I Messed up my bumper, so I fixed it
 

So I've never done ANY bodywork in my life nor have I ever managed to mess up a bumper on a car. Two firsts. I was absolutely crushed after damaging my new bumper on a car with just a bit over 2,000 miles. I certainly felt like a complete jackass and I took lots of heat for it at the fr-s/brz Colorado meet up. Nonetheless, I took that anger and decided, AND after getting it quoted at a body work specialist - $563.48 - that I could fix it myself for less than $50.00.

SO that was my goal; make the car perfect on the cheap. All in all I spent $47.00 exactly to get my car back to normal and I feel like a furball for doing some damage. Nonetheless, we all make mistakes and perhaps I'm not the only one to do something to their new car.

1. how the damage looked:

http://i.imgur.com/yPEvE.jpg

2. tape damaged area and sand until your wrist hurts:

http://i.imgur.com/TRzxl.jpg

3. how it looked after sanding just the scratched area/paint.

http://i.imgur.com/DlrGw.jpg

4. apply lots of plastic weld, let it dry, sand for HOURS, apply a second coat. It will look something like this:

http://i.imgur.com/nBA0e.jpg

5. cover the car in lots of paper and tape and paint like they do in all the car shows:

http://i.imgur.com/ZobrQ.jpg

5. post on a forum to get made fun of for messing up a new car. But I figured I would share as we all make mistakes, it is only how we recover that makes the biggest difference.

http://i.imgur.com/FgC0q.jpg

wow great job. how did you get the matching color paint? is it spray can? color matches so good!

wonderful job fixing it up!

holy crap where did you get Hotlava color paint? cause i have a few pretty bad rock chips in mine already and i need to fix it....

I looked up the paint code, hot lava was H8R or something like that then I ordered it online and I also got some clear coat to spray on top.

And yes, both were just rattle cans, nothing special.

thanks man!

Wow, nice job!!!

Subaru center caps

I see what you did there

I'm impressed. You sure made full amends to your baby!

Nice job, you should make an actual DIY of this and post it in the DIY section.

way to go! I tried to do that to my trade and I gave up half way through. my spots looked like pic 3 when I quit. I'm impressed with your effort and follow through! what grit paper did ya use? or did you use multiples?

Holy crap! I was bracing myself to see a fail-job...but daymn!...That covered up pretty good! The paint is a perfect match...can you get a closer picture please?? :)

is plastic weld better than bondo filler?

and what grit sandpaper did you use on the plasticweld to even it out? seems you globbed it on, could you have possibly wiped it flat w/ a ruler or something?

But nonetheless great job sir, i commend you. Hopefully u didnt get too much of a clearcoat line. Those are impossible to prevent.

Nicley done. :thumbsup:

Nice!