Touchup Paint for Bumper Cover?

[Accumulator]

My latest project's mechanicals might actually be finished next month, so I'm starting to think about its cosmetics.



The plastic rear bumper cover got "flexed" (by the previous owner) beyond the paint's flex-additive's ability to cope; it has some pretty severe cracking in spiderweb-like pattern on the left rear corner, a few square inches worth. Doesn't seem to be anything more serious than paint damage, I think the underlying plastic is OK.



I know I oughta have the cover pulled and repainted, but it seems like a waste as the car's gonna get used hard/dinged up; this thing is *not* gonna be some Autopian showpiece and if it *were* I'd probably have that in the back of my mind when trying to, uhm...really drive it. Damage is gonna happen (can you tell I'm trying to develop a mindset here?). So...



I'm trying to figure out the best half-@$$ed fix that'll work OK on the bumper cover and also on areas where it needs more conventional touchups :think: I'm leaning towards the DRColorChips route, but I thought I'd see if anybody has any better ideas. The color is Ford Vibrant White, if that matters.

 

[imported_Blake]

My experience unfortunately is don't fix it and nothing else will ever happen to it. Fix it and sure as h... it will get dinged. (bad mindset).

You are fortunate that it is white although if it is a large spot it might as well be any other color. Too many different whites. I would try to fill the webs with the touch up paint, gently wetsand and hope for the best. I guess you have the benefit of trying one or two procedures and if nothing works then you can pull it off and get it resprayed. I'd be interested in seeing what works for you.

 

[S&S Detailing]

It's my experience with paint touchup (i work at a dealership, they try and pull shady business like touch up paint all the time) that it just doesn't turn out very well. One thing i can say is a thing of touch up paint from a local dealership is probably like $10, so its cheap. If you are very very tedious with your touchup paint you could probably get it to look OK, but after a few washes it seems as though the paint starts fading and flaking off, but good luck, damn plastic bumpers.

 

[BobD]

My latest project's mechanicals might actually be finished next month, so I'm starting to think about its cosmetics.



The plastic rear bumper cover got "flexed" (by the previous owner) beyond the paint's flex-additive's ability to cope; it has some pretty severe cracking in spiderweb-like pattern on the left rear corner, a few square inches worth. Doesn't seem to be anything more serious than paint damage, I think the underlying plastic is OK.



I know I oughta have the cover pulled and repainted, but it seems like a waste as the car's gonna get used hard/dinged up; this thing is *not* gonna be some Autopian showpiece and if it *were* I'd probably have that in the back of my mind when trying to, uhm...really drive it. Damage is gonna happen (can you tell I'm trying to develop a mindset here?). So...



I'm trying to figure out the best half-@$$ed fix that'll work OK on the bumper cover and also on areas where it needs more conventional touchups :think: I'm leaning towards the DRColorChips route, but I thought I'd see if anybody has any better ideas. The color is Ford Vibrant White, if that matters.

I always just go to my local paint supply shop and get it mixed. If it's for a bumper they'll mix in the appropriate additives and so on. One thing I like about doing this is if the car is new I have them mix from the VIN. If the car is older I'll bring in a gas door or something that has been exposed to the elements and have them match to that so that the new paint matches the faded paint.

 

[Accumulator]

My experience unfortunately is don't fix it and nothing else will ever happen to it. Fix it and sure as h... it will get dinged. (bad mindset)...

Well, in this particular instance the corners *are* gonna get some damage, just the nature of the application. I'm a good driver, but I'm not *that* good and anyhow, the idea here is to expand that particular envelope, which will necessarily make for some mistakes.

You are fortunate that it is white although if it is a large spot it might as well be any other color. Too many different whites...

Yeah, the forgiving nature of white was one reason why I started with the car I did, but yeah#2 there are a zillion shades of white. The paint on the plastic parts is already somewhat different from that on the metal, though the bumper covers aren't the worst of it. Just age/UV exposure as it's all factory paint, but it still looks kinda bad IMO.

I would try to fill the webs with the touch up paint, gently wetsand and hope for the best...

I'm sorta trying to avoid wetsanding it if I can. I usually do my touchups that way but I'm leaning towards not doing this one like that if I can get away with it.



If a non-bc/cc touchup like the DrColorChip will work without much abrasive leveling I think it'd be the way to go. Future flexing/impact damage will probably mess it up again though. I suspect that the only long-term fix will involve using a flex-agent and having it sprayed.

I guess you have the benefit of trying one or two procedures and if nothing works then you can pull it off and get it resprayed. I'd be interested in seeing what works for you.

Yeah...there's a chance that some of the other required touchups will precipitate a trip to my painter anyhow, but we'll see. I *really* want to get it at least sorta-OK PDQ with just one try though, as I absolutely do *NOT* want to turn this into a major detailing project at the present time.