Bad touch up pen repair job - Need adivce - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Snornex · 05-24-2016, 08:00 PM

Someone recently scraped my front bumper in a parking lot. I impulsively (and clumsily) tried to hide the scrape using an OEM touch up pen. The scrape now looks arguably worse than before my "fix" - it looks almost like jam smeared messily on a piece of toast. I even got some touch-up paint on parts of the bumper that wasn't scraped.

What's my best course of action? I would like to try and properly repair this myself if possible (with better preparation this time, of course), although I have no experience with this sort of thing. Also keep in mind that I have the new '15 WRB, which is a tri-coat paint.

If I were to take it to a body shop instead, how much should I expect to pay?

Tcoat · 05-24-2016, 08:27 PM

Touch up pens are for small chips not big spots like that. You could try wet sanding that and try to level it out but it will never be great. You could also sand it down and order a spray can which will give better results but still be far from perfect. The only way that you will get 100% is from a body shop. Prices can have a huge range and that could go anywhere from about $200 to $1000. Check your local shops and make sure they know you are paying out of pocket since they charge less than if insurance is paying.

humfrz · 05-25-2016, 02:26 AM

Hello Snornex and welcome to ye ol forum ......

Yep, you messed up that paint job pretty good ...... what did you apply the paint with ...... a broom .. ??

(jest ah messen wich ya)

Like ol @Tcoat suggests, you could take off what you put on there, lightly sand it and give it another go (be sure you take all the old wax off with isopropyl alcohol).

Then, after a week or so, if you still notice it ...... have a body shop fix it proper.

Just keep in mind ...... the FIRST scratch is the most painful ......

humfrz

wlfpck · 05-25-2016, 01:19 PM

If you used one of those duplicolor pens or whatever, just use rubbing alcohol and the touch up paint will come right off.

Snornex · 05-25-2016, 03:44 PM

Thanks guys. I'll give rubbing alcohol + light sanding + repaint a try, and if it still doesn't work I'll look around for a good body shop.

humfrz · 05-25-2016, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snornex

Thanks guys. I'll give rubbing alcohol + light sanding + repaint a try, and if it still doesn't work I'll look around for a good body shop.

Don't forget to wait a couple of weeks after you touch it up before you decide to take it into a body shop ........ sometimes, scratches that are down low like that, seem to disappear from your sight after a spell ........

humfrz

Jfheisenberg · 05-27-2016, 08:52 AM

I would try a light sandpaper with a buffer. But if you do not have experience working with the buffer, go a bodyshop. Else you probably will mess up even more.

wil5bart · 06-02-2016, 04:54 AM

I think your best bet is to bring it to a body shop. Will cost more but you can be sure that the result is great.

05-24-2016, 08:00 PM	#1
Snornex Junior Member Join Date: May 2016 Drives: 2015 BRZ Limited Location: Toronto Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Bad touch up pen repair job - Need adivce Someone recently scraped my front bumper in a parking lot. I impulsively (and clumsily) tried to hide the scrape using an OEM touch up pen. The scrape now looks arguably worse than before my "fix" - it looks almost like jam smeared messily on a piece of toast. I even got some touch-up paint on parts of the bumper that wasn't scraped. What's my best course of action? I would like to try and properly repair this myself if possible (with better preparation this time, of course), although I have no experience with this sort of thing. Also keep in mind that I have the new '15 WRB, which is a tri-coat paint. If I were to take it to a body shop instead, how much should I expect to pay? Attached Images

05-24-2016, 08:27 PM	#2
Tcoat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2020 Hakone Location: London, Ont Posts: 69,845 Thanks: 61,656 Thanked 108,285 Times in 46,456 Posts Mentioned: 2495 Post(s) Tagged: 50 Thread(s)	Touch up pens are for small chips not big spots like that. You could try wet sanding that and try to level it out but it will never be great. You could also sand it down and order a spray can which will give better results but still be far from perfect. The only way that you will get 100% is from a body shop. Prices can have a huge range and that could go anywhere from about $200 to $1000. Check your local shops and make sure they know you are paying out of pocket since they charge less than if insurance is paying. __________________ Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar, because Racecar.

05-25-2016, 01:19 PM	#4
wlfpck Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 2015 GTI Location: OH, TX, IL Posts: 165 Thanks: 5 Thanked 72 Times in 33 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you used one of those duplicolor pens or whatever, just use rubbing alcohol and the touch up paint will come right off. __________________ 2013 GTI - Gone 2015 GTI

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05-25-2016, 02:26 AM	#3
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 29,883 Thanks: 28,809 Thanked 31,859 Times in 16,438 Posts Mentioned: 708 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Hello Snornex and welcome to ye ol forum ...... Yep, you messed up that paint job pretty good ...... what did you apply the paint with ...... a broom .. ?? (jest ah messen wich ya) Like ol @Tcoat suggests, you could take off what you put on there, lightly sand it and give it another go (be sure you take all the old wax off with isopropyl alcohol). Then, after a week or so, if you still notice it ...... have a body shop fix it proper. Just keep in mind ...... the FIRST scratch is the most painful ...... humfrz

05-25-2016, 03:44 PM	#5
Snornex Junior Member Join Date: May 2016 Drives: 2015 BRZ Limited Location: Toronto Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks guys. I'll give rubbing alcohol + light sanding + repaint a try, and if it still doesn't work I'll look around for a good body shop.

05-27-2016, 08:52 AM	#7
Jfheisenberg Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Drives: 2015 BRZ Series Blue WRB Location: North Jersey Posts: 830 Thanks: 371 Thanked 204 Times in 156 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I would try a light sandpaper with a buffer. But if you do not have experience working with the buffer, go a bodyshop. Else you probably will mess up even more.

06-02-2016, 04:54 AM	#8
wil5bart Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Drives: '16 BRZ Location: SC Posts: 106 Thanks: 2 Thanked 21 Times in 17 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I think your best bet is to bring it to a body shop. Will cost more but you can be sure that the result is great.

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