... however, I`m looking for something that will simply prevent additional cracking and which will not be noticeable from, say, 10` away.




I would just hit the lower portions with a spray can of Dupli-Color touch up paint. No, it is not the correct repair, but it`s cheap and it will look a hell of a lot better than it does now.That`s my most likely solution ... I was going to:

(1) order a rattle can mixed for my car from Automotivetouchup.com Touch Up Paint, Aerosol Spray Paint and Paint Touch Up Accessories (http://automotivetouchup.com),

(2) Epoxy the crack, maybe using a fastener to be certain it doesn`t spread or re-crack if bumped in the future

(3) Apply a little filler/bondo where uneven,

(4) sand --> mild wet sand (maybe down to 1500 or 2000)

(5) 3-5 very thin coats of base color over 12 hours, allow to dry for another 12 hours

(6) 2 thin coats of clear coat



The epoxy may be the hardest / most expensive part: the only bumper adhering epoxy I can find is 3M Scot-Weld DP8005 ($25/cartridge) which requires a specialty applicator and nozzles (another $65) ... any other ideas? I was hoping some JB weld would do the trick, but it will just peel off after a while apparently.



Automedix (and others), am I leaving anything out of this, admittedly completely unprofessional, plan?



How would you suggestion I approach it different?



Anything I could do better or should change?

[jbrams]

... Probably between $500-600 is my very well educated guess.I hear you ... however, I`m looking for something that will simply prevent additional cracking and which will not be noticeable from, say, 10` away.




I would just hit the lower portions with a spray can of Dupli-Color touch up paint. No, it is not the correct repair, but it`s cheap and it will look a hell of a lot better than it does now.That`s my most likely solution ... I was going to:

(1) order a rattle can mixed for my car (B7T),

(2) Epoxy the crack, maybe using a fastener to be certain it doesn`t spread or re-crack if bumped in the future

(3) Apply a little filler/bondo where uneven,

(4) sand --> mild wet sand (maybe down to 1500 or 2000)

(5) 3-5 very thin coats of base color over 12 hours, allow to dry for another 12 hours

(6) 2 thin coats of clear coat



The epoxy may be the hardest / most expensive part: the only bumper adhering epoxy I can find is 3M Scot-Weld DP8005 ($25/cartridge) which requires a specialty applicator and nozzles (another $65) ... any other ideas? I was hoping some JB weld would do the trick, but it will just peel off after a while apparently.



Automedix, am I leaving anything out of this, admittedly completely unprofessional, plan?



How would you suggestion I approach it different?



Anything I could do better or should change?



Thanks a million!

Abe